At the Reward Challenge, Probst tells everyone to drop their buffs because the tribes are being scrambled and Brains, Brawn and Beauty are no more. Now there are two tribes: Aparri (Sarah, Spencer, Morgan, Kass, Tasha, Jeremiah and Alexis) and Solana (Woo, Cliff, Trish, Jefra, LJ, Lindsay and Tony). Sarah lost her entire tribe, and all three Brains stayed together. Wow. It did seem pretty random, since they had to pick tied-up packages from a basket, so there was really no way for Production to rig it that I can tell.
For the Reward Challenge, one tribe member holds onto a pole while two members of the opposing tribe try to drag him or her across a line before the other team. Despite strong efforts by Tasha and Sarah, Aparri loses. They chose to have their two dudes attack Cliff on the other pole, so they didn’t have anyone heavy/strong to hold the pole in the final round. Solana wins a food reward.
Over on Solana, Trish tries to bond with LJ while Cliff and Woo are happy they’re still together with Lindsay. At Aparri, Sarah talks about the first-day choice and how they got extra rice because Trish didn’t look for the Idol, which outs Morgan, since she looked for the Idol.
In scheming news on Solana, Jefra tells Trish that she and LJ are tight, and forms a bond with her. While on Aparri, both Alexis and Jeremiah separately approach the former Brains and says that they want to join with them.
For the Immunity Challenge, the tribes have to carry this giant carved battering ram through three walls and then do a maze that involves maneuvering a knob through the grooves in the battering ram. It’s close, but Aparri wins; the former Brain tribe is thrilled to avoid Tribal Council.
Trish goes on a campaign to get rid of Cliff and keep LJ. Obviously, LJ and Jefra are on board, and Trish tries to convince Tony to join them. Everyone else wants to get rid of LJ, although they don’t know he has an Idol. LJ doesn’t play his Idol and their plan actually works; Cliff is voted out and Woo and Lindsay are shocked. And Lindsay is screwed, because she has done nothing to make any other alliances and contributes nothing to the overall tribe. Woo might be able to argue that he’s an asset, but she’s useless.
The Brains tribe finally ditched J'Tia! They return from Tribal Council and Spencer thanks Kass and Tasha for keeping him. He doesn't know how they made their decision, but it was kind of intense to watch them do it during Tribal Council. Kass is sure that if they kept J'Tia, they'd just be back in three days voting her out, so might as well save some time. Kass interviews that she knew they would lose the challenge if they kept J'Tia, and Spencer's been killing it in challenges. Kass avoids calling their tribe "shit for brains" but barely, and she does call them "a rolling logjam mess with a couple of nerds on top." Spencer adds that they could be the final three, since there are only two entire tribes in the way. They all laugh, but he could be right!
Tasha gets Treemail the morning, and they discover that it's a food reward. Spencer vows that this will be the start of their comeback. They head off down the beach.
All three tribes converge and Probst tells them to drop their buffs, because they're going to be resorted into two tribes. Sarah interviews that she's devastated because she just started to figure out whom to trust in her own tribe. Probst walks around with a bowl filled with buffs wrapped up in canvas. It does seem pretty random; I know in past seasons, there have been allegations that production influenced the tribal mix-ups. I never gave much credence to them, but some did. This time, though, I don't see how it could have been fixed unless there was some -level David Blaine shit involved.
They all unwrap their buffs and then move to form their new tribes. The entire Brain tribe is still together, and the entire Brawn tribe is still together except for Sarah. Shit, Sarah's screwed. Anyway, the new Aparri (Orange) tribe is Sarah, Spencer, Morgan, Kass, Tasha, Jeremiah and Alexis. The new Solana (Purple) tribe is Woo, Cliff, Trish, Jefra, LJ, Lindsey and Tony. So basically, the Brains tribe stayed together entirely, the Brawn tribe stayed together minus Sarah, and the Beauty tribe got split in half. Sarah admits that she feels like her whole tribe walked away from her and Tasha says she's excited about how strong their tribe feels. Jefra is happy to be with the strong people and hopes she and LJ can find a way to fit in, while Cliff admits that this will shift people's strategies and alliances.
