Redemption Island Episode 14: Rob Schools The Noobs

The finale is here! Which of the 8 survivors left will take the crown?

So the episode begins with Grant arriving on Redemption Island. Not good news for Andrea, who doesn't fancy her odds against three strong guys. Back at camp, Rob says he would rather vote out Ashley than the returnee. Really?

Matt looks on the bright side

On his last day there, Matt has changed his tune and now loves Redemption Island. The final challenge takes place and it involves balancing a vase on a plank. It's a really tense challenge, as it decides three placements, and one slip can end your game. Grant drops his vase first. Matt drops his vase next. It comes down to Andrea and Mike. Mike's vase falls and Andrea goes back into the game. Wow, didn't expect that.

Murlonio have an unwanted guest

Andrea returns to camp with the other four and it's a little awkward. Andrea tells the girls that some of the people she was talking to on Redemption Island were thinking of voting for Phillip. Which is a lie obviously, but the sort of move she needs to make. Rob is still talking about voting out Ashley.

The challenge involves grabbing bags of tiles from a balance beam and arranging them in numerical order (1-100). Rob takes an early lead in the challenge, but Ashley catches up. Rob uses a stacking strategy, but he's still not fast enough and Ashley wins immunity. Bad news for Andrea.

Rob think it's a no-brainer and he has nothing to worry about. Andrea tries to push for the girls to vote out Rob, stating the plain and simple fact: if Rob gets to the final 3, they will not win. When Rob comes back from his swim, Phillip goes into Specialist mode and reports to Rob that the three girls spent a long time talking and he's getting worried. While they are off talking about that, the girls discuss it further. It's risky, but worth it.

Likes to gamble

Rob gets a really cocky confessional about how he doesn't even need his idol and isn't going to play it. But any overconfidence he had is surely shattered at tribal council, where Andrea openly campaigns against Rob and Natalie and Ashley both admit it crossed their minds to vote him off. In the end, Rob plays his idol ("better safe than sorry"), but he didn't need it as the girls voted Andrea out anyway. But oh my God, how great would it have been if that had happened?

As predicted, the returnee ended up being a non-factor in the finale after all. Two Redemption Island returnees, both voted out immediately. This twist has failed in every way imaginable.

The final four congratulate eachother. Rob tells Ashley and Natalie he's gonna win immunity and take them both. Will Rob really want to boot his prize goat?

Who knew Ashley would turn out to be such a challenge threat?

Next immunity challenge looks like a good one. It's a maze where the contestants have to grab bags of puzzle pieces and take them up the steps in the middle and solve a three-dimensional puzzle. Neat. Natalie gets lost in the maze. Rob takes the lead, with Ashley hot in his heels. He tries to lose her at one point, but is unsuccessful. Rob makes it up the steps first, and Ashley right behind. Ashley seems to have it mostly right but can't figure out the word. Rob suggests they work together, and says he has nothing. In the end, Rob gets it. Rob wins immunity. He jumps up and down, as this has pretty much sealed the win for him. And Natalie cries too.

It's an emotional moment for Rob. He mentions Amber was the one who told him to come back, and he now says he has achieved so much it doesn't even matter if he loses.

The only challenge left for Rob now is getting Natalie on board with voting off Ashley, who has too many friends on Zapatera. Natalie is clearly not happy with it, but she'll go along with it, as she does everything Rob says. Ashley now feels confident of staying because she's received numerous promises from Natalie assuring that she'll stay. Natalie is conflicted and says she'd "rather lose the game than lose a friend". Well, the first one's a given. Only option left is if she wants to do both.

"I can't believe it's taken 36 days. I won't miss you" says Ashley, voting for Phillip. Three votes come back for Ashley, and her torch is snuffed. Natalie waves her bye and mouths "love you". Poor Ashley, the only person voted out with no Redemption Island safety net.

The final three on the morning of the last day

Phillip is proud of getting as far as he did. And he says his plan for tonight is to...piss off the jury and "rub salt in the wound". That's his strategy? That's his argument that nobody has thought of? Ugh. Rob talks to Natalie and tells her his biggest regret in All-Stars is apologizing to the jury. He's lying of course, he's just trying to direct her into handling the jury how he wants her to. It's an emotional moment when Phillip burns his underwear. God, I really couldn't stop laughing. Highlight of the episode.

