Whoever isn’t watching Australian Survivor is truly missing out on the whole Survivor experience. I had my doubts going into this season after the host debacle (forever team JLP, btw), but when you cast a messy and entertaining group of people, they will, for sure, deliver a great season. I can’t wait to watch how everything will unfold in these last few episodes, but let’s begin with the latest recap.
The episode starts with Simon celebrating having reached the epic milestone of playing Australian Survivor for 100 days. He also claims this Simon 3.0 version of himself is the one who will take the game. While he’s joyous about his epic feat, Keeley and Brooke are annoyed at Simon for his betrayal and call him a wimp behind his back.
Brooke and Simon later talk by the shelter, where Brooke calls him out for jumping ship, and, to his credit, he doesn’t deny it. Simon tells Brooke that he will use his bond with Jackson and Ben to move forward, but he will also try to look after her and Keeley. Brooke scoffs at this pronouncement and tells Simon that Jackson is their mutual way to break into the majority alliance; otherwise, they’re toast without immunity.
The newbies acknowledge they were once again fooled and played by the returnees and promise to stick to their original plan of working together to get rid of them once and for all. Ben wonders why he’s such a big target for the returnees (honestly, the viewers question this too, since we didn’t know about him until a week ago), and Caleb remarks it’s because he’s leading the revolution against them.
Ben tells Caleb, Loz, and Sally that he wants this group (plus Jackson) to be the final five, and they all agree. For his part, Jackson seems to be teetering between working with his number one ally, Ben, and keeping the back door open for other potential plans.
A funny scene then ensues where Simon and Jackson are practically drooling over watching Ben cutting a coconut with a machete, as Simon claims he’s never seen anyone doing it like Ben. However, Simon begins planting the seed of doubt about the need to start thinking about how Jackson will differentiate his game from Ben’s, as once the returnees are gone, he and Ben will be the next on the chopping block. To further bolster his argument, Simon also tells Jackson that Ben is his biggest blind spot and that this is something past players struggle with most.
Before the immunity challenge begins, David asks Simon how an idol play tends to reveal truths in a tribe, and whether this applies to this group, which immediately puts Simon on the hot seat. Brooke also asks Simon whether it is indeed the case, which only makes Simon even more squeamish about answering. Then, as Simon tries to bump fists, Brooke denies the gesture and publicly exclaims she’s done playing with Simon.
David then explains to the players that they must face off in another speed-and-endurance challenge for individual immunity. As per usual, Simon takes an early lead, but just as last time, Loz gives him a run for his money. However, Simon wins immunity once again, dusting everyone else in the process.
As David places the necklace on Simon, the other tribe members are visibly less than enthusiastic. As they’re wondering if Simon is about to give a speech, to which Brooke retorts that surely he wouldn’t, Simon indeed gives an encouragement speech, much to the annoyance of everyone else. As the group starts walking out with an oblivious Simon, pretty much everyone snickers at his expense, including an amused-looking David.
Back at camp, the newbies quickly decide on splitting their votes between Brooke and Keeley, with Ben wanting to tell Simon at the last minute to vote for Brooke once again. Caleb questions this plan because it would give Simon too much decision-making power, but Ben shuts that down by saying it would still be a tie regardless of Simon’s vote, and they would then eliminate Brooke in a re-vote.
In a confessional, Ben reveals he wants this plan to work out, but he will have some fun before Tribal. He joins Brooke, Simon, and Keeley and tells them they (plus Jackson) could all vote for Cameron instead to get rid of the “riff-raff.” As Ben walks away, Brooke tells Simon and Keeley she doesn’t believe him for a second.
Ben discusses his fake Cameron plan with Jackson, believing the returnees bought everything he sold them. Simon tells Brooke and Keeley he believes Jackson is in the “right headspace” for them to convince him to work with them instead. Brooke and Keeley then go off idol hunting while Simon is left on Jackson duty.
Simon reinforces to Jackson that this is the right time to start thinking about the endgame, rather than keep making people happy by not making moves. Jackson is doubtful about getting rid of his best mate Ben, but Simon interjects that this could be Jackson’s legacy vote. Jackson is getting tired of being hounded by Simon and tells him he will think about it before walking away.
Afterwards, Simon tries the Ben plan again, this time with Loz, who calls it suicide to jump ship at this point. Completely fed up with being ignored, Simon exclaims that the newbies are too blinded by comfort to snatch the endgame for themselves.
For her part, Keeley talks with Cameron, where she tells him he’s the decoy vote, to which Cameron replies he wants to get rid of Ben. As Brooke and Keeley question his intentions, as Cameron had previously told them the same thing and didn’t follow through, he reveals he regrets not doing it before and is in on it for real this time.
The returnees don’t entirely believe Cameron, but he doubles down by saying this could be the resumé move that earns him the win. Still doubtful about the newbies’ intentions, they decide to narrow their votes at Tribal to either Plan B (Ben) or Plan C (Cameron).
At Tribal Council, Ben motions to Simon to go after Brooke, who then relays the news to Brooke. Brooke tells Keeley they need to go with Plan B and tells Cameron as well, who reiterates he’s in. Simon pulls Jackson away, where Jackson tells Simon he’s going after Brooke. Once again, Simon, this time in WWE terms, reiterates the importance of getting rid of Ben instead of Brooke.
Just as Brooke tells David she’s scared of what is ensuing, and Cameron quietly reiterates to her that she’s got nothing to worry about, Simon makes the ultimate pledge to Jackson and promises to vote for him at the end if he votes Ben out. To solidify his plan, Simon also reveals to Jackson that if he doesn’t take the move for himself against Ben, Cameron will instead. Jackson completely shuts down and declares that Brooke is his final target.
Ben then states that emotions cloud people’s judgements, and Cameron voices that looking after your own future doesn’t mean playing it safe. Brooke retaliates with her previous experience as a juror and explains that seeing someone get to the end without a resumé is too painful to watch.
Ultimately, the vote comes down to ANOTHER BLINDSIDE as Ben gets four votes after Jackson does indeed flip to get his bestie out, much to the glee of the returnees and jury members alike. Jackson and Ben embrace as Jackson apologises, and in good sportsmanship, Ben recognises he got outplayed. A still shut-down Jackson walks away from Tribal, but not before Mark tells him, “nice work” under his breath.
Eight players remain, with a clear 4-4 split, and while things have been “cut and dry” before, no one ultimately knows what this unhinged cast will ultimately do. The returnee coalition is fully stacked, but as the newbies alliance isn’t too scared to go to rocks either, it will come down to the last second to see which group will come out on top, and which will eventually be decimated in their way.
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