Australian Survivor has a history of teasing a rock draw, only to pull the rug out from under us at the last second. That happened again here, but it didn’t lessen the impact of the episode. This season continued its streak of tense post-merge tribal councils with a heated stand-off, a shock flip, and the elimination of an Aussie Survivor legend.
Before we get there, though, the tribe has to deal with the fallout of Ben’s blindside. Jackson flipped on his number one and is claiming the move as his own. The Kaput alliance of Brooke, Simon, and Keeley is happy to stroke Jackson’s ego and tell him the move was indeed all his. However, those on the other side, most notably Jackson’s long-time nemesis Caleb, are quick to let him know he’s deluded if he thinks the Ben move was his.
Regardless of who can claim what, the lines are firmly drawn between the two sides, and the talk of rocks is already in the air. The so-called Underdogs, as Cameron names them, are ready to rock out, committing to one another that they won’t flip. Meanwhile, Kaput plus Jackson also agree they’d be willing to go to rocks if that’s what it comes down to.
At a cinema reward, the foursome of Cameron, Brooke, Simon, and Jackson get to enjoy a heap of popcorn and snacks while watching video messages from their families. There are tears all around, especially from Brooke and Simon, who both have young children at home. But there is an extra treat for Brooke, who snags yet another idol, this time stuffed in the cushion of the sofa. Unfortunately, this find didn’t go unnoticed, as Cameron is right there to catch her in the act.
Back at camp, Loz proposes an all-women’s alliance to Keeley, saying that together with Sally and Brooke, they could make a fierce end-game foursome. She even helps coin a name inspired by Survivor: Micronesia’s iconic Black Widow Brigade, the Redbacks, inspired by the highly venomous spiders native to Australia. Loz’s commitment to this alliance is shaky at best, though, and is more of an insurance policy to avoid a potential deadlock vote at the next tribal.
When the reward winners return to camp, Brooke makes Cameron promise not to tell anyone about her idol. Cameron agrees and sees this as a chance to work with Brooke moving forward, especially if he can take Simon out. Little does Cameron know that Brooke doesn’t have a fully functional idol, yet, anyway. She has half an idol and will need to find the other half somewhere in the jungle to make it effective.
Brooke doesn’t need the idol tonight, however, as she wins yet another individual immunity challenge. This puts fellow challenge beast Simon right in the crosshairs, as the Underdogs prepare to strike. Cameron approaches Simon and tells him they’ll be voting for Keeley and that it’d be smart of him to jump aboard to avoid rocks. This is a lie, with Cameron hoping Simon will vote for Keeley, therefore allowing the Underdogs to take Simon out in a 4-3-1 vote.
Simon brings the plan to his alliance, and they’re all happy to force a tie, Keeley especially so, because it means she’ll end up safe if she’s the one who ends up in the deadlocked vote. Jackson is also on board because he’s relying on Simon’s previous promise to pick out two rocks and spare the person who flipped to join them at the Ben vote. Jackson has no idea this isn’t actually within the rules, something Simon is well aware of and is now eating him up as the reality of his dodgy promise sinks in.
Meanwhile, Loz pitches Brooke on the all-women’s alliance but notes that it’s important Simon goes tonight. She doesn’t see Keeley as willing to flip, but she realises Brooke might. After all, Simon put Brooke up on the parchment a couple of tribals ago, and he’s her biggest competition when it comes to immunity challenges.
With the rock puns flowing, the tribe arrives at tribal council armed and ready to battle. Simon’s two-rock deal is brought up, and he awkwardly talks his way around it without revealing his deception. Jackson calls out the Underdogs, having nothing to lose, because they have no moves and nothing to pitch at the end. Caleb again has a go at Jackson for falsely believing the Ben move was his. And while all this is going on, Keeley whispers to Brooke that they should put their votes on Loz, essentially saving Loz should the votes tie, which she could use as a bargaining chip.
And that’s what happens. The votes come in at four for Simon and four for Loz. David instructs the players to vote again, with only Simon and Loz available to cop votes. If the result is another tie and the group can’t come to a unanimous decision, then rocks it is. After all the talk, the Underdogs do, in fact, hold strong, putting their four votes on Simon. On the other side, Simon, Keeley, and Jackson vote again for Loz.
In the end, it’s Brooke who flips, breaking the split by voting for Simon and sending him to the jury. She tells him it was her and that she couldn’t keep letting him win all those immunities. Simon takes it in his stride, hugging her on the way out and making one of his trademark speeches as David snuffs his torch.
Simon played a very solid game, especially in the pre-merge, where he was able to play down his threat level and work his way into the majority. He achieved his redemption by making moves that actually worked out this time and by being on the right side of the vote several times. Unfortunately for him, he fell back into some old Simon flaws over the past few episodes, with cringey speeches (a hilarious self-high-five in this episode, too) and a lack of awareness. It’s no real surprise that they took him out the second he lost immunity.
Now, we’re down to the final seven, and Brooke is the last returnee remaining. Has her flip given the Underdogs control of the endgame? It might seem that way on paper, but this season hasn’t been anything but predictable.
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