What an episode. Even when there’s a predictable or boring boot on the horizon, the road leading to it is anything but straightforward. While the newbie players are finally catching on to how dangerous the returning players are, the OG’s are already ten steps ahead. Mark in particular seems on his way to becoming a full-fledged Dark Sith, and it is so enrapturing that not even the resistance can withstand the havoc he creates. So, sit tight, and read on about what happened on the latest episode of Australian Survivor: Redemption!
The episode begins with a devastated Cameron, who has just lost his closest ally, Lottie, and a reeling Caleb, who feels betrayed by everyone after being left out of the last vote. Mark does damage control with Caleb by telling him he wasn’t told about the Lottie plan because of his close relationship with Blanche, as no one trusts the latter and therefore sees Caleb as a liability. Mark remarks that Caleb still has plenty of power, but Caleb privately reveals he wants revenge.
The next morning, Blanche and Sally walk away from camp for Blanche to vent, which is immediately noticed by the rest of the tribe. Mark states that the returning players, along with an adopted Keeley, are in control, while everyone else is on the periphery. To augment their power and control over the newbies, Simon also reveals he will use the canvas and rope the buffs were wrapped in on day one to create a fake immunity idol in case he ever needs one.
Simon states he wants to continue to work in the middle between the returning players and the Beauty and the Beasts alliance, as this would allow him to control both factions for as long as possible. While Simon, Ben, and Jackson converse about voting out Blanche at the next Tribal, Ben proposes going for Caleb, as it would also weaken Mark. Simon and Brooke later discuss that they still need Mark as a shield, but agree that weakening him might not be such a bad idea after all.
The players face their next individual immunity challenge. David explains the challenge will first include a two-team faceoff, and the winning team will then compete as individuals for the coveted immunity necklace. The Togiola tribe members are then divided into the purple team (Cameron, Mark, Blanche, Brooke, Sally, and Richard) and the yellow team (Caleb, Simon, Ben, Jackson, Loz, and Keeley)
While the yellow team clearly has a physical advantage, the race is pretty evenly matched throughout. However, the yellow team snatches the win in the end, allowing its members to continue competing. At the second stage, the game is once again even, but Simon finishes first and wins immunity.
Back at camp, Mark is adamant about voting out Blanche and starts rallying the troops to do so, and puts the split vote on Cameron in case an idol is played. (Too bad Blanche’s idol walked out when Aisha did) Mark then names his alliance with Ben and Jackson as the Ninety-Six Bulls.
Unfortunately for Mark, Ben seems to be awakening from a deep slumber and wants to retaliate against the returning players. Ben, Jackson, and Loz keep Simon and Brooke out of their conversation and decide to go after Mark, as they realise it’s time to strike while Mark won’t see it coming.
Ben pulls in Sally on the plan, who immediately agrees as she’s wanted Mark gone before the game even started. Sally then tells Blanche to vote for Mark, while also advising her to keep up the charade that she’s the one going home so Mark remains in the dark.
Ben then goes to Caleb and Richard to let them know about the Mark plan. Giddy with revenge, Caleb doesn’t hesitate to jump on board, while Richard wonders how to break the Mark news to Simon, as he thinks that the returnee players are working together behind everyone’s backs.
Richard promises undying loyalty to Simon while relaying the news, which obviously puts Simon in a tight spot. Simon quips that it would be a good idea to throw a hint at Mark to see if he can save himself, which Richard immediately shoots down.
Simon then ropes in Brooke, and both admit to Loz they’re not sure it’s the right time to go after Mark. Loz is sympathetic to their shield argument, but she pushes back, telling them this opportunity might not present itself again.
Brooke informs Keeley that Ben is after Mark, and Keeley immediately opposes this plan. Sally, who is also there and was aware of the flip the whole time, tries to feign ignorance, but to poor results, as Brooke and Keeley know she’s lying to them. Keeley then sends Sally to go and get Simon, and once he joins them, Simon throws Ben’s name up in retaliation for trying to stir up a revolution against them.
Mark, who was concentrating on Blanche, receives a warning look from Brooke and knows he’s in trouble. Mark says he will use his idol at Tribal if he notices things are going south (which is what Brooke ultimately wants as well, since she wants his idol flushed in the process), though he’d prefer not to use it tonight.
At Tribal, Brooke tells Mark that the vote was flipped against him, but has Simon, Keeley, and herself voting against Ben to save him. While Cameron says he’s been getting bored with seeing his people getting voted out, Simon tells Mark he has a fake idol he can use to save himself (obviously not knowing Mark has a real one).
Mark then pulls Ben away and confronts him about this betrayal. Ben owns his move and tells Mark they can be friends outside of the game. Mark replies that this attempted vote might have just cost Ben his game, and Ben takes it on the chin, proclaiming, “May the best man win.” As they take back their seats, Mark shows Ben his wrapped-up idol, to which Ben can only stare back in defeat.
One by one, the newbies realise how screwed they might be by Mark’s idol, but as it’s still wrapped, they urge each other not to get cold feet, as it might be fake. Sally pulls Richard away and asks him if they can switch back, to which Richard suggests they can (meaning voting for Blanche). Mark questions Richard about his loyalty, to which Richard replies that he’s still with him.
As a way to ensure both his and Brooke’s safety, Mark throws Richard’s name out to Simon, Brooke, and Keeley, who all agree on writing Richard’s name down. To once again ensure Caleb’s loyalty to him, Mark warns him that his idol is real and that he will write Richard’s name, as Richard is the weakest ally of all.
After the votes are cast, David asks the tribe if anyone wants to play an idol. Mark stands up, hands back Simon the fake idol, and pulls out from another of his suit’s pockets the real one, which he then hands to David, nullifying the SEVEN votes cast against him.
Brooke ends up with a single vote (from Caleb), but as the devastated rookies wonder which of them will leave, Mark asks Richard whether he was in on the betrayal. While Richard tells Mark he will explain later, Mark icily questions if he actually will. As Mark fully crosses to the Dark side, David announces that Richard is the ultimate sacrificial lamb as a result of the failed revolution. Damn, poor Richard, it seems there will, in fact, be no explanations needed afterwards.
The preview then shows that more chaos and more lunacy will continue to bulldoze their way into the Togiola tribe. No one is safe, not even from each other, and from what it seems, the revolution might not be entirely dead as its new leader could end up being none other than Chaos Caleb of all people. So, floaters, you’d better grab a life vest, or the next one to be blindsided might end up being you.
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