Survivor: San Juan del Sur - Episode 2 - Recap and Results - Method To This Madness
Recap and results for Survivor: San Juan del Sur - Episode 2 - Method To This Madness:
Welcome to the recap and results for Episode 2 of Survivor: San Juan del Sur -- Blood vs. Water, "Method To This Madness"!
Last week's episode saw the elimination of Nadiya, one of the twins from The Amazing Race. In short, she alienated herself from the majority alliance of her tribe by not only failing to make a case for why she'd be useful to keep around, but by insulting Josh by lumping him in with the girls due to his sexuality. Meanwhile, Wes figured out John Rocker's identity, Val discovered the clue to the hidden immunity idol, and Jeremy began building and solidifying an alliance within his own tribe. Overall, it was a pretty fascinating premiere.
But what does episode 2 have in store? Let's get this party started!
Credit: CBS
AFTER TRIBAL COUNCIL
Josh takes Baylor aside and reveals that he voted for her, explaining that it was all a plan in order to advance their alliance in the competition. He states that he would never have written her name down if he thought for one moment that there was any real chance of something bad happening, and it makes sense from a certain point of view, particularly once Josh explains it. He says that he needed the guys to think he was all-in with them, and not secretly allied with Baylor. She accepts the excuse and actually thinks it was kind of smart, but she's not sure if she can trust him now, since it would have been nice if he'd told her about his plan beforehand. I like Josh, but seriously, Baylor: You can't trust ANYBODY that writes your name down!
Meanwhile, over at Hunahpu, the flint has gone missing. Jon is responsible for losing it, and he surmises that it might actually be smarter to just come clean, since he was raised to take ownership of his mistakes. Famous last words? Well, they probably don't even need the flint to make a fire as long as they have at least one person who can manage it. Granted, they don't have glasses to use like Dale did, but there are other materials that can be used to make fire. Making a fire is definitely hard, but it shouldn't be impossible.
Credit: CBS
REWARD CHALLENGE
Natalie hasn't cried in a decade, but she breaks down when she notices that her sister has been voted out. Probst asks if she's crying more for her sister or for her loneliness, and she implies it's a mixture of both, saying that while some of these people here have been together for five or ten years, Natalie and Nadiya have been together for 28 years.
So the reward challenge is for "a massive amount of fishing gear," which should come in handy for these tribes, since they aren't really shown to be eating all that well. Then again, they aren't necessarily shown to be eating badly either. The editing just isn't telling us.
The challenge involves balancing a ball on a tray while maneuvering through a course. Once through, they must land three balls into three separate holes in a version of skee-ball. Looks like a lot of fun, actually. A rock-paper-scissors face-off results in John Rocker being chosen for Coyopa, which means Julie must compete for Hunahpu, since only loved ones can compete in the arena.
John has possibly the worst luck in the history of Earth, as he gets near the end of the course a ton of times, only to drop his ball, which means he has to go all the way to the back and start all over again. This happens multiple times, giving Julie a massive advantage. John isn't even through the first part of the course before Julie sinks her third ball in the pocket, winning reward for her tribe and sending John to Exile Island.
HUNAHPU WINS REWARD!
JOHN ROCKER IS SENT TO EXILE ISLAND!
After the challenge, Probst asks John how it feels to lose to his girlfriend, and he says, "Forget the 'friend' part. I lost to a girl." I hate this guy already. For her part, Julie is conflicted over whom to send to Exile Island from her tribe. However, she eventually selects Jeremy.
Then, an unusual twist comes up, as Reed proposes a barter to Probst. They need flint to make a fire if they're going to be cooking any of these fish they'll be catching with their newly-won equipment, so Reed offers to trade Probst all their beans in exchange for a new flint. However, this doesn't exactly go over well with Probst, who's downright insulted. He rightfully calls them out for waiting until after the challenge to make this proposal, accusing them of waiting to see what the reward was first, and whether or not they would win. Probst says the real move would have been to propose the trade before the challenge, instead of waiting until afterwards and offering the item of least value. He proposes instead that they give up ALL the fishing gear they just won if they want new flint. Despite the objections of the men in the tribe, the girls are able to overrule them. So, just like that, the reward is out the window. The fishing gear has been traded for flint.
THE SECRET IS OUT
Natalie is still upset about Nadiya's elimination, and she's so emotional that Missy breaks down too, empathizing with her situation. Meanwhile, over at Coyopa, John Rocker's secret is out. Everyone knows he's John Rocker, and nobody appears to particularly like the guy. Especially Dale, who remembers what John said about the ethnic population in the New York subways in a controversial interview over a decade ago. Of course, Josh sees this as an advantage, since it's great to have someone that hated on your side. You know, as long as it doesn't lead to a Russell Hantz-type blowback. That cost Parvati Shallow a second million in Heroes vs. Villains.
Over at Exile Island, Jeremy knows who John Rocker is too. He doesn't admit as much though, since he needs John to take care of Val back at Coyopa. But he doesn't like the guy any better than anyone else seems to. They each choose an urn, and Jeremy gets the clue to the hidden immunity idol. However, unlike Val, he doesn't hide the clue from John. They share information and try to decipher the puzzle, which is basically that the idol is in or around the water well back at their respective camps.
