Edge Of Extinction Episode 11: Goat Hunt

Lauren is sad to lose her "older sister" Kelley, on both a personal and a game level. She wants Rick out next. Gavin says he wanted to be included, and Wardog snaps on him. Ron repairs his relationship with Julie and tells her about the extra vote. Rick tells Wardog and Ron that they're the biggest threats left, so they need to stick together because no-one else is gonna take them to the end. They decide to target Aurora. Damn, seems like she's always on the bottom, no matter what she does.

Another stellar challenge performance from Wardog

The reward challenge is two teams of four. Two members will swim the keelhaul section to get rings, and the other two will be the tossers. It's Wardog/Lauren/Rick/Julie vs Ron/Aurora/Gavin/Victoria, playing for a trip to the mudpool. Wardog really botches the dive harder than I ever thought possible, and almost swims to the wrong platform, but still gets his ring back roughly the same time as Ron. Aurora smokes Lauren when it's their turn. On the tossing, Rick steps up to win for his team.

Joe comforts Kelley on Extinction, but Reem is happy she's out and lets her know she thinks it's her fault she got voted out. We get a close-up on Kelley's tears as she cries it out and talks about how she hopes this game will teach her to be more open.

No rice for you!

The four people from the losing team all agree Rick should be the next to go. Gavin is out for Wardog's blood but is happy to stick with the numbers for now (kinda proving Wardog right). Ron gives Aurora the advantage back in order to cement their bond, but now they're getting into an argument where he calls her a "rice Nazi". "I'm used to being around drama queens because I am one" says Aurora.

At the mudpool, Rick and Wardog are having fun rubbing mud all over eachother (but not in a homosexual way, that's for sure). According to Rick, the two girls aren't playing the game...but turns out he's wrong there, as they're strategizing together in the pool on the downlow. Julie considers Wardog the threat, but Lauren thinks it's Rick.

Not sure what's going on here

Rick Devens, challenge star

The immunity challenge is to jump across pyramid structures, move bags through a tube and solve a puzzle at the end. Finally, a non-balance challenge! Everyone gets over the pyramids, with Ron being the slowest. Aurora takes the lead going into the puzzle with Gavin behind her. Rick does well on the puzzle, as Aurora gets frustrated. However he stalls right at the end, and allows Aurora back into it. Rick figures it out and wins immunity again.

With Rick safe, most people's targets are switching to Wardog...but Ron isn't sure and heeds his warning that if he goes, the other threats will fall like dominoes. Wardog tries to get Julie to vote Aurora, and she wants to, but is annoyed that he didn't just do that last time. Lauren and Julie talk, as Lauren isn't sure she wants Wardog to go since she did have a good relationship with him before the betrayal. Aurora senses people not talking to her and considers playing her extra vote.

The peanut gallery have a lot to say

At tribal council, Gavin reveals him and Wardog haven't talked since the Kelley vote, which gets a reaction from Kelley on the jury. Wardog is called out as the ringleader behind that big move and he drags Ron under the bus with him. There's a lot of talk about how many threats are gone already and whether that will continue, but Aurora says not everyone is gonna agree who the threats are.

The vote is between Aurora and Wardog...this shouldn't really be a complicated decision, and it isn't, as Wardog gets snuffed. Rick was left on the outs again. And Kelley is loving that Lauren got revenge for her. Well, the so-called goats ended up calling the shots this round, which proves that maybe it's not a good thing to be the biggest threat at final 8.

STAR OF THE WEEK: LAUREN O'CONNELL

Great bounceback for Lauren, who may have lost her closest ally but still has a strong shot of getting to the end. Now she just needs to finish the job on Rick, which shouldn't be too hard.

Edge Of Extinction Episode 10: Stealth Operation

David comes back from tribal with no regrets about wasting the idol, since it just wasn't worth the risk. Wardog wants to put together a six-person alliance with Kelley, Lauren, Ron, Julie and Gavin. He blames Aurora for how the last tribal went down, and plans to target her next.

