Island Of The Idols Episode 12: Collapse Of A Coup

Not gonna divorce quite yet

We begin the episode at a challenge and as soon as Jeff starts talking, the players know what's coming: the loved ones visit! Lauren and Tommy's significant others are first, but Karishma gives her husband the biggest reaction, since she's been struggling in the game. Noura's sister then tells her she's proud of her. Janet's husband shows up in a pink shirt to indicate her new grandkid is a girl. We meet Dean's mom, Dan's son and finish up with Elaine's girlfriend.

Front row seat

The challenges sees them running an obstacle course tied to a partner and then trying to land a sandbag on a table. The pairings are as follows: Noura/Dan, Elaine/Dean, Tommy/Janet and Lauren/Karishma. Jeff brings Noura's visually-impaired sister down closer to the water so she can see. Noura/Dan are the first out of the water, but Noura gets stuck on the ropes, allowing Elaine/Dean to overtake them. Tommy/Janet are the first under the log and Lauren/Karishma go a great job catching up. Soon all are throwing, and Tommy gets it to win. They choose to bring Dan and Lauren's loved ones back to camp. Karishma is really fired up about not being picked, talking about wanting her 4 to come together to "put a wrecking ball in somebody else's head".

Tommy, Dan, Lauren and Janet talk over the meal about how they're not worried about the other 4 teaming up, Dan referring to them as "losers". Meanwhile Noura is ranting about how she sees she's on the bottom now and that she's "like the Karishma, only enjoyable to be around" (said right in front of Karishma's face...hilarious). The 4 of them agree to target Lauren if they can, as she's a big threat. Then they all go out for a group idol hunt...and Elaine finds it.

Pushing herself to the point of tears

The immunity challenge is to keep a ball pressed onto a post. Dean is out almost immediately and Tommy doesn't do much better. Noura is next and then Janet stumbles, hurting her foot. Then Karishma and Dan drop, leaving Lauren and Elaine in a showdown. Lauren is really pushing through, crying and talking to herself, as Elaine looks steady. But somehow Lauren ends up winning, which she can't believe either.

The majority plan is to split on Karishma and Elaine. Janet tells Noura, Noura tells Karishma and she's pleased, because now the 4 of them can vote together for whoever they want. They agree to put all 4 on Tommy. However, Noura is very confused about the mechanics of the vote and Dean has to explain to her there's no point in splitting. This makes Dean nervous that Noura is not someone he wants to align with.

Don't even try and guess how Noura's brain works

From detective to prison snitch

Tribal council gets started talking about the family visit, but then Dean whispers to Tommy that the others want him out but he won't do it. Ugh, I knew someone would ruin this. This gets back to Noura and she decides to blow it up, saying Dean can't be trusted and adamantly denying any involvement in the plan when they ask. She also outs Elaine's idol. Tommy starts switching votes onto Noura as Dan asks whether they should just take her out this vote.

After the votes, Elaine plays the idol. We're split between Karishma and Noura, with Karishma going out. Her 9 lives finally run out. Pretty big letdown in the end. Seems like all this season has been since the merge is a series of blown opportunities by the people on the bottom. Will they ever wise up?

STAR OF THE WEEK: LAUREN BECK

Eh, I mean, I don't think anybody really stood out. But I guess I'll give it to Lauren since she did save herself with an immunity win and she seems to be getting the players respect as a frontrunner. Her side held onto power another week.