Survivor season 35, episode 8 recap: Idol royale

Survivor season 35, episode 8 entitled ‘Playing With the Devil’ promised plenty of drama in the second vote since the merge. Recapping the events.

Following the last Tribal Council and the blindside of Jessica, Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers episode 8 began as Joe was admiring Ben’s move and how masterfully he played everyone. However, the ever-boisterous Joe said that the only problem for the rest of the players was that they were playing with the devil now. Ah, quick titular lines. Meanwhile, Ben was happy his plan worked, but now wanted to keep control of the Heroes and Hustlers alliance to keep his game in-tact.

Still at the camp then, Lauren found a secret advantage buried in with the bag of nails. However, it was an advantage that could backfire in a flash. She can abstain from voting at the next Tribal Council, and then use that vote later.

Time for the Reward Challenge already. Two teams and race across obstacles and up a tower. Every player must run and shoot sandbags at five targets. The odd man out in drawing for teams automatically would get to go eat spaghetti, salad, bread and red wine. Joe, of course, earned that distinction. The blue team then shook out like so: JP, Chrissy, Cole, Ryan, Devon. Ben, Desi, Mike, Lauren, Ashley made up the red team.

In the challenge, it was two different strategies with the red team trying to let each person go and hit their target first before everyone went. Meanwhile, the blue team let each person go once so they could have free reign. Early, the red team’s strategy seemed to be working. But then Ashley got stuck as JP and Devon began going back-and-forth and taking over. They did so to the tune of the win.

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However, there was a twist with the reward. There would be one plate that everyone had to share, and Joe chose the order of eating. Devon went first, followed by JP. Cole was next and, as he ate, he noticed a clue on the plate about an idol under the tribe flag. Cole, Chrissy and Ryan saw, but Ryan hid plate from Joe.

Back at camp, Cole went to use bathroom. Ryan took chance to go get the idol, found it, told Chrissy to cover it up. Cole saw, ran down and pushed her out of the way to dig himself as Ryan watched a whole wrestling match go for it. Ben then convinced everyone Cole had found it. Target now even more on him than before.

Immunity Challenge was next with each player holding a long pole and balancing a statue with it on a slanted beam. Each player would then back up, making it harder to balance the statue at that point. JP fought hard to the end, but ultimately Cole saved his idol-less self by winning the challenge.

Back at camp, it was scramble time for the Healers remaining in the game, especially after Cole revealed to Joe that he didn’t have an idol. At this point, Joe started trying to make chaos occur. He started by trying to turn Ryan and Devon against Ben. Ryan noticed the merit in what Joe was saying, but ultimately said that it wasn’t the right time for that.

Joe then got under Ben’s skin like he wanted to, brining up swearing on the Marines, which pushed a major button for the veteran. At that point, a shouting match went down and Ben was quite heated. However, there was nothing that came of it in that moment.

Lauren and Ben then talked and she told him about the advantage that she found. In doing so, Ben realized this put him in a potential predicament, and tried to play to Dr. Mike to turn on the Healers and join them to make sure that everything went smoothly with splitting the vote between Desi and Joe.

At Tribal Council, things remained a bit tense for a while, specifically in regards to Joe and Ben. However, things then took a deeper turn towards the end, with Devon not saying anything, but staying positive about what he is in this game and his experience. However, the positivity ended when it came time for the votes.

Lauren sneakily was able to play her advantage. That then left the votes tied between Joe and Desi alone since Cole didn’t actually have the idol. On the re-vote, it was the latter that was ultimately sent home. However, with Ryan having the idol, Lauren having the advantage, and Joe still in the game, things appear far from getting less crazy moving forward.