Nobody suspects the butterfly

The immunity challenge is to keep a pot held in position without it falling. But players are also offered the chance to sit out for food, which Kelley, Lauren, Ron and Victoria all take. Wardog falls out of the challenge first, due to a butterfly landing on him. Gavin drops next, then Julie, whose legs give out. Rick gives a news report with sweat dripping down him, but doesn't last much longer. It's now Aurora vs David, and Aurora is determined to win. David drops, meaning Aurora saves herself when she needs it most.

The six agree that David is the biggest threat and is the obvious vote. David and Rick sense the danger and try to sway Ron, Julie and Victoria to target Wardog instead, pointing out they're just letting an obvious trio run the game. Julie and Ron talk about it, and seem to enjoy that they're in the swing vote position now.

My brand is broken records

At tribal council, Rick talks about playing a loyal game since he came back from Edge of Extinction, and how Julie seems to be the person to go to if you want to make a move. Wardog says he's loyal too, pointing out how his trio have always voted together. Ron says he didn't appreciate the hard sell from Rick. David tries to give his loyalty speech again, but everyone just scoffs at him, with Wardog calling him a squirmer. Unfortunately for him, David's pitch doesn't work and he is voted out...but I give him a lot of credit for lasting as long as he did.

The gang on Extinction receive news of a new advantage to find, and David takes off immediately. Eric, Chris and David all think they have an idea of where it is...but David is the one to get it. He now gets to give somebody still in the game an advantage in the next immunity challenge...seems pretty obvious this is going to Rick.

Insert lesbians/balls joke here

Straight into the challenge now, and it's to balance five balls on a paddle. Thanks to David, Rick only has to do 4. Ron and Rick start getting the hang of it first, but Aurora is getting some too. Rick goes for his 4th, but knocks off another ball in the process. Now Aurora is in the lead with 3. Rick knocks a ball out again, but when he saves the closer hole for his last one, he gets it this time.

Julie wants Aurora out, who is proving herself a challenge beast. But Wardog has a bigger plan: slaying his closest ally, Kelley Wentworth. I didn't see this coming, and Wardog is being very careful to make sure she doesn't either. Having set this up with brief 30-second conversations with Victoria and Rick earlier. now he just needs Ron. Ron is not too sure about it, mainly because it'd piss off Julie. Aurora starts to worry the plan won't go through, and offers up her extra vote to Ron as a sign of trust. Wooow, that is bold. And knowing Ron, might not even stop him voting her out.

Can they spot this coming?

At tribal council, the jury are very happy when they see Rick has immunity, as Rick thanks his guardian angel. Victoria says nobody has really talked to her much. Ron talks about how blindsides can be fun, even addicting. Rick says he thinks idols are only on Edge of Extinction, since he hasn't seen any from the game yet.

"Last returnee standing" tag didn't last long

We get to the vote, and the girls hold onto their idols again. It's crazy they've kept them this long, but it's one gamble too many for Kelley, who is sent to Extinction. She's so pissed she didn't play it she vents to the rest of the group and even outs Lauren's idol too. Well, Wardog really stepped up and changed the game and Julie was left out again. Where does Lauren go from here? Lots of questions to be answered starting next week.

STAR OF THE WEEK: DAN "WARDOG" DASILVA

Wardog managed to succeed where many others have failed in pulling the wool over Kelley's eyes. He just took firm control of the game, added the biggest scalp possible to his resume and presided over a first-ever achievement in mixed seasons: getting rid of all the returnees.

Edge Of Extinction Episode 9: Sharks Among Minnows

Do I get a detention?

After the vote, Ron pulls Gavin aside like he's sending him to the headmaster's office and asks for an explanation, and he says he felt it was important to make the first strike. Rick and David discuss coming back together for the sake of the shared idol, starting with winning over Ron and Julie. Gavin sits down with Kelley, Lauren and Wardog and tells them he wants to move forward with them, plus Victoria and Julia.

