We have finally reached the merge (and already the jury), as the Survivor: Island of the Idols episode 8 press photos set up plottin’ and schemin’ aplenty.

The Survivor: Island of the Idols episode 8 press photos will display all sorts of spoilers about the merge, including the tribe name, buff colors, tribal dynamics, and a peek at the Immunity Challenge.

It’s official; everybody left in Survivor: Island of the Idols is at least passably dateable. That is because reversing Kat Edorson’s logic, everybody has made the merge, with Jack Nichting becoming the first member of the jury. This means he will not have met 4/13 of the people who can win the game from this point on, reiterating our wish to have a jury that always begins at the merge.

Regardless, the Survivor: Island of the Idols episode 8 press photos are finally in, as they went up on a Friday evening as if it were some sort of bad news information dump. It’s quite the opposite, actually, as there are many fresh, engaging photos for which to share, hypothesize and overanalyze this week.

The merge is here, so out with the old and in with the new! The merge buffs are a super cyan color full of vibrancy, and the orange and purple flowers beside the basket are a nice touch. It indicates another merge feast where tribes are boated together without Jeff Probst.

Survivor burned through its once-a-season sponsorship, so no Outback Steakhouse feast at the merge. There is just one other photo of the merge feast, and it’s Dean standing near the edge of the table, so perhaps there’s a gameplay reason why nobody else is seen at the table for now.

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It’s always nice to see the final moments of the merge before it turns into gameplay, and almost the entire gang is here. It looks possibly like Kellee has her buff over her head right above Karishma, but I have no guarantee for where she or Lauren are. Also, Noura is wearing Janet’s lifeguard sweater. Ain’t that neat?

It’s great to see Missy and Elizabeth in their element, as Elizabeth has been the go-to reaction face for Survivor promos all season.

The painting of the tribe flag is a sacred Survivor tradition, and it looks like they’ve passed the test enforced since Worlds Apart; come up with a better tribe name than “Merica.” It is a test every merge tribe has passed since.

In my Google search for “Lumuwaku,” the third result was for the obituary of David Nichting, father of Claire and Jack, who died in 2012. The timing fits for it being an homage to Jack Nichting’s father, as Jack opened up about it in his Ponderosa video. It’s a lovely name that, admittedly, brings a tear to the eye.

Back to shrewd gameplay, it’s only a matter of time at every merge before it comes back to gameplay, and original Vokai outnumbers original Lairo 7-6. However, there are eight women and six men, and with Survivor bringing up women empowerment, the #MeToo movement, and the thought of a women’s alliance, perhaps we see the origins of a cross-tribal one operate.

It may not be a full-bore women’s alliance, but it would certainly track for now based on who is available to flip. Karishma has put herself into that role for weeks now, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s not integral to the merge vote.

There’s always a multitude of plans going on at the merge, and just like Wardog perched himself in front of a log in Edge of Extinction, Lauren Beck seems to have a favorite strategy log of her own in Island of the Idols.

Elaine and Aaron have had an oddly contentious relationship so far in this game, as the two have betrayed each other strategically in one way or another quite a few times. However, Lairo might have to stick together if they want a winner in the long term.

Another shot of strategy between Elizabeth and two new tribemates Jamal and Kellee, but it’s also the best shot of glorious Fiji so far this week.

It’s part of Karishma’s favorite Survivor quote that she revealed in the preseason; “Individual immunity is now what you covet.” This is the Immunity Necklace.

The Immunity Challenge is simple in theory, but grueling in practice. All you have to do is to balance while holding up a big board with three balls currently cupped on the board. Go too high, and they drop but go too low, and you’re out of the challenge.

And away we go! As you can see, it’s an awkward position to start.

As you can see, it really strains your muscles, puts you in an awkward spot while also putting your feet on tiny pedestals.

With the exception of the first member of Survivor: Island of the Idols’ jury, the remaining are candid shots of the remaining competitors who have made the merge.