At Tadhana, the girls find out that the Brad vote-out wasn't preplanned, and everyone wonders which side Caleb will be on now. At Galang, Laura M is working her massage magic to bond with her tribe, especially Aras.
Redemption Island Truel. Candice and Monica and Brad bicker over whether Candice has any standing to make her claims against Brad. The truel itself involves talking apart a crate and using the planks to make a bridge. They have to take apart the bridge and use the planks to make an airplane. Just kidding, it's a puzzle. John finishes first. The entire Galang tribe cheers for Brad, supporting Monica. Brad and Candice are neck and neck, but Brad pulls it out just a few seconds ahead of Candice, so Candice goes home. Boo! John gives Monica the clue and she once again throws it in the fire.
Immunity Challenge. They have to slide down a giant water slide, grab a ring and toss it on a post before their opponent, earning a point. The first team to five points wins immunity and an awesome food reward. After taking an early lead, Tadhana never loses it and actually wins a challenge!
So now Galang has to vote someone out. Will the core alliance of Tyson, Gervase, Tina, Monica and Aras hold? Laura B tries to create dissent by claiming that the women who had to sit out in the challenge were bitching about Kat, but she oversells it hard and Kat and Tina and Tyson are all like, "The fuck is your problem?" Just not to her face. So everyone hates Laura B and they talk about how easy it would be to vote her out. Aras and Tyson discuss that they could put Laura M on Redemption Island and hope she beats Brad, since she's so good at puzzle challenges. Without Brad, Monica is hard in their alliance.
Tribal Council. Everyone debates whether it makes sense to keep someone who might rejoin a loved one at the merge, and whether it's a given that people will toss aside tribal allegiance after the merge. The tribe votes out Laura M, who obviously had no idea it was coming. God, I will be so happy if she outlasts both of the guys at Redemption Island.
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Tadhana returns from voting out Brad, all still stunned at what just happened. Katie asks Vytas if he's upset about Brad leaving, and Vytas says he's not and reveals that he's the one who switched his vote and sent Brad home. Ciera interviews that now she's hopeful that Caleb will switch over to align with the women, and they will have a majority. She adds that even if that doesn't happen, she's happy to be there for at least three more days.
Ciera asks the guys if they had planned to vote out Brad, and they say no. Caleb says the feeling just festered until he felt forced into action. Vytas says that it was a huge move, and Hayden is stunned into silence. I feel like that probably happens to Hayden a lot. Like his mom buys a new brand of salad dressing and he can't even speak from the shock. Anyway, Hayden interviews that Caleb kind of screwed his alliance, and they don't know if he's even in their alliance anymore, which is bad news.
Brad reports to Redemption Island nervously, since John and Candice are there waiting for him and they're not his biggest fans, to put it mildly. He wakes them up and says he's waving a white flag. He launches into his apology before Candice is even fully awake, and she interviews that she was happy to see him, since it meant he got voted out. John laughs sadly about their so-called alliance. Candice and John finally wake up and have to sit there while Brad ruminates on the nature of the game, and how it's not personal. Neither of them seems to be buying what he's selling.
That same night over in Galang, Laura M. is giving Aras a massage. There are varying opinions on how intimate the massage is; I wouldn't say it's sensual, but I also don't know that, as a married woman, I would be pressing my boobs into a dude's bare back if he's not my husband. I have given plenty of back rubs to male friends with no ulterior motive, but I always kept the body contact to a minimum. Anyway, Laura M. admits that she's trying to get Aras to like her (but not like her like her), and Aras interviews that these massages aren't swaying him away from his core alliance with Tina, Monica, Tyson, and Gervase. He adds that Kat, Laura M., and Laura B. are on the outs.
Meanwhile, Laura B. is not able to make friends with anyone, because she's totally socially awkward. She blames it on the fact that everyone else has played the game before, but come on. Look, some people are good at making friends, and some aren't. I'm the queen of parent small talk at the playground, but I only have a few close friends, and I've had them forever. Newsflash: people are different! Everyone else sleeps snuggled up together and Laura B. is all by herself on her mat. I don't know why she couldn't just move her mat closer to them, but if she's anything like her husband, she fancies herself a bit of a martyr.
