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The tribe returns to camp after tribal council. Sam calls it horrible. He and Rachel were blindsided by Sierra’s elimination. “Gata got got,” Sam says. Andy and the former Lavo tribe members flipped on the Gata tribe members Rachel, Sam, and Sierra. Rachel tells Sam they have to play nice. In her confessional, Rachel explains that she played her Shot in the Dark to see if she needed to play her idol or not. She correctly guessed she didn’t need to play her idol, but she feels like she is on the outs. She hopes new opportunities will present themselves. Andy feels like he’s taking his fate into his own hands by flipping on Gata. Andy felt like he was an expendable piece, but he has now flipped the script. Andy talks to Sam and claims he wanted Sam to stay instead of Sierra. He believes he swayed the votes to go on Sierra instead of Sam.
The next morning, Andy apologizes to Rachel. He thinks if he could have a future with any of the other former Gata members, then it would be with Rachel. Despite their past history of leaving each other out of plans, Rachel is hopeful she and Andy can start over and finally work together. They talk game, and Andy throws out Kyle as a potential target. Rachel adds Sue and Caroline want Kyle out too.
Sam talks to Teeny, Sol, and Genevieve. Teeny apologizes to Sam. Teeny explains he and Sierra were viewed as a power duo that needed to be split up. Sam is understanding and tells them what he thinks they want to hear. However, in his confessional, he admits he wants revenge. He wants to vote out one of the former Lavo tribe members. Sam, Teeny, Sol, and Genevieve talk game. They discuss targeting Gabe at the next tribal council.
Later, Teeny reads tree mail. She informs everyone must pair up for the next challenge. The pairs are Sam & Andy, Kyle & Gabe, Teeny & Sol, Sue & Genevieve, and Caroline & Rachel. For this challenge, they must crawl through a narrow tunnel and retrieve planks of wood they will later use to build steps. The two pairs that don’t retrieve their steps will be eliminated from the challenge. The next step requires the remaining pairs to build a staircase and cross a balance beam. The first two pairs to complete this stage will move on to the final stage. It’s an endurance challenge as they must balance themselves on narrow footholds with walls on either side of them. The last one to fall will win immunity. They will also compete for a picnic reward. There’s an additional twist: the first two pairs out of the challenge will lose their votes. However, they will take a journey for the chance to win their votes back.
The challenge begins. Everyone is digging for their steps. After the first stage, Sam, Andy, Caroline, and Rachel lose their votes. They were unable to dig out their steps. For the second stage, Genevieve and Sue are in the lead and the first to reach the balance beam. However, their struggle at the balance beam gave Kyle and Gabe the opportunity to catch up and complete the second stage with Sol and Teeny right behind them. Genevieve and Sue are eliminated from the challenge. It’s now time for the final stage. They are no longer in pairs. The last one to drop will win immunity. Teeny is the first to fall, and she’s quickly followed by Sol. It’s now down between Kyle and Gabe. Kyle falls. Gabe wins immunity!
Kyle, Gabe, Teeny, and Sol enjoy their picnic reward. While eating, the four of them discuss voting out Sam. In his confessional, Sol admits he doesn’t want to vote out Sam. Kyle is nervous since this is the first time he’s vulnerable; he won the previous three immunity challenges. Back at camp, Sue says she wants to vote out Kyle. However, Genevieve shares that Gabe is Sol’s target. Sue says her game depends on Gabe, so now she wants to vote out Sol. Genevieve and Sue agree they must blindside Sol.
Kyle, Gabe, Teeny, and Sol return to camp and join Genevieve and Sue. They all agree to vote out Sam tonight, but Genevieve and Sue already agreed to vote out Sol. Later, Genevieve gives Gabe a heads up about Sol and Teeny throwing out his name as a target. Gabe is on board to vote out Sol. They later let Kyle know about the plan. Kyle is on board too. He just hopes they will vote to keep him in the game. Genevieve says they need one more vote, and it will depend on what happens at the journey.
At the journey, Sam, Andy, Rachel, and Caroline must play a game against each other. They must stack cards into a tower. They each will place a card one by one, forming a triangle. If the tower falls during his or her turn, then he or she will be the player to not vote at tribal council tonight. The game begins, and they keep forming triangles on top of each other. The tower falls during Caroline’s turn. Caroline will not vote at tribal council. Sam, Andy, and Rachel regain their votes. Before returning to camp, the four of them agree that Kyle should be voted out tonight.
Sam, Andy, Rachel, and Caroline return to camp. Teeny is led to believe Sam or Kyle is the target. However, Genevieve talks to Andy and lets him know the plan is to vote out Sol tonight. Andy wonders if they should keep him for a few more votes first. Genevieve says it should be now when he feels comfortable that it will be Sam or Kyle going home tonight. Genevieve also lets Rachel know about the plan.
Rachel wants to let these new potential allies know they can trust her. She doesn’t want to burn her bridge with Sam though, so she just lets him know he’s not the target. Sam guesses that the plan is to vote out Sol, and Rachel confirms it’s true. She asks him to not blow up her spot, but Sam stands up and immediately tells Sol that he’s going home tonight. Sam pitches to Sol that the two of them should vote out Sue tonight. He believes they can bring in Genevieve, Andy, and Teeny as the necessary numbers. Before tribal council, Sol lets Teeny know that he’s being targeted. He tells her they must vote for Sue tonight. Sam also tells Andy they should vote out Sue tonight to dismantle the Tuku alliance. Genevieve also finds out from Teeny that the plan to vote out Sol is out there. Genevieve plays dumb, but she learns that Rachel told Sam about the plan. Teeny and Sol pitch voting out Kyle tonight, and the plan to vote out Kyle instead of Sol goes around right before tribal council.
It’s time for tribal council. Jeff asks if they can have camaraderie while playing a brutal game. Kyle says he was genuinely proud of Gabe winning immunity even if his own safety wasn’t guaranteed. While Kyle is talking, Sol and Genevieve are whispering. Sol says to vote out Sue, but Genevieve reminds him he told her Kyle. Teeny asks Sam who is he voting for. Sam says Sue, and he asks if it changed. Teeny says she doesn’t know. She tells him something feels weird. Sam asks Andy who is he voting for. Is the plan Sue or Kyle? Jeff finally points out the whispered conversations. Gabe whispers to Teeny he’s voting for Kyle tonight. Andy tells Jeff they didn’t solidify a plan before arriving at tribal council. That’s why it’s chaotic tonight. While more whispered conversations take place, Jeff asks what skill do they need. Teeny answers adaptability. Teeny says she’s unclear what to do. Jeff says they can’t trust if the last conversation was the one they needed to have. Genevieve says they need to figure out what information is noise and which plan to move forward with. Kyle says all the whispers make him nervous. Sol stands up and tries to find out if the plan is Sue or Kyle. Kyle whispers to Sue the plan is still Sol. Meanwhile, Teeny whispers to Sam to vote for Sue. Sam and Rachel whisper about voting for Sue tonight. Jeff asks if they are finally ready to vote. They say they are.
Before Jeff reads the votes, no one plays an idol or advantage.
The first vote is for…
Sol
Sue
Sol
Sol
Sol
Sol
Sol is the ninth person voted out and the second member of the jury.
And that wraps up tonight’s episode of Survivor. Thanks for reading, and come back next week for another live recap.
