A new episode of Survivor: Edge of Extinction airs tonight on CBS. Read a live recap and join the discussion here.
The episode begins on the morning of Day 17. The castaways greet Jeff, and he informs them that they are merging. He hands them all their new red buffs too. Afterwards, Jeff surprises them all with the Edge of Extinction twist. He calls “Come on in!” before Reem, Keith, Chris, Rick, Aubry, and Wendy walk in. The castaways in the game are all shocked to see them again. Jeff tells them about the Edge of Extinction and how all the voted out players opted for a chance to get back in the game. All six voted out players will compete in a challenge. The winner will reenter the game. On Extinction Island, Chris and Keith both received advantages. Chris was able to practice a part of the challenge, and Keith is able to give a disadvantage to one of his competitors. Keith chose to give it to Chris, forcing him to untie a series of knots before he can attempt the final part of the challenge. So, Chris had both an advantage and a disadvantage.
The challenge begins. They must go through an obstacle course that includes going over a net and tying pieces of wood to retrieve a key through a door. They must then unlock the door, go through it, and then maneuver a ball up a track in the shape of a snake. Chris takes the lead, but Aubry is the first to get her key. Chris and Rick are right behind her. Eventually, everyone else catches up as they are all trying to maneuver a ball up a track. Wendy takes the lead, but her ball falls from the track right before it reached the top. Chris is now in the lead, but his ball falls right before it could reach the top too. Rick is now in the lead, and he manages to land his ball in the slot first. Rick will return to the game. Before Rick and the other castaways leave, Jeff informs them that they each will have Extinction Island as an option when they are voted out. They leave, and Jeff has an emotional talk with Reem, Keith, Chris, Aubry, and Wendy. They are in tears as they discuss how much Survivor means to them. Wendy is more positive, and she tells them they are all winners since they had the opportunity to play Survivor. Afterwards, Jeff tells them they can go back to Extinction Island. They are all excited for another chance to reenter the game.
The castaways enjoy the merge feast. The former Kama tribe members are confident about their numbers advantage. However, Kelley is unhappy about Rick reentering the game;s he did not want him to come back. Back at Extinction Island, Wendy and Keith both raise the white flag on the mast. They have decided to go home. Only Reem, Chris, and Aubry remain on Extinction Island.
Back at the Vata camp (the merged tribe name), Kelley and Lauren are pitching to the other girls to vote out Rick at the next vote. Julie, Julia, and Victoria seem open to the idea, but Julie notes how aggressive Kelley and Lauren are playing. In her confessional, Julie wonders whether Kelley or Lauren should be voted out at the upcoming tribal council.
On the morning of Day 18, Rick finds an advantage inside his bag. Since he is the returning player from Extinction Island, he has received a hidden immunity idol with a twist. The medallion is in two pieces, and he must give one half of it to another player. If they both survive the upcoming vote, then the medallion becomes a hidden immunity idol. Later at night, Rick tells David about the idol and the rules. Rick gives the second half of the medallion to David.
It’s time for the immunity challenge. It’s an endurance challenge that requires them to stand on a balance beam while holding onto a long pole above their heads. At the end of the pole is a small statue they must balance. If they drop the statue or step off the balance beam, then they are eliminated The challenge begins, and Ron is out first. Gavin drops next, and he’s followed by Wardog, Rick, Victoria, and Aurora. The challenge continues with seven remaining castaways. Kelley is the next one eliminated. After twenty minutes have passed, they must move down a narrower part of the balance beams. During the transition, Eric is the next one to drop his statue. He’s followed by Julia and David. Only three castaways remain: Julie, Joe, and Lauren. Joe is the next one to drop his statue, leaving only Julie and Lauren in the challenge. A gust of wind blows through, and Lauren drops her statue. Julie wins immunity!
The castaways return to camp after the immunity challenge. Kelley is hoping everyone else is on board with voting out Rick. She also has a hidden immunity idol in her possession, and she says she will play it if she feels like she needs to. And she may need to since Julie is campaigning for Kelley to be voted out tonight. Julie also approaches Rick. She tells him that his former tribe has thrown him under the bus. She won’t give him details on their target, but she assures him that he is safe tonight. Later, Rick tells David what he’s learned. David says that it should be Kelley going home tonight, but they don’t know yet that she is the former Kama tribe members’ target. Meanwhile, Joe is worried he’s on the chopping block tonight. Ron approaches Joe to ask him his thoughts, but Joe tells him that he needs to make sure their old tribe members aren’t targeting Joe. Ron is bothered by Joe’s vague demeanor, so he doesn’t believe he can trust Joe. Ron now wants his alliance members to vote out Joe tonight. His alliance is the Kama 6, which is Ron, Eric, Gavin, Victoria, Julia, and Julie. The alliance is torn between Kelley and Joe as they can’t seem to agree which one should be voted out tonight.
It’s time for tribal council. Jeff welcomes in the jury, revealing that Reem, Chris, and Aubry will have another chance to reenter the game. Afterwards, Jeff begins the discussion about tribal divisions. Ron says he loves Kama, and Kelley says she feels like she’s on the bottom. Jeff asks Rick his thoughts, and he says he doesn’t know how the Lesu tribe has been since he’s been gone. Jeff asks if it’s the easy move to vote out Rick again, and Victoria says she believes there are bigger threats in the game than Rick. Joe wonders if Victoria is talking about him, but she clarifies that she was talking about strategic threats. Rick says he was baffled by Joe not talking game, and Joe says he knows where he stands in the tribe. The Kama tribe has the numbers, so he hopes they all stay Kama strong. Kelley notes how she’s on the bottom, but it’s a position in the game she’s used to. Afterwards, they cast their votes.
Jeff reads the votes. The first vote is for…
Rick
Kelley
David
Rick
David
Kelley
David
Joe
Joe
Joe
Joe
Joe
Joe is voted out and the fourth member of the jury. “Big mistake,” Joe mutters as he walks away. He grabs the torch and heads to Extinction Island. “Worst thing they could have done,” Joe says as the episode ends.
And that wraps up tonight’s episode of Survivor. Thanks for reading, post your thoughts in the comment section below, and come back next week for another live recap.
