Survivor Season 51, Episode 2
“Weaponized Honesty”
Host: Jeff Probst
Cast: Rob Antonson, Brady Booker, Patt Cannaday, Linnea Capobianco, Cristian Chavez, Sharonda Cox, Jenna Doore, Kristin Flickinger, Ori Jean-Charles, Lewis Kelly, Danny Kilby, Carter Krull, Alexis Levine, Angelica "Jelly" Loblack, Eric Macksoud, Maggie Nestor, Thien An Nguyen, Mike Pinsky, Ana Sani, Devin Way
So far, I think the theme of the season is that the players have been given so much room to breathe — there are no Beware Advantages, there wasn't a Journey this episode, and they are on tribes of ten people — and yet, they are playing like the bloodthirsty, ravenous New Era gamers. That's how we go from a player being thrown under the bus to be eliminated, only for him to be saved because the player who threw him under the bus in the first place because he can't vote for himself. Beautiful.
While I am undoubtedly devastated by the player who went home in Episode 2 of Survivor 51, the episode still delivered a historic moment, a blindside, and some genuinely fun television.
What was the aftermath of last week's Tribal Council?
After spending last week's episode on Exile Island, Lewis joins the Toka (yellow) tribe. While he tells his tribe the truth about what happened while he was away, Kilby doesn't believe him. I have faith Lewis can maneuver his way into the tribe, but it's not a great start for him.
At Savu (Purple), Ana and Alexis start scheming. However, when Alexis tries to join a conversation a little later, Ana does a terrible job of playing off what they are talking about, spooking their attempted alliance. Alexis tells Linnea and Sharonda that Ana is throwing their names around.
What happened to Brady's thumb?
While chopping a coconut, Brady cuts his finger pretty badly. It might be one of the most unsightly things we've seen on TV since Brandon Donlan tried to climb a ladder in Survivor 45. Brady is a pro wrestler, so his pain tolerance is high. In words I'd never thought I'd utter about this show, he finds his severed thumb, and Patt holds onto it. The medical team looks at him, and he worries he will be pulled from the game because of a stupid mistake he made. Fortunately for him, he remains in the game and gets the added bonus of being told the doctor will show Jeff his missing appendage.
We get a reward challenge with an obstacle course and blindfolded contestants. After losing their last challenge, Taku wins a collection of pillows, a tarp, some mats and a hammock, earning some momentum back.
Did Kristin get medevaced from the game?
Kristin got injured during the challenge after she fell down a ramp. She thinks she might be seriously injured, but uses her knowledge of island herbs to help it heal. She gets emotional because she has been applying to the show for 26 years and is not going to let an injury force her from the game. So far, she stays in the game.
While they debrief their loss, Rob asks the group why Eric was the one blindfolded in the pair between her and Linnea. Alexis thinks that Rob can't handle his emotions. He also complains that they failed at the puzzle in the first challenge.
Who found a hidden immunity idol?
While the rest of the tribe is using their camp materials to rebuild, Jelly takes the opportunity to go look for a hidden immunity idol. She was on the wrong side of the vote, and someone she wanted to protect went home. Just as she's about to give up, she finds it.
She later tells Devin that he's playing with his heart on his sleeve and worries that if she shares information, it will get out. They also want to work with Patt, who she tells about her idol. They also bring in Mike and Brady, forming a five person alliance.
Who won the immunity challenge?
The tribes arrive for the immunity challenge where they must maneuver a massive whale through an obstacle course in the water and on the sand, then roll three balls into a target. It's not even particularly close, as Taku absolutely dominates the challenge, sending Savu to their first Tribal Council.
Who are the targets at Savu?
Back at camp, Savu gives a shout-out to Rob for keeping them in the challenge. He still wants to get rid of Eric, as he thinks it will be easy since people find him annoying. Ana initially suggests throwing Kristin's name out as a decoy because of her leg, only to regret being the one to target anyone. Instead, she offers her own name instead. What are you doing my Canadian queen!?
Sharonda isn't sure about voting out Eric, but she doesn't want to go against the grain. However, when Ori and Carter are supposedly caught talking game without realizing some of the girls were around (I'm not entirely sure they actually were talking game, but whatever), the other players begin wondering if they should make a move.
Eric says that Ana is trying to make moves and Sharonda thinks Eric might be obnoxious at times, but at least he's giving her information. She starts to make a move against Ana. Sharonda, Linnea and Alexis tell Ori to vote out Ana. While Sharonda and Ori see each other as their number ones, he's not on board with the plan. He still wants to vote out Eric.
Later, we see Rob talking to himself in the shelter. The game is getting to him. He misses his family. He wonders if he should write down his own name. He then tells Eric he needs his Shot in the Dark and will give it back at Tribal Council, but only if he does whatever he wants. Rob tells him to trust him. Rob says it will change the game a lot. When production asks if he's going to make a wild move tonight, he says he has an idol in his pocket, so you never know.
The Tribal Council conversation mostly revolves around the uncertainty they all have so far. They've never voted together, so they don't know who they can trust or how to build harmony moving forward. They talk about the potential for a big move, but Ori tells them to take the easy layup.
Did Rob try to vote for himself at Tribal Council
Before they go to vote, Rob says he wants to speak with Eric. Rob tells Eric that everyone is after him and that Ana is a decoy. He tells him to play his Shot in the Dark.
Rob tries to write his own name. He is told that he can't. He is seriously shocked. It's hard to believe that after 51 seasons, this is the first time we're really seeing something like this happen!
Who gets voted off?
Eric does not play his Shot in the Dark like he was told. The vote tally is four for him and six for Ana. She is voted out of the game. She is asked to be called Anahita by Jeff.
The votes end up being Alexis, Cristian, Eric, Kristin, Linnea and Sharonda, who vote for Ana, while Carter, Ori, Rob and Ana all voted for Eric.
Grace Notes
- I like Cristian's bowtie look for Tribal Council
- Big fan of the giant creature challenge returning. We've seen salamanders and snakes, but now we have whales
- As someone who literally went to a Survivor-themed improv night this past week, the Savu Improv Show was brutal to watch (though I'd pay money for Eric and Rob to take it on tour after the season ends)
- Bless the running gag of the episode about whether it's spelled Eric or Aric.
