Island Of The Idols Episode 6: Block Party

Noura is a goldmine for B-roll

The majority of old Vokais on the Lairo tribe are sitting pretty right now,  but Noura knows that Jack and Jamal were gunning for her, so tries to get Dean on her side by telling him this. Dean thinks Noura is too crazy to work with however, so decides to share all this with Jamal.

On Vokai, Elizabeth is freaking out over a tarantula. Elaine reaffirms with her side that they need to stick together and draw rocks, but cracks quickly form and Aaron is the first to flip, telling Jason he'd be willing to vote off Elaine.

Aaron goes beast mode

The reward challenge is to carry a sled with a tribe member on it through obstacles, then get a key to unlock their slingshot and fire at targets. Elaine is chosen to sit out, but Jeff tells her she's going to straight to Island of the Idols rather than watching. Vokai carry Aaron as Lairo carry Jack. Vokai work together to transfer their bags, giving them a slight lead. Jack is first to knock down a target, but Aaron gets all three first to win reward. Vokai take home their chicken prizes, but Dan is very worried about what Elaine might get from her little trip.

We check in with the Island of the Idols now, and Rob is building a huge, multi-storey shelter. Elaine arrives and Rob and Sandra tell her she's gonna need to think fast. Rob starts a sand timer and tells her she has until it runs out to make her choice on whether to take their offer. Elaine agrees even before she knows what it is. Rob tells her there's a vote blocker hidden at the next challenge for her to grab. But if she fails to get it, she loses her vote. Safe to say the stakes are huge on this one with a 4-4 split. She basically has no option but to get it by any means necessary.

Jamal is teaching Kellee and African dance and having fun, until Jack accidentally calls Jamal's buff a "durag" and the mood drops. Jack apologizes for his insensitive comment, which actually leads to a pretty insightful conversation between the two of them about priviledge. Elaine shares with Elizabeth what her task is, and Elizabeth instantly knows how important it is and agrees to cover for her.

Having the tough conversation

The immunity challenge is to dig your way into a bamboo cage, the carry it down a path collecting balls, before shooting the balls into baskets. Vokai get an early lead and Elaine is able to get the advantage...just about. Lairo are so disorganized they forget to even lift up all 4 corners. Vokai start shooting and Tommy is first to score. Jamal and Dean also score and Lairo are back in this. Aaron gets 3 but can't close it up. Jamal ties it up and then Dean nails the winning shot to give Lairo a surprise win.

You think this is bloody, wait til tonight

The first order of business for Vokai once they get back is to kill the chicken. Jason and Lauren both seem confident Elaine is going home, as they don't think she's smart enough to have an idol. Elaine decides to share with Aaron and Missy that she has thee vote blocker...and suddenly they're back on board with their 4. The old Lairos debate who to target...Elizabeth prefers to go for Lauren, but Missy thinks Dan is sneaky as she's caught him checking bags. Elaine calls Tommy and Jason big threats...and Aaron might just blow it all up and still vote out Elaine anyway. Man, that'd be a dumb move.

The hopelessness hits hard

At tribal council, Elaine says she's not scared of the impending showdown. Tommy says it makes more sense for their side to flip than his, as Jason confirms he is staying strong and willing to go to rocks. Elaine pulls out her advantage, which completely shifts the mood of tribal. Lauren cries when she realizes she could go home. Dan makes it clear he's not ready for it be him, as Jason says it's up to the Survivor Gods.

After the vote, Aaron reassures Tommy that he's still with him. But it's only three votes Elaine and 4 for Jason. Lauren is shocked, Tommy is pissed. Jason thanks his crew for staying loyal. Damn, I thought Jason had a lot more game in him. Well, Aaron stuck with his team but burned some bridges with unnecessary promises. It feels like a little cheap that an advantage settled this deadlock, but we still got a good episode out of it and we're sure to get some juicy aftermath.

STAR OF THE WEEK: JAMAL SHIPMAN

He played a key role in winning the challenge and got to talk about an important topic very eloquently too. Props for him for handling it so well and turning it into a teachable moment.

Island Of The Idols Episode 5: Ding Dong, Lairo's Dead

Detective Dean Kowalski is on the case of trying to figure out who put out the hit on Chelsea. After interrogating Elaine, Karishma, Aaron and Elizabeth, he finally finds the culprit: Missy. Missy tries to explain herself but Dean isn't receptive, so now she's just annoyed because she fought to save him.

Jeff brings the tribes together and tells them to drop their buffs, and Elaine is already scared. She gets an alright draw though: new Vokai is a 4-4 split: Tommy, Dan, Jason and Lauren vs Elaine, Elizabeth, Missy and Aaron. Tom, Dean and Karishma remain on Lairo against a Vokai majority of Jamal, Jack, Janet, Noura and Kellee. Oh man, Missy is very lucky to have avoided being with the people she burned.

