"Survivor: Redemption Island" - Merge Time!

Sarita got blindsided by her tribe for being the weakest physical player in their eyes and they are tired of losing challenges. When she joins Matt on Redemption Island she spills all of Zapatera's secrets to Matt. Matt thinks this will be the last duel before a merge and then he will get to rejoin the game. He is trying to decide which tribe he should join sides with when, and if, he returns to the game. (He still has to win the duel to stay alive for a chance to return to the game.)

The Redemption Island Duel - Chimney Sweeps: Matt vs. Sarita

Both tribes receive treemail reading, "Another duel to be played this morning, And you know it's anyone's game, This time your whole tribe will witness, As another buff goes in the flame."

This leaves everyone on both tribes suspecting that there will be a merge after the duel and that they will be leaving their camp behind so they pack up everything they have and take it with them to witness the duel. As everyone takes their seats at the Redemption Island Arena, Jeff confirms Matt's suspicions and announces that the winner of this duel will go back into the game.

Rob is very much aware that Matt has gathered information from players visiting with him while on Redemption Island and that Matt will probably come gunning for him since he is the one responsible for sending him to Redemption Island in the first place. Therefore, there's a good chance that Matt will side with Zapatera when/if he rejoins the game.

In this challenge, the players brace themselves against two walls while balancing with bare feet on small footholds. Every 15 minutes the players will move down a notch to a smaller foothold. At the third and smallest foothold the players will stay until someone falls and is eliminated.

Matt outlasts Sarita in the challenge and rejoins the game. Jeff throws Matt and the others new buffs and makes the announcement everyone was expecting to hear, "We are merged. You are going to merge on a new beach. Here's a map." But Jeff also makes an announcement no one was expecting to hear, "One more thing. Beginning with the next Tribal Council, Redemption Island starts again."

The New Tribe Name

At their new camp the players find a feast waiting for them. Although the cameras are focused on the food, I noticed that there is a lot of cut bamboo and palm fronds also waiting for them to build a shelter with in the background. They sure have had it easy compared to tribes in games before them. As they are enjoying their feast, they discuss what their new tribe name should be. They agree it should be something with a Spanish flair. Rob suggests Murlonio, which he says means "from the sea, united." I knew that was a bunch of bull the second it came out of his mouth and Rob confirmed that by revealing at the confession tree, "Murlonio doesn't mean anything. It's just an inside joke between Amber and I. She has a bunch of stuffed animals and Murlonio is like the ring leader."

Promises and Alliances

Matt, being the swing vote for Zapatera were they to get him on their side, is receiving a lot of attention from Mike. Mike wants to convince Matt to side with Zapatera and to also bring his 'girlfriend' Andrea with him. This would give Zapatera the upper hand in numbers and votes. As it is, without Matt's vote, Zapatera has 5 players while Ometepe has 6. Bringing Matt to their side would make the numbers even and give the Zapatera Tribe a fighting chance to stay alive in the game instead of being picked off one by one. Mike promises Matt to take him to the final four and even reveals that he has access to an idol were Matt to need it. Matt talks to Andrea about his plan to take out the Ometepe Tribe because he knows he is at the bottom of their alliance. After all, they have already voted him out once.

But as Mike is reading from Matt's Bible the next morning, Matt feels conflicted. He likes the players on the Ometepe Tribe and feels guilty for wanting to backstab them. He says, "Right now, I feel like my heart is telling me not to and just stick with Ometepe."

Survivor Immunity Challenge: Rollerball

In this individual immunity challenge, each player will stand on a small log whole balancing a ball on a wooden disc. At regular intervals, one more ball will be added to the disc until they reach the maximum number of 3. When a ball falls from the disc that player is eliminated from the competition. Mike looks like a statue throughout the challenge. It comes down to Mike from the Zapatera Tribe battling Natalie from the Ometepe tribe. Natalie outlasts Mike and wins the first individual immunity challenge.

Tribal Council Plans

The players meet with their old tribemates to make their plans for Tribal Council. Mike feels like Ometepe will be targeting himself or Ralph because they are the two physically strongest players on their tribe. Mike suggests they vote for Rob's right hand man, Grant, instead of going for the obvious target named Boston Rob.

Meanwhile, Matt has decided to stick with the Ometepe Tribe and meets with Rob to reveal what he has learned from Zapatera, including the fact that they do indeed have an immunity idol. Boston Rob doesn't believe anything Matt is telling him and vows to give him a one way ticket back to Redemption Island. But Rob tells Matt they are going to vote for Steve instead of the obvious choice of Mike. When Matt shares his new plan with Andrea, she feels betrayed. When Rob talks with all the other players on the old Ometepe Tribe, Matt and Mike notice that Matt was left out of the loop. Mike tries to sweeten the deal for Matt to jump ship to the Zapatera Tribe. Wishy-washy Matt doesn't know what he should do.

Tribal Council # 8: Murlonio's First Tribal

Ralph tells Jeff that the tribes are still divided at camp, even sleeping in different areas of the shelter. David adds that Zapatera slept under palm fronds while Ometepe had a tarp to keep them dry. Ashley pipes in to say that they won the tarp so it's their decision whether to share or not. Matt says it was easier on Redemption Island without all these people around. Everyone realizes that Matt holds a key vote. This would have been the perfect time for Matt to speak up and ask for the idol from Ralph and Mike in exchange for his vote, but he didn't. Before the votes are read, Ralph gives Jeff his immunity idol saying he is playing it for Mike.

The Murlonio Vote

David votes Grant
Julie votes Grant
Mike votes Grant
Ralph votes Grant
Steve votes Grant
Matt votes Steve
Andrea votes Matt
Ashley votes Matt
Grant votes Matt
Natalie votes Matt
Phillip votes Matt
Rob votes Matty

Matt Elrod, the 22-year-old pre-med student from Nashville, TN, is the eighth person sent to Survivor's Redemption Island and the second time he has been sent there. It's like a home away from home for him now.

Sent to Survivor's Redemption Island

1. Francesca Hogi (Ometepe)
2. Matt Elrod (Ometepe)
3. Russell Hantz (Zapatera)
4. Kristina Kell (Ometepe)
5. Krista Klumpp (Zapatera)
6. Stephanie Valencia (Zapatera)
7. Sarita White (Zapatera)
8. Matt Elrod (Ometepe)

Eliminated for good from Survivor: Redemption Island

1. Francesca Hogi (Ometepe)
2. Russell Hantz (Zapatera)
3. Kristina Kell (Ometepe)
4. Krista Klumpp (Zapatera)
5. Stephanie Valencia (Zapatera)
6. Sarita White (Zapatera)

Next week on Survivor: Rob submits control of his tribe...or does he? And Phillip gets a makeover.

"Survivor: Redemption Island - This Game Respects Big Moves" aired Wednesday, April 6, 2011 on CBS at 8/7c

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DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION
I have not received any compensation for writing this content and I have no material connection to the brands, topics and/or products that are mentioned herein.

Source:
CBS/Survivor