By Guest Correspondent ChoHey! It’s Cho, and I am SO sorry for this Survivor: Edge Of Extinction recap being late this week! I 100% take the blame and hopefully it’s worth the wait! Let’s not waste any more words and get right into this double boot episode!
Can Lesu Catch a Break?
The pathetic Lesu tribe decides that David Wright is the weakest link on their tribe. Kelley Wentworth and Wardog solidify their alliance together. Wardog rationalizes to Wentworth that Lauren’s position in the game will only brew distrust between them since they are both close to her, so maybe they should get rid of her now. This makes ZERO sense, but okay, Wardog, way to fucking overplay on like Day 12.
The immunity challenge isn’t anything we haven’t seen before. Lesu struggles beyond belief. Despite the other tribes having a long time to solve a puzzle with only 4 pieces, Lesu is able to finally catch up. Aurora McCreary communicates with the Aubry Bracco on the enemy team to try to help them solve their puzzle after they win, but it’s not enough and LESU WINS THEIR FIRST CHALLENGE! Kelley Wentworth literally breaks down on the ground.
Keith Makes a Selfish Play
We get to check in on the voted off castaways who each just got a really cryptic letter that only Rick Devens could figure out. He helped them to all to find out the locations they should search, and Keith Sowell immediately starts heading towards the location alone after they had decided they were going to search together. He mutters to himself like he did when he was voted out.
It’s now a full on race to whatever they’re looking for as the others literally yell profanities at Keith Sowell. Chris Underwood ends up SHOVING HIM OUT OF THE WAY! I’m getting flashbacks to when Amanda & Danielle wrestled over a clue in bed while Colby watched a movie. Comment below if you remember this iconic moment from Survivor Heroes vs Villains. Anyway, Chris wins something that allows him to practice for a future challenge and Rick finds an extra vote that he can give someone. Keith looks like an idiot.
Victoria Preys on Aubry
On Manu, they’ve decided they are going to catch the chickens that Wendy Diaz has released. They hope it’s okay to capture them in order to have “free-range eggs”. I laugh out loud as many Survivors give confessionals with the chickens visibly and audibly in the background! Victoria Baamonde comes up with a diversion plan to manipulate Aubry Bracco into trusting her. She comes up with a fake plan to target the guys. Aubry falls for it hook, line and sinker. Victoria is a snake.
Aubry Bracco starts contemplating what her game plan should be considering the options Victoria gave her in terms of voting off a guy. While she weighs the pros and cons, I wonder if Victoria is actually going to flip to actually working with Aubry and Wendy! They approach Wendy who doesn’t really say anything to defend herself. Wendy is a trash player. Aubry finds the extra vote in her bag that Rick has given to her! She struggles with not knowing how to play the game when she feels like she’s in a good position. That makes her feel like she’s actually going to be voted out! If you know Aubry’s history in survivor, you should feel her anxiety and connect with it. You in danger, girl!
1st Tribal Council
I’m nervous for Aubry at this tribal council. Jeff wonders why Wendy is so calm and relaxed when she could be the easiest vote off. Victoria looks really pretty with her long red hair and beanie. Gavin lays it on thick on how much he trusts Aubry. She’s being set up. Jeff reads the votes: Aubry, Wendy, Aubry and the last vote is for Aubry who is totally blindsided. She calls them all unbelievable players as she exits and wishes them good luck. Aubry then calls going to Edge of Extinction a no brainer decision. She wakes up and realizes it isn’t a dream that she was epically blindsided with both an idol and extra vote in her pocket. She cries as she admits thriving from the bottom and pulling herself up is what she’s used to!
Lesu Loses to Kama Again
Kama is already performing their Ron-approved dances while celebrating their big victory. However, Julia, Ron and Julie are ready to cut Joe’s throat. While Ron Clarks’s allies are even more apt to get rid of Joe before the merge, Ron is having second thoughts about getting rid of their biggest workhorse. Julie argues to Ron that Joe Anglim has to go now before a bigger case is made why the returning players should win the game.
