Matsing is still miserable, although they maintain a spark of hope. There's a really shady segment at Tandang where Abi sees the Immunity clue in RCs bag and pretends it fell out and there's some weird voiceovers so RC is forced to pretend that she just discovered it and share it with the gang. Turns out that Pete put the clue in RC's bag to create chaos, and it worked because Abi is a nutball.
At Kalabaw, Jeff Kent is seriously leaning towards aligning with Penner, and Carter (the blond young guy) joins them. Meanwhile, the women on their tribe figure out that something is up and make an alliance among themselves.
Russell finally wises up and starts looking for the Idol, but Denise catches him, so she and Malcolm go through Russell's things to see if he has the Idol. He doesn't.
RC tries to talk to Abi about what happened with the hidden and then not-hidden clue but Abi blows up at her and Pete denies knowing anything. RC realizes that her alliance is for shit.
The Immunity Challenge involves transporting clay pots of rice to stands, and then using a wrecking ball to smash all the pots of rice. Matsing takes an early lead but ends up ties with Tandang once all the pots are placed. Tandang takes over the lead and wins. It comes down to the last swing between Kalabaw and Matsing and Matsing sadly loses. Russell throws a huge fit, swearing and talking to God, and Probst has to try to talk him down from the ledge.
Back at camp, Malcolm and Denise plan to vote out Russell. I think. But they each tell Russell that they're voting out the other with the hope that if Russell has the Idol, he won't play it. The editors try to make it out like Malcolm and Denise are having second thoughts, but as expected, Russell never found the Idol and he gets voted out.
The remaining three at Matsing are huddled in their shelter, shivering and hiding from the rain. They work together to try to get a fire lit, but I don't know if their coals are just too wet or their kindling is because it's not working. So they only have cold rice to eat. It's weirdly silent while they are doing these tasks -- no score or talking, which just makes it seem more sad and desolate.
Malcolm interviews that things are bad, but it will only take one win to turn things around. Denise interviews that this isn't what she envisioned at all. The three of them huddle in their shelter, avoiding the endless rain. Denise interviews that they talk and laugh but then silence will descend and she's thinking about how she's going to continue in the game. She also knows that three is a bad number for any group, because one person is always on the outskirts. The three of them discuss that they need to mount a comeback, because there's no other option. Russell interviews that he plans to mount a comeback and he knows his remaining tribemates won't quit on him and he knows he won't quit. Well, I'm convinced. Just hand them the immunity idol right now, right?
Meanwhile, Tandang is also suffering in the rain. They have more people in a small shelter and they seem to be getting on one another's nerves, since they're pretty much trapped there. The rain lets up a little and they all gather around as Artis starts a fire using magnesium. So Artis does have a purpose! I just learned his name, so I was hoping he would do something worth writing about. Pete interviews that he likes his standing in his tribe so far and he plans to create a little chaos to keep everyone else mixed up.
Then there's this really weirdly edited segment. The gist of it is that Abi spots a piece of paper lying in the shelter, realizes it's the clue that she and RC hid together, and calls it out in front of everyone instead of sticking it back in RC's bag and asking her about it later. Abi makes it out like she didn't know what it was, but I don't get why she told everyone else it was there too. And the whole segment was edited where there were a ton of voice-overs, as if they didn't get the actual discovery on tape and had to re-enact it later or something. Anyway, RC has to pretend she doesn't know what it is either, and reads the clue out loud to the entire tribe.
So Abi's theory is that RC went and dug up the clue from where they buried it together and stuck it in her bag. Why would RC do that? To show someone else on the tribe? Anyway, it just cements Abi's assertion that she can't trust RC. Of course, Abi ignores the fact that she already betrayed RC by finding the Idol with Pete and not telling her; she still manages to get extra angry about RC's betrayal. RC interviews that she doesn't know how the clue got there, but she knows that Abi finding it means that she's fucked. Pete interviews that he planted the clue in RC's bag. So then they're all lying in the shelter and Abi won't shut up about how she can't trust RC as she snuggles up to Pete. At least Abi is keeping her emotions in check and under wraps.
Kalabaw is coming out now that the rain has stopped. Penner interviews that when the sun finally comes out, it's beautiful, and they all immediately get to work. Dawson starts a fire and asks Jeff Kent if it's big enough. For some reason, Jeff Kent gets really annoyed by that and gives an interview where he talks about all the young people on his tribe and how they don't know how to represent themselves in a professional manner. You know, like using four-fingered handshakes as opposed to five. Jeff Kent is also being won over by Penner, who seems professional. Must be the three-piece bathing suit he's wearing.