The three finalists face the jury. Natalie's opening statement is she used her social skills to get here. Phillip's opening statement is that he deserves to win because he implemented Stealth. Groan. Rob gives a long but very convincing speech, where he talks about all he's achieved on Survivor and outside the game.

As predicted, Phillip and Natalie don't get much respect from the jury, Andrea calling Natalie's relationship with Rob "creepy", and Ashley calling her time with Phillip "torturous". Ralph is the nicest juror, asking Phillip if he likes him, which he says he does. Awww. Matt expresses a sentiment shared by a lot of the jury: they don't know who Rob really is. Julie calls Natalie a servant and said if she was her mother she wouldn't be proud of how she played. Ouch, pretty brutal. Phillip tells Julie to shut up. God, is he trying to lose?

David hijacks the jury

"And now for something completely different" says David Murphy. I knew he was going to do something showy. He chooses to address the jury, and make a convincing case for why Rob should win: he controlled everyone. "When we started this game, two people came in. One claimed to be the best to ever play this game. He walked out on day 8. There's a guy over there that just played one of the best strategic games I've ever seen."

The jury vote. David votes for Rob, unsurprisingly. Ralph votes for Phillip. Once all the votes are cast, Jeff takes them back to New York. Boston Rob is declared the winner, with a 8-1 vote.

STAR OF THE WEEK: ROB MARIANO

Will have to be considered one of the best winners ever. He controlled every aspect of the game from start to finish and barely put a foot wrong. He has finally got the title he was robbed of 7 years ago.


Reunion show highlights:

• Rob thanking the jury. Has anyone else ever done that?
• Andrea explains why nobody voted Rob out: he built unique personal relationships with everyone.
• The dorky photo of Mike in Iraq.
• Matt's reaction to his clip reel. He seems like a cool guy.
• It was weird how bitter Grant seemed. He wasn't bitter during the game, but now he is, afterwards? Usually it's the other way around.
• David stealing Rob's thunder and proposing to his girlfriend Carolina, who clearly wanted to say no.
• Russell not being too bitter about his defeat, and sticking up for Phillip.
• Next season: Redemption Island returns, two mystery players also return, and the show returns to Samoa in...Survivor: South Pacific

Redemption Island Episode 13: Hope You Choke

The tables have turned, and now Andrea gets the short stick

Coming back from tribal council, Ashley reveals her cruel side - she loves blindsides and was happy to get rid of Andrea as she wasn't that close to her. Andrea has a tough time on Redemption Island...first there was an argument with Matt about who ruined whose game, then she was forced to sleep on the floor by Ralph because the shelter could only fit three. Ralph, you jerk. I don't care if it's "payback", you let the 21-year-old girl sleep in the shelter when you're a grown-ass man.

Andrea has work to do

Andrea breaks down at the challenge about being betrayed. The duel is part peg maze, part puzzle. Andrea is panicked and frantic during the maze and falls behind. In contrast, Mike and Matt are calm. Ralph wins the maze part, getting a big headstart on his puzzle. When Mike and Matt catch up, it's as if Ralph has barely started. Mike wins the challenge, with Matt and Andrea finishing next. How did Ralph lose that? I guess puzzles are tough when you can't spell.

"Psycho!"

Rob is telling everyone he doesn't trust Ashley. Grant really wants to vote her out too, knowing there's no way Natalie will flip once they do that. Phillip has his most ludicrous argument with the girls yet, saying they don't need to eat as much because they're girls. He makes fun of Ashley for being a pageant girl again.

Ashley is ready to make a big move. Finally! About time! She proposes to Rob that they blindside Grant, as with someone still coming back into the game, then they'll only have to worry about one immunity threat instead of two. Great for Rob, as he now has more ammo to use against her. Rob tells this info to Grant, who calls her a "snake". He then says he'll be happy to vote her off.

Why don't you just lay down and die already?

The immunity challenge involves putting a fish skeleton together using only one hand. Grant takes the lead, with Phillip surprisingly in second place. Jeff can barely hide his disdain when he comments how Natalie is still on the first section when everyone else has reached the last one. Grant has trouble with his hook and the challenge comes down to Rob and Ashley. Ashley wins immunity! Very bad for Rob. Her reward is to choose someone to have a dining experience with - she chooses Natalie. Also very bad for Rob.

Rob now has no choice but to turn on his buddy Grant. Grant thinks that they're still breaking up the two girls and voting off Natalie, and trusts Rob 100%, saying he gets a good feeling from him. Sigh.