Time for the Redemption Island truel. Galang finds out that Tadhana voted out Brad, and Monica is visibly upset. She tearfully offers to take Brad's spot and Brad is like, "Don't be ridiculous. You're a woman." Just kidding, he doesn't say that, but would you be all that surprised if he had? He then announces to the world that he's not a jerk. I feel like if you have to announce that? You might be kind of a jerk.
Probst is ready to stir the pot, and points out that Candice has been the most vocal about Brad being a jerk and screwing over his tribemates, and yet she hasn't spent any time at all in either tribe. Candice says she was just repeating what she heard from people who were voted out. Well, they wouldn't be overly bitter or anything. Brad points out all of the people who DON'T think he's a jerk. Look, I think Candice is a little too boisterous and should take it down a notch, but I also am tired of Brad trying to prove what a great guy he is. Actions speak louder than words, and his actions have been kind of jerky. Monica weepily tells Candice that maybe she's learned a good lesson, because it hurt her feelings when Candice screamed obscenities at her husband. Seriously? Did Monica just say it hurt her feelings? Is this preschool? Get over it, girl. And stop crying. Candice just snaps that it hurt her feelings when Monica voted her out on the first day. Good comeback. Again, Candice could be less vocal about her bitterness, but she's kind of earned the bitterness, I think.
Enough of the Brad and Monica show. Time for the truel. They have to take apart a crate, use the boards to build a bridge, cross the bridge, and then use some of the same boards to complete a puzzle. Candice takes a quick lead and Probst claims that Candice has owned Redemption Island and no one has beat her. Um, didn't John beat her last week? I'm sure he did. Anyway, John finishes his bridge first but Candice and Brad are only a board or two behind him. John starts working on his puzzle first, then Brad, and then Candice, who is moving a lot slower than usual. John finishes his puzzle first. He yells encouragement to Candice, while all of Galang seems to be rooting for Brad, which makes no sense. They don't want Brad to come back, right? I mean, I guess they got caught up in the moment or just wanted to seem like team players, but I'm pretty sure it's best for them if Brad goes home. Candice seems SO close and I thought she had it, but then Brad finishes and yells, "Done done done!" And he is.
Candice and John both talk about how hard it is for her to leave. She's leaving John, and he still feels guilty that he didn't switch with her in the first place. She says goodbye to John and then tells everyone else to have fun and wishes them luck. It's like all of the bitterness drained out of her when she realized that she was going home. I'm sorry to see her go. At least she was interesting, unlike say, Ciera and Katie. Or Laura M. Or Laura B. Or Hayden.
John gets a clue and again gives it to Monica. I guess he knew she would burn it, so giving it to her meant no one else would have a chance at the Idol. Anyway, she takes it, Brad tells her to throw it in the fire, and she repeats him kind of robotically. I guess the charitable assessment is that she was already going to do that, so she's just agreeing with him. If you're feeling charitable. Monica throws the clue in the fire and both tribes head back to their camps.
Back at Galang, the tribe assures Monica that Brad is doing fine, and Tina adds that he'll probably be back in the game soon. Monica tells them that it's all a game, and if one of them is there, they are both there, because they are the same person. Probably not what you want to tell your alliance.
Tina interviews that Brad and Monica are a very tight couple, which is a threat. Later, Monica and Tina go to get water and Monica says that even though she and Brad are a couple, it shouldn't affect their alliance. Monica might want to get more specific there: "I will never vote against our alliance even if that's what Brad wants" or whatever. Tina interviews that with Brad halfway out of the game, Monica is stepping up her gameplay and Tina doesn't fully trust her. Monica tells Tina that they'll keep their five strong to the merge and then reassess based on who still has loved ones in the game. Tina adds that Brad isn't just "a dumb jock, he's a lawyer too." First of all, I've met some smart lawyers and some dumb lawyers, and second of all, smart doesn't necessarily mean good at this game.
