Survivor: Last Resort 2.7 & 2.8 - New Zealand Episode 7 & 8

Survivor: Last Resort 2.7 - New Zealand Episode 7
Writer: Chad Taylor

The remaining 9 tribemates return from their first Tribal Council. There are definitely some bitter feelings to go around. Immediately, Rick pulls his new ally Bradley aside and tells him to follow his lead. Whatever he says, just go along with it. Bradley tells him he trusts him. In confessional, Bradley is more skeptical.

When they all get back to camp, they try to figure out the vote. Someone had to flip after the initial vote. With little hesitation, Rick admits that it was him who flipped after the first vote. He was scared to put his own game on the line so he switched after the tie to avoid drawing rocks. Karin is immediately irate, accusing him of being a liar. She says that she was the one who flipped. She voted with the Outsiders on the first vote and she flipped afterwards because she was scared. There is confusion as this would mean Rick would have already voted against his tribe in the first vote. Luckily for him, the rest of the tribe buy his story which causes Karin to storm off in isolation. In confessional, Bradley says “This tricky bastard. I like him.” in reference to his new ally.

The castaways would swim out into the ocean to retrieve one of three bags. They would then swim back and have to launch the bag up into a basket on top of a tower by jumping on a plank setup like a seesaw. The first castaways to get their three bags into the basket would win. Not only is Kenny the fastest swimmer but he is also a good shot and so he beats Jill, his next closest competitor, by two shots. Kenny wins immunity!

Back at camp, Sage and Kenny celebrate in private over his victory. They later pull Amanita in on the celebration. They discuss their predicament and who they believe about the last vote. Sage says that, from what she has picked up, why would Karin vote to keep Bradley? Amanita says this is a good point but also says that it would just make more sense if her and Rick both voted down tribal lines. They say that no matter who they have to trust going forward, at least they have each other. The Outsiders til the end!

With Alexandra, Earl, and Bradley, Jill says that they should be good to go if what Rick is saying is true. They would have a five-person voting bloc and be able to ride that until the final five. The real question is: why would Karin admit to voting against us? What benefit does that have to her? Earl says that perhaps she is just trying to stay on the good side of Kenny, who she seems close with. Alexandra suggests that maybe Bradley try again to permanently rope in Rick so that they wouldn’t even have to rely on Karin’s vote. Bradley says “consider it done”.

Of course, he knows the truth. He takes this information back to Rick and talks about how they were on to his lying. However, they don’t seem too concerned. They pull in Earl and Rick tells them his strategy from the last day: by lying about the vote, his old tribemates might not be as mad about him while Bradley’s tribemates would obviously be happy with him as well. He feels a bit bad for Karin for essentially snatching her gameplay away from her but Bradley tells him not to feel sorry. They then debate where they should go with the next vote. On one hand, Sage or Amanita seem like easy picking. However, Earl identifies that their biggest strategic threat at the moment is the duo of Jill and Alexandra (as opposed to the likes of Amanita or Kenny). Should they cut them at the knees or stick with the 6 who voted together in the last vote? At final 6, they could easily take out the three girls and ride it out til the end. Rick says that this is big as the momentum of the game is in their hands.

At tribal council, they talk about the chaos of the last vote. Jeff asks how close they were to drawing rocks and everyone seems to agree that it was entirely possible. Amanita pours one out for Vinolia, her main ally in the game. The topic then moves onto how the group is meshing, now that they’ve lived with each other for a few days. It is pointed out that things have kinda stuck to who knew each other before the merge but that that is slowly breaking down. Alexandra points out that even Karin and Bradley seem to be on better terms so maybe the merge is healing old wounds! Everyone has a good laugh about that.

Jeff tells them it is time to vote. After they have voted, he says that if anyone has a Hidden Immunity Idol, now would be the time to play it. Jill does not seem too concerned about this vote and so she chooses not to play it.

First vote…..Sage

…..Sage

…..Sage

…….Alexandra

Three votes Sage, One vote Alexandra

…..Alexandra

…..Alexandra

Three votes Sage, Three votes Alexandra. Jill and Alexandra still don’t seem too concerned, since this would account for The Outsiders votes.

……..Alexandra. NOW Alexandra looks worried.

….The eighth person voted off of Survivor: Last Resort - New Zealand and the first member of our jury: Alexandra. The tribe has spoken.