Natalie and Ashley stuff themselves with food, and Ashley tells Natalie that the two of them should form an alliance with whoever returns from Redemption Island. Of course, Natalie is telling all of this to Rob, which is where her real loyalties lie.

BFFs?

At tribal council, we get treated to another Amber bit when Jeff asks Rob what keeps him going. Ew! He then asks the same thing to Grant, who mentions his wife. Yay!  You know how in action movies the cop always mentions his wife or daughter right before he gets whacked? Well, the same thing happened here. Grant is sent to Redemption Island. "See you guys shortly" he says.

That's right, Grant could very easily win the last challenge and be right back in contention. One episode left and there's still so many possibilities. Will Boston Rob earn a long overdue victory? Will Natalie steal it from him right under his nose? What about the Redemption Island winner, who only needs to win a couple of immunities for a surefire win? Or will we get something we've never seen before and Phillip wins?

STAR OF THE WEEK: ASHLEY UNDERWOOD

Never thought I'd be rooting for Ashley of all people in a challenge, but I liked that Rob's smooth sailing got disrupted. She's the only one of Rob's alliance that isn't completely dumb as she's making moves and it did cross her mind that it might be her. She arrived to the game late, but we finally have a new player!

Redemption Island Episode 12: King Of The Hill

Steve is welcomed by Mike and Ralph on Redemption Island. It's a Zapatera reunion! Ralph says if he can get into the top 3, it's a sure win, as the jury are all from his old tribe.

They're practically their own tribe now

Andrea comes back from tribal council and is excited the game is finally back on, as they've just been in cruise control the last few weeks. Natalie has the opposite reaction and breaks down.

Thanks, Sprint!

Ashley and Andrea go to tree mail and pick up the Sprint Phone. They watch the videos of loved ones together and cry. Grant's brother-in-law tells him his wife is pregnant. Slightly surprised to see Rob's sister in the video instead of Amber, but I believe she was pregnant too.

The Redemption Island inhabitants also get videos, which is a little strange. It does give them extra motivation to win the challenge, though. The challenge is to throw a ball(?) from a distance to break tiles. Mike smashes first, then Matt. Mike takes his second. Steve can only break one. Mike wins the challenge, with Matt and Ralph also staying alive. Steve is out of the game.

Every Hero has to make a sacrifice

Now Mike has the choice of spending time with his mom, letting Ralph and Matt spend time with their loved ones, or letting the rest of the players have the reward. Mike says the bible told him to give love to as many people as possible. Jeff didn't expect that, and asks Mike's mom if she's surprised. "No, that's my son. He's a hero". So there you have it, Mike chose the selfless option (like you always should in Survivor) and tried to buy some goodwill with his enemies. "Don't vote me out again" he jokes, as he walks off.

Ralph is pissed off at Mike's decision. Not because he didn't get his loved one, but because Ometepe did. Even Matt said he wouldn't have been big enough to do it. Mike claims it was not a strategic move, just the right thing to do.

The loved ones say their last goodbyes

The loved ones are shown back around camp. Natalie seems lifted the most. Rob talks strategy with his sister: he says Phillip is "the biggest goat ever", and that he's told everyone different stories and "all they have to do is talk to eachother, but they won't." Rob claims he needs to win this game he's been trying to win for 10 years to build a better life for his family. Huh? He's already rich. That segment just stunk of schmaltz.

There's only one person that they don't want to win immunity and that's Andrea. Rob thinks "it's gonna be an easy challenge". You know right then and there he's gonna be wrong.

Stairway to Heaven: One of the most competitive and
physical challenges ever

The six of them have to build a puzzle staircase. Phillip and Natalie fall behind early. Andrea takes the lead but then makes a mistake. Grant is the new leader, but also makes two mistakes. Rob, Grant and Andrea are all in contention. An exhausted Rob completes the challenge and wins immunity, having to crawl to the top and collapsing upon completion. I feel tired just watching them.

The gang are all set to blindside Andrea tonight. "Lovers are gonna be reunited" says Grant. Phillip regains his place as the most annoying person on the tribe, bugging Andrea about a wasp. Phillip reveals he is only pretending to be the villain and has the perfect argument to defeat Rob. I can't wait to hear it. Rob has considered voting out Phillip instead, but knows if he makes the wrong move all his work could be undone.