Over at Tadhana, it's time for the annual reckoning of the body, with nice close-up shots of everyone's bugbites, cuts, cuts with flies in them, and the like. It is gross. And then there are Katie's feet. She has gotten a rash from wearing wet shoes all of the time, and it's caused her feet to become red and inflamed. And her toenails are falling off. Now I've had a toenail fall off; I dropped a double jogging stroller on my toe while getting it out of my van (workmom's comp), and it caused my big toenail to turn black and then grow out half black and finally it fell off. It was maybe the grosses thing that's ever happened to me besides childbirth. Toenails aren't supposed to just pop off, and yet that's what's happening to Katie. So they're beaten physically and emotionally right now. Vytas is especially grossed out, but he's also trying to figure out how to deal with their current standing in the game, and make sure that he's not getting voted off any time soon.
Vytas and Caleb are fishing. Or more like "fishing" I guess since it looks like they're just napping in the boat. In my experience, that's a lot of what fishing is all about. They're also chatting about Ciera, and how she is awesome. Vytas interviews that Caleb has to be treated like a loose cannon now, since he's shown that he'll change his mind on a dime, so Vytas is trying to stay on his good side. The way Vytas chooses to do that is to talk about how crazy it is that they have connected and then compliment Caleb's skin. Oh, Vytas. You are so transparent. Are you going to offer him a massage ? Or ask if he wants to cuddle up with you in the shelter for sleeping? Caleb interviews that he feels powerful, and it's good to be the swing vote. It's kind of not. It just paints a big target on your back.
Later, Vytas does yoga on a hilltop while we hear him explain how much more peaceful their tribe is without Brad's noise and bluster. Then all five remaining tribe members are sitting up high, looking out over the ocean, talking about the upcoming Immunity Challenge. Vytas tells them that they have to just want it more than the other tribe, and they can do it. Nice pep talk, dude. Ciera interviews that if they lose, she thinks she'll be going home , so winning would be perfect time both for her and the whole tribe. Well, now they're obviously going to win.
Immunity Challenge! Probst explains that they will go in pairs down a giant (maybe three-story high?) slide and grab a ring at the bottom. They will then try to toss the ring on a peg, and whoever does it first wins a point. The first team to five points win immunity and a steak dinner or fishing gear. Galang sits out Monica and the two Lauras. Monica and Laura M. both mutter that they hate sitting out.
The individual pairings are not that important. It's a fun challenge to watch, mostly because of the giant slide. Tadhana wins the first one, and soon has a 3-1 lead, which then becomes 4-2. And then Hayden wins their final point, and Tadhana wins Immunity for the first time. They choose the steaks for their reward instead of the fishing supplies. I don't know if they just wanted it more or if they figured the merge is happening soon or what, but that seems like a short-sighted decision.
Once Galang returns to camp, Laura B. starts panicking because she's never been to Tribal Council before and she's FREAKING OUT. And she's one of those people who can't stop talking when she's nervous, which is only going to make people want to vote her out more. Later, Tyson cracks a coconut for Tina and Kat and Laura B. sidles up and tries to start shit. But she is TERRIBLE AT IT. Like her opening gambit is, "Your sweet friends were kind of bitching about you during the challenge." What? Is that even English? Who talks like that? She should have walked up and been like, "Did Monica talk to you about the challenge? No? Oh, I figured she would. Oh, no big deal. I probably shouldn't say anything. Well, I guess she was upset that she didn't get to do the challenge, at least that's what she told me. I don't know what that was all about. I mean, I thought you did a great job, Kat. Better than I would've done, you know? Anyway, she said she was going to talk to you about it, so I thought she would have already. Maybe she changed her mind." You know, something like that.
Instead, Laura B. is just super awkward and tries to bond with Kat over how catty (heh) other women can be. She practically says, "Bitches, man. You know how they do." That would actually be less awkward. Instead, Tina, Kat, and Tyson are left staring at one another, wondering what just happened. Kat humors her because what else are you going to do. And then after everyone else walks away, Laura B. can't stop overselling her lame attempt at fomenting dissent. She glances over her shoulder and says, "Just thought I'd throw that out there. Heh heh. Oh, women." She is terrible at this game. Tyson interviews that they have their alliance of five with him, Gervase, Tina, Monica, and Aras. Kat thinks she's part of the alliance but she's not. The two Lauras don't even know the alliance exists. So their plan tonight is to vote out someone annoying. Well, that seems like a clear choice.
