Survivor Recap: A Double Elimination Tees Up a Tense Nami Battle — Who Fell One Spot Short of Making the Jury?

The 12 remaining castaways may have earned the merge, but Survivor’s new era slows down for no one.

In Wednesday’s episode, the post-merge double elimination raged like a cyclone, blowing down tribal alliances and wreaking havoc on the cast’s mental state. Despite the fact that Siga lost Moriah last week, their tight bonds still threaten a bickering Nami which continues to ask: “How do you solve a problem like Maria Venus?”

After the last vote, Venus and Soda continue to be at each other’s throats, with Venus on the hunt for the sole person who wrote her name down. (Does doing that ever make one look sane or diminish his or her target? I think not.) Throughout the course of this season, it’s clear that the Nami women haven’t gotten along. Either that or they just don’t trust each other. But this can and will affect the five former Namis once they learn what Jeff has up his sleeve for them.

IMMUNITY IS BACK UP FOR GRABS | The players are randomly split into two teams once again for the balancing challenge we last saw in Survivor 42. The castaways will balance on a structure in the ocean with their feet placed on teeny perches. The last player remaining on each team will win immunity — because both teams are heading to separate Tribal Councils and two people will be voted out of the game! But they’re also playing for reward. The last remaining player will win for his or her team a feast of sandwiches, coffee and tea.

The big ol’ bummer of the situation: The first player voted out tonight won’t make the jury. (No pressure.)

For Purple, it’s Soda, Liz, Maria, Charlie, Venus and Tevin. The other group is comprised of Tiffany, Kenzie, Hunter, Ben, Q and Tim. It’s a very revealing challenge and quite an entertaining one, as well! First off, Q teaches Jeff a bit about how Black people communicate. (“I learn so much on this show!” Jeff exclaims.) Then to break the awkward silence, Tim starts giving everyone’s family some shoutouts — hey, nothing like a little love on national TV, especially since the new era (read: COVID) nixed the loved ones’ visits. That said, it’s probably the most unintentionally pleasing challenge since Christian Hubicki regaled Jeff with tales of macarons and reuben sandwiches. (“Jeff, by the way…!”)

After Jeff forces the remaining competitors to balance on one leg, Kenzie wins immunity for the Yellow team, while Maria snags the necklace (and that big reward) for Purple. Hunter reminds us that he has an idol to play, but will he need it? Maybe, maybe not. But what a perfect time to have a safety net hiding in your back pocket.

STRATEGY | On the Purple side, Charlie’s feeling exposed as the only eligible Siga on a squad full of Namis. Soda tells him she’s got his back because she’s gunning for Venus (“pretends to be shocked” GIF here). Unbeknownst to her, though, is Tevin and he’s a man with a plan. He clocks Soda’s A+ social game and wants to be the author of the season’s first major blindside. Liz is down to clown. She’s been wanting Soda gone for days now, and if they pull this off, he’s right. It will be a major moment.

As for the other group of six, Tim pushes hard for a Hunter vote, but Tiffany is aware that Siga is slyly trying to chip away at Nami’s numbers. Despite the fact that there’s the cross-tribal +1 alliance in play, the former Yanus see right through Tim’s shifty lies. But, says Tiff, Ben seems like the sneakier of the two. Adding a beautiful wrinkle (for us) to this whole shebang is the fact that Hunter has told no one about his idol find. (Hopefully this season marks the end of the new era’s pattern of advantage blabbing.) While Kenzie and the Yanus are likely protected from this particular vote, it seems no one is safe from Q’s flip-flopping, which even begins to wear down his own alliance.

THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN | The whole Siga vs. Nami bit becomes a major topic of conversation, as Hunter harps on Siga’s strong bonds, and Tim speaks on chopping down Nami’s numbers. But while strategy is obviously on everyone’s mind, Ben takes time to tell Jeff how Kenzie helped him through a panic attack early that morning. Q gives Kenzie props for staying positive during Yanu’s rough early days. (OK, I guess I was wrong about Kenzie being a low-key villain.) The bonds these people have formed are very real. Tears are shed. Hearts swell. And yet, someone must go and whoever leaves will not help decide the winner of Survivor 46. That person… is Tim. (Read our Q&A with Tim here).

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST | When the second Tribal Council kicks off, Liz tells Jeff she didn’t even bring her bag to the night’s big event. How’s that for confidence!? (Or… cockiness?) Charlie talks about being a target and pulls out his little Shot in the Dark pouch, but Venus says her name’s been written down before, and her game may hinge upon Charlie’s sheer luck. But instead of taking his Shot, he casts a vote. When Jeff reads the results, Venus catches two strays, but Soda gets the rest and thus becomes the first member of the Season 46 jury. (Read Soda interview here.)

Surprised that Venus lives another day? Any eulogies for our boy, Tim? Go full tilt boogie in the comments below!