This was undoubtedly one of the most impactful and emotional episodes in Australian Survivor’s history. With it being a love-and-farewell letter to one of the greatest players ever to set foot on that Samoan beach, it truly is one any fan must not miss. After ten years of closely following this player’s overall Survivor journey, it also hit me personally, as I got to see how much this person grew in their gameplay and recognition, and will be forever considered to be one of the greatest to, unfortunately, never win. However, I’m getting ahead of myself. So, here’s the recap of the latest episode of Australian Survivor: Redemption.
The episode begins with the final six celebrating Cameron’s unanimous departure from the tribe, rejoicing for a few minutes about their last united vote. Caleb chastises Brooke for publicly announcing that he has half an idol (in reality, Sally has it), and Brooke apologises, while also remarking that their respective halves are void, as neither will budge in giving up their half-idol.
Jackson questions Keeley about whether she knew about Brooke’s half-idol, which she denies. Jackson also remarks that Brooke never shares any information with them, to which Keeley agrees, and tells Jackson not to forget about this tidbit. Privately, Keeley shares she’s willing to work with anybody to move forward in the game.
The next morning, on day 39, the twittering of the birds is interrupted by Caleb’s screaming about how maggots have invaded their shelter. As the players are anxious about the endgame, they officially declare themselves to be at rock bottom after discovering their clothes filled with maggot eggs. Once again, Survivor demonstrates how it truly isn’t for everyone.
While lying on the hammock, Brooke, Jackson, and Keeley are dumbfounded about the other three voting out their ally, Cameron, as once again they’re locked in a 3-3 split. They acknowledge the previous reward and Cameron’s overall attitude pushed them towards the edge, and promise to lock down their votes since they would be eliminated in a domino effect if they were to lose one of their numbers. They also hope to pull Caleb towards their side for the next vote to avoid going to rocks.
For her part, Sally is extremely wary of Brooke, as not only is she the only returning player left, but also because she sees how she has a pull with Caleb that could take him away from her and Loz. Sally warns Caleb that Brooke mustn’t know she has the other half-idol, while also lying to him about how Brooke has been saying she finds Caleb annoying. Clearly affected, Caleb then declares they must get rid of Brooke next if she fails to win immunity.
Keeley once again talks about her tight alliance with Jackson and Brooke, but recognises that the next vote must be handled differently. While she knows she would be targeted next if either of her allies goes home, Keeley employs the “anyone but me” strategy by telling Sally that she’s willing to go against Jackson and that she’s willing to lose Brooke to Caleb.
In a highly ominous manner, just as players are burning their maggot-ridden clothes, Keeley’s voice-over reminisces about how alliances and pretty much everything else aren’t permanent, particularly in a game such as Survivor. More poignantly, several people are then heard saying they must continue ‘to let things go.’
At the next individual immunity challenge, the final six must stock blocks that spell out “Final Five” while trying not to lose their balance or their progress. Keeley takes an early lead, followed by Caleb and Jackson, while the rest struggle to keep up the pace. As the challenge progresses, others try to catch up to Keeley, but they are ultimately unsuccessful. Keeley is the only one who never loses a block, winning the immunity necklace for a second time in a row. (#challengebeast) As David praises Keeley, Brooke celebrates Keeley while she’s also visibly distraught, knowing that she’s in heaps of trouble.
Back at camp, Brooke senses her nine lives might be finally up, but doesn’t give up as she immediately goes into the jungle to hunt for an idol. As Brooke and Keeley come to terms with the fact that the former is likely going to the jury, Keeley asks Brooke if she might consider giving her the half-idol. Brooke remarks to Keeley that the latter must keep up her winning streak, as she is now the biggest threat in the game, while both hug in defeat.
Meanwhile, Sally worries she doesn’t have a “big move” on her resume if she makes it to the end. To correct this, she devises a plan to obtain Brooke’s half-idol. Sally tells Caleb that she will lie to Brooke about not targeting her and go for Caleb instead in exchange for her half-idol, when in reality, she wants to double-cross Brooke and get a full idol at the end of the day.