Laura M. and Aras go fishing and discuss the vote. Aras says that everyone seems on board with voting out Laura B., and Laura M. is also totally on board, because she trusts Aras the most of anyone there. Aras interviews that it would be easy to vote out Laura B. but easy votes are often the dumbest votes in this game.
Aras and Tyson have a strategy sesh in the hammock. I think someone French braided Tyson's hair. I wonder if it was Aras. Anyway, they discuss how it would be easy to vote out Laura B., but Aras has an alternate theory. He says they could vote out Laura M., who is good at challenges, especially those with puzzles, and she could knock out Brad. And then they don't have to worry about Monica ditching their alliance to cook something up with Brad. That's not a bad theory, but you're also getting rid of someone on your tribe who is good at puzzles. That said, Laura B. has been a strong contributor, especially in swimming challenges, so she would be a loss as well. Honestly, Kat and Tina have both been useless in challenges.
Tyson and Aras tell Monica that they're voting out Laura M. So those two are making unilateral decisions for their tribe now? Monica is worried, because she knows that Laura M. could knock Brad out, while she doesn't think Laura B. would. Later, Monica tells Tyson and Aras that she'd rather vote out Laura B. and they agree that it's an option. Aras interviews that he really wants to vote out Laura M. but he knows it's not solely his decision to make, and he also doesn't want to put a target on himself by appearing to control the voting. Aras is playing smart. Also, I am happy to hear that they will probably vote out one Laura, because I'm tired of differentiating.
Tribal Council. Gervase starts by saying he can't believe how much the game has changed since his season. Well, yeah. In the first season (which I rewatched over the summer), people were mad if you even suggested alliances. They considered it cheating. Were we ever so young? Tina adds that she played more in the first five days here than she did in the entire Australia season, and the Blood vs. Water thing has added even more wrinkles.
Probst asks Monica how things are different this season, and Monica points out what everyone knows – that you have to constantly be thinking about each player's partner, and how being reunited with that partner at the merge might affect the alliances and strategies. Aras agrees with her but states for the record that he doesn't know what Vytas is up to on the other tribe, and maybe they can work together post-merge, or maybe they can't. But Aras says that his first priority is his current tribe. Laura M. agrees that she's ready to cut the apron strings and let Ciera fly on her own. Gervase says that it's great that Laura M. has been willing to crush her daughter in challenges, but they are obviously still close as everyone is with his or her loved one.
Then Probst asks a really mean question. He points out to Laura B. that she was voted out in the first moments of the game and now she's playing with a bunch of veterans when she's a total noob. He asks, "Do you belong out here?" That's a bit harsh, no? Laura B., of course, says that she's earned her keep on the tribe, and Monica backs her up.
So Probst is done being a dick to her, right? NOPE! Laura B. says that she knows that her tribemates, despite being welcoming, were disappointed to see her instead of Rupert. Probst asks if she gets that, that she's not Rupert. I think she's well aware that she's not Rupert, dude. AND THANK EFFING GOD. Laura B. says that she's bonded with everyone. Kat rolls her eyes, but Probst doesn't call her on it.
Laura M. pipes up and says that Laura B. hasn't felt "the sting" of being voted out, and the rest of them have. Well, except Aras. He was never voted out. Tina wasn't in her original season, but she was in the seasons she played after that. What was Laura M.'s reason for making that point? Was she just trying to remind everyone that Laura B. is an outsider? That she's one of them? I don't know.
Voting begins. We see both Laura B. and Laura M. vote for one another, and they each make a remark about being the only Laura on the tribe now. The vote seems to be unanimous; Laura M. is voted out. And it looks like week is going to be some sort of tribal shakeup, so all of their careful strategies might go out the window.