Philippines Episode 3: Tough Ain't Enough

Angie comes back from tribal council a little pissed at Roxanne, but claims she trusts everyone left - famous last words? Russell thinks the Malcolm/Angie alliance is very real and a real threat. Two votes on a tribe of 4 means they only need one more.

Abi's paranoia gives RC a headache

Abi is too tired to look for the idol like RC wants. She's worried her knee injury is making her a liability, and  RC's reassurance isn't helping her. Abi goes behind RC's back and tells Pete about the idol clue. Pete goes to Lisa, telling her he wants to save her from the chopping block, and asks her if she would consider voting against Mike. Lisa will do anything it takes to stay. "Tell me what to do" she says. I guess the dynamics on Tandang are more complex than they first appear.

On Kalabaw, Jeff Kent is wondering where the top of the rice lid has gone. After discussing it with Carter and Dawson, Carter speaks up for the first time and says it might have been the idol. Jeff immediately assumes that Jonathan has it, as he thinks only a veteran would be that savvy. He's mad that they could've been so stupid as to not notice.

Matsing wake up to find their raft has been taken by the tide. Man, they fail at everything. Malcolm and Denise, the real power couple that no-one has discovered, discuss the next boot, and Denise makes the first of probably many "Malcolm in the middle" jokes.

Skupin shrugs off his stigmata

At the #immunitychallenge, the three tribes are tasked with diving underwater to unhook puzzle pieces. Abi sits out again because of her knee. Didn't there used to be a rule against that? Anyway, Dana takes Kalabaw into the lead by grabbing the puzzle piece with her feet. Angie starts lagging behind for Matsing, who then have further problems when Russell struggles to climb the ladder. Skupin has broken Tandang's goggles and starts bleeding from the face. Denise retrieves a piece in record time. RC goes back in the water to do three in a row. Russell dives down for a piece but can't get it, so he hands over to Malcolm and Denise, who do alternating shifts. It comes down to the puzzle, and all three are soon in with a shot. Penner helps Kalabaw get there first, winning immunity and a fishing kit. Tandang get it second, just ahead of Matsing.

Uneasy alliance

For the first time in the season, we get to see the victorious tribes after the challenge. On Kalabaw, Penner confronts Jeff and confirms his suspicions he has the idol to try and gain some trust from him. The two agree to an alliance, but Kent only shakes with four fingers, which is not what he calls a manly handshake.

On Tandang, Artis is pissed they didn't win and that Skupin broke the goggles. Hmm, ok.

From idle to idol

Anyway, it's just enough for Pete to be able to get him on board with booting Mike first. As RC and Mike look for clams, Pete and Abi are tearing the camp up looking for the idol. Abi then decides to check the rice lid and squeals when she finds out what it is. So now Abi and Pete have an idol and enough numbers to boot Mike. Their first tribal council is gonna be very interesting.

Denise and Malcolm discuss how much the other two sucked, and Angie wants to make it clear she didn't give up, she just let Denise take over because she was better. Russell, looking rather dejected, is praying. He's not willing to give up, either.

Still in it to win it

At tribal council, Malcolm explains how he's gone from frustration to dejection. He doesn't beat around the bush and calls out Russell and Angie for underperforming. When Angie has a go at Russell, Russell hits back hard. He talks about how Angie isn't ready for the 30 days left, and asks "are you ready to put your life on the line, little girl?". It works, as Angie crumbles under the attack and starts crying. Anyway, it's time to vote, and Russell apologises for making Angie cry but says "that's the game". Angie votes for Russell. But which way are Malcolm and Denise gonna go, that's the question.

The votes are for Angie, and she really can go out with her head held high. Like Malcolm said, she was thrust into a role that wasn't meant for her and is outperforming most of the other tribe's girls (looking at you, Abi). But will clipping the weak link be enough to stop the slide? Surely these guys will be put out of their misery soon, right? Russell is emotionless as he heads back to camp, basically a dead man walking.

STAR OF THE WEEK: DENISE STAPLEY

Denise put in a great shift in the challenge and along with Malcolm, is running her almost-dead tribe and making smart decisions. Her performance is the one reason I'm not gonna give up on Matsing completely.