Probst is ready to start the challenge. One person will grab onto a pole while two people from the opposing tribe try to grab the person and drag him or her across a finish line. It will be best of three attempts. The winning tribe gets a bunch of pastries and sweet treats.
For the first round, Morgan and Sarah will try to get Lindsey off the pole and across the line. Trish and Jefra will do the same with Tasha. As you might imagine, it's an intensely physical challenge. Morgan and Sarah finally get Lindsey free of her post, but she doesn't just give up. Finally, they get her across and Aparri wins the point; the other team never even got Tasha free of her post.
The second round has Spencer and Jeremiah trying to remove Cliff from the post while LJ and Trish try to remove Alexis. First of all, no one is moving Cliff anywhere. The dude is almost seven feet tall and he's solid -- he must weigh at least 250 pounds. Second, there's something a little uncomfortable about watching men try to drag women against their will. Maybe that's my issue but much like with many of the wrestling challenges, I feel like this should have been single-sex. It wouldn't really work with the makeup of the tribes, but it's kind of disconcerting to watch LJ and Trish drag Alexis while she struggles, which they do and win a point for Solana.
For the final round, the tribes can pick whomever they want, and because they're not idiots, Solana puts Cliff on the post again, with Spencer and Jeremiah (who might weigh as much as Cliff combined and soaking wet) attacking. The other tribe has Tony and Lindsey attacking Sarah. Despite her cop training, Sarah gets removed from her pole quickly. She puts up a good fight, but she can't really compete with Tony's strength and gets dragged. Cliff has barely moved. This was a dumb competition as long as Cliff is in the game. Solana wins reward. Spencer blames his tribe's loss on the Brains tribe's lack of luck, and also considers the women on his tribe an upgrade because they're hot and shut up, Spencer.
Solana. Day 12. They return to camp with their tray of goodies and prepare to indulge. It looks like they are staying at the former Beauty camp. I realize that the Beauty tribe used to be called Solana and that's why, but I never paid attention to the official tribe names since the show didn't really either. LJ interviews that he and Jefra are outnumbered by the former Brawn tribe 5-2, and while he has an Idol, he needs to be careful about when he plays it. He's hoping that he can be absorbed into the new tribe instead of being seen as a threat. Good luck with that. Maybe if he had a lot fewer muscles and was a lady.
They all start exchanging stories about their off-island lives, and Trish is surprised to hear that LJ is from Massachusetts, since he's a horse trainer and she figured he was from somewhere like Montana. Trish thinks they have a connection now, because she's also from Massachusetts. She interviews that he's a gentleman and really handsome, but she acts like she thinks she's too old for him. Okay, she's 48 and LJ's 34 so I guess TECHNICALLY, she could be his mother, but probably more like a babysitter. Anyway, Trish flirts shamelessly with LJ and Cliff and Lindsey are also kind of weirded out. Lindsey interviews that Trish is putting on this fake laugh around LJ and she needs to slow her roll. Lindsey, being Lindsey, is much bitchier about it, though.
Woo and Cliff discuss how happy they were to discover they'd still be on the same tribe. Cliff interviews that he feels good about the mix-up because he's with five members of his tribe and he thinks they're headed in a good direction. He's not as happy about Trish being on his tribe and plans to keep an eye on her and LJ in case they are cooking something up.
Aparri returns to their camp, which is the former Brawn camp. Sarah welcomes them and jokes that she would have cleaned up if she knew they were coming. She also tells them that this is their home now. Sarah interviews that she's the lone former Brawn on a tribe of half former Brain members and half former Beauty members, so she doesn't know who to trust.
Sarah asks everyone about the first day, when Garrett, Morgan and Trish were allowed to come to camp first. She points out that they have two bags of rice because Trish took the rice instead of looking for the Idol. Spencer reports that Garrett never told them what really happened and then Alexis realizes that means Morgan had a choice and decided to look for the Idol. Morgan tells everyone what happened, including that she didn't find the Idol. She says this while wiping sweat out of her cleavage, which, classy. Alexis interviews that this was yet another red flag when it comes to Morgan, so she's going to try to jump ship to another tribe immediately.
