After they vote out Laura B., the rest of Galang discuss how awesome they are, and how they plan to stick together after the merge. Vytas promises that Aras will join them, and everyone thinks Gervase will be along too. Tina promises Monica that she can move up from the six spot to the five spot (I guess Gervase is six?) and Monica is like, "Um, thanks? How about final three, though?"
It's the last truel, with the winner rejoining the game and the two losers going home. The challenge is to cling to a pole without falling. John struggles a lot, kicks off his shoes, and then starts sliding and can't catch himself, so he's the first one out. Then Laura B. starts sliding, desperately hanging on until the last moment, but ultimately touching the ground. So Laura M. makes it back into the game; Ciera has mixed emotions because she's got her own alliances now.
Then they merge, and Laura M. decides to burn the clue for the Hidden Immunity Idol. They really need to come up with a way to make that secret, or narrow it down to three people or something, instead of publicly giving the clue.
Once the merged tribe returns to camp, everyone is scrambling to figure out what way Ciera and Laura M. are going to go. Tyson decides to take a walk and search for the Hidden Immunity Idol, based on the clues that Caleb shared with him from John's information, and he totally finds it. Vytas and Aras plan to join with Tina, Monica, Tyson, Gervase, and Katie. Ciera plans to join with Hayden, Colton, Vytas, Aras, Tyson, Gervase, and her mom. So there's some overlap there, and some people are going to have to make choices.
Monica and Tyson have a nighttime conversation where Monica won't shut up about strategy, so I guess Kat was onto something there. Tyson manages to stay patient.
Immunity Challenge: Probst shows them a series of symbols which they have to repeat back to him. After one round, the only ones left are Laura, Ciera, Vytas, Aras, and Gervase. Midway through the second round, it comes down to just Vytas and Aras, with Vytas winning immunity.
Aras thinks he's totally safe, and he hatches a plan to vote out Laura while throwing a few votes to Ciera in case Laura has the Idol. Meanwhile, everyone else is planning on voting out Aras, or at least they claim so. And in fact, Tyson and company pull it off and blindside Aras. Looking worried at this turn of events: Aras, Vytas, Tina. And Aras is going to Redemption Island? I thought we were done with that but I guess not.
Galang returns from voting out Laura B. and they all feel really good about what they just did. Yeah, because they don't have to put up with her annoying ass anymore! Vytas tells them that he really trusts them, and he thinks they should have a final five alliance, including Aras. Monica asks if Gervase will join Aras, and Vytas thinks he will. Based on what information? Vytas has never been on a tribe with either Aras or Gervase: how does he know what Aras is up to on the other tribe? And interesting that there's no mention of Tyson. Do they know that Tyson is going freelance? Anyway, they assume that they will have six people voting together post-merge, which they assume is happening very soon. Vytas interviews that his rap is that they're playing a moral and honest game, which isn't quite true. Didn't they just vote out Laura B. for pretty much no reason? How was that honest?
Tina suggests that Monica has taken more risks for the alliance than Gervase has, so Monica should move into the five spot, with Gervase in six. She says this right in front of Monica. I mean, Monica had to assume, right? Maybe she thought she would be ahead of Aras and Vytas because she's been with Tina all along? So she thought she would get final three with Tina and Katie? Monica thanks Tina for rewarding her loyalty, but then goes and interviews that she can't believe Tina said that, and post-merge, if someone comes to her with an offer better than five, she'll probably take it. I don't know who she thinks is going to give her an offer better than five. At this point, you need at least six people in a voting bloc to control who goes home, right? And if Monica flips to the other side, she'll be at the bottom of the totem pole.
Laura B. arrives at Redemption Island, pretty bitter. Laura M. and John agree with her that it would have been smarter to get rid of Vytas. Laura B. thinks that Vytas will just join up with Aras and take out all the girls. She may be right, but I'm surprised that no one has suspected that Tina has a final four alliance with Katie, Aras and Vytas. That's what I suspect anyway.
