Day 17 dawns at Nagarote as they are called to another reward challenge. They're all expecting a merge real soon, especially Kelly. The tribes meet up on an empty beach. No challenge, no Jeff, just a crate full of food and a note telling them that they've merged. Everybody's game immediately changes.
The crate full of food certainly helped take the edge off everyone, until some of the Nagarote tribe members ask what happened to Joaquin. Rodney goes unusually quiet as the reason for eliminating Joaquin was discussed. Even more reason for Carolyn and Tyler to keep their alliance a secret.
The merged tribe returns to the Escameca camp to find everything missing from their camp. It's like day one again as they have to rebuild their shelter and get a fire started. A great way to build new relationships or strengthen old ones as Mike and Kelly are back together. Jenny's not too happy about that as she's never trusted Kelly.
Everyone starts working everyone else and one of the girls asks Joe if Rodney is smart. He just answers with "what do you think?" I have the same question when the first person Rodney turns to is Will to rebuild his numbers. Are you kidding me. Rodney's back to thinking he's the king but he's highly delusional and has no idea about everyone else's private alliances.
Day 18 and Dan warns Hali to avoid the jellyfish as he just got stung. Hali sends him back to camp and tells him to soak it in hot water. Shirin offered to pee on it for him but he passed. They start discussing a new tribe name and Mike pitches "Merica" based on the red, white and blue of the three merged tribes which everyone accepts. Well, everyone except Shirin.
Mike and Rodney are talking again because Mike needs Rodney's numbers and plays on the Blue Collar trust. Rodney agrees but he has little intention of following through and has Mike in his sights as his first target. Hopefully Mike's aware of that before they hit Tribal or he could be the next one out.
Time for the Immunity challenge and it looks like a balance challenge. Jeff takes back the Tribal Idol and reveals the Immunity Necklace. Just as it looks the challenge is pretty basic . . . they need to hang onto a pole for as long as they can. Despite the notches in the pole Dan is the first one out, followed close behind by Will. The two biggest guys are out first and there goes Tyler. Sierra's having some issues and eventually falls, followed by Kelly and then Shirin. That's six out in the first few minutes.
Twenty five minutes in and everyone looks like they're in a lot of pain. Rodney talks to Carolyn that he's gotta go, but as mike leans to listen down drops mike. Then Rodney. Jenn gets stung by something along the edge of her bikini bottom but still hangs on. That's gotta hurt. Then Hali tries to adjust her footing but falls just before the rain begins.
Three left as the rain turns to a downpour and makes those poles really slippery. Carolyn finally starts to shift her body while Jenn slides down and eventually falls. An hour has passed and it's down to Joe or Carolyn. Carolyn readjusts and starts to slide, balancing on the bottom foothold while Joe remains at the top. Carolyn's toes give way and Joe wins the first Individual Immunity. Way to go Joe.
Time to return to the Merica camp and it's a good thing Joe won as he was on Mikes radar. Mike gives Rodney Will's marching orders to vote Hali to test Will's trust as they vote for Jenn. Now Will needs to figure out who he can trust and where to cast his vote.
Shirin is trying organize the remaining white and no collar tribes to take on the blue collar tribe. Meanwhile Tyler has gone to Mike to discuss joining forces. Everyone has figured out that the original tribes are still voting together and Tyler and Carolyn know that their votes will decide the game from this point forward.
Jenn knows that she and Hali are being bandied about and let's Hali know she has an idol. Not that she wants to play it tonight but she'll do what she has to. Time for the tribal march.
At tribal Jeff points out that there seems to still be a lot of group action based on the original tribes and bounces back and forth discussing the numbers and who has approached whom to secure their numbers. Tyler says it's always possible that someone is going to carve an ice pick down the back of this tribe.
Jeff asks Rodney about the HII and why it's never been played. Rodney says he hasn't heard of anyone having one. Dan feels everyone knows already how they're going to vote . . . not with an ice pick, but a chainsaw. Time to vote.
Everyone goes to vote and Jeff goes to tally them. He asks for the HII and Jenn pauses before deciding to play it so she's safe. First vote . . . Hali, Jenn, Jenn, Jenn, Jenn, Jenn, Jenn, Jenn, Kelly, Kelly, and finally . . . Kelly. Unfortunate for Kelly that the tribe has spoken, but Rodney once again seemed the one most upset by the vote. Good call on Jenn's part though.
Kelly bids her farewell in good humour and cheers for one of her original tribe to win. Did she miss how they treated her at camp. Whatever, must be that knock to the head. Next week Rodney tries to get rid of Mike while everyone else goes in search of the HII. Except for me, of course, I'll be busy getting ready for my Amazing Race review. Until Friday.