Edge Of Extinction Episode 7: Red Flags

The tribes arrive at a challenge, and Ron celebrates when he sees none of the old Kama are gone, letting the Manus know where they stand. Jeff tells them they are merged, but that's not the main headline: he brings in the 6 eliminated players and finally lets them know what the Edge of Extinction is.

Wendy facing bonus obstacles

The return challenge is to crawl over a net, grab a key with a stick, then do a table maze. Keith uses his disadvantage on Chris, giving him extra knots. The challenge starts and Chris is in the lead, with Aubry and Rick behind him. Aubry snags her key first to unlock the gate. Chris and Rick get their keys, then Reem and Wendy. Wendy's tics are acting up all over the place, as Chris gets done with his knots and gets in on it. Keith finally catches up, and he starts doing very well. Wendy is close, but then drops. New leader Chris loses it right at the top too. Now it's Rick's turn...and he gets it! Rick walks out with the rest of the merge tribe as Probst asks the losers what they've taken from this experience. Reem talks about being a fan, Chris says he's learned how to fail, and Aubry expresses gratitude for all Survivor has given her. Jeff then offers them the change to go back to Extinction again, which they all accept emphatically.

At the merge, Kelley says she did not want Rick to come back. Really? It could've been much worse, girl. Julie and Rick bond, and she says it'd be cruel to send him back to Extinction straight away. We cut to the other island, and Keith and Wendy have raised the sail. That was a quick change of heart. The eliminee club is now down to three.

Going through hell all over again

Kelley and Lauren agree that if they need to throw out an easy name, they should go for Rick. Kelley talks with Joe also to see where he's at, and he admits he doesn't trust most of his Kamas. The girls talk where they agree to target Rick, but Julie doesn't like how quick Kelley and Lauren were to turn on their own, so wants one of them out instead. Rick reaches in his bag and has been given...a two-part idol that he must give half of to someone else, and can only use if they both survive the vote. Ok, I get the intent here to give him some leverage so he's not a sitting duck, but it's still kinda bullshit if you ask me. He was voted out, let him fend for himself!

Tread carefully, because now you have to multi-task

The immunity challenge is to hold a pole above your head with a statue balanced on it. Ron is out almost immediately, with Gavin 2nd. Then they have to move further down, which knocks out Wardog. Rick, Victoria and Aurora are next. Kelley drops out when her arms go numb as Lauren complains about a bug on her. The next transition eliminates Eric, Julia and David, leaving us with three. Joe, who's been steady the whole time, loses it out of nowhere. A showdown between Julie and Lauren...and Julie pulls it out. She hasn't been a stellar challenge performer so far, but you never can tell who'll be good at ones like this.

The trio pulling the strings

Julie wants Kelley out but is still telling her Rick, as she lets Rick know that the girls are throwing him under the bus. Rick and David are annoyed that Manu aren't sicking together, as Rick gives him the idol half. As a bunch of people go off on a chicken hunt, Ron asks Joe for his thoughts, but he's non-committal and just keeps painting the flag. So now Ron is thinking: why not get Joe out? Victoria think it's too soon and would still rather do Kelley as she's a threat too, but the Kama 6 agree they need to all be on the same page.

Ron's not holding back

At tribal council, there's some shocked faces when Reem, Chris and Aubry arrive to take their seats as members of the jury. Ron opens up by saying he loves Kama, as Kelley seems annoyed that he's rubbing the fact he has the numbers in their faces. Victoria says it would be evil to send Rick back to the Edge of Extinction and there's other threats in the game, which Joe gets nervous at and seems to think is about him. Rick says Joe did nothing today except paint, to which he responds he was relaxed because he trusts his group.

The votes are a clusterfuck for David, Kelley and Rick...but then a bunch of Joe votes come out and he is sent out. "Worst thing they could've done" says Joe, who now is gonna have to attempt to Ozzy it. "Lame" is Reem's verdict, and I kinda agree. I did say Joe wasn't going to bring anything new to this season, and I wasn't wrong.

Well, Manu really got spared for their dysfunction there by the Kama 6 making an early strike. But now they have to come back together and pick up Aurora if they're to have any shot...right? With still three idols in play, who knows what will happen.

STAR OF THE WEEK: JULIE ROSENBERG

It might not have been Julie's plan that was executed in the end, but she still had a great episode where she won the challenge, made connections and showed herself to be a real player. Don't write her off just because of her age!