Eric talks about how much the game slows down on Edge of Extinction, and seems to be contemplating quitting. But seeing Chris come back with a stingray gives him an epiphany (for some reason), where he realizes he needs to teach a lesson to his children about not giving up.

Living on the Edge, battling boredom

Rick tries to build some trust with Ron and Julie, saying they should stick together along with David...but they're not sure who else to bring in, and consider Wardog. Julie thinks Julia is running the show. Well if that's true, we certainly haven't seen it. Gavin tells Julia that David is his next target, but Julia is keeping her eye on the Kelley/Lauren/Wardog trio too.

No, you can't kick it

We get to the next challenge and it's for immunity. David knows this one well...it's keeping a ball balanced on top of a bow. Gavin and Rick combat early movement, but Wardog is first out. Julie leaves right before the final stage, and then Ron and Rick don't last long. 5 girls and 2 guys now, but the girls all then quickly leave one-by-one to set up a Gavin vs David showdown. Gavin prevails and wins immunity.

Paranoia, paranoia...

After the challenge, the scrambling starts immediately when people go off to talk. But who's left in the shelter provides opportunity for strategy too, as Rick and David get a chance to plead their case to Julia. They tell Gavin and Victoria also that they want to break up the trio. The trio meanwhile are trying to switch the vote to Ron in case Kama come back together, making Julia suspicious that Manu are still together. She then plots with Kama to target Kelley, but Ron and Julie are still upset. Gavin disagrees with the switch in target, calling David a "challenge beast" (LOL at that). They all sit around in a very awkward silence, which leaves Kelley a little spooked. David plots with Rick to use the idol, as Kelley considers the same.

It's a live one

Jeff opens up tribal council talking about blindsides, as Wardog wonders if they were just used for one vote and Kelley brings up the weird vibes. David tells a story about sharks and minnows, to which Jeff skeptically asks "did that really happen?". Julie cries mid-answer and wonders if she's getting blindsided, causing Kelley to seek reassurance from Julia. Julia explains what she was doing to Jeff, and that doesn't sit well with Rick. Aurora talks about how the dysfunctional Lesu could still come back together. Rick then proposes just that right out in the open, as Julia insults him by calling a passenger. Wardog asks Ron if they want to do Aurora, as Ron even tells Victoria to her face that he's willing to vote her out. Kelley doesn't join in the huddle until David gets involved, and she admits to him he was the original plan. Julia tries to reason with Julie and then she openly yells out that she's ready to jump ship. Whoa, this is chaos...and the jury are loving it. Julia tells Wardog to shut up right before the vote - it's getting heated.

Before the votes are read, David and Rick decide to combine their idol and play it on David. It cancels one vote, which comes as a surprise for Kelley. Kelley gets a vote too, but the rest are for Julia. Wow, her game really unraveled over the course of that tribal in a way I'm not sure we've ever seen before. She leaves surprisingly graciously, and heads to the Edge of Extinction. Another big shake-up and a Lesu truce...but for how long?

STAR OF THE WEEK: RICK DEVENS

Rick redeemed himself this week by learning from his mistakes and showing himself to be flexible. By taking a gamble and speaking up at tribal, he may have just changed the course of the game.

Edge Of Extinction Episode 8: Blank Sheets

Aurora feels stupid after tribal, losing basically her only ally. Rick thanks Ron for saving him, as Ron tries to rile him up against the other Manus. Kelley, Wardog and Lauren realize the shitty position they're in and plot to get the outsiders together.

Struggling with the physical on the mental part

The reward challenge sees two teams competing for Chinese food by swimming to a tower to untie planks, then using them to solve a puzzle. Eric and Wardog bring back their first plank ahead of Gavin and Kelley. Julie holds yellow team back though and allows Aurora and Rick to overtake. It comes down to the puzzle...Julia and Victoria have a nice headstart over Ron and David, but they move pretty slowly and now it's anyone's game. The girls pull it out to give yellow the win.