The men of Kalabaw (Penner, Jeff Kent and the skinny blond kid with a Presidential name -- Ford? Lincoln? No, Carter) take the boat out to dig clams. Jeff Kent interviews that he didn't want a veteran to win, but now that Penner has the Idol, Jeff Kent has to revise his game plan. Jeff Kent and Penner make an official alliance and then bring Clueless Carter in on it. Jeff Kent and Penner shake hands and I notice that Jeff Kent uses the full five fingers this time. That is PROFESSIONAL. Penner talks to Carter, who is so soft-spoken and mumbly that they have to caption his speeches. I don't think Carter is all that bright, either. And he looks like he's fourteen. Maybe he's a good swimmer? Not sure how he got cast.
Meanwhile, the women of Kalabaw (Dana, Dawson and Katie the Invisible) are talking about how the men seem to be bonding and making an alliance. Dana suggests that they stick together and, after the merge, they try to gather more women. Dana doesn't think they need the men, because she can start a fire and kill a chicken. Dana interviews that she thinks women naturally gravitate together, and while men think in terms of what they can physically offer a tribe, women are better at the social game. I don't have the energy to create a spreadsheet right now of every cast member on this show and their physical game versus social game, but instinct tells me that the best players have a combination of both. That said, I think social game trumps physical if you can only have one or the other, because if everyone hates you and you lose one challenge, you're going home.
Russell is being annoying around camp, talking about how he's the victim of being on a bad tribe and whatnot. Malcolm interviews that he sized Russell up early on and Russell has done nothing to change that opinion; Russell lacks self-awareness and is only there because they keep losing and needed to hold onto muscular guys. Russell interviews that neither Malcolm nor Denise has talked to him about their plans if they do end up going back to Tribal Council, which makes him nervous.
Russell suddenly remembers that he has a clue for the Hidden Immunity Idol. Why hasn't he been looking for it all along? Why wait until now? The editors have some fun as Russell interviews that he's sure he's walked past the Idol a million times and everyone at home is yelling at him. So they show him walking past the Idol at least three or four times and not even glancing in the right direction. He's looking under the shelter when Denise catches him, and he makes up some lame story about something that fell but then he realized that nothing fell.
Denise shares her suspicions with Malcolm, and since the two of them are alone in the shelter, they go through Russell's clothes and bag to see if he has it. They don't find anything, but they also know that he could have it on his person. Malcolm interviews that they plan to blindside him so he doesn't get a chance to play the Idol if he does have it.
Skupin is cooking rice and Abi is putting her two cents in. Skupin turns and offers some to RC, who thinks it tastes great, which pisses Abi off, I guess? How dare they not respect and recognize her rice authority! I think Abi is a little unhinged. Pete interviews that he caused all the problems between RC and Abi. I think Pete is taking a little too much credit; Abi was nutso before Pete got involved, and would have imploded with or without him. He's just the accelerant.
RC pulls Abi aside and asks if she wants to talk about what happened with the clue. Abi says she doesn't want to talk about and she's over it. RC wants to explain that she doesn't know how the clue got out, but Abi keeps saying that she doesn't want to talk about it, and they have nothing to say, and RC broke her trust and she's CA-RAAAAAAAZZZZYYYYYY. RC interviews that she has no clue what happened with Abi and now she doesn't know if she even has an alliance. Here's a clue for you RC: YA BURNT. Scramble, girl. Both women vent their frustrations to Lisa, who offers platitudes and sympathy like a good Eastland girl. Lisa interviews that she's going to try to get those two to flame out and take the heat off her. Good strategy.
Immunity Challenge! The tribes report. I just realized that the Idol are chickens and it's making me wonder whatever happened to the chickens that the tribes rescued in the premiere. Did they eat them? Did they escape? Anyway, the challenge involves using a yoke to carry two heavy clay pots filled with rice to various stands. Once all six pots of rice are in place, they have to use a wrecking ball to break all six pots. First place team gets supplies for a steak dinner. Second place gets veggies and some spices. Third place gets nothing. Probst reminds Kalabaw and Tandang that they need to sit out three tribe members and they both choose to sit out their three females.
The first flight is Malcolm vs. Skupin vs. Carter. Malcolm makes a fast start. Carter breaks a pot right off the bat and then struggles going forward. Probst is happy to point out that Matsing has the lead for the first time ever. Have I mentioned that they have to carry the rice pots through an obstacle course in a slippery mud pit? So that adds a layer. Denise is the final one to go for Matsing, and her team has a lead when she begins, but Pete's long legs help him step easily over the obstacles and he takes the lead for Tandang. Matsing remains in second and Kalabaw in third, going into the smashing pots portion of the challenge.
