Survivor: Last Resort: Cape Verde 1.3 & 1.4 - Episode 3-4

Survivor: Last Resort: Cape Verde 1.3 & 1.4 - Episode 3 & 4
Writer: Chad Taylor

Returning to camp from Tribal Council, Puma is angry at being blindsided while Gail seems complacent - having experienced the same thing the Tribal before. Just as mad are the duo of Chad and Jose, who didn’t expect Jim and Puma to turn on them. They give Kaiser props for playing the idol and point out that they now make up half of the tribe.

In confessional, Jose talks about how he likes his spot in the game right now. Due to his big personality and lack of athletic skill, Kaiser will always be a target in front of him. While Chad is his ride-and-die at the moment, he mentions that Chad’s impressive athletic ability will be detrimental once they start competing for individual immunity and so that is another meat shield he can hide behind. He mischievously rubs his hands together like a mastermind.

At the Brava camp, Jim Bonds is in a self-congratulatory mood given that he won the last/decisive one-on-one battle in the last immunity challenge. He is talking about his ultimate goal of opening a Bond-themed night club where he can perform his act and be the head of the house. In a confessional, Bonds scales back the facade a bit and says that times have been getting harder the more years pass since Die Another Day. He openly wonders if will soon have to make a mid-life change of profession that he’s not ready for.

There is still a simmering tension between Bonds and Sally as they both want control of the tribe. As such, when Bonds volunteers to lead the tribe in a fishing expedition with their new kit, Sally also volunteers. It is another group building opportunity for an already strong tribe. This is a particularly enlightening moment for Rajon, a city boy who has never fished a day in is life. Francis, from the Midwest, senses this and offers to show him how.

The two become close friends as a result. This leaves the tribe with three discernable pairs: the quiet observers in Fiona & Megan, the budding athletic power couple in Laura & Chase, and the fun-loving duo of Francis & Rajon. And of course, Sally & Bonds are the only other two and both trying to jockey power amongst these groups - although, in a confessional, Sally does say that she has thought about trying to partner with Bonds as a power duo to really run the game. However, she keeps this idea to herself for now.

It is time for the immunity challenge. One tribe member would act as a caller to guide their five blindfolded tribemates to collect ten items scattered in a field and bring them to the tribe mat. Once all ten items were collected, one pair would have to be guided to collect a set of keys and then to a locked chest. The first tribe to unlock the chest and bring it to their tribe mat wins. Kaiser and Sally act as the callers while Megan and Francis sit out for Togo. This does prove to be a good battle given that the two callers are both very clear communicators. It turns out that Sally’s tribemates are better at following orders and so they lead their tribe to victory. Another defeat for Togo.

Tensions are very high on Togo beach. Everyone is disappointed in losing again, especially Puma. Her anger combined with her competitive spirit make for a lethal combo and she is fuming. Jim, being her closest ally in the game, tries to cool her down. Puma isolates herself and says she doesn’t want to talk game at the moment. Knowing they have a solid three, Chad and Jose are a bit relaxed but still tense due to another loss.

They talk about needing to convince a fourth person to join them in the vote so as to avoid a tie. Chad asks what happens in a tie and Jose explains that the controversial Purple Rock rule. First, they re-vote and if the second vote remains deadlocked, everyone but the two people who were voted for must blindly draw a rock from a sack. Most of the rocks are white but one is purple and the person who draws that goes home - seemingly at random. Hearing this scares the shit out of Chad.

Meanwhile, Kaiser, Chad, and Jose lay out their options. Do they go with the logical choice of Gail, who has no support system anymore? Do they try to rope in Gail even though they’ve already taken out two of her allies? If so, should they target Jim or Puma? They end up leaning towards the easy option: taking out Gail and worrying about Jim/Puma later.

Jim talks with Gail, who is down and out and knows she is the next target. Jim talks her down from the ledge and says that she is not the weakest link on the tribe. He and Puma agree that they should again target Kaiser and see if they can convince Chad, Jose, or both to turn against him. Gail theorizes that they only aligned with him because of his idol and Jim agrees. He hunts down Chad and proposes them with the temporary alliance to take out Kaiser and strengthen the tribe. Knowing that Chad is a guy’s guy, he emphasizes the tribe’s lack of ability in competitions. Chad is very hesitant and not ready to make a commitment without Jose there. Jim says he understands but tells him to think it over.