Lord of the flies

The winning team polish off all the food, as Kelley tries to smooth things over with David. She tells him they can get Aurora (who is crying to Ron about feeling left out) and pull something off if Kama try to split the vote. But when Wardog talks to Rick, he makes it clear he has absolutely no interest in working with the trio who already tried to get him out twice. David has a talk with him too, explaining that they have no power if they go with Eric and Ron, but Rick stands his ground. Rick asks for the idol half back, but David refuses...essentially holding it hostage.

Davens breakup

On the Edge of Extinction, the losers get another clue...one that mentions rocks and steps. Everyone goes to the steps to try and find it, and Aubry spots the hole. Inside is a note that tells her where she can find a spot to practice the next return challenge. There she finds a pole that she surmises she'll have to unwrap herself from. She also gets an extra vote to give to any player still in the game. This AGAIN? Wonder if she'll pay it forward to Rick.

I'm falling for you

The immunity challenge is to balance a block on your head. Wardog is first out (man, this dude really sucks) but Kelley is wobbling early. Eric falls next, then Gavin before finally Kelley. Rick then drops right as Probst comments on the strong players leaving, with perfect comedic timing. Julia, Ron and Julie are next, as Lauren starts getting dizzy. David is out, and Lauren passes out mid-challenge with a nasty fall. Medical has to be brought in, as Aurora takes this time to try and negotiate with Victoria, telling her she needs it more! Julie is fuming, seeing it as inappropriate, but Lauren recovers and is just pissed to have lost. Victoria loses too which give Aurora immunity...and now both girls have to wait until they can feel their legs again.

Need an extra number for a big move? No problem!
Call 555-WARDOG now!

Not only does Aurora have immunity, she's also been gifted Aubry's extra vote. Oh yeah, I forgot they were allies at one point. But she doesn't want to do anything too crazy yet. Kama Strong are saying they're all gonna make it to the loved ones visit together, as they debate between Kelley or Lauren. Wardog is campaigning to the younger Kama members, Gavin and Julia, by trying to plant in their heads that Ron and Eric are keeping David and Rick around to use as numbers against them down the road. Julia decides to test that theory by asking Eric how he feels about a David vote, and Eric shoots it down. Gavin and Julia talk about making a move, but Victoria thinks it's too soon.

At tribal council, Eric talks about the big Kama group chat, which Wardog wasn't let in on. Rick makes it clear where he stands - against his former tribe. David says that everyone is gonna have to choose whether they're a pilot or a passenger. Victoria says big moves are great, but timing is everything.

After the votes are cast, the girls hold onto their idols once again. Lauren and Kelley vote come up as expected, but then a string of Eric votes leaves him, Ron, Julie and Rick blindsided. Wow, Rick flipped just in time to see the game flip back on him. Now Eric gets what is sure to be an uncomfortable reunion with Joe, as puppet master Ron returns to camp de-throned. I guess any notion that knowledge of the Edge of Extinction twist would kill blindsides has been safely disproven. This game just keeps on moving.

STAR OF THE WEEK: AURORA MCCREARY

Finally, an Aurora breakout! She won immunity, gained an advantage and found herself with the majority this time. This is the feisty personality I expected to see earlier.

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!

Edge Of Extinction Episode 5 & 6: Fijian Standoff

Rick talks about how hard Edge of Extinction is gonna be, especially having to live with people who hate him. Back in the game, the reward challenge is to run through ropes, retrieve bolos, them toss them...all to win sandwiches. The tribes tackle the ropes, with Julie out first. Julie and Victoria are hoisted up to do the untying, but Lesu struggle to lift

Same old story

David long enough. They send Lauren up instead, and she gets it. On the tossing, Gavin and Eric are the first to score. Ron and Joe also score to tie it up. Wendy gets Manu's 3rd, and Aurora gets one too. Julie gives Kama a win, as Lesu still have nothing. Victoria struggles, allowing Kelley and Wardog to get on the board. But there's no epic comeback, as Victoria gets it in the end.