When Keeley finds out about Sally’s plan, she’s hesitant to say that the plan sounds reliable. Sally retorts that this plan would be credible because she would frame it as revenge against Caleb for voting for her back when they were sent to Redemption Beach. Keeley states this argument sounds plausible, especially as Sally is adamant she wants to make a big move. On the other hand, Caleb and Loz are unsure about trusting Sally, as her plan places Caleb as the decoy vote, while Loz is adamant they don’t want Sally to have a full idol.
Later, Sally tells Brooke her “Caleb plan,” to which Brooke is obviously hesitant to believe. However, in her eyes, it’s the only silver lining she has left of staying. Caleb quickly bursts this bubble when he tells Brooke that the plan is fake, and Brooke says she won’t give up her half-idol. Sally then interrupts this conversation, and as she tells Brooke she can’t believe she’s about to blindside Caleb, Brooke deadpans, “I can’t either.”
Sally then tries to get Brooke’s half-idol, telling Brooke that Caleb “agreed” to give his to Sally, but only if Brooke did it too. Brooke immediately refuses to hand in her half-idol, and Sally tells her it’s the only way to blindside Caleb and then Keeley, as Brooke would then have a full idol to protect herself. Brooke tells Sally she will think about it, but privately says she doesn’t believe this plan for a second, but loves the others for “trying to make a move.”
Jackson is on board with Sally’s plan to go after Caleb, as he thinks the plan is legit. Keeley does not correct him as she toys with the idea of voting for Caleb as well and forcing everyone to go to the rocks. She calls Sally’s plan “silly” as Sally, in her desperate pursuit of puffing up her resume, could potentially leave the game instead if she were to draw the wrong rock. As Keeley battles between keeping and not keeping Brooke for self-preservation, Caleb is willing to go against Sally for placing him in danger in the first place.
The final six then head to tribal, where they meet the jury, all wearing matching flowers in their hair. Brooke tells David she’s well acquainted with the feeling of paranoia, which has become tangible as she knows her life in the game is coming to a close. Brooke publicly tells Caleb that if he votes with her, she will tell him exactly where she hid her half-idol back at camp. Caleb just says he will conduct a thorough search afterward.
Sally makes another questionable move by also publicly declaring that, at the current stage of the game, there are no more alliances, when the camera immediately locks in on a shocked-looking Loz. David questions Caleb about how he feels about Sally’s words after he thought they were working together, to which Caleb responds that he keeps thinking the same thing as his name keeps getting tossed around.
Loz is asked if she’s happy to go to the end with Sally and Caleb, and she replies that she is, since they are underdogs. Jackson immediately shoots back by calling Brooke the true underdog of the season, as she has been on the chopping block ever since the first swap of the season, and she’s still in the game. Jackson keeps his foot on the gas by calling the other three out, as they’ve had the numbers for ages, when the returnees have had to work with scraps to be here still. Then, they all privately agree to go to the rocks to split the votes between Caleb and Brooke.
Just as David goes to collect the votes, Brooke tells Keeley her half-idol is hidden inside the trackies. Ultimately, Brooke is voted out 4-2, with Keeley voting against her. I have to admit, I got a bit teary after seeing Simon’s heartbreaking reaction to his fellow comrade getting voted out, as he not only takes his cap off, but also is the first to stand up in recognition of Brooke’s playing calibre.
Brooke proceeds to hug David as she tells him it’s an honour to have her torch snuffed by him, and follows this by thanking her fellow players for the season. Brooke goes on to say she’s grateful to have been part of the Australian Survivor world for 10 years, and after 132 days of Survivor, she’s ready to hang up her buff for good and wishes good luck to the next AUS generation. Everyone then stands up and claps after Brooke, as an OG legend walks out of tribal council for the last time.
Okay, I have to confess, I got more than teary-eyed when I saw Brooke’s elimination, especially after seeing the respect her fellow players had for her as she left, especially Simon. So now, the final five must face each other for the last couple of challenges, immunities, and tribals, with only one of them emerging as the latest Survivor AU winner. I have my favourites, of course, but it will come down to the nitty-gritty to see who will ultimately prevail between Keeley, Jackson, Loz, Caleb, and Sally.
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