- With a double tribal council sending two more castaways to Redemption Island, paranoia sets in and causes one castaway to dig deep for a chance to prolong their life in the game.
- Previously on...: Matt's time on Redemption Island came to an end, but his lack of decisiveness after the merge left him back there. Rob, who was worried about his standing with Matt back in the game, was spared when Matt decided to stay true to his former tribe and ended up back at Redemption Island again.
Redemption Island: Matt congratulates himself "on being the most naive person to ever play the game of 'Survivor.'" He says it's "like the biggest practical joke that's ever been played right now." He talks to God about how he's "using my stupidity for your glory."
Back at camp: The group is still reeling from Rob's play against Matt, but Mike and David can't even contain their amazement at Rob's move. Julie says it's "cold blooded," and worries that there's no breaking the former Ometepe tribe's loyal shield. Ralph asks Ashley and Natalie if he's on the chopping block, but she says they can't talk about any of that. He tells her that if she's in the top three he'll vote for her.
Ralph's worried, saying he has no clue what's going on. Rob pulls his alliance aside and insists that they vow not to say anything about strategy to any of the Zapatera people. Rob says he has an "us versus them mentality" in mind, and that's why he's playing them against each other.
Natalie tells Rob about Ashley's conversation with Rob and how Ashley decided not to tell Rob about it. Now Rob is insistent on the fact that Ashley won't be in the final three because she didn't tell him about the exchange. "You have to tell me everything," he tells us, as if he's talking to Ashley.
Immunity challenge: Phillip is wearing a feather on his head, saying that he was waiting for a sign and out of nowhere came this feather. He says things are looking for the "Ontempo" or "Atempe" alliance.
The players have to go through a three-round challenge involving digging for a club to smash tiles (the first six move on); then holding water in their mouths and spitting it into a cylinder (the first three move on); and finally putting together a puzzlie of blocks.
Grant, Rob, Ralph, Mike, David, and Julie are the first six to move on to the next round. In the second round, Grant, Mike and David are the ones to move on, with Rob just missing out.
In the final round, Grant jumps out to a lead as Ralph roots for Mike under his breath. But Grant has it and wins immunity as the former Ometepe tribe celebrates as if it was still tribal immunity on the line.
Back at camp: Mike is worried about Tribal Council "unless we can pull off a miracle -- a Hail Mary." Mike and David seem to notice that the tribe's flagpole has moved and they start digging. Rob notices and has the rest of his crew back to see what they're digging for. Phillip comes over and starts digging as Mike and David step aside and pretend nothing was happening.
Mike and David stand by and watch the digging, assuming there was nothing there. Mike thinks Rob thinks there was an idol there and that he and David found it.
Rob admits to us that he still "can't shake this idol paranoia." He thinks another idol could be in play because Ralph played his idol the previous night.
Rob pulls his group aside and asks who they want to vote out. Ralph and David both come up. Then Mike's name is tossed in. Rob is worried that someone has an idol and decides he has to gamble.
Tribal Council: Phillip says his great-great-grandfather, "a full-blooded Cherokee" came to him and said that someone from the former Ometepe tribe would win immunity.
Some Zapatera members try to make Phillip think he's on the bottom of the Ometepe group. Phillip continues to be the target of the Zapatera tribe's ire.
David says he has a pretty good idea that the person going home will be one of them.
Jeff says he has no idea who's going home. Steve writes down Phillip's name.
Jeff brings back the ballots: Phillip, Phillip, Philllip, Phillip, Phillip, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, and the ninth person voted out is Mike.
Mike heads off, but with only half the episode gone ...
Back at camp: Rob tells Phillip he was "a soldier" and tries to reassure him that he's not at the bottom, but he's "at the top," with Rob. Rob is very happy that Phillip is acting like a loyal solider. Rob says that Phillip is his Number 1, and that Natalie and Phillip will come to the final three with him.
The next morning, Phillip tells us that everybody wants to think he's naive and polarizing. He says he knows that Rob wants him to be there at the end. He says he has to make something happen, but "now is not the time for that."
Ralph and David discuss taking one shot to make a move. Later, Ralph starts to draw Phillip into a conversation about his standing in the game. David tells us that it's not really a lot of fun when nobody else is trying to play the game.
Immunity/reward challenge: With a stack of cheeseburger teasing them, the player show up for the immunity challenge and Jeff tells them everyone will have the opportunity to feast on cheeseburgers.
Jeff then explains that the players have the option to eat or play for immunity. Phillip and Steve are the only ones who choose to eat. The rest of the players hang over a pool of water. After 20 minutes, they will only be allowed to use their legs to hang.
Rob struggles quickly and is the first to fall in.
Phillip teases David while he eats burgers and David hangs on for his "Survivor" life.
When the players to switch to hanging from their legs only, Julie drops out quickly. Grant goes next, followed by Ralph. David has a solid position and is the last ex-Zapatera hanging on. After 45 minutes, David begins to struggle and eventually falls into the water.
Ashley, Natalie and Andrea decide among themselves that Andrea can take this one, and they let themselves fall into the water in a choreographed sequence.
Back at camp: Rob is happy that an Ometepe won the challenge and says he doesn't want the Zapatera group to get any momentum whatsoever.
Ralph sees that some fish have been caught in the net and Rob says that because they've been out for a while, they're inedible. Julie says she thinks Rob just doesn't want " his people" to take anything from the Zapatera.
Rob later tells us he's running his tribe "like the army" and he's the general. Grant walks over and eats some fish. Steve is in awe over Rob's control over the group. David also takes note that "nobody's going to cross" Rob.
Rob says that night's vote is between David and Steve, and he is thinking about the jury votes.
Tribal Council: Phillip declares that an operation of "Stealth R Us," and he outlines each person's name and role in the operation. Jeff is wowed and asks Ralph if it's difficult to beat "Stealth R Us."
Phillip makes no apologies for eating burgers when Ralph tries to mock him over it. Steve then admits he just "made the decision to take the food and hope for the best." He says "this is not my thing."
Jeff presses the group on the alliance question and Phillip reveals that they have a "buddy system" in place where none of them is left on his or her own. Jeff seems surprised. Julie says "Rob has complete control over them -- it's not even a tribe, it's a cult."
David says it's "virtually insurmountable" to overtake the Ometepe tribe members and that Redemption Island might be the best change to make a difference in the game.
The vote: David writes Rob's name down four times on one sheet hoping it will get counted four times.
Jeff reads the votes: Rob, Rob, Rob, Rob, David, David, David, David, David, and the 10th person voted out is David.
Ashley mouths to Rob, "And then there were three."
Last words: David says that the last few days have been frustrating and that every time he thinks things are moving, the brakes get put on by somebody else.
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