Whilst celebrating Kama's win, Julia finally speaks and says she wants Joe out. Julie urges their three to take the shot now whilst he doesn't expect it but Ron is now the one who wants to keep him since he's such a provider.

Photobombed by poultry

The chickens are still the main topic at Manu, but Aubry just wants to start strategizing. Meanwhile Eric, Gavin and Victoria are all strategizing against her. saying they'd rather take her out over Wendy since she's a bigger threat. Victoria proposes she make a fake plan with Aubry to take out Eric in order to keep her comfortable, and she buys it.

David goes looking for the Lesu idol, as the rest of the tribe trash his challenge performances. Lauren feels comfortable with David as the next boot, but Wardog tells Kelley he wants them to go to the merge together, and that maybe they should just vote Lauren out now. Seems a bold suggestion, but Kelley doesn't outright dismiss it.

Don't start Tonying

On Extinction, Chris finds a box that gives them all a map with a cryptic clue. Rick figures out you have to fold it until the arrows point at two trees. They all agree to go together, but Keith sneaks off on his own. The others see it and are pissed, racing after him. Chris catches up and shoves him out of the way to get a tube that says "practice". For the return comp, no doubt. Rick finds the other tree and it's an extra vote that he can give to anyone who attends the next tribal council. Hmm, not sure I like eliminated players being allowed to mess with the game.

Free at last!

The immunity challenge is to dive into the water and pull a rod that releases puzzle pieces. Then they need to build a pyramid out of buoys. Eric gets the first set for Manu. Aurora and Aubry get stuck and pass. Kelley takes a long time and has to quit too, as Joe gets Kama's first. Gavin and Julia get the 2nd pieces for their tribe, meaning they can start their puzzle. Lauren comes up empty, so now it's Wardog's turn and he actually manages it. David's turn now...would be a hell of a story if he did it, but no, he leaves it for Lauren to go back and she makes it this time. Nice! So nobody has solved the puzzle yet, will they be able to catch up? Kama are the first to get it, winning immunity again. Aurora then starts giving hints to Manu - but Lesu have figured it out and managed to get it first. Absolute relief for David, Kelley, Lauren and Wardog...they get to take a tribal off at last.

The 4 old Kamas keep up the ruse that Wendy is an easy vote, as Aubry debates with Victoria on whether to vote Eric or not. They talk to Wendy but she says basically nothing. Aubry checks her bag and finds the extra vote there. Curious choice by Rick. Wonder if it will help her.

At tribal council, Gavin says the mood was pretty relaxed, but Aubry says there was talking. Wendy is grinning like an idiot when she's asked if she's an easy vote, acting even more aloof than usual. Aubry starts talking about black cats - alright, maybe she's not the only loon. Jeff asks Gavin for his take on Aubry and he says he doesn't see her as a returnee and appreciates her advice.

She gotcha good!

The votes come out and Aubry lets out a stunned gasp when it's her. She tips her hat to the rest of the tribe on the way out, calling them unbelievable players. With an idol in her pocket too...they must've done a great job of making her feel comfortable. She heads over to Extinction, and is still stung the next morning, calling it a "J.T.-level embarrassment". But climbing off rock bottom is what she does best, so don't rule her out yet.

At the next challenge, Aubry's vote-out gets a big reaction...especially from the returnees. The challenge is to jump over tables to get to a lever they have to untie, release sandbags to throw at targets to release flags. All three tribes get to the lever around the same time and begin gathering their sandbags. Joe is the first to start throwing and does really well. Gavin gets a few hits, and Wardog starts tossing but way too low. Joe and Gavin both drop a flag as Lauren subs in for Wardog. Joe's tribe tell him "do it for Sierra" (ha, another random namedrop) and that proves the motivation he needs to get it done. Wardog then goes BACK IN for some reason, but Gavin soon finishes anyway, giving them 2nd place.