In her post-show confessional, Alexandra says she definitely feels betrayed. The only vote she knows she got was Jill. She is honestly surprised: she knows that people thought of them as a power duo but she thought they’d go after Jill first. She says that she is hoping Jill can pull it through as she thinks she is the smartest player out there.

Alexandra: Kenny, Sage, Amanita, Rick, Bradley, Earl
Sage: Jill, Alexandra, Karin

Back at camp, Jill is devastated by the blindside of her closest partner-in-crime. Karin, too, is mad at not being informed of the flip. Meanwhile, the trio of Rick, Bradley, and Earl are happy with themselves as they feel the game is now in their control. The Outsiders (Kenny, Sage, and Amanita) are relieved with the last vote but worried about the other trio.

Rick, Bradley, and Earl meet up and discuss what to do next. They debate whether to continue to switch sides or two wipe out the rest of the Tasman women. Bradley, of course, advocates for Karin but the other two are much more of the mindset that it needs to be Jill as she is the most strategic person outside of their group. This gets Bradley a little heated as he feels like he’s being ignored but Earl is quick to defuse the situation. He then reveals a major secret: moments before they met, he was searching for some firewood and found a Hidden Immunity Idol.

This week’s immunity challenge is of endurance. The castaways must stand on platform holding a bow and arrow in a warrior pose. Any castaway who falls off the platform or releases their arrow will be eliminated from the challenge. The last castaway remaining would win immunity. The final three are Sage, Kenny, and Jill - with Jill holding out the longest and winning individual immunity!

Back at camp, Jill is so relieved with her win. She knew that her back was against the wall and this was the first time this season that she didn’t feel in control. Kenny and Sage congratulate her on pulling through. In confessional, Jill explains that, without her closest ally, starts to make new connections with people she had previously ignored. She talks with Amanita about their personal lives, which turns into Jill being an open ear to Amanita mourning her dead husband.

Rick and Earl meet and discuss what they should do now that their top target is off the board. Do they take out their biggest competition threat: Kenny? Rick says he’s been wanting to do this for a while. However, it would also appease Bradley to get Karin out. And as they’ve started to learn, staying on Bradley’s good side is in their best interest. They then go to Sage and Kenny and try to make sure they are all still on good terms. In confessional, Rick says this is huge as it would be easy for them to team up with Jill and Karin to take out one of their three.

Indeed, Amanita and Sage appear to be debating just this. Jill approaches them and sees if they would be willing to take out someone like Rick or Bradley. They would but are aware of the chaos it would cause afterwards. But who do they vote for? Who is the ring leader? They debate the options and find it hard to come to a conclusion. They decide to pull in Karin, who understandably advocates for it to Bradley. After Jill leaves, Sage and Amanita pull in Kenny and debate whether or not they can trust her.

At tribal council, a major topic of discussion is the last blindside. Jill opens up about how it hurt her and has made her more fragile in the game. Jeff asks if she feels she needed this Immunity necklace and she says she does. The topic then shifts to the power dynamics within the game and how that seems to be constantly shifting. While mostly everyone talks subtly, Karin outright calls out the Bradley/Rick/Earl trio. She says that they talk down to you and only care about their own opinion - whatever that happens to be on any given day. This draws a frustrated reaction from Bradley who says that Karin has had it out for him since Day One. Karin scoffs at this and finds it highly ironic. He says she disrespects the game by showing little care for game or camplife etiquette. She says that his asshole attitude is bad for camplife etiquette. The others mainly stay silent, although Earl whispers something to Rick. After the argument simmers down, Jeff says it is time to vote.

After they have voted, he says that if anyone has a Hidden Immunity Idol, now would be the time to play it. Jill obviously doesn’t have to play hers. Earl, however, is very hesitant. Just as Jeff is about to read the votes, Earl stands up and says that he has a little something. Everyone looks surprised. He hands Jeff the idol and says that he is playing it...for Bradley.

First vote….Bradley, does not count

…..Bradley, does not count

…..Bradley, does not count

….Bradley, does not count

…...Bradley, does not count

……..Karin

…..The ninth person voted out of Survivor: Last Resort - New Zealand and the second member of the jury: Karin. The tribe has spoken. Rick gives Earl a fist bump while Bradley smugly waves Karin goodbye.

In her post-show confessional, Karin says she has nothing to say and smiles.

Karin: Bradley, Rick, Earl
Bradley: Jill, Karin, Amanita, Kenny, Sage