Redemption Island Episode 12: King Of The Hill

Steve is welcomed by Mike and Ralph on Redemption Island. It's a Zapatera reunion! Ralph says if he can get into the top 3, it's a sure win, as the jury are all from his old tribe.

They're practically their own tribe now

Andrea comes back from tribal council and is excited the game is finally back on, as they've just been in cruise control the last few weeks. Natalie has the opposite reaction and breaks down.

Thanks, Sprint!

Ashley and Andrea go to tree mail and pick up the Sprint Phone. They watch the videos of loved ones together and cry. Grant's brother-in-law tells him his wife is pregnant. Slightly surprised to see Rob's sister in the video instead of Amber, but I believe she was pregnant too.

The Redemption Island inhabitants also get videos, which is a little strange. It does give them extra motivation to win the challenge, though. The challenge is to throw a ball(?) from a distance to break tiles. Mike smashes first, then Matt. Mike takes his second. Steve can only break one. Mike wins the challenge, with Matt and Ralph also staying alive. Steve is out of the game.

Every Hero has to make a sacrifice

Now Mike has the choice of spending time with his mom, letting Ralph and Matt spend time with their loved ones, or letting the rest of the players have the reward. Mike says the bible told him to give love to as many people as possible. Jeff didn't expect that, and asks Mike's mom if she's surprised. "No, that's my son. He's a hero". So there you have it, Mike chose the selfless option (like you always should in Survivor) and tried to buy some goodwill with his enemies. "Don't vote me out again" he jokes, as he walks off.

Ralph is pissed off at Mike's decision. Not because he didn't get his loved one, but because Ometepe did. Even Matt said he wouldn't have been big enough to do it. Mike claims it was not a strategic move, just the right thing to do.

The loved ones say their last goodbyes

The loved ones are shown back around camp. Natalie seems lifted the most. Rob talks strategy with his sister: he says Phillip is "the biggest goat ever", and that he's told everyone different stories and "all they have to do is talk to eachother, but they won't." Rob claims he needs to win this game he's been trying to win for 10 years to build a better life for his family. Huh? He's already rich. That segment just stunk of schmaltz.

There's only one person that they don't want to win immunity and that's Andrea. Rob thinks "it's gonna be an easy challenge". You know right then and there he's gonna be wrong.

Stairway to Heaven: One of the most competitive and
physical challenges ever

The six of them have to build a puzzle staircase. Phillip and Natalie fall behind early. Andrea takes the lead but then makes a mistake. Grant is the new leader, but also makes two mistakes. Rob, Grant and Andrea are all in contention. An exhausted Rob completes the challenge and wins immunity, having to crawl to the top and collapsing upon completion. I feel tired just watching them.

The gang are all set to blindside Andrea tonight. "Lovers are gonna be reunited" says Grant. Phillip regains his place as the most annoying person on the tribe, bugging Andrea about a wasp. Phillip reveals he is only pretending to be the villain and has the perfect argument to defeat Rob. I can't wait to hear it. Rob has considered voting out Phillip instead, but knows if he makes the wrong move all his work could be undone.

At tribal council, everyone feels safe. Even Andrea, who has been lied to once before. Oh, Andrea. I once had such high hopes for you. It's a blindside, and Andrea goes to Redemption Island.

STAR OF THE WEEK: ROB MARIANO

How is he still in control? Nobody gave Rob much of a chance of winning this at the start of the season, but now it'll be a surprise if he doesn't win. Major props for his effort in the challenge today. He's not getting complacent, he's going all out.