Riding high for now...but nothing lasts forever

Julie thanks Joe for winning the challenge for them, but he's worried he's gonna be a big target. Aubry leaving has set off the alarm bells, and now he's pushing hard for their 5 to stay together, making sure Julia knows that she's gonna be seen as a threat too.

On Lesu, Lauren cries due to lack of food and the crappy camp they have to live in. David goes out to fish and finds a clam. Kelley and Wardog tell David they want Lauren to go, but Kelley's target is actually shifting to Wardog, as she finds him domineering and sketchy.

Chris gets Reemed

The players on Extinction get a new map full of holes, and decide to split up to search. Rick thinks it's at the mast, since that's where all the holes line up to. Reem spots it in the water and points it out to Keith who goes over and grabs it. The advantage allows you to disadvantage a player of your choice in the return challenge...and Keith seems set on using it on Chris. Chris is mad at Reem for just letting him have it and Reem blows up on him.

The immunity challenge is to push a bag across to the end of a beam and then hook a release mechanism for their gate, before finishing with a slide puzzle. Jeff also lets them know there'll be two tribes at tribal council. Kama get the bag out first, then Manu, then Lesu. Joe does the tossing for Kama and hooks it with one try. Gavin gets it for Manu and Wardog for Lesu...despite being confused about where he had to stand to pull. On the puzzle, it's Joe and Julia vs Eric and Victoria vs David and Kelley. David seems like he has it figured out, but Joe gets there first to win immunity (Ok, he did have a headstart though.) So there we have it, Lesu and Manu will both be going to tribal, Game Changers style. And the numbers will be 4-4 this time, so who knows what will happen?

Girls with idols

Manu try to come up with a gameplan, knowing that it could be rocks. Wendy assures them David is sneaky and could potentially flip if they vote Lauren or Wardog. Eric and Gavin agree to go to rocks, but Victoria is secretly not willing to do it. Meanwhile, Wardog's plan is to vote Wendy, which annoys Kelley as she feels she didn't get a say. Wardog also goes off to look for the idol, digging his hole deeper. Kelley spots it just tied to a branch in plain sight and waits for Wardog to go before snagging it. Kelley tells Lauren, which leads to Lauren telling Kelley, but neither want to play it if they don't have to. They also both agree that they're not going to rocks for Wardog.

At tribal council, both tribes say they're staying united, with Wardog calling it a gunfight. Kelley extends an offer for anyone who wants to flip to their side, and Gavin does the same. Wendy mentions she has some insight into the other tribe, as David says they all love her...but Eric says that's not what he's heard. David points out he's gone to rocks before. but Victoria still doesn't believe he'll do it. David gets a private talk with Wendy right before the vote, but we don't hear what they say.

Hey, mind if I join?

The votes are cast, and Lauren is nervous when she sees her name, but Kelley assures her she'll be fine. It ties between Lauren and Wendy and now the side conversations start. In the end, they come to a conclusion and all send Wendy home, deemed an acceptable casualty by both sides. Welp, her luck finally ran out, and she exits adorably, almost getting lost on the path and talking about cheeseburgers (hey, wait a sec...). But she's not conflicted at all when she reaches the sign, and takes the road to Extinction quicker than anyone else so far.

Well this was a fun week of Survivor and it's about to ratchet up a notch again when the twist finally comes to fruition. We end with a boat arriving to tell the Extinction residents their chance to get back in the game is here. "Time for some payback" says Aubry. This is not to be missed. Who's your money on?

STAR OF THE WEEK: VICTORIA BAAMONDE

"Don't ever trust me, man" is right. The beanie-wearing redhead's ditzy persona masks a more than capable strategist that was able to get the better of a savvy veteran player. She's ruthless and emotionless. I didn't think it was possible at first, but...could Victoria actually win?

