The episode begins with the celebrities returning to camp after the Lanterns meeting. There is an ant infestation, and Ray says it’s getting tough sleeping out in the jungle. The next morning, Paulina discusses how tough the experience is. She wants to prove that a woman her age can still compete, but she predicts she will be the last person picked again.
Later, Ray and Jodie work out. He uses a deck of cards to go through their exercise routine. He also opens up to Jodie about how he came up with using a deck of cards to guide him through exercises. The suit and number coincide with a different type of exercise. Coincidentally, a deck of cards has 52 cards and 52 was his jersey number throughout his football career. Ray also shares with Jodie how he wanted to get stronger so he can protect his mother so no one could hit her. He gets emotional as he talks about his mother and how he’ll do anything for her.
Before the next adventure, Eboni tells Lauren that she wants to be on her team today. Lauren has won all the adventures so far, but Eboni has yet to win. Lauren promises to push for Eboni to be on her team today. Later, it’s time to pick captains. Ray and Mike volunteer to be the team captains for today’s adventure. Ray picks Craig. Mike picks Colton. Ray picks Jodie. Mike picks Lauren. Ray picks Paulina. Paulina is glad to finally not be the last one picked. Eboni will be on Mike’s team by default.
Blue Team – Ray, Craig, Jodie, and Paulina
Red Team – Mike, Colton, Lauren, and Eboni
The next adventure begins. Both teams must carry puzzle pieces through an obstacle course. They must restart if any pieces fall. Once they get their puzzle pieces to the other side, they must place them on letters spelling Boca Del Toro. Afterwards, they must grab eighty pounds of plantains and take them 200 yards across the jungle. They will trade them for cocoa beans they must push in a wheelbarrow to a lagoon. They will then have to paddle out into the lagoon and exchange the bags of cocoa beans for bags of fish. They will then have to hang nets of fish on hooks to unearth puzzle pieces. The first team to complete their puzzle will win $40,000 to share among them.
The challenge begins. Both teams are struggling carrying their puzzle pieces over the obstacles. Lauren encourages her team to stay focused, and her team members are impressed by her drive. The Red Team gets the early lead as Lauren and Eboni complete the puzzle first. Paulina and Jodie work on the puzzle for the Blue Team, and they are not too far behind. The Red Team stays in the lead until the teams paddle out into the lagoon. Mike falls into the water and a cocoa bean bag falls too. The Red Team must regroup, allowing the Blue Team to surpass them.
The Blue Team also take the longer path in order to get the clue for the final puzzle. Both groups get to the puzzle station around the same time. They’re both working on the puzzle, but it is the Blue Team that has the clue. Lauren is good at puzzles, and she wants to prove she can complete the puzzle without the clue. The Red Team thinks they have solved the puzzle, but they put a wrong piece in. They quickly fix their mistake before the Blue Team can complete their puzzle. Red Team wins the adventure! They will also enjoy a Panamanian feast as a reward. Lauren has won every adventure so far. She remains in the lead with $38,750. Jodie is in last place with $10,000.
While Mike, Lauren, Eboni, and Colton enjoy their reward, Mike gives kudos to Lauren for helping lead the team. He congratulates everyone on a job well done. Meanwhile, back at camp, Jodie laments being in last place. She feels like she let the team down, and she questions how much more of this experience she can handle. Later, after the members of the Red Team return to camp, Ray talks to Mike. Ray is missing his kids, and he’s feeling an emptiness. He promised his kids he wouldn’t put himself before his kids. His youngest son is currently in a sports season and they are having a great season. He’s missing these times with his family, and he says it’s time he cannot replace.
The celebrities greet Mauro for the next Lanterns meeting. They each get an additional $2,000 for making it to today’s Lanterns meeting. Mauro points out how they all look tired. Paulina admits she’s questioning what’s she doing out here. Lauren agrees it’s miserable. Mike says they didn’t realize the effect of the experience beforehand. Jodie worries she’s going to injure herself if she gives it more than she already has. Craig agrees the experience is tough. He’s used to camping and being in the outdoors, but this is tough.
Eboni says she had the most to prove today, and she’s glad to have finally been part of a winning team. Jodie admits she was frustrated losing. Mauro asked if she has to strategize in order to be back in the running for the grand prize, but Jodie is not used to thinking three steps ahead. Colton says he’s used to thinking three steps ahead since he was a closeted gay man. He says he strategized his whole life, and he says ultimately they will have to make decisions that are best for their charities. Lauren admits she’s the best at the puzzle, and everyone agrees with her. Lauren feels confident going into every challenge at this point, which is something she couldn’t have said at the start of the experience.
Lastly, Mauro asks if anyone wants to ring the bell and go home. Ray whispers to Jodie that he’s going to ring the bell. She tells him he better not, and she’ll ring it before he does. Ray tells her he has to. Paulina says the pain is getting to her, but she’s not ready to give up. She says she doesn’t want her pain to win. Jodie says she’s struggling. She may ring the bell tomorrow, but she’s not going to ring it today.
Ray says he’s missing out on some of the most important moments in his kids’ lives. He says he doesn’t want to disappoint his kids anymore. Before Ray makes a decision, Mike says they all came here to compete. He wants Ray to reconsider. Ray is in tears, but he tells them he will stay with them. He says it’s hard though. Mauro asks them to keep fighting the good fight as he sends them back to camp.
And that wraps up tonight’s episode of Beyond the Edge. Thanks for reading, and come back next week for another live recap.
