For most modern seasons, Survivor press photos last until the merge episode, with screengrabs to follow. Such is the case for David vs. Goliath episode 8.

Warning: This post will include a few press photos, but mostly screengrabs, from Survivor: David vs. Goliath episode 8 taken from what will show on TV.

So much of Survivor is the duality of the game. The pre-merge phase is important for players to lay low, make key duo or trio partnerships and voting out players who will make it hard to win the game in the long run. The post-merge phase is all about getting rid of the big targets and creating a key alliance that will help push you towards the end.

As we approach Survivor: David vs. Goliath episode 8 on Wednesday, another pre and post-merge switch has occurred; the brilliant, underrated work of Robert Voets (and the lesser-seen David M. Russell) ends at the merge and is replaced by the magic of taking screenshots from the next episode.

Those are the majority of the available episode 8 “press photos,” although we do have a professional look at the Reward Challenge.

It looks like we’re due to an endurance challenge? It seems like all the tribes are doing is holding up one or two bags above their heads. Christian, Alison, Alec, Nick and Gabby from Strike Force being drawn into one team is pretty lucky.

Maybe there’s an interpretive dance portion to this challenge? Carl, Kara and Davie are the only players facing forward, with Dan completely reversed, and Angelina and Mike standing to the side as they hold their bags above their head. My guess is there might be a bag transfer if players drop out.

Take a good look at what may be one of the last professional press photos of Survivor: David vs. Goliath.

Now we have entered the land of Survivor: David vs. Goliath screengrabs, which tend to be direct rips from the episode as it will air. That means Mike White takes over Elizabeth Olson’s spot in the power hammock; the throne of hubris.

Heading into the halfway point of the game, the dudes are all about the bearded scowls. Here’s Christian’s solid attempt here, also hanging onto the hammock.

Not as strong a beard for Nick Wilson, but the scowl effect more than makes up for his patchiness. He’s in a good spot, but you know he’s thinking about the complications of the next step.

Here’s a visual representation of Davie sitting at home reacting to his edit in the merge episode. Glad to know he’s got at least one confessional in this week’s promo!

The Immunity Challenge is a dexterity endurance classic; hold up a bowling ball with two sticks and don’t drop it or you lose. A basic, thoughtless activity with a stealthily high level of concentration required to succeed and thrive.

Pictured; a desperate man’s joyful glee when he realized the strong possibility he can make a strained David vs. Goliath reference during this challenge.

There are three kinds of people in Immunity Challenges.

This is the determined look of a fighter, willing to go the distance to fend off her attackers and finally secure Nick’s blazer for warmth. It will be the penultimate trophy on the way to the main prize; the Mayor of Slamtown jacket.

Alec tries to find another way to flip on the Goliaths by possibly voting out another David. A solid strategy from the man who most of the Goliaths don’t trust. Thankfully for him, Mike’s seemingly loyal to Strike Force.

John has finally rebalanced his micronutrient levels after eating at the merge feast, so now he’s back to strategizing with the squad.

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Everyone’s hanging out at the hammock, apparently! With Gabby searching for the next advantage, perhaps she spots something from her down-low vantage point. More of this non-crying Gabby content is superb.

This is both a cool shot of David and Goliath coming together on the beach of a weathered front, but also neat to see Mike and Christian bonding over their Mason-Dixon Rockstar partnership ties. Clearly, the two are in the middle of the action this week in Survivor: David vs. Goliath.

Here’s a collection of the press photos posted after the Survivor: David vs. Goliath merge episode aired last week.