It's Day 32 after Tribal Council, and we're getting down to the wire.
Mike has played his last Immunity Idol, and Dan still has his extra-vote advantage. Carolyn still has an Immunity Idol that, with Tyler gone, I don't think anyone knows about.
As Dan says, everybody wants Mike gone. He's a threat, and most of the people currently on the jury would probably vote for him. Dan calls him arrogant and condescending, and uh, Dan, the pot called and apparently you're black.
Carolyn is viewing Dan as a threat, because she knows about his advantage. She plans to keep Mike in her back pocket, in case her alliance goes south. She talks to Mike on the beach about getting rid of Dan, and tells Mike about the advantage
Reward challenge time! That seems a little early in the episode, no? It's a good 'ol obstacle course/puzzle combo, and they'll compete in two teams of three. Reward is a helicopter ride ending in a surf and turf meal. More is said about the fact that Rodney hasn't won a reward, blah blah entitlement.
Blue team is Dan, Sierra and Rodney, Red team is Mike, Carolyn and Will. The teams are pretty evenly matched through the obstacle, with Blue pulling a little bit ahead. But the puzzle is always the great equalizer. Blue gets there first, but they need to figure out a six-word phrase, with no help as to the phrasing. Both teams are stumped
Jeff hints that it's something that he says all the time...but that's not helping. They're an hour in, and no one has any clue. Carolyn gets inspired, and Red thinks they have it...and they do: "A Reward With All the Fixins." I call bad form on 'fixins' not being an actual word.
Carolyn is torn as to whether or not she should give her reward to Rodney, but she ultimately decides to keep it for herself. Then why bring it up? It's just going to piss Rodney off even more, and he's incredibly entitled as it is.
Mike, Carolyn and Will go on their rewardm getting a fantastic helicopter ride that ends in a fabulous meal -- and, of course, some strategy talk. Mike brings up final three, because it's not like he has any other options. Carolyn and Will seem open to it, but we'll see.
Mike asks that they just don't let Rodney win the game. He rightly points out that Rodney is the only Survivor ever to try and guilt people into giving up their rewards.
Of course, Rodney is talking about the fact that he's missing the surf-and-turf meal. It's his "favorite." After being out there for 33 days, any meal would be my favorite. Sierra doesn't want to talk about it.
Dan finds some kind of melon. He doesn't know what it is, but he's game to eat it. Rodney is super-happy with this treat, even if he does refer to them as "watermelons," which they are definitely not (pale green both outside and in.)
Everyone is back at camp, and they get Treemail which refers to "good hand-eye coordination" and "patience and a delicate touch." Then we see a really cute armadillo -- yay armadillo!
Mike talks to Sierra about Dan's advantage, and the fact that Dan's really only got a chance if he takes Rodney and Will to the end. Sierra's open to getting rid of Dan, but if she's got the chance to get rid of Mike, she'll take it.
Immunity Challenge time! Survivors need to use grappling hooks to retrieve bags that contain balls. Then they have to use one of those balls in a table maze that tips back and forth. Mike is the first one to get all of his bags and head to the maze, followed a little while later by Dan. The rest are still throwing the grappling hooks.
Sierra and Will also get to the maze part, but everybody is having problems. Sierra and Mike are neck and neck, each futzing with the very last part of the maze, but it's Mike who manages to finish first. Mike wins Immunity again, which means Tribal Council just got a lot more interesting.
Back at camp, predictably, everyone is unhappy (except for Mike, of course). But who will be going home? Dan is definitely on the chopping block, but who else? Dan thinks it should be Carolyn. Will, Rodney and Sierra seems to agree with him, but Sierra tells Dan to his face that they're going to pretend that it's Dan.
In front of Mike and Carolyn, Rodney says that it's Dan. Mike is feeling a little power-hungry, and decides that he can make someone else go home. So he goes to Dan and tells him he's going home, unless Mike decides to do something. Dan thinks that Mike is a little arrogant (and he is), but there's that little niggling doubt that it might be true
Sierra and Carolyn are talking about whether they believe that the other guys will vote for Dan or not. Mike surprises them, making them look at Rodney and Dan, peacefully resting in the shelter. He points out that is not the behavior of someone worried about going home. Carolyn doesn't really believe him, but she's wondering if she should use her Idol tonight.
Tribal Council time! Jeff starts right in with stirring up drama by asking Mike about trust. Mike flat-out states that they're going to have to turn on each other. Jeff asks Rodney about it, and Rodney can't even form a proper sentence; he blames it on the lack of food, which is probably partially true, but I think part of it is that it's Rodney
Carolyn is looking super-stressed. Will she use her Idol or not? It sucks to waste it, but it also sucks to go home with it in your pocket. Dan is feeling a bit the same way -- is it the right time for his advantage? Two votes carries a greater weight the fewer people there are.
Voting time! We don't see anyone's votes. Jeff announces he's going to count the votes, and Dan decides to play his advantage of an extra vote. Carolyn doesn't look happy. But will this make her play her Idol? Yes, yes it does. She high-fives Mike, and Shirin (in the jury) is positively glowing.
Smart move, girl. The first five votes are for Carolyn, and Dan and Rodney are super-pissed. Last two votes are for Dan, and he's out. Joe looks pleased at the fact that the people who ousted him are getting their comeuppance.
Next week: It's the season finale.