Having heard Jim’s pitch from Chad, Jose approaches Jim and tries to talk him into voting out Gail. Jim says he will consider it but he’s not sure if it will help him at all going forward. Jose tells him that they could form a strong foursome and Jim shakes his head in agreement - even if he doesn’t mean it. Jim leaves him with a parting message asking what worth Kaiser is to Jose in the game. Jose agrees that he isn’t as beneficial as he was before.

At tribal council, everyone feels like things are up in the air. While past Tribal Councils kept things close to the chest, this one opens up quickly with people pointing fingers at each other. Jose openly admits that Gail is at the bottom of the totem pole while Gail is quick to respond that she is his target (she may be bluffing). This freaks out Jose, who assumed that Kaiser would have been her target. Puma, who has stayed silent most of this time, despites to speak up and points all the blame on Kaiser. Her anger is peaking and she says that she is sick of being in a tribe that is so complacent with losing in favor of “strategy”. So no strategy from her, she is outright targeting Kaiser and Gail, after that.

It gets worse when Gail defends herself and says that Puma was just as much a part of that strategy in the first week so she can’t recuse herself now. Jose whispers to Chad. Puma blatantly says that the all-girl alliance would have led to a weak tribe, to which Gail says that if that’s true, then why is the male-majority tribe not dominating challenges? Jim is sweating, not expecting Puma to go off like that. He is unsure if Puma is switching her vote to Gail and can’t talk to her privately because Puma is seething. This exchange is cathartic for Gail, who didn’t lash out on Puma when Puma betrayed her originally because Rose calmed her down. Puma’s temper tantrum allows Gail to let out her resentment as well.

Amidst, the chaos Jeff says it is time to vote. After the votes have been cast, he says that if anyone has a Hidden Immunity Idol, now would be the time to play it. Nobody does. He’ll read the votes…

First vote...Gail

….Kaiser

….Puma

Puma laughs in a pissed-off disbelief.

….Puma

….Gail

2 votes Gail, 2 votes Puma, 1 vote Kaiser, 1 vote left

Jeff reaches for the final parchment. The third person voted off of Survivor: Last Resort...Puma. Puma is still passive-aggressively laughing while everyone else sits in a stunned silence - confused by the votes ended up playing out. Jim, in particular, drops his head in disbelief.

Votes for Gail: Chad, Jose
Votes for Puma: Kaiser, Jim, Gail
Votes for Kaiser: Puma

Back at camp, all of the tribemates are in a state of confusion. Who voted for whom? Kaiser is upfront about having switched his vote to Puma because she was openly targeting him. Gail says something similar - she had no choice but to vote for her after that heated exchange. Given that it is highly unlikely that Jose and Chad split their votes, it becomes clear that Jim must have turned on Puma and voted her out.

In confessional, Jim breaks from his usual level-headed demeanor and says that he totally misread that tribal council and likely cost his game because of it. Amidst the chaos, he saw Chad and Jose whispering and assumed they were switching to Puma. So he tried to cut his losses and be on the right side of the vote but that failed miserably considering he was the swing vote that sent his closest ally home. He says that he will act like he did it on purpose, even though that is far from the truth. He does admit that Puma’s tirade proves that she could have been a liability down the line so he is going to act like voting her out was his plan all along.

In private, Jose and Chad exchange notes and talk about how savage it was that Jim voted out his closest ally - unaware that it was on accident. Jose frets that Jim might be one of his main competitions in regards to strategy. Meanwhile, Kaiser and Jim grow a little closer as a result of being on the same side of the vote.

Probst brings the two tribes together and informs them of a surprise reward challenge. The winner receive a classic American meal: hamburgers, french fries, and ice cold refreshments. This sounds extremely appetizing to both tribes but especially the Togo, who are clearly struggling. In a triumphant manner, Togo win the reward challenge and are absolutely elated.

Despite their dwindling numbers, the feast momentarily raises the spirits of the Togo tribe. It is not exactly kumbaya but everyone is getting along - even Jose and Gail. They reminisce about this first week and a half and how abysmal their tribe is - openly willing to laugh at themselves..