Julie Rosenberg lays it on thick how much she appreciates Joe while plotting behind his back. She admits that in the short term, having him on their team is the best. She gloats about how she doesn’t think they’ll never lose a challenge. Joe realizes that the returning players are seen as threats. He gets down on himself at the disadvantage he has in the game and how he has no one to rely on. He gets teary eyed thinking about the people he can rely on back at home.
This is the heart-throb Joe Anglim we have been missing this entire season! Joe’s strategy is to make the others feel as though they’re as big of a threat as he is post merge which should bond them tighter. This instantly works on Julia who starts second-thinking her strategy.
What Is Wardog Good For Again?
Lesu is miserable. Wardog continues to overplay the game by constantly playing hard and flip flopping plans. He even pisses Wentworth off who is upset that he’s currently targeting Lauren for being sick. David admits that when the game started, he was very anti-Wentworth but now he’s dedicated to working with her if that’s what gets him to the end. David trashes Wardog by saying he doesn’t bring much to camp life or challenges. Plus, he annoys everyone with his constant number crunching and strategy! About time they WOKE UP to his worth.
All-Out War on the Edge of Extinction
The Edge of Extinction crew gets more mail about another item to find. They each go out searching, but Reem is the one that ends up inadvertently helping Keith find an advantage that will allow him to give someone else a disadvantage. He vows to use it against Chris who he hates. Everyone hates Chris. He points out Reem’s obvious mistake by basically giving her advantage to Keith. She totally flips out on him.
Edge of Extinction is more entertaining than the rest of the cast. Aubry says exactly what the viewers at home are thinking when she says this tribe is a complete and utter disaster. She says no one knows how long this trainwreck will last and that everyone is losing their mind. Cut to Reem screaming at Chris. Reem is carrying this show.
Petraphobia: The Fear of Rocks
There’s a twist at this immunity challenge: only one tribe will win, and two tribes will attend tribal council AS ONE! That’s the only interesting thing as Kama easily wins the challenge once again.
Manu starts weighing the options of who they can flip onto their side. They rationalize that they can flip one of David Wright or Kelley Wentworth who are returning players and wouldn’t risk their life in the game on rocks. Eric Hafemann is excited at the thought of going into this situation. I think he’s insane. Gavin Whitson is also down with going to rocks with Victoria, Wendy and Eric. Victoria admits that she’s secretly not willing to go to rocks and she says to the camera: “don’t EVER trust me!” I love Victoria Baamonde after this episode, because she’s owning it in the confessionals!
On Lesu, their idea is to vote Wendy Diaz out, because Kama won’t go to rocks for her. Lauren feels nervous about going to rocks, especially for someone like Wardog. Wardog is also contemplating not going to rocks for Lauren. Oh my goodness, both of these tribes are going to fucking fall apart. His tribemates are upset about Wardog not contributing, because he’s instead looking for the idol, so everyone ends up looking for it with Kelley Wentworth finding an idol! Wentworth and Lauren reveal their idols to each other, and we are left… on the EDGE of our seats contemplating what will happen! See what I did there?
The 2nd Tribal Council
We finally get to tribal council. There’s a lot of bullshit about how each tribe is 4-strong. Wendy is exposed as someone that should be in the middle of the two tribes. But Eric shoots it down. Wendy was burned by her previous tribemates. The whispering starts running rampant! This is what we’ve waited for! David and Wendy chat privately while everyone stares each other down.
It’s time to vote. Both Kelley Wentworth and Lauren O’Connell need to play their idols and just pray that they are one of the targets! Jeff asks about idols and neither girl plays theirs! Jeff reads the votes: Wendy, Lauren, Wendy, Lauren, Wendy, Lauren, Wendy and Lauren! We have a tie. EVERYONE BEGINS WHISPERING! David delivers the line that this is the worst cocktail party ever.