Alexis gets water with Kass, Tasha and Spencer. She explains that she was close to Jefra, but now they're not together so she'd like to hook up with them. It would give the former Brains a majority, but she knows they might not trust her yet. Spencer interviews that it's interesting to see the fractures in the former Beauty tribe, and he hopes they can play them against each other. Alexis goes on to trash all of her former tribemates and Spencer gives the most insincere responses -- you can tell he's running through scenarios in his head and dying to talk to Kass and Tasha and barely listening to Alexis.
Later, Morgan trashes Alexis to the rest of her tribe, talking about how she cuddled with LJ every night (she did?) and liked to twerk (she did?). Spencer interviews that the former Beauty tribe is super gossipy and high school-ish and he's surprised at how bad their social skills are. Jeremiah goes in the water with Kass and Tasha and doesn't really badmouth anyone, but lets them know he has no loyalty to Morgan or Alexis and will vote with the former Brains as needed. Tasha interviews that her former tribe is in a great position, because they don't have to battle with the three-strong former Beauty tribe, since they all apparently hate one another. This is shaping up to be an interesting mix-up on this side; which one of the former Beauties will the Brain tribe decide to ally with? And why? You want someone who seems loyal, but you also don't want someone who will be a threat to you in the end, so maybe Alexis? We shall see.
Solana. Day 12. Jefra and Trish get water. Once they are far enough from camp, Trish gives Jefra the low-down: Trish doesn't like Lindsey, and Lindsey is not a hard worker, and Lindsey has an alliance with Cliff. Jefra interviews that she hopes this means there might be a place for LJ and her to squeeze into the tribe. Trish interviews that she was very naïve at the start of the game, but now she's going to take advantage of the tribal mix-up to improve her lot in the game. Cliff is just weirdly lurking in the forest (I think he was maybe looking for coconuts but also spying on Trish?) and doesn't even speak to Jefra when she says hi to him.
Immunity Challenge. Each tribe will use a large carved pencil-shaped log to smash through two barriers and then maneuver the log's carvings through a table maze and then ring a gong. Since there are only six spots available to carry the log, each tribe has to sit someone out. Trish quickly says she'll sit out for her tribe, but the Aparri tribe is having trouble. Morgan and Alexis end up doing rock paper scissors and Morgan sits out.
Tony and LJ are in front for their team and they think they're going to be able to kick through the barrier but they can't, which cracks me up. Aparri realizes that putting the women up front isn't working because the front end of the log needs to be high up to break through, and the women aren't strong enough to hold it up. They all swap places. Both teams reach the maze at about the same time. Aparri works well together and win the challenge. The former Brains are so happy to win a challenge; meanwhile, Tony can't figure out how his tribe lost.
Solana. Day 14. None of them can figure out how they lost that challenge. Cliff says that they have to give Aparri credit for winning, like maybe his tribe didn't do anything wrong but just got beat. LJ interviews that his tribe should have won that challenge and now he and Jefra are pretty much screwed. LJ tells Cliff, Woo and Lindsey that he can be a help to them in challenges and he hopes they will consider that. Cliff interviews that LJ probably would help in challenges, but he's concerned about LJ's growing bond with Trish. Cliff tells his tribe that they're voting out LJ, and Woo agrees that they don't really need him for challenges. Woo tells Lindsey not to worry about Trish.
Trish and LJ go gather wood and Trish tells LJ that he doesn't need to worry, because she and Tony want to get Cliff out. LJ interviews that Trish's plan doesn't make sense to him, but he's not going to argue, because it means he gets to stay and doesn't have to play his Idol. I think Trish's plan makes sense. She can be on the bottom of a five-person alliance or hopefully be near the top of a four-person alliance. She knows that she's the odd person out with the former Brawn tribe; they exiled her on day one. And why not break up the Cliff/Lindsey/Woo group? Now she just has to convince Tony it's a good idea. Trish does come off as a LEETLE crazy when she talks about how she wants to keep LJ because he's a gentleman (is she from Downton Abbey?) and she wants to get rid of Cliff because he's entitled. How about you want to get rid of Cliff because he's a threat? Because he's likable and strong and sort of famous so people are drawn to him?