Noura dragging Karishma just like she's carrying the season

The reward challenge begins immediately and it is for...Applebee's. Tribe members have to crawl in the sand in pairs with their hands tied, and the last two have to solve a puzzle. Dan/Elizabeth manage to beat Tom/Janet, as do their 2nd pair, Tommy and Missy. Jason and Aaron do the puzzle, whilst Lairo's final pair, Karishma and Noura, move through the sand. Karishma gets stuck like a beached whale and has to be dragged by Noura. They eventually finish, and Jamal and Kellee can start the puzzle, but Vokai are too far ahead and win reward.

Vokai sit down for Applebee's as Tommy gives them the required promo. Missy seems happy to be on a winning tribe for once, but both Elaine and Jason know that they have to stay strong with their side.

You got a friend in Dean

Karishma wastes zero time throwing Tom and Dean under the bus once they get to camp, whereas Tom is talking about how weak she is. Dean and Kellee realize they have a mutual friend in Dean's ex, and he also reveals how he got blindsided at the last vote. Kellee isn't sure which one to go with now, since all three seem like good options. Karishma opens up about her arranged marriage to the rest of the tribe.

Elaine and Missy wrestle, much to the entertainment of the Vokais. Aaron talks about his son, who he has on his socks, and tries to form an alliance with Tommy...though neither are willing to give up anybody in their group. Aaron tells Missy that they have to leave Lairo behind, which Missy agrees with.

Bipartisan brodown

Elizabeth right at home

The immunity challenge is to jump off a ladder, dive down and release buoys, then carry them across a beam. Vokai get to their buoys first, and Dan and Elizabeth transfer them over the beam very quickly. Lairo get held up by Karishma (who talks back to Jeff when he calls her slow) and then take longer on the transfer. Miss starts shooting and scores. Tommy gets Vokai's second as Dean scores twice to tie it up. Coming down to the last basket, it is Tommy that gives Vokai the win.

Squeezing for intel

Dean is annoyed he couldn't use his basketball skills to clinch the win, but assumes that Karishma will be the one to go since she's the weakest link. Janet has connected well with Tom, but worries he would go back to his old allies in a merge. Kellee wonders if Dean is too dangerous to take to the merge, and says she doesn't want to be the next Chelsea. The majority debate who to vote out. Noura of course doesn't have a vote after failing her mission, but luckily they still have the numbers without her.

At tribal council, Tom says he hasn't found a crack in the majority, as both Rob and Sandra watching on say they can relate. Noura randomly bursts out laughing at one point, and makes a not so subtle allusion to Tom being old (as well as Dean being good at puzzles, which is just not true). Janet tells Dean he didn't form a relationship with her, as Rob watches him floundering. He recovers when he points out that he was not in power on the old tribe. Karishma says she doesn't know who flipped the last vote, which Tom calls out as a lie.

The votes are in, and although Tom and Dean voted for Karishma, everybody else voted for Tom. I'm not that surprised, Karishma being willing to flip does make her valuable. But will the tribe be too weighed down by her to ever win again? We'll see.

STAR OF THE WEEK: KELLEE KIM

Kellee is sitting in a great spot after the swap, with a majority, a new connection and didn't even need to use her idol. Anyone who gets the Sandra seal of approval has to be pretty great!

Island Of The Idols Episode 4: Making The Call

Karishma feels expendable now since she was the back-up target. Aaron talks about how he's calling the shots now (citation needed) and that he's noticed how close Dean and Chelsea are and wants to split them up. Missy agrees.

Stay behind to get ahead

Vokai go out on a fishing trip, which Jamal decides to skip. He uses the time to search for the idol, which he finds. Then a boat pulls up and tells them they must unanimously decide the next person to go to Island of the Idols. Dan asks if anybody wants to go, and nobody bites...except Noura. Of course.

Woooooooooooooooooo!

At Island of the Idols, Noura takes Rob and Sandra's watermelons and talks a lot. They tell her the next immunity challenge is gonna be a blindfold one, and if she is able to persuade her tribe to make her the caller, she will win an advantage (a vote blocker). Rob urges her to weigh the pros and cons, but in true Noura style she just jumps in headfirst. "She's definitely perceptive...the question is: is her perception reality?" Rob says as she departs, sounding unconvinced.

Noura gets back to camp and comes up with a convoluted lie that they have to agree to let her take the role she wants in the next challenge in exchange for intel on what it is. They're all a little confused, but agree...and then are still confused after she explains. Kellee is just happy not to have her spot blown up though. The practice session goes badly, and Lauren says it's pretty clear that Noura is not suited for the role.

