A flurry of furious fists last week settled a sibling rivalry, rebuilt a friendship, and nearly exposed a dangerous secret. Another contestant was sent home, probably for the best given Sierra’s reputation, shrinking the teams and bringing the merge into sharper focus. Chris McLean voted against the merge, while Heroes and Villains anticipated another team-versus-team showdown at dawn.
THE CHALLENGE
The contestants gather around their host and learn that the teams are merging. The day features the first true free-for-all in the wake of that merger, with a single victor at the end. Small crews form quickly and then it’s off to the regatta around the island. Boats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and some craft are seaworthy while others are more sinkable than seaworthy. The challenge requires speed, stamina, and nerve as each crew faces obstacles staged by Chef.
Alejandro takes a speedboat, while Gwen and Courtney hop into the opposing craft. Mal grabs a tugboat, but not before sabotaging as many other watercraft as possible. Cameron and Zoey occupy the raft, leaving Duncan and Scott to join them. Trouble brews as engines stall, missiles from Chef pepper the racers while they sail through Coconut Alley, and the scenery of Chris’s cottage — often described as the Mansion — distracts the competitors.
The raft crew gains speed when Cameron suggests using Scott as bait and Fang as their engine. Zoey tests Mike’s true self by positioning herself atop a pole above ravenous piranhas. He and Mal return, not wanting it to look suspicious. Cameron cannot lift Scott without Zoey’s help, and the lead slips away for all four as the finish line nears.
Near the end, Alejandro’s engine fades again just inches from the finish. Gwen and Courtney are about to surge past, but Alejandro lunges forward, crosses the prow, and wins by a nose.
THE ELIMINATION CEREMONY
As the winner, Alejandro earns immunity and a night at the Spa Hotel. He may invite one contestant to join him but insists he cannot play favorites or break anyone’s heart.
No one is exiled to Boney Island merely for reaching the merge, and voting still takes place. Cameron is chosen unanimously, though this seems unlikely since he had voted for Scott out of fear of revenge. Yet Duncan is the one who leaves, not via the Flush of Shame, but for blowing up Chris McLean’s private cottage and ending up under arrest for destruction of a private cottage. Duncan the Destroyer is eliminated.
THE DRAMA
The dynamics between Gwen and Courtney remain strong; both believe in placing friendship first and tell one another that if neither wins the million, they hope the other does. Chris isn’t a fan of this bond, but it endures through the episode.
Duncan is still irked by labels of softness, and his attempts at bad-boy stunts don’t land as planned. An attempt to crash Chef’s vehicle earns praise from Chris for fixing the jeep, which coincides with the collapse of Chris’s cottage — Mansion again — and a cascade of consequences.
Cameron and Zoey agree to team up for the long haul. Mal wants in on the alliance, which makes Cameron understandably nervous. Deep in his mind, Mike manages a brief escape and even frees Chester, his alternate personality, during moments of danger. He regains control for a short stretch, especially when Zoey is in trouble. Mal still holds most of the power, but Mike senses a real chance to influence what happens next.
Duncan informs Gwen and Courtney about Mal’s juvie past; they laugh it off. Mike’s darker alter ego attempts to broker an alliance with Alejandro, who finds the idea intriguing and accepts. Mal was also the architect behind the votes cast against Cameron.