The morning, John and the Lauras discover that today is the final truel. The winner will re-enter the game and the losers will go home for good. Each of them interviews that they have to win this challenge or they're going home. Yeah… that's what Laura B. just read from the clue. We got it. So, second place is okay then? NO! Second place is no good! Only the winner moves on. Weren't you listening?
Redemption Island Arena. Everyone files in and Probst reiterates what we already know about two people going home and one person re-entering the game. Ciera interviews that she has mixed feelings about her mom potentially coming back, because Ciera has her own alliances now and her mom could mess that up.
Probst explains the truel, which is very simple this time. There are three totem poles with notches every three feet or so. They each have to climb one and hang on. The last person to touch the ground wins immunity, rejoins the tribe, and gets to award a clue to the Hidden Immunity Idol. I've read that this challenge favors women although I couldn't tell you why exactly. I think it's because they have smaller feet and can use the footholds better? It's certainly more favorable to women than one that rewards brute strength.
As soon as they start, Laura B. starts sliding down. She finally gets a foothold and regains her position about halfway down the pole. John and Laura B. seem to be struggling while Laura M. looks cool as a cucumber with twenty minutes elapsed. John slides down a notch, and then kicks off his sneakers to try to get a better foothold. I think he'd be better off barefoot. Socks are slippery. Laura B. gives up on using a foothold and just wraps her body around the pole like a koala bear. John starts to slip again and can't get a foothold. He ends up hitting the ground first. I don't think it would have been particularly interesting to have John back in the game, but I kind of wanted him to win just because he's been on Redemption Island for so long.
Laura B. starts to slide and with no foothold, there's nothing to stop her. She tries to get her feet in the last notch and does, but then tries to scoot further up the pole and loses ground instead. Laura M. doesn't help matters by claiming that she's glued to the pole and she's not going anywhere. Probst cheers Laura B. on and reminds her that as long as she's not touching the ground, she's still in it. Laura B. is only a foot or two above the ground, but then Laura M. starts to slip. Not enough, though, as Laura B. finally hits the ground and Laura M. wins. Finally! There is finally only one Laura in the game.
Laura M. climbs down and hugs Ciera. Probst asks Laura B. what she got out of the game, and Laura B. says that she went out of her comfort zone and she's going home stronger than ever. John says it's tough to go out like this, but adds that these nineteen days in the game were harder than even his first year at West Point. Probst pops a boner over that; he loves when people admit how hard this game is. John and Laura B. burn their buffs and exit, stage right.
The One True Laura is excited to rejoin her tribe. But which tribe? Doesn't matter because Probst announces that they are merging right… now! Laura hands out the new blue buffs to her cheering tribemates. It must be a good feeling to know that you've made the merge. Before they are dismissed, Laura gets a clue to the Hidden Immunity Idol, which she can keep or give away. She burns it. Probst is mad. The producers really need to rethink this process for future seasons. Maybe allow the winner to hide it somewhere? And then see who can get to it first? Or allow the winner to name three people who will all get a clue and then they can decide whether or not to go hunting? Aras interviews that now that they are merged, he hopes to go "Galang Strong," which means him, Tyson, Gervase and Tina, plus Aras and Katie. That's a big alliance. We'll see how that works out.
I don't know why it amuses me so much that the merged tribe doesn't have a name yet -- so they are indentified as just Merged Tribe in the chyron -- but it does. Merged Tribe. It's like remember when generic products first came out in the '80s and there would just be a black and white box that said "Potato Chips" in giant letters? That's what it reminds me of. They're the generic tribe. And now they're having a feast.
Production must have blown the budget on the fried chicken because this feast is kind of sad. Don't get me wrong: after living on rice and coconuts for weeks, the contestants are thrilled, but the bread kind of looks like someone already took a bite out of it and then there's crackers, cheese and fruit? And wine. Hayden interviews that he's excited to eat, but he's also trying to figure out how he can be on the right side of the numbers in the merged tribe. Having Laura back complicates things for Hayden, because he's worried that she will pull Ciera into a couples alliance with the other two remaining couples.