It’s time to revote. Jeff reads the final votes: Wendy, Wendy, Wendy and with a unanimous vote, Wendy is voted out. She giggles as she gets Jeff to call her “Big Wendy” as her torch is snuffed and she hugs Jeff. Class act really. I won’t say anymore mean things about her… unless she makes more stupid decisions on the Edge of Extinction.
Whew, that was a lot!
Next Week
On the next episode of Survivor Edge of Extinction ext week is the merge and presumably the finale of the Edge of Extinction twist! Now let’s chat in the comment section, because I have a lot of feelings!! As always, don’t forget to follow me on my social media platforms to stay in touch with me throughout the entire week: Instagram, Twitter, Youtube and Twitch!
Did you notice how many times Wardog said “don’t yell me”? Haha
Reem is batshit crazy. She needs therapy for her anger. I felt bad for Chris.
Great recap, Cho.
Wardog is utterly useless, and I feel bad that it’s just taken me this long to figure that out!
And I don’t feel too bad for Chris. Keith and Reem are way worse than he is, but he definitely did betray both of them hardcore.
Good job on the recap, Cho!
Reem lost it, because Chris was right! She DID give the advantage Keith, instead of keeping quiet and smoothly going to the package herself. That is like someone seeing an idol and shouting, “What’s that over there?” while a competitor is standing close by. DUH! She’s not too bright.
Victoria is here to play the game. She’s already making moves, yet she’s so sweet & innocent looking that folks will not know what hit them. AUBRY!
Joe getting all teary eyes then bucking up and coming at things from a different angle was a good strategy. Joe needs to strategize more often.
I don’t need to see David’s little package being clung to by his undies. Enough already.
Wardog is a bully. He’s terrible at challenges. He couldn’t even toss a bean bag? They need to get rid of him.
I never realized how lousy Wentworth is at the swimming challenges. Wow. I suppose when you haven’t eaten or slept it makes things a whole lot worse.
Looking forward to next week. Reem will probably make enemies instantly! LOL
I pray that your disdain for David’s underwear puts you off of the season and you stop watching. There are so many things you need to aver your eyes from on TV that maybe you should just stop watching all together.
Hey thanks again Cho! What a bizarre season.
Wardog sucks. Dude, learn to throw! He is going to box himself in with all the flipping and be out soon. He thinks he’s a great player but he’s awful.
Victoria is my new favorite. So evil and she owns it. I love her!
I have to admit that all of Wardog’s blustering had me snowed. I really haven’t been paying attention to the fact that he sucks at challenges. I was just thinking they will keep the big strong comp threat. But so far, all he has contributed is a lot of ordering people around.
I need to start paying more attention to the show but my mind keeps going in different directions.
I agree. He looks and sounds tough, but he’s been pretty much near useless this entire premerge session.
Reem TOTALLY gave it away to Keith, and Chris was right. But Chris made the mistake of sort of rubbing it in Reem’s face. What he should have done is vilified Keith on how he took advantage of her and didn’t share. That would have been better received. Especially considering that Reem already didn’t like Chris.
I’m also digging Victoria. Who knew that these Kama tribe members had some fight in them!
David’s ding a ling is fine to watch. They’re on the island. Let it be free! I’d rather watch Chris’ but I won’t complain nonetheless! LOL
Looking forward to seeing how next week turns out with the merge and the presumed conclusion to the Edge of Extinction twist! Reem will definitely have a lot to say I’m sure!
I can’t believe how keith went from sweet n naive to complete VILLIAN!!
I’m sure God told him to do that.
He’s been pretty gross, but I think he had the potential all this time! He’s a young kid so I do cut him some slack. He’s eager to do well by any means necessary while also being limited by his social, mental and physical strength! It’s a tough situation to be in. I’m sure he will use this as a learning experience.
He definitely doesn’t look good!
Thanks, Cho!!!
I am still not on the Wendy train, but far more annoying are REEM, Keith, Wardog and David. Not to mention that there are still people with so little airtime that I don’t know a name, let alone if I like or dislike tgem.