Credit: CBS
IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
Is this episode just speeding by, to anyone else?
It's a sumo challenge, as two castaways must face off on a platform in the center of the water and try to knock each other off using only padded bags. This will continue for as many rounds as it takes for one tribe to reach five.
Jaclyn (Coyopa) defeats Kelley (Hunahpu), giving Coyopa a 1-0 lead.
Drew (Hunahpu) defeats Alec (Coyopa), tying it at 1-1, as big brother beats little brother.
Wes (Coyopa) defeats Jeremy (Hunahpu) in short order, making it 2-1 Coyopa.
Natalie (Hunahpu) defeats Val (Coyopa), tying it up again 2-2.
Jon (Hunahpu) defeats John Rocker (Coyopa) in a really satisfying ass-whooping, as John ends up with blood on his nose. Hunahpu leads 3-2.
Missy (Hunahpu) and Baylor (Coyopa) square off, and both admit they're imagining beating up their exes. Of course, they take it a bit too hard, as Missy splits Baylor's lip almost immediately, causing a break in the action. Baylor cries, and Missy feels bad. But Baylor doesn't want her sympathy, despite trying her damndest to keep from heaving with panic tears like a child abandoned in a department store. They pick back up, but suddenly, Missy just isn't in it anymore. She virtually gives up the round to Baylor. It's tied 3-3 now.
Reed (Hunahpu) defeats Josh (Coyopa) in a battle of the boyfriends, giving Hunahpu the 4-3 lead, but it's quickly tied up again when Dale (Coyopa) defeats Keith (Hunahpu). It all comes down to the final battle, a rematch between Kelley and Jaclyn. Dale is conflicted on whom to root for, as he must root for Jaclyn, but it's daughter Kelley's birthday. Of course, one of his tribemates (I think it was Alec) insensitively shouts "Birthday girl is going down!" while Dale agonizes with his head down.
In the final match, Kelley defeats Jaclyn to avenge her earlier loss, allowing Hunahpu to remain undefeated.
HUNAHPU WINS IMMUNITY!
Val is now worried about her place in the game, since she has no idol nor any meaningful alliances at the moment.
Credit: CBS
BACK AT COYOPA
Dale is proud of Kelley, although Jaclyn is bitter to have lost. Yet she admits it's only temporary. Meanwhile, John and Val decide they need to start playing hard. John does this by finding the hidden immunity idol, because of course the lousiest person out there finds the hidden idol. It's almost like those damn things are designed for villains to find.
That said, John wins a few points by holding true to his promise to Jeremy by finding a way to protect Val. Val claims to have two hidden immunity idols, and so John relays this to his alliance, saying that she's using them to protect herself and Jaclyn, even though it makes almost no sense that someone would find TWO idols just six days into the game. But I digress. John proposes putting three votes on Jaclyn and three on Baylor to flush them out. Josh takes this under consideration, but is ultimately suspicious when he spies John and Val walking off together. He suspects he's being had, and resolves to do whatever is best for getting him farther in the game. John appears to be under the assumption that Val actually does have an idol, and Val does nothing to disabuse him of this notion, which...isn't a great idea if the entire plan hinges on you having an idol too.
TRIBAL COUNCIL
Probst notes that Coyopa has yet to win a challenge, and Dale theorizes that it's a difficulty with the loved ones twist, since every time they've squared off with loved ones, they've lost. Josh compares this to a Broadway show that goes from being loved in previews to hated on opening night, referencing how they have tons of potential to come out on top, but just never have been able to. Tension breaks out, however, when Val declares that Baylor is trying to play both sides. She calls Baylor out for saying she would ally with the women, only to side with the men. She says Baylor told her to vote Dale at the last tribal council, and this leads to an argument in which it's revealed that the rumor around camp is that Val has two idols.
Wes votes Val, saying "I just wanna see that idol, girl." John Rocker reveals he has a great alliance going, which is why Baylor needs to be eliminated. Baylor wordlessly votes for Val, and Josh wavers on his vote before committing. Probst tallies the votes...
VAL
BAYLOR
VAL
BAYLOR
VAL
BAYLOR
BAYLOR
VAL
IT'S A TIE!
So we revote, as the tribe can only vote for Baylor or Val.
John votes for Val, saying, "I told you to play your idol! Now I'm going to look like a liar to your husband." And you're going to look crazy for not realizing by now that she never had one, much less two.
Probst tallies the votes...
BAYLOR
VAL
VAL
VAL
VAL
VAL IS VOTED OFF OF SURVIVOR: SAN JUAN DEL SUR!
Val feels she played as hard as she could, and made big moves. However, she feels Jeremy seeing her gone won't shock him, but will make him go harder. I would love to hear what "big moves" Val seems to think she made.
Ultimately, this is what happens when you put all your stock in twists instead of forming connections. She relied on idols and trickery to save herself instead of doing the social legwork necessary to make someone else the target instead of her. She could have been a potential contender had she played more of an under-the-radar game, since being sent to Exile Island on the first day didn't have to be this massive, insurmountable handicap. But she couldn't get it done, and it probably has more to do with being on Survivor being more Jeremy's dream than hers.
What did you think of tonight's show? Did the right castaway go home? Sound off in the comments! Until next week, thanks for hanging out!