Australian Survivor episode 21, episode 22 recap: Idol mania

With only two more Tribal Councils left to use an idol, the remaining castaways of Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders didn’t disappoint.

Two episodes of Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders. Two extraordinary Tribal Councils! Even with the strategic minds of Benji, Matt and Sam all on the jury, the gameplay of the remaining castaways has stepped up.

It’s been 43 days, yet the strain on the contestants seems less extreme compared to American Survivor. Brian is confident about his position in the game. He’s the only man left, is at the helm of a majority four-person alliance, and has an idol in his back pocket. Australian Survivor seems to be his to lose.

That does not stop Sharn’s fiery determination. Although Sharn and Shane make up the bottom two alliance, Sharn immediately pulls Shonee and Fenella aside, trying to convince them to turn on Brian before he turns on them. “Shonella” sees right through her scheme and report it back to King Grub.

In between sowing seeds of doubt, Sharn is desperately looking for an idol. Her efforts conveniently pay off, leading to an idol find in a rather normal looking tree. Now she has the means to save herself, but can she keep her last remaining alliance member Shane safe as well?

The Immunity Challenge involved the Final Six clinging onto an uncomfortably shaped axle, upside down. Following Monika dropping out after a solid effort, it came down to Brian and Shonee. Even though he was trembling the entire time, Brian kept on assuring Shonee to trust him, as if he wanted her to drop down. Eventually, Shonee couldn’t hold on any longer, and Brian won his third individual immunity.

The plan was simple for Brian. Two people, Shonee and Fenella, vote for Sharn; the other two, Brian and Monika, vote for Shane, making for a tied vote. On the re-vote, Sharn or Shane would go home. Their plan was impervious to an idol play. And that’s where the fun begins.

Sharn was aware that her idol would leave her trusted companion out to dry. So, they both used their social game to deceive everyone into thinking that there was no way they had an idol and were simply two outsiders begging for their lives. When it came time to vote, Brian got a little too comfortable in his position and threw his vote on Sharn to ‘ensure’ that the bigger threat would go home.

Sharn played her idol for herself, and after Jonathan read three votes on Sharn, the power four alliance was shocked. The final vote was three on Sharn (blocked by her idol), one on Shane, and two on Fenella, sending her to the jury. No fairy-tale ending for Shonella.

The next day Shonee was genuinely upset at Brian not sticking to the plan, although she did a great job of hiding her frustration.

Then came another creative Reward Challenge for Australian Survivor. This involved building an arch-shaped word puzzle, then shimmying across a horizontal wooden beam, seven feet in the air, while untying bags. Finally, using sticks and string from the bags to make a pole long enough to grab a key through a barrier. Brian, who led most of the way, won the challenge.

The prize: a Commodore Tourer (Australian car) and a night away from camp enjoying pizza, breakfast and a comfortable bed. Brian chooses Monika to join him, leaving an already displeased Shonee on the beach with two desperate opportunists ready to make a move. Sharn makes a quality argument for Shonee to join her in blindsiding Brian.

The next Immunity Challenge was an American Survivor classic. Starting a fire in a barrel on one end of a seesaw, then filling a barrel on the other side of the seesaw with water. Enough water will tip the fire side of the seesaw up in the air, to a string. The first to burn their string wins immunity.

Sharn and Shane’s work ethic came in handy, as they both started a fire with little trouble, while the other three were completely helpless. Sharn was able to pull off the win, extending her life in the game yet again.

A slightly disappointed Brian is quick to tell his alliance of Monika and Shonee to vote out Shane. What he doesn’t know is that Shonee flipped and was gunning for him. What she doesn’t know is that Brian has an idol in his pocket. But suspicion rose when Sharn felt that Brian was acting way too comfortable.

At Tribal Council, Brian played his idol and shocked the jury. What even shocked them more was that no votes landed on Brian, and three were sent Monika’s way! Sharn and company made the ultimate gamble of successfully guessing that Brian had an idol and diverted their votes to Monika. What a game-changing move yet again from Sharn!

This sets the stage for an exciting final two episodes next week!