Edge Of Extinction Episode 4: Family Separation

Chris arrives at the Edge of Extinction still stung from his blindside, and Keith and Reem aren't exactly in the mood to be a sympathetic ear. The next morning, Wendy has returned the flint. Kelley and Lauren know it was her that took it though, and are not happy. Wendy tells David she's not even close to being done, which he's amazed at. The tribe are all in agreement - Wendy has to go next.

Swap shocker: Meet the new tribes, same as the old tribes

Kama are shocked to see Chris gone and give their speculation on what it might mean. And then Probst drops another unexpected twist on them - they're swapping. We form three new tribes, but curiously there ends up being very little mixing. Kama are split in two, with Ron/Joe/Aurora/Julie/Julia staying yellow and the rest moving to blue, picking up Wendy. The 5 other Manu go to green. Wendy seems happy to leave the rest behind.

Joe is hoping to pull Ron onto his side along with Aurora to form a majority. Ron tries to convince Joe that he's not coming for him...but really he's told Julia to search Joe's bag whilst he distracts him. Julia reports that Joe doesn't have the idol...which gives them the all-clear to take him out if they so wish!

Joe's little pet

Lesu (aka former Manu) are feeling a little uneasy without their scapegoat Wendy around. They try to put a shelter together, but it's hard. Kelley is really not feeling this new tribe, and Lauren is struggling even more, to the point where she's no longer eating.

Wendy flies the coop

On Manu, Wendy gives her new tribemates the tour. Aubry is happy to have an easy boot around as a buffer, even though she likes Wendy. Wendy starts dishing all the info on her old tribemates, calling them bullies and painting Kelley as the ringleader. Eric mentions eating a chicken and Wendy has to talk him out of it. That night, she finally lets the chickens go.

As Keith contemplates quitting, Chris seems more determined than ever and catches fish to ingratiate himself. Back at Manu, Eric notices the chickens gone and suspects Wendy did it. Wanting to recapture them, he even hears one taunting him when doing a confessional. Wendy's position hasn't really changed then.

The climb

Onto the first challenge with three tribes, and it's to get over two steep ramps, then pull a box along a track using rope, then open the box and solve a puzzle. The rain makes it even harder to get over the ramps, but Eric and Gavin manage it first. Joe gets up too, and now they're all pulling up tribemates. Lauren gets up first for Lesu, and hauls Kelley and the rest of the tribe up. For the second ramp, the tribes try a human ladder approach. All tribes pull their boxes around the same time so it comes down to the puzzle....Joe and Ron vs Aubry and Eric vs Kelley and David. Joe and Ron seem to be getting the closest, as Wendy subs in for Aubry. Kama win immunity, and a frantic race for 2nd sees Manu beat out Lesu. Wow, this will be a fourth trip in a row for these sorry saps.

Lesu lovefest comes to an end

David and Rick propose voting Lauren, thinking she's the weakest. Ironically they think Kelley has the idol and that by voting Lauren they're avoiding it, but she just might play it as she does feel in danger. Kelley and Lauren are their own pair and want Rick out. Wardog is the swing vote between the two pairs, as everybody tries to sway him to their side.

At tribal council, Rick gives a news report on the status of the tribe, but adds that they all love eachother. Lauren says building the shelter was exhausting. Kelley cries as she's been through a lot with these people already and this is gonna be the toughest vote yet. David talks about how many great things he's got out of his Survivor experience. Aw man, this is getting heavy. And yet the game continues!

We get to the vote and Lauren holds onto the idol. Could it be a mistake? In the end, Wardog sides with the girls, and Rick is voted off. He departs amicably...and probably won't find such a warm reception where he's heading, which is Edge of Extinction. Well now, seems like David is in a tough spot. Or will we finally see a Kama go to tribal council next? Any one of them will be fine, doesn't matter to me!

STAR OF THE WEEK: LAUREN O'CONNELL

Not sure why she was labeled the weakest when she was the first one up the ramp, but she managed to survive and hold on to her idol. I don't see Kelley turning on her, so she's probably safe as she can be right now.