And in fact, Laura claims that she's planning on making an alliance with the other pairs, but she needs to talk to Ciera about it. Hey, I guess they decided upon a name, because they're painting a flag. Anyway, Laura and Ciera decide to "go for a walk on the beach" (talk strategy). Tyson and Gervase nervously discuss how Ciera has to keep her mom in check and not screw up their alliance. Ciera interviews that her mom got voted out, so her alliances were obviously not that strong and also things have shifted since Laura left.
Ciera and Laura sit down and Ciera lays it out and says that she's in an alliance with Hayden, Caleb, Tyson and Gervase. And Ciera says that Laura's return makes things a little "sketchy" because it's an alliance of people who don't have a loved one. She begs her mother not to talk strategy with anyone, and they're going to vote out Aras. What Laura takes away from that is she and Ciera are in a power position, which is sort of true? Anyone willing to switch sides is in a power position, though.
Tyson decides that it's time to go find the Hidden Immunity Idol, based on the clues that Caleb told him. He quickly finds the tree that was mentioned and starts digging around with a stick. And he finds it! He claims he's not going to share it with anyone, unless he needs to use it to keep an alliance member in the game. But for now, it's a secret. What I'm wondering is where he's going to hide this things on his way back to camp because his shorts are super teeny tiny.
Vytas and Aras decide to talk strategy, but their talk basically consists of, "We are awesome, we are golden, everyone is on our side and we're going to cruise to the finals." Vytas is a little worried about Tyson, but Aras assures him that Tyson has a broken arm so he's not going to go on an immunity run. Yeah, Tyson hasn't been doing shit in challenges lately. Wait, scratch that. He's been kicking ass in challenges lately. Aras and Vytas have no one to blame but themselves for what happens . Anyway, Aras wants to get rid of Laura, because he thinks it will be an easy vote. Vytas says that if people were smart they would mobilize against them and I think, "Finally, they are going to realize what's happening!" But then Vytas says that no one will do it. Really? They are the least paranoid people to ever play this game. Anyway, they are pretty sure that they're going to be the final two.
That night, Monica and Tyson meet up after dark. Tyson offers to explain what's going on, but Monica's so mad about being told she's number five in their alliance that she has to vent about that first. Tyson tries like three times to explain that Gervase is with him and Monica can join them too, to take out Aras, Vytas, Tina and Katie. Monica won't let him get a word in edgewise because she has to keep interjecting, "But what about…" Tyson interviews that it's tough to be patient with Monica's constant overanalyzing, but he knows that he has to do it so that she will be on his side. Monica needs Tyson to keep telling her that they have a final three deal with Gervase, and then she wants to talk AGAIN about how upset she was when Tina told her she was fifth in their alliance. Monica! It doesn't matter! You have a final three alliance! Stop TALKING! I see why Tyson said he wanted to gouge his eyes out with a rusty spoon and then poke himself in the brain so he could stop listening to her.
Immunity Challenge. Probst explains the deal: he will show them a series of symbols and they have to show them back to him, in the correct order. One mistake means you are out and the last person standing gets immunity. Probst shows the first set of symbols, and then has the contestants repeat them back to him one at a time. Monica goes out on the second item. Caleb and Katie go out on the third item. Tyson and Tina go out on the fourth item. Hayden goes out on the fifth item which surprises me; this is such a Big Brother type competition.
So after the first set of symbols, only Vytas, Aras, Laura, Ciera and Gervase are left. Probst shows the second set of symbols. Laura goes out on the second item, and Ciera goes out on the third. When they put up the fifth item, Gervase knows immediately that he's wrong, so he's out. Now it's down to Aras and Vytas. And on their second symbol, Aras gets it wrong and Vytas wins immunity. Some people thought Aras threw it, but I don't think he did. Why would he? I know he thinks he's safe, but it can never hurt to have immunity, plus he seems pretty competitive.