At tribal council, everyone feels safe. Even Andrea, who has been lied to once before. Oh, Andrea. I once had such high hopes for you. It's a blindside, and Andrea goes to Redemption Island.

STAR OF THE WEEK: ROB MARIANO

How is he still in control? Nobody gave Rob much of a chance of winning this at the start of the season, but now it'll be a surprise if he doesn't win. Major props for his effort in the challenge today. He's not getting complacent, he's going all out.

Redemption Island Episode 11: Deer In The Headlights

Steve apologises to Phillip. Phillip doesn't think it was genuine and would like to see Steve go next. As we all know, the feeling is mutual. But Phillip is staying around if Rob has anything to do with it. "He's under my protection" he says.

Phillip has a premonition that he's going to find his shorts. And you know what? He does, which is actually pretty impressive. He can't wait to see Julie at the next duel wearing them.

Matt hits his lowest point

On Redemption Island, Julie and Mike notice Matt is at breaking point. He's sitting by himself, and crying in confessionals. When he arrives at the arena, he admits to Jeff that he's ready to go home. He's still going to try, though. The duel is shuffleboard. Mike scores with his first two shots to take the lead, then Matt scores next. Julie and Matt both score again, before Matt wraps it up with the 3rd and final point. It's now between Julie and Mike. Julie gets another puck in the end zone but knocks her old one out. Mike scores and saves himself, Julie goes home. She displays a mixture of emotions as she leaves - she's disappointed she didn't win the money because of her financial problems, but Matt's story has inspired her to find a church and get involved.

Andrea would be happy to work with Matt again if he came back, but some of his glances to her at the duel makes her think he might not be so happy. She tells the group she feels guilty for the state he's in and Rob tries to make her feel better. Grant tells Rob that Andrea is the first one he wants out when it gets down to the six of them.

Is Andrea on the chop block?

Ralph fights for survival

The immunity challenge involves staying on a log. Grant and Rob is the first matchup, which Grant wins. "I love you, Rob" he pines. Then Ashley defeats Andrea, and Ralph beats Steve. Phillip beats Natalie, which was somewhat of a surprise, and the remaining four get new match-ups. Grant beats Ashley, and Ralph beats Phillip to force an Ometepe vs Zapatera final. Ralph gives him a good match, but Grant wins immunity, and the reward of a cake. He gets to pick two people to eat with, so of course he picks Rob. His next pick was smart, though - Andrea. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Natalie seemed to be in a sulk about the choice though. Jeff tosses Steve a mystery package, promising a twist at tribal council.

Ashley speculates on the upcoming twist

Rob thinks Ralph is a bigger threat than Steve, who appears to be out of the game. This makes him think maybe it might be a good time to get rid of Andrea, one spot early. If the package involves a second boot, he tells the girls to vote for Andrea.

Steve approaches Natalie and Ashley, and tells them if they vote for Rob they can shake the game up and take control. They don't even entertain that idea for a moment. But when Rob hears about it, he starts thinking maybe Steve isn't down and out yet. Change of plan: Andrea might be spared.

At tribal council, Andrea reveals that he has confidence in her alliance. D'oh! Ralph and Steve both say they think it will be Ralph tonight. Grant and Phillip reveal they don't buy Steve is as defeated as he claims. Steve brings up Lex from All-Stars and how ruthless Rob was then. I love callbacks to Survivor history!

Ralph does indeed get the boot, despite Steve making a final push for Rob's boot. He almost forgets his torch as he leaves, too. Steve opens the package and it reveals there will indeed be another immunity challenge straight away and that someone will be joining Ralph.

Keep the faith, Andrea

The challenge is a memory game. The Jurors, Julie and David, are rooting for Steve. Phillip and Natalie go out first. Grant and Andrea are next. Steve is still in contention with just three people left, but gets the next one wrong and Rob wins immunity. Andrea goes up to vote for Steve and says "go Ometepe!" But will the alliance hold? Turns out it does, Steve goes home, and Andrea survives, with no idea how close she came to being blindsided.

So, now the old Ometepe are down to the final six and must eat eachother. Will it get nasty? Is Andrea doomed? And what's the term for a 4-way duel, a Quadruel?

STAR OF THE WEEK: GRANT MATTOS

Another challenge won, but more importantly, he's now clearly the only one of Rob's underlings thinking ahead to the endgame. Whether his strategy of sticking with Rob will be a winning one, only time will tell. I predict probably not.

