by Gina Scarpa

 

Tonight, on Survivor: Redemption Island... Francesqua is now on the island while special agent Phillip tries to save face with Boston Rob back at the Ometepe camp. The following morning, Phillip decides that he wants to go to war - with a crab. He emerges the winner. His speech about being a special agent has me thinking that there's some outside chance that he's telling the truth.

 

Over at Zapatera, Russell has decided that Big Ralph is the dumbest player he's ever seen. However, Russell keeps playing the same game! How smart is that? Not at all, I tell you. He's got two girls hooked into his alliance and is on the hunt for an idol. Unfortunately for Russell, and unbeknownst to him, Ralph finds it first!

 

Showmance alert: Matt and Andrea are spending quite a bit of time together at Ometepe. Boston Rob has picked up on it and tries to pull Natalie in to get rid of them early.

 

Tonight's reward/immunity challenge is one we've seen before. Or at least, has elements we've seen before. After 22 seasons, they all start to blur together! Players have to jump over a pool of water and break a tile, which releases a key. The key opens up a chest which contains a ball and that ball is then used to break more tiles in order to win. Thanks in large part to Ralph, Zapatera wins their second challenge in a row and take fishing gear along with them back to camp.

 

Before they head off, Matt walks over to shake the hands of everyone in Zapatera, which really pisses Boston Rob off.

 

At Zapatera, sneaky Russell tries to grab the immunity idol clue out of the fishing gear basket but Ralph saw it all go down. It's a good thing they keep winning challenge because it seems that a majority of the tribe is just gunning to get him out of this game.

 

Meanwhile, at Ometepe, Phillip stumbles through a speech about losing the challenge but Rob lets him know that he did a good job. Kristina boldly wears her idol around camp but I doubt she's the target tonight. Andrea thinks that the votes are going to be split between Kristina and Phillip but in actuality, they're going to be split between Kristina and Matt, with Matt being the ultimate target to get out of this game.

 

Right before tribal, Rob pulls Phillip aside to promise him that he's safe but also to tell him to stop running his mouth. He's saying it to

keep him in the game, but also to see if he can trust him a little bit. Let's hope so.

 

At tribal, Phillip plays the part of a down-and-out tribe member, as Rob asked him to do.  It's pretty convincing because when the votes are read, Matt is absolutely blindsided right out of this game.  It's tough to say who was more shocked - him or Andrea.  Now, it's off to Redemption Island to face Franquesca... Franchesqu... Fran... ah, forget it.

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa

 

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)