Lindsey takes the time to warn Woo and Cliff that Trish is going to flip and screw them over. Do they understand math? Do they know that Trish will need to take someone with her to screw them over? And if so, why aren't they talking to/working on Tony?
Trish and Tony finally have their talk. Trish says that Cliff hasn't collected any firewood, and he hasn't said a word to her. Tony agrees that Cliff is standoffish. Trish points out that Cliff will be a huge threat when it comes to individual immunity, so they should get rid of him while they have the chance, and then take out Lindsey . Tony thinks LJ is a way bigger threat than Cliff, so they should take him out now. Tony adds that it would be dumb to break up a five-person alliance now, but Trish thinks LJ and Jefra are trustworthy. Tony interviews that he's never trusted Cliff but he trusts LJ even less, so he's not sure what to do.
Cliff pulls Tony aside and asks what's going on with Trish. Tony claims that Trish didn't say anything new, but Cliff's not buying it. He knows Trish is scheming. Tony admits that Trish was talking about a move, but he calmed her down. He adds that Trish can't make a move by herself, and would need someone else to flip with her (implying that he's not going to do it). Cliff says that they need stability and Trish can do what she wants, but they're going to vote out LJ. Cliff interviews that he can't wait to take out Trish's new buddies and watch her come crawling back to her old tribe.
LJ and Jefra talk about how they don't really have any option but to trust Trish, even though they are dubious that Tony will vote with them. LJ says he's not going to decide about playing his Idol until he hears what everyone has to say at Tribal Council.
Tribal Council. Probst starts out by asking who's in charge of this camp, the former Beauty camp. LJ says that he feels like he and Jefra are a couple who have sold their home and are now just waiting for the word on when they have to move out. Probst thinks it's easy for the former Brawn tribe, since they have the numbers, but Cliff says that there are always people (Trish) who are uneasy with their lot (Trish) and trying to agitate (Trish) even though the game is always about numbers. Trish counters that numbers are only important if they're working for you, and if not, then you have to make other arrangements.
Probst asks Jefra if she's excited to hear about potential cracks on the other side, and Jefra says she is, and she's happy to hear that someone is on the bottom of the five and that person won't make it to the top on his or her own. That was a not-very-coded message to Trish. Did I mention it's crazily raining once again? They are all soaking wet and just trying to wipe rain from their faces. Lindsey admits that Jefra and LJ are on the outs, and says that her former Brawn-ites have to remember that the five of them could stick together after the merge too, which would give them a huge advantage. She doesn't really explain how that would benefit Trish and/or Tony, who would obviously be in the minority of the group of five, unless Sarah somehow rejoins them, which doesn't seem likely. This is how people lose this game: they point out why their plan makes sense for THEM and not why it makes sense for the people they're trying to convince, because usually it doesn't.
Cliff says that coming to Tribal Council has given them the chance to see how people are thinking. Tony says that this will let them find out if they're moving forward as a team or moving forward with a different team. Cliff looks a little perplexed and maybe worried?
Everyone votes and LJ does not play his Idol. I guess he liked what he heard. LJ gets three and Cliff gets three. Cliff was not expecting that third vote, and as soon as he hears it, he figures out what's up. Lindsey and Woo don't get it until the final vote is read and Probst tells Cliff he's out of there. And they are STUNNED. Jefra whispers to LJ, "It worked." I think that was a good move for Trish, especially. I think Tony panicked and I'm not sure it was the best move for him, but Trish would have been the first one gone if her alliance had to start cannibalizing itself. I could even see her tribe keeping Jefra and ditching her. The other tribe seems similarly fractured, so it will be interesting to see who's actually left by the time they merge.