Artis is smashing pots for Tandang, Malcolm for Matsing and Jeff Kent for Kalabaw. Artis doesn't have any wasted swings from what we see and Tandang gets first place. Now it's down to Matsing and Kalabaw, who each have one pot left. Malcolm swings and misses. Jeff Kent swings and misses. Malcolm swings and misses. This is intense. Jeff Kent swings and glances his final pot, which shifts but doesn't break. And just when you're thinking Matsing might pull this off, Kalabaw's ball hits the pot on the backswing and smashes it. Awesome, awesome cinematography, editing and score on that challenge. I was on the edge of my seat and felt like I could smell the mud.
As Tandang and Kalabaw congratulate one another, Russell smashes the final pot on the ground and then throws a big temper tantrum. He stomps around and yells, "Same old crap! Lord, I don't know what happened!" The other tribes are just awkwardly standing around as he yells to God. Probst finally interrupts and asks what's up and Russell mistakenly calls Probst, "Lord." Heh. Probst wonders why Russell talks like he's not supposed to fail, but he's just a human. Russell says that he was formed by God as a perfect creature and he's supposed to live in excellence. Probst explains the world to Russell: someone wins which means someone has to lose. Russell finally settles down. He has mental problems. Tandang takes the food and heads out. Kalabaw decides to trade their food for a tarp. Smart move, since the rain is killing them.
Matsing sadly returns to their camp. They're all really down in the dumps and sadly trying to wash the mud off their exhausted bodies. When he gets a second, Malcolm tells Russell to vote Denise out and keep the two athletes. Malcolm interviews that he's close with Denise, but when he made the alliance he didn't think he'd have to make these tough decisions so early in the game.
While Russell is out pacing on the beach, Malcolm and Denise quickly discuss their strategy. Malcolm says that Russell thinks Denise is going home, but obviously she's not and they need to make him comfortable so he doesn't play the Idol if he has it.
We've seen the other two combinations of people having a strategy talk, so now it's time for Denise and Russell to discuss what's going to happen. Denise goes into counselor mode and Russell opens up to her and says that he always expects the best from himself. Then he tells a story about how he got jumped by two kids when he was eight years old and he later caught one of his attackers and punched him and decided not to live in fear ever again. Wow, good story. Denise brings things back around to talking strategy and makes her case why Russell should vote out Malcolm. Russell tries to get Denise to admit that she has an alliance with Malcolm, and Denise cleverly doesn't lie but also doesn't admit anything. She's good. Russell now has hopes that he could stay. Malcolm interviews that with three people, the vote could really go any way, which is scary. So they all head to Tribal Council without a hundred percent confidence that they are staying. Denise has the greatest confessional. She says that she trusts people, but if she finds out that the guys teamed up to vote her out, she won't be mad. She'll just know that she screwed up and the guys played the game better than her. I mean, it would probably be a boring show if everyone had that attitude, but it would be a better world.
Matsing arrives at Tribal Council. Probst asks Malcolm if things were interesting at camp today. Malcolm says that there's no telling what's going to happen and Denise agrees. At first, I thought Russell was shaking from nerves, but I think it's just that cold. They're all shivering. Except Probst, who probably has a space heater. Probst asks Russell about his outburst after the challenge, and Russell explains his counseling session with Denise, and that he concluded that he always expects the best from himself and he doesn't see that as a problem. Malcolm admits that he nominated himself to be the rice-pot destroyer, and he's willing to take the heat for losing.
Probst asks each contestant why they should keep him or her. Denise says she's strong both physically and socially. Malcolm says that he's twenty years younger than Russell and a foot taller and stronger than Denise, so he's physically better. Russell's argument is that he's not a threat like Malcolm is, but he can hold his own physically and socially. Can he? He's sucked in more than one challenge and he's kind of a weirdo who alienates people with his bossiness. Now Probst wants to know why they might vote out Denise, and Malcolm and Russell agree that Denise's social game is without peer; Russell adds that a jury would just hand her the money, along with some extra money from their personal accounts, because she's just that good. Probst asks Malcolm what he thinks will happen tonight and Malcolm says that the two going forward will be the two with the best chance to go deep in the game. That's a nice non-committal answer.
This is my least-favorite kind of vote, because they all seem to genuinely like one another and get along, and there's no clear loser. Well, I don't like Russell, but the others seem to like him okay. We see Russell vote for Malcolm and Malcolm vote for Russell, so Denise is the swing vote. Probst tallies the votes and no one plays the Idol because no one has it. No surprises here: Russell is voted out. Well, he seems surprised, but the audience isn't. Will there be a tribal mix-up week or are Denise and Malcolm just going to have to gut it out? I don't know which I would rather see, but I'd like those two to make it. I like those crazy kids.
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