Alliances are in ashes after a particularly stormy episode of ‘Survivor.’
Some episodes of CBS’s Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers play out like a smooth sea, others like a dangerous ocean swell. Episode 12 was more like a hurricane for which a category has not yet been designated.
After a rehash of Joe being voted out in episode 11 (seriously, it’s been brewing for ages), the reward challenge offered a heartwarming prize: a barbeque with a loved one from home.
While every tearful reunion was touching, Mike Zahalsky ’95 MMS’98 MD’99 introducing his wife, Bari, to his competitors would have made the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes.. When Zahalsky thanked Bari for supporting him in playing Survivor―“the most selfish thing I’ve ever done,” he said―she quickly added, “This is the only selfish thing he’s ever done.” Awww.
Chrissy won the chance-based challenge and picked Zahalsky, Ashley, Lauren and Ryan—along with their family members—for an afternoon barbecue. Being Survivor, there was a healthy dose of plotting at the reward gathering, wherein Chrissy tried to forge an anti-Ben coalition.
Back at camp, Ben encouraged the “alliance of four” (Ben, Lauren, Devon, and Ashley) to oust Chrissy, while the secret “alliance of three” (Lauren, Devon, and Ashley) debated whether Ben or Chrissy should be next to go. Meanwhile, Lauren found the first half of an immunity idol, with a note that the second half was waiting at the immunity challenge. Sound confusing? We had no idea what we were in for.
After Ashley won an immunity challenge, which stretched pain tolerance to the limit, and Lauren gathered the second half of her idol, it was back to camp to scheme.
Ben overheard the secret alliance’s plans and tried to get the remaining players (Zahalsky, Ryan, and Chrissy) to axe Lauren. But Dr. Mike had had enough of being double-crossed by Ben and immediately conveyed Ben’s no-longer-secret plan to the no-longer-secret “alliance of three.”
All pretense and diplomacy were eschewed: it was open season on Ben, Chrissy, and Lauren.
As tribal council opened the players were on edge, with alliance members taking swipes at one another. Zahalsky threw Lauren’s bridge-building idol into the fire, and chaos erupted. Players shouted, Ben declared he’s voting for Lauren, Zahalsky and Ryan openly talked shop, Chrissy and Devon ran over to whisper in Dr. Mike’s ear. It was pandemonium.
Everyone was finally ushered into the voting booth. Just as the host, Jeff, was about to read the results, Ben pulled out a secret immunity idol. Cue Jeff reading vote after vote for Ben, none of which counted due to the idol. The lone vote for Lauren was enough to eliminate her.
Be sure to rest up before next Wednesday’s episode at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.