Redemption Island Episode 10: Rice And Race

Now I'm starting to feel bad for Matt. He wants out of the game but isn't quitting because Jesus wasn't a quitter. His mind is blown when David turns up on Redemption Island. The three of them start debating the possibilities of what comes next - and the correct word for a three-way duel. A truel?

Anyway, Steve has had a change of heart and wants to stay. Good for him. Phillip, who we now know is a Buddhist, continues meditating. But now he's upset that the Zapateras have much more rice than the Ometepes, on account of there being less of them. Julie is able to take 7 scoops of rice a day. Phillip, dubbed the rice police by Rob, decides to take some whilst Julie and Steve are collecting tree mail.

Mike's looking to stay on Redemption Island for a while

They all attend the duel, and Jeff reveals only one person will be leaving at the end of the challenge. Seems a bit pointless to have a three-way challenge, then. Rob does not like hearing that the loser will still make the jury. Having Matt there could be very damaging for him. The challenge is to build a tower of cards. Mike gets off to the early lead, with David starting the slowest. One card away from victory, Mike moves carefully, to avoid knocking down his whole stack. He stands his lone tile on the edge, and wins the challenge. Matt isn't far behind. David loses, and is visibly upset at having to leave the game.

Steve's condescending point at Phillip. Love it!

When the tribe get back from the challenge, Andrea notices their rice has maggots in it. They dump the rice out on a blanket and throw away the container and the bad rice. Andrea asks if they can put it in Steve's pot. He refuses. This makes Phillip very irate and pulls the race card when Steve calls him crazy. Andrea tries to calm him down but is told to shut up. Steve salutes Phillip when he goes on another speech about his service to the country. The N word is thrown around a lot. Grant provides the only levity, saying "it's like watching divorce court". Why can't they show this side of his personality more often?

Ashley hits the deck

The immunity challenge involves making puzzles, but first there was a very fun bit where the contestants have to spin around to unscrew the wheel, causing dizziness. Andrea took the lead, but the first person to finish stage one was Rob. Julie was next, with Ralph and Andrea third and fourth. Two spots left. Steve surprisingly pulls it out, and Grant manages to just pip Phillip to the post. "God, I suck" says Ashley. Stage 2, and it's between Rob, Steve and Andrea. Rob manages to win immunity, with Steve surprisingly just seconds away. A really good effort by the old man, after sitting out the last one.

Zapatera are hoping to get a few people to vote off Phillip tonight. Julie hides Phillip's shorts. This makes Phillip mad again, and he sharpens the machete in his underwear very menacingly. Rob has enough numbers to take out Phillip or any of the Zapateras. "Nobody should have this much power, but I'm very grateful that I do" he comments.

Ashley is "over Phil"

A tribal council turned therapy session begins when Phillip uses his secret agent senses to deduce that it was Steve who took his shorts. Great work, Columbo! The racial accusations are brought up, and Jeff has to play mediator. Phillip did a better job of explaining himself, but I still thought Jeff gave his nonsense far too much credence. Steve barely got a chance to defend himself, not that he should have anything to answer for. I actually felt bad for the guy. Phillip drama is usually fun, but this one was just awkward.

Julie owns up

At the end of the counselling session, a ceasefire is reached, and Julie admits she took the shorts. Phillip, knowing he could've talked himself out of it says if it's him tonight he will accept his fate. The votes come in and it's Julie's time to go to Redemption Island. Didn't see that coming. "I guess you'll never find those shorts" she says.

A very ugly episode draws to a close, with Phillip and Steve both still around. Let's hope for some more peaceful times next week.

STAR OF THE WEEK: STEVE WRIGHT

I actually never thought I would ever give Steve an award, but he kept a cool head when he came under fire from Phillip and actually handled him pretty well. A much improved challenge performance was also noted.

Redemption Island Episode 9: The Rob Zombies

Matt arrives home, clearly embarrassed at his own stupidity. Mike and David discuss the move that Rob made, saying it was like a hit out of a mob movie. Julie feels sorry for Matt, thinking it was cold-blooded.

Rob's not even letting them go to the bathroom now?

Ashley struggles to understand Ralph asking if he's on the chopping block. He tells her he'd rather vote for her than Boston Rob if she gets to the top three. Rob comes up with a "buddy system", so that nobody talks to anybody alone. Geez, what a control freak. Don Mariano is trying to encourage the segregation between the two groups. Natalie tattles on Ashley about what Ralph said. Because of that, Rob decides that Ashley is not going to make the final three. "And it's because of you. You have to tell me everything" he says.