Disaster waiting to happen

Dan getting handsy again

The immunity challenge is, as advertised, directing blindfolded players to get bags and then solve a puzzle. Vokai make Noura sit out - oof, mission fail! Jason and Elizabeth are the callers, and Vokai get off to a fast start. Dean goes over an obstacle they're supposed to go under, forcing them to come back. Vokai get 3 when Lairo only have one, and Dan ends up smacking Missy in the face during a pile-up. Vokai get back and move onto the puzzle, which sees Jason directing a blindfolded Kellee. Lairo eventually get their last 2 and catch up. Jason starts taking his time once he notices some pieces wrong, and Elizabeth encourages Aaron to hustle through it. Lairo think they have it and celebrate, but they are wrong. Vokai get it and win immunity again.

Chelsea looks to be losing the game of hot potato

Elizabeth says sorry for letting the team down. Tom says there's no doubt about the vote and the consensus is Karishma. Aaron however is looking to mix it up and go for Dean, who has sucked in every challenge so far. Elizabeth and Elaine are not board, which frustrates Aaron and Missy. Missy then pitches a new plan: take out Chelsea instead, since she's attached to Dean. Elaine is taken aback by how quickly Missy just throws out names.

At tribal council, Chelsea says the line might be drawn tonight. Karishma says nobody wants to talk to her. Elaine describes the chaos in camp. Elizabeth says sometimes you just go with the last plan that was discussed. Karishma says what she's hearing is good news, but Missy urges her to not get too excited and says she's still "getting lapped" by everybody on the tribe. Chelsea says it would hurt to get blindsided but she still enjoys them.

The votes are 2 for Karishma and 6 for Chelsea. "You wanted a blindside, you got one" comments Sandra. RIP another women's alliance, then! I feel for Chelsea, she really wanted this and deserved better than the old "take out a woman to weaken a guy" trope. Hard to see the logic of this for Missy. You really wanna be hemorrhaging more allies with a swap coming up when you're already down in numbers? Lairo stays making bad decisions and I bet it's gonna cost them.

STAR OF THE WEEK: NOURA SALMAN

When nobody really excelled in gameplay, I give it to the most entertaining...and that was Noura. The whole caller incident was an enthralling car crash. She has given us so many fun moments this season and I'm ready for more of The Noura Show.

Island Of The Idols Episode 3: The First Cut Is The Deepest

Pool party!

So there's a pretty awkward silence when the tribe come back from tribal, as Tommy tries to repair his relationships with Jack and Jamal. Jamal says he feels like a wild card now. On Lairo, the girls are playing in the water. Aaron worries about them having the numbers and tries to get the guys together. Vince claims to be down, but he knows Aaron wanted him out so he has no reason to go that way.

Dan wants to make the next vote an easy one and go for Noura. Jamal however doesn't trust Dan and tries to convince Janet to go for him instead. Janet talks to Tommy and he says it's only a good move for Jamal....so now they're wondering if maybe Jamal should be the target.

Major eye-opener for Karishma

Karishma cuts her hand with a knife and blood pours out. It's only a small cut, but as she lies on the floor, everybody seems to ignore her...and man, she is heated about it in confessional. A boat shows up to summon Vince to the Island of the Idols. Elizabeth is well aware this could lead to Vince getting an idol, and Dean suggests splitting the vote. Which would be a good plan, except everybody is there with them. Maybe you were better off not talking.

Vince cries when he gets to talk to Rob and Sandra, which Rob finds humbling. They tell him his mission is to sneak into the other tribe's camp and get fire. Damn, that seems impossible. Sandra helps him train with some helpful and some not-so-helpful techniques. But when darkness falls, it's go time. Vince sneaks in just as some of them are stirring from a bad dream. Vince sees the fire is out and collects ash instead. He brings it back, and Rob counts it as a win, handing him over an idol good for 2 tribals.

Vince's Mission Impossible

I wanna hold your hand

The immunity challenge is for one player to swim out and retrieve a key, whilst the rest balance on a see saw to get bags, the solve a fish puzzle. The swimming showdown is between Elizabeth and Janet. Janet manages to keep pace for the most part, but struggles with the key. Lairo get a  headstart on the see saw, but Vokai get there eventually. Missy gets the first bag and drops it. Kellee holds onto Jason to get her first. Missy gets the second bag and Lairo can go into the puzzle with a lead.. But by the time Vokai catch up, Dean and Karishma have made no progress. Jamal and Lauren smash the puzzle, overtaking Lairo easily to claim the win.

The plan is to split on Vince and Karishma, with Karishma in even more trouble now. Missy doesn't want to do the boys' plan and suggests voting Tom, but that's not what Elizabeth wants. Karishma is freaking out thinking it's her, but Vince gets frustrated with her when she doesn't give a name. Chelsea weighs the pros and cons of a Vince vs Tom vote...Vince would likely be loyal to them, but Tom would piss more people off.

