An international Survivor smackdown should be expected to be an annual thing now, as this season is shaping up to be a legendary one with each passing episode. Everyone who’s on that Samoan beach is playing the ultimate level of Survivor, and no one is safe, not even the “best.” Here’s what went down on the third episode of Australian Survivor: Australia v The World.
The episode begins with the Aussies still reeling from the Golden God’s demise, and several things happen simultaneously. Janine praises Kirby for her gameplay. Luke admits he wasn’t aware of the David plan, as he thought it was George going home. George is angry at Luke for lying to him and openly confronts him at the shelter in front of everyone else. In retaliation, Luke confesses that George was after Shonee, and as Shonee isn’t too surprised to hear this, George backtracks and says he’s been on Shonee’s side all along. George also proclaims in a confessional that as the sun set on the Golden God’s reign, his is only beginning.
The next morning, as George searches for an idol, Luke and Janine comment on how George is now after them. George reiterates to Shonee that he owes her one (you know, after eliminating Shonee back in Heroes v Villains). Still, Shonee is wary of trusting George again, even commenting on how the previous Tribal Council might have been her chance to eliminate him. Hilariously, Shonee even questions if she’s “literally Sue’s big move.” (iykyk)
Shonee wants to work with Sarah and Kirby, as she’s aware that Kirby, in particular, has the reins of the game at this point. While Sarah doesn’t regret her vote as she showed Kirby her loyalty, she still feels emotional about the mental toll the game is taking on her. The three decide to form an alliance called “cookies and cream,” but Sarah secretly reveals she’s only truly loyal to Kirby.
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On the World tribe, the international Survivors hang around their camp as they sip their coffee, with the crackling woodfire as their white noise. Tony, being Tony, is wary of the gender disparity of the World tribe and doesn’t think that Parvati and Cirie will keep him too long. The calm doesn’t hold for the tribe, as the unopened mysterious box that they won on the first reward challenge looms between them. Tony wants to open it, acknowledging that whatever is in the box might cause a civil war between him and the women. As they all start looking for the key amid the massive jungle, Parvati is the one who ultimately finds it and shares the knowledge with Cirie and Kass.
Out of a Mission Impossible film, the trio go back to camp to open the box, but as they fidget with the lock, Tony approaches them. While Cirie manages to unlock it, she’s unable to see inside it as Tony is mere feet away from them. Parvati then sits on the box and tries to unlock it once more, with Cirie exclaiming that Parvati is about to cause her a heart attack, and to half of the audience as well. Parvati thein feigns innocence as Tony questions if they were successful in finding the key. Parvati and Cirie are barely able to keep it together as Tony sits with them for a bit. As tension is about to break, Tony finally decides to get up and resume the search, with the women finally being able to lock the darn box once more, but not before Cirie quips she’s too old for these shenanigans.
As Tony sticks like glue to the box, Cirie hatches a plan to draw him away by telling Lisa about Parvati finding the key and their need for her to keep Tony away while they see what’s inside. As agreed, Lisa accompanies Tony to the water well to fill everyone’s canteens, as the other three women work on the box once more. Another epic scene ensues as Tony ends up with half of his body inside the well after he drops the ladle, as Cirie manages to see what’s inside: a clue to a hidden immunity idol, which is located at Tribal Council, more specifically, in JLP’s podium.
US Survivor fans might remember Adam Klein looking for an idol at this exact location back in Winners at War, to no avail, as he had seen this twist before in Survivor South Africa: Philippines, when Palesa Tau did it first. Later, as Kass, Cirie, and Lisa wander around, Kass manages to find the World tribe’s hidden immunity idol and decides to keep the secret for herself.
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Back on the Aussies’ tribe, Sarah is overwhelmed about her decision at the previous Tribal, feeling that Kirby tested her loyalty by forcing her hand in voting out David. They converse at the beach, with Kirby reassuring Sarah she’s her number one, as opposed to Shonee, who feels Sarah is shady due to her game history. Sarah suggests getting rid of Shonee the next time they lose immunity to solidify their bond, but Kirby is hesitant to respond. At night, Sarah tells Luke and Janine her plan, and both agree to vote out Shonee. For Sarah, it comes down to Kirby now proving her loyalty to her by getting rid of a number for her, just as Sarah did with David.
At the immunity challenge, Parvati is excited to see that David is gone, as the heat of her bond with him due to Deal or No Deal Island won’t be used against her. Who knew that show would cause that much turmoil? Regardless, the challenge turns out to be one of endurance, where the players must hold a weight with their arms and can pass it off to another member when they drop out. Whichever tribe holds its weight longer is the one that will take immunity home. Bragging rights emerge when Luke and Sarah mention they won this challenge on their previous season, while Parvati says she’s played a version of it where she held up her arm for six and a half hours.
During the challenge, George and Tony start teasing each other, with George mentioning he was nearly voted out at the previous vote, much to the shock and bewilderment of his fellow Aussies. Parvati asks George if it was unanimous, with George revealing it was split but a near miss. After 30 minutes, Cirie is the first to drop out after accidentally letting go of her bag. After an hour and 40 excruciating minutes, Sarah is unable to properly hand her bag before dropping, causing the water above her tribe to fall, which gives immunity to the World tribe in the process.
As the Aussies return to camp, Shonee wants revenge on George, especially as he kept digging his grave at the challenge by delivering information. George tells Luke he wants to build trust with him again and needs him to vote out his ally, Janine. Shonee and Luke later talk and agree that George is the best move for both of them, with Luke relegating this information to the rest of the tribe. Luke reiterates that George will be the first to jump ship at the merge, which makes it imperative to take him out before the next phase of the game begins. Sarah doubles down on voting out Shonee, but the rest want to go against George first.
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Throughout the rest of the afternoon, Shonee plays George like a fiddle, making him feel comfortable enough not to sense she’s flipping against him. Janine resents George telling her and Luke that he will vote for either of them, and agrees to vote George out, while also planning to write down Shonee’s name as a contingency in case George plays an idol. Sarah is ecstatic and uses this as leverage with Kirby, and Kirby considers voting for Shonee to make Sarah feel equal in their partnership.
At Tribal Council, the tension between Shonee and Sarah is palpable, but it seems it isn’t time for that battle yet. Janine takes the chance to throw George’s name under the bus by revealing he said he would be voting out either her or Luke, which of course rubbed her the wrong way. As George keeps spinning his web, Janine pleads to Luke to switch his vote for Shonee as she senses George has an idol. As Janine pledges undying loyalty, Luke agrees. George exclaims it isn’t time for anyone to get “big move-itis,” as the jury phase hasn’t begun, and tells the rest of the tribe he has experience in merging with fewer numbers but successfully. As George continues to use words as “using a steady hand against the other tribe” as well as “having an iron fist,” it’s clear the others are even more put off by his vernacular.
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Ultimately, the votes come down to Shonee celebrating her fiftieth Tribal Council by voting out the King from Bankstown, with a 3-2-1 vote. George is completely blindsided but congratulates Shonee on getting one over him. Janine apologises to Shonee for the votes against her, which will undoubtedly cause some trouble between the Aussies in the future.
With only three episodes down, and three epic players being voted out, this season is panning out to be one of the best worldwide yet. An exciting yet assuredly deadly twist is coming, as both tribes will go to Tribal Council together while not being merged yet, and by the preview, it seems the hidden idol at JLP’s stage will shake more than one player, and the audience as well. Next week can’t come soon enough!
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