Chief Sheppard, the enlighted one

Phillip turns up at the immunity challenge with a feather. He says he asked for a sign and out of nowhere, the feather appeared. Right. The challenge has three phases, and it's knockout. The first phase is to dig up a club and smash a tile. The first six through are Grant, Rob, Ralph, Mike, David and Julie. On the water spitting part, the three that advance are Grant, Mike and David...Rob just missing out. Now onto the puzzle. Surely master puzzlemaker David has this in the bag? No, he's actually a distant third. Grant wins immunity. Probably the first of many.

Mike and David dig by the flagpole, wondering if an immunity idol is under it. Phillip sees it and runs over, with Rob soon to follow. There isn't one, but Mike thinks it's funny to fuck with them, so keeps implying he has it. The council of Ometepe debate who to vote off, and there doesn't seem to be a clear consensus.

"Phil, you are one odd duck"

Zapatera spend tribal council taking potshots at Phillip, and say they think he's on the bottom of the alliance. Phillip preaches love for his new family, claiming he loves being on the bottom. He also reveals his Native American roots, regaling another tall story about how his grandfather came to him during meditation and gave him good luck. Julie brings up Matt, who "thought he was your family too". Ralph hopes for a feather of his own, but according to Phillip "it takes courage and determination and knowing when to hold your tongue to get a feather". Anyway, the Zaps vote for Phillip, and the rest vote for Mike. Mike heads to Redemption Island to face Matt.

Back at camp, Rob hugs Phillip and whispers in his ear that he's not at the bottom, he's at the top. Rob reveals his ideal final three, and that's him, Phillip and Natalie. Phillip gives his first indication that he's putting on an act. Ralph tries to talk to Phillip and convince him Rob is gonna win the game despite David urging him to be careful, but Phillip isn't budging at all.

The remaining ten arrive at the next challenge - but first, they must decide if they will eat or compete! Only two people sit out, and that's Phillip...and Steve, what the hell? The guy has given up. So the eight competing hang over the pool by the rail, knowing if they fall, they lose immunity. Rob loses his hat, and starts struggling, before becoming the first one to drop. Phillip and David get into a bit of a slanging match. Now having to use their legs only, Julie soon drops. Grant and Ralph are next. The three little girls are left to hold the fort against David. When David drops, Andrea asks for it to be given to her.

Girl power!

Ralph finds a whole bunch of fish in his net. Rob assesses the haul, and says they're

dead, so they shouldn't eat them. But really, it's just about not wanting his tribe to have

An Ometepe with an independent thought? GASP!

any social contact with the enemy. So Ralph and his friends sit in their shelter and eat the fish, with Rob's group obediently ignoring them. Grant wanders over for a piece, which does not please Rob. "I'm my own man, I make my own decisions" Grant says. I wish he'd show more of that side, as Rob is (now literally) leading him by the hand.

If it wasn't established at the challenge, Steve is a useless lump, who only wants to sleep. He's an old man and he's showing it. Rob says voting him off would be a "mercy killing". Continuing the mafia analogy again.

At tribal council, Phillip gives another hilarious breakdown of his Stealth alliance. Ralph has a go at him for sitting out. I'm loving the Phillip/Ralph rivalry, long may it continue. Julie brings up how much control Rob has, saying "it's not even a tribe, it's a cult!". David shows a sense of humor when he writes down Rob's name four times and says "counts as 4 votes". But it's to no avail, as he becomes the next person sent to Redemption Island, to face Matt and Mike.

The vote-off seemed like a formality, but it can't be long before somebody listens to Julie and makes a move. Rob is starting to show signs of arrogance, and pride always comes before a fall.

STAR OF THE WEEK: PHILLIP SHEPPARD

Every time it seems like his shit is getting old, he comes up with something new and equally hilarious. What's great is that he now seems to have the best chance of anyone of getting to the final three. If it's all a con, it's the best con ever.

Redemption Island Episode 8: Fool Me Once...

Steve comments on how Sarita took it like a champ. They're now hoping to even the score at the next challenge. Sarita tells Matt which Zapateras are worth aligning with, and gives Mike in particular a glowing review. Matt starts contemplating the chance to flip.

