Was this week proof you don’t need returnees for an exciting game? Let’s find out!

We get back from tribal and Lauren is not okay with the outcome. Julie asks who flipped and the flippers, Ron and Wardog, admit their act. Gavin wishes he was in on it and Wardog goes off. This scene explains everything that Wardog did wrong this episode. He had a poor social game that kept him from being saved. Wardog can’t win immunity so pissing off people is not a good idea. Gavin is unstandably pissed so he sets his crosshairs on Wardog. Gavin is not about that dog life. Meanwhile, Ron mends his relationship with Julie. She is mad that he did not tell him but unlike Wardog, she is not gonna burn a bridge over it. Ron also tells her about the extra vote Aurora gave to him.

The next morning, the “threats” of Rick, Wardog and Ron decide to stick together to vote out Aurora. This begins one of my least favorite things about Survivor. When people say that other people are not playing. I believe that there is not one way to win the game. Big movez aren’t everything; it’s about your positioning and social bonds. Big movez help give you a case but they also put a massive target on your back if you don’t have the social bonds to back it up. Most of the time the people who say no one is playing are just complaining about no one playing with them.

Ron is unsure of this group due to him being in the middle of many relationships. Ron is in a risky spot but he is not the biggest threat, hell, Rick is not a threat either.

Reward

We get a bit of a throwback in this challenge. They have to swim to a platform then swim under it in a similar way to the first individual immunity of Pearl Islands. Then, they play ring toss. The reward is a mud bath and this is a definate step up from chinese food and crappy pizza. The teams are Lauren, Julie, Wardog and Rick vs Aurora, Ron, Victoria and Gavin. Aurora was a beast being the only one to not come up for air while going under the platform. At the end, Rick wins it with his ring toss skills. Ron wants to use this time alone at camp to weigh his options.

Extinction

Kelley vents to Joe on the beach. It is nice to see them interact and then Aubry gives her some Aubs. Reem on the other hand, is happy to see Kelley out and lets her know that. Kelley cries on the beach over the experience of her game. I am not confident that Kelley will win the challenge since it sounds like she has closure.

Vata

The losers decide to make some coconut coffee. They discuss a plan to get out Rick. Everyone seems on board and Ron even gives Aurora the advantage back but then the rice comes out. Aurora wants to limit the rice because they have 11 days left but Ron wants to not be controls and calls her the rice nazi. Aurora describes their relationship as a couple who wants to break up. Ron, while dramatically crossing his legs, says that dealing with Aurora is worth 2 million dollars not one.

Mud Bath

Everyone is rubbing mud on eachother. Rick especially wants to rub mud on Wardog’s neck and back. You fill in the rest of that reference. The guys and girls split up. Lauren and Julie solidify a bond to get out Rick and the boy do nothing because they are threat. I love this Lauren who is out of her comfort zone making bonds. The guys should have made a deal with the girl but because they’re “goats” they did not. Never count anyone out because they will always have a vote.

Immunity

OMG THE CHALLENGE IS NOT BALANCE! The player instead go over tiny hundles without touching the ground. Then, guide a buoy through a net and crawl under a net with three buoys leading to a star puzzle. As usual, the physical part does not matter and to the dismay of the audience, Rick wins immunity. Rick was pissing me off so I would have loved for him to be blindsided.

Vata

The “threats” try to pull in Julie and Lauren to vote out Aurora but they are not sure. Maybe you should have pitched it at the reward. Aurora tries to pull Ron to vote out Wardog putting him in the middle again. Aurora quickly figures out that the plan ios her due to Wardog not talking to her. Damn Wardog is not subtle in anything. They head to tribal with Julie, Lauren and Ron’s votes being uncertain.

Tribal

We find out that Wardog has not talked to Gavin since that night. Gavin dishes it at him and Kelley approves. In fact, this jury has been very chatty all season. Rick compares the game to the stabbing of Julius Caesar. You know what we should just stab Caesar. The castaways did because Wardog is voted out 5-3. Smell you later!

Wardog made many mistake including: not talking to people, dicounting people, sucking in challenges and being obvious about everything. Wardog was a roller coaster. he would be good one week then suck the next. Wardog leaving hurts Rick the most of anyone. The person who benifits the most is Julie because she now has more pull on Ron. Wardog heads to Extinction and bet your rear end that Reem will give it to him in the morning.

No one was the classic definition of purple tonight but Victoria did have little sceentime. Overall, this episode was frustrating and rewarding. This episode proves how big movez aren’t always the right move.

Next time: Ron tricks Rick with his advantage menu and family visit.

Grab your stuff and head back to camp!