Survivor Ghost Island episode 12 recap: Shot at Love
Not everyone will have the opportunity to take advantage of the Loved Ones visit. Survivor Ghost Island episode 12 showed the fight for much-needed love.
After a crazy series of Tribal Councils last week (one which saw an extra vote used), we are in a diabolically volatile time in Survivor Ghost Island. The “Naviti Strong” mentality shined all the way through to Day 29, but with five people left to take a spot on the jury, there’s a lot of action left in the game. Only one person can win the million dollars, and you can’t make that money without hurting some feelings.
We begin on Night 29, where Kellyn’s spot is immediately blown up. Thankfully, she came clean immediately and played into the chaos of the moment, as it was an individual move to make sure that she doesn’t go home. I argued it was the best move last week, and it remains so!
Immediately we got thrust into Day 31, where the castaways finally got the chance to see their family members for the first time in a month. Wendell got to see his dad, Kellyn’s brother Clay made it on, Donathan’s aunt brought him to tears, Angela’s daughter was brought to tears herself, Chelsea’s sister talked more than Chelsea did, Angela’s big brother came to give inspiration, Sea Bass’ sister brought him comfort and Domenick’s wife hated to love to see him.
For the Reward Challenge itself, castaways raced across a wooden log then ran onto a narrow beam to reach for a sandbag. Once they made their way underneath a series of obstacles (including the infamous log that Adam got stuck under in Millennials vs. Gen X.), they needed to throw their sandbag onto a small platform.
Donathan and Angela took their time, but most castaways got to the log at the same time. However, it was Sebastian who got out to a huge lead at the sandbag toss. Domenick followed suit and was the only player other than Sea Bass to shoot. Unfortunately for him, the fisherman took the prize and got a win on his record.
In the key selection process, Sea Bass had some decisions to make. He made a clear line in the sand with his choices, picking Domenick, Wendell and finally Donathan. There came another twist, though; he had to choose someone to go to Ghost Island with a guaranteed advantage, including anyone who had a family member visit. Wendell snapped on the opportunity, pissing off Kellyn who was passed up on all opportunities.
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As we saw late in Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, the choices made on a Reward Challenge can make or break a game. Devon decided to make a trio with Ryan and Chrissy, pissing off (and eventually voting out) Ashley. She would probably have voted for him regardless, but for Kellyn, it’s only going to create another play in the game.
Wendell knew that he could see his dad in 10 days, so he rightly took a shot at a power in the game. Just like Malcolm Freberg in Survivor Philippines, he now has the opportunity to retry the Immunity Challenge where you hold a ball on a narrow stick. Everyone else drops on the first opportunity except for him, but look what good that did Malcolm back then!
Domenick started planting the idea that he would cut Wendell by making a pack to Aunt Patty (the patron saint of southern promises) that he, Donathan and Sebastian were a great team to go to the end. The women were up to a similar plan, too, expecting Donathan to flip to their side in an effort to break up Domenick and/or Wendell.
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While on the one hand Kellyn not going after a Malolo player is refreshing, the venom in her words is sharp and noticeable. On the other hand, Laurel can’t win if she makes it to the end with Domenick and Wendell. On the third hand (how many hands?), they could play one of their two idols and blow her game up right there.
Day 32 brought forth the aforementioned challenge, and boy did it look hard. The combination of dexterity and endurance is nothing new in Survivor, but with Domenick and Wendell moving almost immediately and Kellyn dropping out first, it’s not as easy at it looks. Everyone else got to the second phase, but Angela and Wendell were the only people who failed to get their platform up.
With Wendell resetting the second phase, he could not reverse the curse as he dropped the ball both literally and figuratively. That paved the way for everyone else in phase three, with Sebastian being just the fourth player to drop. Laurel followed, Chelsea couldn’t keep things going, and it became a tough fight between Domenick and Donathan.
Though it was a close match, Domenick pulled off his second-straight immunity win, inching closer to yet another opportunity for an advantagegedon. Thankfully, he already played his Legacy Advantage at the merge, avoiding that scenario.
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With one of the power players staying safe, Wendell saw how much he squandered his opportunities. He wasted his family visit, but he felt secure with the core four plus Sebastian trying to take out the challenge threat, Chelsea. Donathan was pitched taking out Wendell, with Angela working the vote for both the remaining Malolo players.
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That put Laurel and Donathan in a tough spot. Obviously, they are aware that Domenick and Wendell have a ton of idols to play, and that they need to be taken out when they least expect it. However, can they really trust Kellyn, Chelsea and Angela to get them there when they’ve kept “Naviti Strong” all the way to Day 32? It was a legitimate question left unanswered until Tribal Council, as opposed to fake drama to heighten intensity at the vote.
With half the Survivor Ghost Island jury facing them, Donathan shook things up by saying he found a crack in Naviti. Even though both the girls and the guys thought they were safe this episode, he laid it to both groups that they’ve both come to him, getting everyone rattled. It looked like he was angling that a big move was coming, hoping to bait as many idols as possible.
Unfortunately, Wendell felt secure in his spot, meaning Donathan didn’t get much accomplished. He stuck to the plan like a young Keith Nale, sending Chelsea Townsend home in 8th place in a 5-3 vote. With just four confessionals over 12 episodes, Chelsea is officially the most under-edited player in Survivor history, outdoing even Purple Kelly who had the term named after her!
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Survivor Ghost Island episode 13 is titled “Always Be Moving,” and it is the penultimate episode of the season. Barring any twists, medical evacuations or quits, we are in for yet another Final Six finale on May 23!