Ghost Island Episode 1 & 2: Legacy Of Failure

Jeff Probst welcomes his latest victims to the game by introducing them to the graveyard of bad Survivor decisions, Ghost Island - which garners some pretty WTF reactions from the unsuspecting castaways. Both tribes are put on the spot immediately and asked to choose a leader, with Brendan volunteering for Malolo and Chris taking it on for Naviti. They both have to pick a runner and a puzzle solver. Brendan chooses Michael and Laurel, whereas Chris picks Sebastian and Desiree....although Desiree doesn't sound confident.

Pulling the plug

The challenge is to run through obstacles to pick up keys, then solve a puzzle. The winner gets fishing gear and a shelter-making kit. The leaders have the option to forfeit the challenge and keep their fishing gear if they think they're gonna lose, but as punishment gives the other tribe even more stuff. Michael and Sebastian go full tilt on their part, leaving them exhausted. Sebastian wins though, giving Naviti a headstart. However, when the timer gets down to it, Chris decides to call it quits...which his tribe doesn't seem happy with, particularly Domenick.

Malolo are very happy to start the game with a leg up. Donathan is making friends early, particularly with Laurel. On Naviti, it seems like Chris and Sebastian (lovingly dubbed "Sea Bass") are bro-ing up, having found common ground with their Florida background. They decide to target Domenick, who they felt was already undermining Chris at the challenge.

One faux pas after another

Jacob loses his shoes to the tide, and is already feeling insecure about his standing on the tribe. He goes looking for an idol in the most unsubtle way possible, making his target bigger. Then he puts the tribe rice in his sock when left alone at camp, to see if anything is there. "That was stupid" he later claims.

Naviti have a pretty good shelter, albeit a spider-filled one, as Wendell builds some crab traps. Sebastian suggests to Wendell that Domenick might be a good first target, but Wendell likes him, so decides to let him know his name is coming up. Domenick senses Chris is the one behind it though.

Feeling crafty

Master baiter

The immunity challenge is a race to get bags, then pull a sled of puzzle pieces over a rail, before solving a puzzle.  Chris bolts out so fast he falls and trips Wendell over. Naviti are faster at retrieving the bags though, and also better at pulling. Malolo are disorganized on the puzzle, whereas Kellyn directs Naviti to a win. After the loss, Jacob tells Jeff he still thinks this is one of the greatest tribes of all time...bold statement. Naviti get to choose someone from Malolo to send to Ghost Island and pick Jacob, which he reveals was his plan all along. What are Malolo gonna do now that their obvious first boot is gone?

On Ghost Island, Jacob is geeking out seeing all the Survivor history around him. He also finds a bunch of mysterious urns. One offers him a game of chance: pick the right bamboo and gain an advantage, pick the wrong one and lose your vote. He decides to go for it, and strikes lucky, obtaining Sierra's legacy advantage. He has to pass it on to someone from the other tribe though, and chooses to send it to Morgan in the hopes they can be a future alliance.

Back on Malolo, Donathan is not happy that he wasn't on the puzzle, and is irked by Gonzalez stealing credit for his strategy. The options at this point seem to be Gonzalez or Donathan, for being the weakest. Stephanie is leaning towards Gonzalez, whereas Michael would rather Donathan go. I like 'em both, so this is lose/lose.

Final bow

Stephanie is smiling at tribal council, seemingly excited to get the game going. Gonzalez speculates on what Ghost Island might be. Laurel says tribe strength is important, but that there's different definitions of strength. Donathan admits he might be a weak link and is nervous. Gonzalez is evidently a little worried too, and starts a chain of whispers to make sure she's still in on the vote. Ultimately that paranoia is justified when Gonzalez ends up being the first person sent home.

Holding a piece of history

Domenick is having a tough time sleeping and decides to go looking for the idol. Even though it's dark, he finds one - specifically the one Andrea went home with. Why are there idols at camp AND Ghost Island? That seems like overkill to me. Idols are the talk of the tribe next morning as Bradley suspects the people on Ghost Island are getting them...and Morgan reaches into her bag to pull out the legacy advantage.

Jacob needs a story to tell his tribe, so makes a fake idol to show them in the hopes of dissuading them from voting him. Back at camp, he thinks he's sold it, but Brendan sees through it on account of him not having a note. The majority agree to just target Jacob anyway - welp, that didn't work.

Clash of the alphas

Domenick tries to start fresh with Chris, but when Chris asks him about the idol, he denies it. Domenick then decides to make a fake idol and confess to having that...well this is just bizarre, what does this achieve, really? He says he's willing to give it to Chris, but Chris just sees it as a reason to get him out since he lied about having it initially.

Donathan's Cirie moment

The next immunity challenge involves pairs crossing a see-saw in the water, diving down to release buoys and throwing them into a basket. Morgan and Bradley take Naviti into the lead, with Morgan a natural in the water. Chelsea and Sebastian do pretty well too, as James and Donathan struggle. Donathan leaves it to James to release the buoys but he's not having much luck. He asks Donathan to do it, but he doesn't think he can. Donathan then goes down and to everyone's surprise, gets it. Naviti still have a pretty big lead though, and thanks to Wendell and Desiree's shooting, it doesn't take them long to win again. Naviti get to send another person to Ghost Island and Jacob is expecting it to be him - nope, it's Donathan instead. Now the afro kid has to find some other way to save his ass.

An early overthrow?

Donathan opens an urn on Ghost Island, but gets nothing. Still, he can't complain too much - he's safe. Back at camp, James takes responsibility for the loss. Brendan still wants Jacob out, but is happy to throw a few votes on James just in case the idol is real. Stephanie talks with Jacob to make him feel comfortable, suggesting Michael might be a good target. Jacob is happy to hear that, and decides to tell her the truth about the legacy advantage. Now Stephanie is considering keeping Jacob, but Jenna still seems unsure about him. James and Laurel have noticed how Brendan and Michael are running the show, and the boys are starting to wonder if they can trust their girls.

At tribal council, Jacob says he told them everything and explains his bravado is just a front. Jenna says there was more thought put into this vote now that it's their second time. Brendan says he's worried that the game is not all about strength anymore..a fact he confirms when he whispers to Michael he thinks they're getting screwed.

The votes are cast, with Jacob having some harsh criticism for Michael, and now we wait to see if a big move was made or not. A very nervous James sees his name a couple of times, but the majority go to Jacob. He comes off pretty bummed and embarrassed in his final words, as you'd expect. Well, this so-called great tribe is 0 for 2 now. But maybe their fortunes will change.

STAR OF THE WEEK: STEPHANIE JOHNSON

Stephanie may seem a little over the top, but she can be calculating when she wants to be. It looked like she had a hand in the first vote and now has gained valuable intel from Jacob that she can use. She's a player!