After getting the news that everybody will be attending the duel, the tribes assume a merge is coming. Mike is looking forward to going toe-to-toe with Boston Rob. Phillip is now once again best friends with Rob. Let's see how long that will last.

Winner takes it all: Matt and Sarita in a contest of sheer willpower

Matt is worried that the cut on his foot will impede him in the duel, so he hopes it's not an endurance challenge. The competitors arrive at the arena with a full house and Jeff tells them the winner of the duel goes back into the game. He then reveals...it's an endurance challenge, and Matt winces. The pair have to brace themselves with their arms against two walls, and stand on small footholds. First to drop goes home. Matt has to fight through the pain, getting a Samurai story from Phillip for inspiration. Just when it starts getting really intense, Sarita drops.

So that's it, Matt is back in the game. Not the news that Zapatera or Rob wanted to hear, but it really is fitting that the Jesus kid gets resurrected. Jeff tells everyone to drop their buffs, they're merged. The twelve remaining contestants all take their black buffs and leave the arena.

Last supper: The merged tribe feast as one happy family

So they arrive at their new camp to find a feast waiting for them. Rob comes up with the new tribe name - "Murlonio". He claims it means something to do with the sea, but it's actually an inside joke between him and Amber.

So, the gang start working on the new shelter. Fun fact: This is the first time since Australia (season 2) that they've started anew instead of just moving into the better camp. Matt asks Grant what happened with his vote-off, and Grant tells him they were paranoid about him joining up with Kristina.

Mike wants to make a ballsy move and approach Matt and Andrea to swap sides. He's even willing to give up members of his own tribe to make it happen. It makes sense for him to flip, but will he do it this early in the game?

Andrea is excited at the prospect of being bad

First night in the new (unfinished) shelter. The Zapatera side is leaky, leaving everyone wet. The Ometepe side keeps everyone dry. Like they needed to rub their superiority in any more. Matt and Andrea spend the night reconnecting like lost loves, and Matt says he wants to turn on his old tribe down the road. Andrea has no problem with that.

Mike reads a passage in Matt's bible. This is a smart way to increase his rapport with him. Rob sees it and he doesn't like it, and for that, Mike is his first target if he doesn't win immunity.

The first individual immunity challenge involves balancing balls on a plate. One wrong move, and it's over. Phillip struggles, but the first person out is Julie. Ashley and David are the next out on two balls, followed by Andrea and Grant on three balls. Challenge expert Matt then loses his balls (foreshadowing?), causing Boston Rob to throw his plate down straight after him. Hmmm. Phillip drops out, leaving Natalie and the three Zapatera guys. Ralph and Steve fumble, but Mike is refusing to budge at all. A fly lands on Mike's ball and we see his first sign of movement. Natalie wins the challenge. Who'd have thought it? Well, the challenge was built for someone small and light.

Natalie shakes her booty as she shows off her new necklace

Mike asks Ralph for the idol as he thinks he might be in the crosshairs. He thinks targeting Rob might be too obvious, so goes for his right-hand man Grant instead. Matt meanwhile has decided he is too moral to flip...so tells Rob all about the plan he had to blindside him! No! What are you doing? Rightfully, this causes Rob to distrust him, so starts planning his return to Redemption Island. Rob's alliance are a little reluctant to vote Matt out again, but they go with it as they know he is playing both sides. Even Andrea agrees to it, as she was upset at how Matt implicated her in the double-cross. Mike sends Matt a note promising him final 3 if he votes for Grant. Will he do it?

David gives credit where credit is due

At tribal council, David admits he threw the challenge, causing Phillip to rant about how his tribe will never not try. Ralph plays his idol on Mike. Julie thinks they're doomed when Matt's vote comes back for Steve, but then the Matt votes pile up and Matt realises he's just been duped again. Torch snuffed, Matt ends the episode where he began.

A cruel move that couldn't have happened to a nicer guy, but it's no less than he deserves. He played the game with a dangerous level of naivety, and this time even his main ally cut him loose. But the one thing he is good at...is challenges. He got a second chance and blew it, his third chance starts here.

STAR OF THE WEEK: MIKE CHIESL

Up until the last 10 minutes, Matt was an absolute lock for this award...that quickly went down the drain. No, Mike is the star this week. He made bold moves and extended the olive branch, and could have won immunity if not for that damn fly. His plan was smart, and it's not his fault Matt wasn't.