Island Of The Idols Episode 13: Up To Chance

Lost soles

Tommy is mad at Noura after tribal, but Noura tries to assure him she wasn't going along with the plan and blames it on Dean. Noura is pissed at Dean and decides to hide his shoes on the tribe flag. Elaine and Dean are first up to start looking for the idol, though Janet and Tommy are not far behind. Janet finds it first and tells Tommy. Dean and Elaine see them discussing something from afar and are now pretty sure Janet has it.

Noura is spinning around randomly as everyone talks about how crazy she is. Elaine tries to warn Lauren of Tommy making a run, and says he's gonna choose the boys over her. Lauren is worried this might be true and decides to ask him about it, and he denies. But really, he doesn't want to go to the end with her.

Dang Rob, at least try and keep a straight face

The castaways are told to pick a name out of a bag to determine the next visitor to Island of the Idols, and it ends up being Dean. Dean talks through his game with Rob and Sandra and shows them the legacy advantage, which they're not allowed to confirm is fake. But oh my God, I'm sure they were laughing on the inside. He even talks about maybe getting everybody to vote for him. Rob tells him he's getting a lesson in jury management, and then offers him a chance to win an advantage of his choice on a coin flip. Eh? Did I miss the connection there? He can choose between three advantages and decides to go for the idol nullifier. The coin comes up "YES", meaning he gets it. Arriving back, Dean says he lost his vote. He tells Tommy the truth however, and Tommy soon realizes he's been underestimating Dean.

Star Wars easter egg

The immunity challenge sees contestants have to unwrap themselves from a spool, run a balance beam and then solve a word puzzle. Tommy and Elaine rush through it, whereas Janet goes slow. The dizziness makes the balance beam hard, but Noura and Dean get over it first. Elaine looks to be getting something going on the puzzle first, but then it all clicks for Dean and he puts it together. Dean wins immunity, and Elaine is mad because she was so close.

The group agree to all put their votes on Elaine, but they're not telling Noura that Dan will be putting an extra vote on her just in case, Lauren wonders if she should take advantage of that and get Noura out. and discusses it with Janet.

At tribal council, Rob mocks Dean again for flexing. Jeff asks where they are and Noura makes herself laugh answering "at tribal council", but nobody else finds it funny. Elaine says keep her one more vote because she's a target and vote out Noura. who could be taking someone else's spot in the final 3. Lauren whispers to Janet that she's making some good points...right in front of Tommy. Elaine cries talking about her mom passing away, and Janet gives her a pep talk that things will get better.

Powerful, but this is why they can't let you get to the end

Receiving the news

Elaine is voted out and gets the hero music. However, the episode continues and cuts to daytime. We then see Jeff approaching the players to tell them Dan has been removed from the game for an unspecified incident (that happened off-camera and did not involve a player, is our only information). Whoa, that was sudden. I guess it just validates everyone who said it should've been done earlier.

That brings us down to 5 just in time for the finale. Only one regular vote and everything still to play for, you bet they can all smell the money right now. I'm glad Janet just got closer to the end, but very sad that we won't get to see Dean's fake legacy advantage played.

STAR OF THE WEEK: DEAN KOWALSKI

Dean is doing some things right to still be there so close to the end. He's the last Lairo standing, finally winning challenges and has a nullifier. At least he's trying with jury management, even if it might be a bit late.