Disappointed dad

At tribal council, Tom blames the puzzle solvers for them being there. Karishma defends herself by saying she does have physical strength. She also points out she doesn't fit in with the Elizabeth/Missy/Chelsea "sorority", but Elizabeth reassures her she's part of the group. Vince says they just need to trust the plan, as does Aaron. Karishma whispers to Elizabeth and the girls last minute. Tom calls it an act.

As the votes are cast, Dean amusingly references his own split vote gaffe. It is split between Karishma and Vince, with only Vince voting Tom...and Vince goes home with an idol in his pocket. I wonder if Rob and Sandra feel guilty for putting a target on his back. He takes it in his stride at least. Now was that a smart move for the girls? I don't know, Vince seemed like he wanted to work with them more than a couple of others. We'll soon see if they actually have united the tribe or just signed their own death warrants.

STAR OF THE WEEK: KARISHMA PATEL

It was a rough episode for Karishma in a lot of places, but she made it through and you can tell she is really trying her hardest. Don't burn the girls alliance down just yet please, I'm enjoying it.

Island Of The Idols Episode 2: Top Gear

Tough job, but somebody's gotta do it

After tribal, Elaine explains to Aaron he was too close to Ronnie to be let in on the vote, as Vince asks why his name came up. Missy does a good job with damage control on Aaron, but he still doesn't trust anybody.

Noura opens up the morning by complaining about not getting enough appreciation for her work around camp, and everyone is annoyed with her. Noura doesn't seem to be the biggest fan of Molly in particular. Jason, who is on the bottom with her, wants to stay loyal to her as she was the only one who helped him out. Interesting that Molly has fallen into the role of The Popular Girl and Noura is The Dorky Outcast...I would've bet on it being the other way around.

Lairo are still struggling to make fire even with flint. Chelsea has a go and gets it quickly, really showing up Aaron and Tom. Chelsea then finds an idol in a tree during a firewood hunt when it's still dark and people are around. Good for her, that's another item off the bucket list.

Is this the prayer circle for Noura's safety?

Noura runs a morning yoga session. Then a boat pulls up and instructs Kellee to go to the Island of the Idols, which leaves her very shocked and confused. Kellee shows up at the island and sees Rob and Sandra. Kellee laughs as she had predicted a Cochran appearance, but Sandra says they're "way better than Cochran".

The three sit down and have a long chat about irrelevant stuff, which Kellee seems to find boring and pointless. However, it is then revealed it was all a test, and if she can answer personal questions about Sandra, she will get an idol, The questions are about Sandra's daughters, husband and dogs. Kellee goes 3 for 3 to win the idol (which is good for 3 tribals). She draws the next name and departs. Once back, Kellee cries to her tribe and tells them the same lie Elizabeth did about smashing urns. It's hard for me to believe they're not being heavily encouraged by the producers not to spill their secrets. Kellee lets them go through her bag, knowing the idol is really in her hair.

Trivia champ

Drop some Molly

The immunity challenge is to untie a ladder in the water, use it to retrieve a bag, then have another tribe member roll balls into slots. Everybody freaks out when they see spices is the reward as well. The challenge starts and Vokai are very slow moving their ladder. Chelsea retrieves the bag first for Lairo, but they hit a setback when they lose the bag in the water. Molly takes a few attempts to get her bag as she keeps falling off the ladder. Lairo have a good headstart on the rolling, with Missy getting one and Elaine getting another. Vokai catch up when Jamal gets 2. Missy scores the last point to win immunity for Lairo. Well, these two tribes seem pretty evenly-matched at least.

Sleeping on the job

The consensus around camp is that it's an easy vote, with the votes split on Jason and Noura. Jamal feels so confident that him, Jack and Molly are in control, he opts to take a nap. Lauren and Janet discuss targeting Molly instead, since they think she's dangerous. Noura is so excited about the flip, Jason has to tell her to stop dancing. Tommy thinks it's much too soon to make that move and doesn't want to lose Jack and Jamal as allies.

At tribal council, Noura's hair almost catches fire lighting her torch. Jason says he's been an outsider since the very first few hours of the game. Kellee says he misread the group culture, but Jason defends himself by dumping out his bag to prove he has no idol. Noura claims she hasn't fit in ether but that she never really does. Jamal talks about the game still being in first gear, and gives a condescending speech about how he hasn't had to play from the bottom yet like Jason.

The votes are read and the Molly blindside goes through, shocking Sandra and Rob most of all. I really had Molly down as a strong contender, I didn't think she'd be viewed as a threat too early. But hey, the silver lining is at least one more episode of Noura!

STAR OF THE WEEK: CHELSEA WALKER

Even though there were only a few Lairo scenes, Chelsea was all over them and was doing everything this episode - starting fire, finding an idol and stepping up in the challenge. She's not just talking the talk, she's walking the walk.