When Brava return to their beach, they talk about their surprise that Togo voted out one of their strongest tribemates. They are not coy about their speculation that there is an all-male alliance brewing on the other side.

While Rajon is out gathering wood, he notices a weird symbol hidden with the hole of a tree. Upon further investigation, he discovers that this is a hidden immunity idol. Rajon has never seen the show so he does not know what this is. Upon reading the instructions, he is very happy with the newfound power in his hands.

Most of the others - Megan, Fiona, Francis, Bonds, Laura and Chase - hang around camp and talk about how Sally’s annoying leadership style. Bonds notices Sally off by herself and wanders off to go visit her. Once he does, Fiona talks about how Bonds is just as bad but they are only more vocal about Sally because she is a woman. When Bonds talks to Sally, he notices that she is noticeably down. Despite not being close to Bonds, she is ready to talk to someone and opens up about how today is the one-year anniversary of her husband’s death. He was a serviceman overseas who died in an accident. Bonds comforts her and tells her she is making him proud by being out here.

In confessional, Francis says that he is getting anxious by all of Brava’s wins. He came here to play Survivor and it does it feel like he can yet. He feels like he is in a good spot at the moment, with strong friendships with Laura, Chase, and Rajon. So he’s ready to make a move. He is going to throw the immunity challenge tonight to intentionally send Brava to Tribal Council.

At the immunity challenge, Rajon, Megan, and Bonds sit out to even the tribe numbers. The challenge consists of a 20 ft. brick wall, which 3 contestants from each tribe must use materials to build a path to get to the top of. There, there will be puzzle pieces that the remaining two contestants must solve. The first half is Chad/Jose/Jim vs. Sally/Laura/Chase. They pretty evenly matched with Togo having a slight advantage. However, their momentum stops with the dysfunction of Gail and Kaiser as a team. This puts Francis is in a tough situation as he tries to stall and make Brava last to complete the puzzle. Fiona, however, is having none of it and is instructing him where to put the right pieces (leaving him no choice but to do what she says…or else). Despite Togo finally getting something going, their dysfunction was too detrimental and Brava completes their puzzle first.

Despite the highs of the reward win, the spirits have once again dropped in this tribe. Gail - knowing she is on the bottom - starts working hard. In confessional, she talks about how she did not come here to be taken out behind the shed. She has persevered in her career and she will persevere on Survivor.

She starts bouncing from one tribe-member to another. She pitches taking out Jose to Jim and Kaiser. Only moments later, she tells Chad and Jose that she wants to take out Kaiser. Jose counters by asking if she’d be willing to vote for Jim. She is surprised to hear this and is willing to take the bait, given that it is even the slightest glimmer of hope.

Chad asks Jose if he was being serious to Gail and he says he was just exploring his options. As he said earlier, Jim seems like his biggest strategic threat and now might be the time to take him out. He also kinda feels sorry for Gail as she has no support system anymore. Chad is dismissive and says they should keep Jim as he could be a more solid ally if they have to mix with the other tribe. Jose finds his game at a crossroads and is unsure what to do.

At tribal council, they talk about the repeated losing the toll it takes on their mental strength. Kaiser says he thought this was their week given the reward win and that this challenge was puzzle-based. Maybe things just aren’t meant to be. Things are nowhere near as contentious as the last few tribal councils as everyone just seems bummed to be back here. Jeff asks Chad if there is anyone person to blame for their failures and he denies this notion. They are all key to the tribe and when the tribe fails, it is on each and every one of them. The rest of them agree with this notion. Chad turns to Jose and whispers if the plan is still on and Jose confirms. Jeff says it is time to vote.

If anyone has a hidden immunity idol, now would be the time to play it. No one does. Jeff says it is time to read the votes.

First vote...Jose

...Gail

...Gail

Fourth person voted out of Survivor: Last Resort, Gail. The tribe has spoken.

In her post-show confessional, Gail is disappointed with herself but feels like she’s had her back against the wall the whole time. She really wishes she could get a do-over and really go hard after the guys.

Votes for Jose: Gail
Votes for Gail: Jose, Chad, Kaiser, Jim

Next time on Survivor...Jeff is talking to the two tribes. “I hope you’re not too comfortable with your current tribes because we are changing things up.” He smiles.