I guess the new tribe is called Kasama based on the flag hanging at their camp. After the challenge, everyone congratulates Vytas. He interviews that he didn't need immunity, but he was happy to beat his brother. I just can't get over how much Vytas and Aras are clueless about what's really happening in this game. I know that's easy to say from the comfort of my couch, but I don't remember seeing two people so not paranoid about getting voted out. Like it doesn't even seem to have entered their minds.
Aras and his sweaty underarm hair (sorry, it's all I can see) tell Katie, Tina and Gervase that the plan is for the women in their nine-person alliance to vote out Ciera and the men to vote out Laura. They want Laura to go, but worry she might have the Hidden Immunity Idol. How? Why? I have no idea why they think that unless they assume John told her his clues at Redemption Island.
Laura then joins Monica on the overthinking brigade and takes Ciera into the woods to ask if she thinks Aras has the Hidden Immunity Idol. Ciera is pretty sure he doesn't. Laura thinks they should throw four votes to Tina and three to Aras in case Aras has the Idol. How would that help? Then Tina's going home whether Aras has an Idol or not. Maybe she misspoke. Ciera interviews that it's really weird for her to be in almost a position of authority over her mother, but she needs Laura to calm down.
Gervase takes us into Tribal Council by summing everything up. Aras thinks that his alliance is splitting their votes between Laura and Ciera. Tyson thinks that his alliance is voting out Aras. Gervase plans to stick with Tyson, but he also doesn't know for sure how everything will shake out. I know I've said this before, but this must be so weird for Gervase given that he was never part of an alliance before, and no one really had any kind of strategy in his season except for Richard Hatch.
When they arrive at Tribal Council, Probst lays out the potential groupings: the original tribes, the post-switch tribes and the couples. Tyson is sure that the couples will remain pairs. Aras does the math for us and says that they need six votes to have a majority, so just trusting your loved one won't do it.
Probst really has nothing to talk about with these people, because he continues doing the math. This time he points out to Hayden that there are three couples and that means six people, which is a majority. However, one of those six is Laura, and oftentimes people who return to the game are immediately voted out. Thanks for the math/history lesson, Probst. Hayden is basically like, "Yes, that is true." Probst wonders if any of the couples will swing to the side of the individuals, and pinpoints Katie, who says that she's just going to stick with the plan she's had all along because it doesn't make sense to complicate things so early on in a new tribe. Probst asks Tyson if he feels threatened. Tyson says that he does, but points out that there are more guys than women, and maybe people will align that way. It's true that Probst seems stuck on the three couples joining forces when no one has confirmed that's the case. Tyson concludes that there are a lot of ways to cut the pie and he hopes to "get the largest portion of the pie, Jeff." Everyone has a good giggle at that one.
Probst asks Laura what her best play is. Laura says she feels like the kid who's been out sick and missed a lot of class, but she's got Ciera to help her out and give her advice. Ciera agrees that she's been in the role of advising her mom, which is weird. Probst asks Gervase what will be different after tonight's vote. Gervase has a great answer that is honest but doesn't give anything away. He says that smart players won't see any changes and the not-smart players will see lots of changes, but people need to stay calm and take advantage of opportunities.
Voting begins. If Tyson's plan went through, we should see two votes for Laura (Vytas and Aras), two votes for Ciera (Katie and Tina) and then the rest for Aras. If Laura or Ciera gets more than two votes, the plan is fucked. No one plays a Hidden Immunity Idol and Jeff starts counting the votes. And sure enough, it goes exactly like that. When the votes for Aras are read, Aras and Tina immediately figure out something's up and look distressed. It takes Vytas a few minutes to know what's happening and he looks surprised.
Aras is voted out, but he takes it well, telling everyone, "Well played." He wishes Vytas well and goes to have his torch extinguished. Probst tells him he's going to Redemption Island. He is? I thought we were done with that. Sigh. It makes this whole blindside a little less exciting knowing that he could re-enter the game. Anyway, Tyson stifles a smirk. Let's hope Tyson avoids the "I'm totally safe so no need to be paranoid" thing because Vytas is going to be pissed, and we've already seen how manipulative Vytas can be with his tribemates. If he's smart, he'll convince everyone to take out Tyson .
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