Survivor Recap: A New Idol Enters the Game, as Charlie Maneuvers Around Maria’s Growing Target
The biggest feast Survivor’s Maria ever had wasn’t last week’s scrumptious Applebee’s meal. No sir. It was the epic blindside of Tiffany, which she says at the top of Wednesday’s episode “lit such a fire in me.” But does claiming credit for such a major move make Maria the game’s biggest target?
In short: YUP!
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But while Kenzie cries to herself about being left out of the vote, “idol fever” quickly takes over. It’s not quite the Cagayan idol sprint, but everyone is hunting around for this bad boy. (Well, everyone who’s not catching some Zs.) The lucky castaway? Venus. She finds the idol, stashes it in her jacket and then smartly rejoins the rest of the tribe to continue “searching.”
Maria’s move is obviously high on everyone’s radars, and Charlie is happy to give her all of the accolades. Why? Because it shifts the focus far, far away from him. Kenzie, Venus and Liz then wisely approach him about possibly voting off either Q or Maria, but it’s all going to come down to who wins that coveted necklace.
IMMUNITY IS BACK UP FOR GRABS | Players must balance a ball on a pole through an obstacle course before maneuvering it through a snake track and sinking it into a net. First player to land two balls in wins immunity and also some of Fiji’s best pizza! (No need to freak, Liz. Gluten-free crusts are on the menu!)
The snake track proves to be no joke. Everyone sinks the first ball with relative ease, but that second net gives everyone hell. It’s another nail-biting finish, this time between Maria and Venus, but the former wins it all — and judging by earlier conversations, she really needed this one!
She picks Ben to join her for the grub, but when she gets to make a second selection, things get dicey. She can’t decide between Liz, Venue and Q, and ultimately tells Q and Liz to play rock, paper, scissors for it. This does not sit well with the four people not chosen. As we’ve seen on many seasons past, they judge Maria’s decision harder because she’s a mom (and because she said she was basing her decision on people’s levels of deterioration), and they’re all cranky that Q, who just ate that mouthwatering Applebee’s Bourbon Chicken and Shrimp, is getting to chow down again. In Maria’s defense though, Q picked her for the last reward, so she wanted to do him a solid back. Really, everyone just seems hangry! And who can blame them?
Despite the food sitch, leaving Charlie behind with the ladies probably isn’t the best idea. The “pizza losers” (Charlie’s words, not mine) talk about cutting Q. They’re sick of his biz and are completely aware that Maria is purposely keeping him close. And if they can’t get Maria, why not get her (perceived) No. 1? (Or at least that’s the story Charlie’s happily selling.) Q, however, pitches Venus as the vote and Ben agrees that he’s totally not down with her bad vibes. (Guess bad vibes do not rock?)
Charlie weighs his options, but when Venus alludes to a possible advantage she has up her sleeve, it seems to shake him a bit. Will the power of being in the middle get to his head or set him up for eventual failure? Let’s carry our torches to Tribal and find out!
THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN | Probst doesn’t bring popcorn this time around, but he does bring licorice (and not that black kind… gross!). He kindly gives the remaining seven one piece to split amongst themselves. What a softie.
Maria takes more heat for her reward decision (mostly from the disgruntled Venus), while Kenzie speaks on being blindsided but still needing to work with the people who did it. Liz moans and groans (quite literally) about Q, but she makes more weird vocal sounds than definitive points, sooooo that’s all one big shrug emoji. Q tells Jeff that everyone knows not to say a name in front of Venus because she’ll run off and squeal to everyone around her.
The paranoia and tension are riding high as everyone makes his and her way up to the voting podium. When Jeff finishes his candy and tallies the votes, Venus does not play her idol and just like Tevin, Hunter and Tiff before her, she’s voted out with safety sitting right there in her pocket. (Read our Q&A with Venus here.)
Did Charlie make the right decision? And why the heck did Ben vote for Kenzie?! Go full tilt boogie and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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