I appreciate Victoria, but have seemed to lose my love for people making snake moves a few years ago.
Aubry, wow.. Went out wasting an advantage AND an idol! I know they re-use idols, but wonder about the advantage. Getting to know Reem has to be traumatic.
What’s wrong with David?
Ditto! What am I missing about David? He seems like a savvy player.
See my above comment to TT! otherwise, I’ve always been a fan of his!
I don’t like that he’s been OBSESSED with getting rid of Wentworth all this time when it’s obvious that as a returning player, you want other returning players in the game for as long as possible. It wasn’t until this episode that I was like: “Ok I’m back on the David train!”
Lynne I would agree that there just hasn’t been enough time to develop the characters. Kama won so often that they didn’t have to vote people out, but there are still scenes and ways they can develop them. Despite Julie talking, I can’t remember one thing she’s said. I still don’t know whether it’s Eric or Nick that’s playing the game and I don’t know much about Gavin either.
Still, I’m enjoying the edge of extinction twist quite a bit! It’s really saved this season for me so far. It’ll be interesting how the editing is handled post-merge. I hope it picks up.
Reem is a hoot and a half! Or even 3 quarters to be more accurate! haha She’s made for great tv. She just seems way too irritable and comfortable with expressing her irritability! lol
Chi- Great recap. I love Joe but the mustache needs to go! I would like to see Chris or Aubrey return to the game. After the merge I hope Joe, David and Wentworth ban together and possibly pull in Lauren and who ever returns to the game.
I also don’t really dig the mustache. It makes him look like a dbag tbh.
I’m also pulling for either a Chris or Aubry return. Mostly pulling for Aubry. She needs redemption after that epic blindside courtesy of Victoria! I’m pulling for Wentworth to do well, but she’s so scrappy and people are going to target her as soon as the merge happens I think.
I think the returning survivors know they have to work together so if they’re smart, they’ll band together with Lauren and run away with this show. They’d have Aurora on their side for sure, but I’m not sure they’d get much else help. Potentially Wardog. It’s hard to really conceptualize.
Cho sorry about the typo of your name.
I really loved this episode, even though it was super long. I enjoy the edge of extinction angle,(“Hey guys, if you thought Survivor was bad, check out THIS situation”). and it definitely proves that voting out Reem first was the right thing. They are a hot mess, I am sorry to see it end next week.
Wendy was a great character but she needed to go, and I assume the chickens will also go next week.
literally LOL at your comment about the chickens leaving shortly after Wendy’s exit!
And yeah I think the twist this season has been really dynamic and given us a chance to really get to know some of the earlier booted survivors. Maybe that’s why editing is so weird, because they’ve had to edit the ENTIRE cast every episode instead of just focusing on who’s remaining.
I was hoping beyond hope that Aubry would play her Idol. I was rooting for her and Victoria is a snake, but she is playing the game! Great recap Cho–I was thinking of that bedroom rumble too! I hope Aubry comes back.
I am loving Victoria. She is one of the few newbies that actually knows how to play the game. This isn’t a vacation to make friends. It’s Outwit, Outplay, Outlast. NO ONE IS YOUR FRIEND in Survivor.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who immediately thought of that scene. I have a friend who thought that Chris shoving Keith out of the way was BULLYING! Chris continues to look bad despite being really bland at his core.
I knew when Aubry was lamenting about how she plays better as an underdog that she wasn’t going to use those 2 big advantages of hers and would end up getting voted out. She set herself up for failure. Too bad. It would have been fun to see the end result of her using one. Big disappointment. Le sigh.
When Aubry said that, I knew it was editing that she was going home. But then I started not to believe it, because HOW DOES WENDY NOT GO HOME?
I’m so happy Wendy is FINALLY out of the game ugh! She was entertaining in a small capacity, but her boot was way overdue.
Omg I totally was blindsided still. I thought it was all one big red herring, but it really capped off her story line in a great way. I just couldn’t believe that Victoria pulled one over on her so well. Shocking really.