Tension marred the Kucha; failure broke the Ogakor. Without question, Thursday night’s episode of “Survivor” was the ugliest yet.
It was beautiful.
Though the Kucha had been winning everything, animosity between tribe members reached its boiling point, as Alicia and Kimmi finally confronted one another – in a heated exchange – over bad attitudes, bossiness and Kimmi’s odd affection for the chickens. As the two stormed off, Alicia commented, “I wanted to wrap my hands around her neck.”
Afterward, the two launched into a mad scramble to gain support from fellow members, and Alicia seemed to be garnering the majority of the encouragement. A sign of things to come.
Both tribes later engaged in a Tribal Challenge in the Herbert River, in which members had to be carried from point to point on handmade stretchers. It was a test of strength and will – and it was a test of nerves. The Kucha prevailed, leaving the weakened, hungry Ogakor crushed, as members openly cried in the river, where they didn’t bother to carry on. For the victory, the Kucha opened a crate of luxury items — including toothpaste, shampoo and blankets – cheering, as the spent Ogakor watched.
This string of Kucha victories, however, would not last.
As the Kucha celebrated their victory back at camp – bathing in the river – the Ogakor discussed their dire situation. Their apparent leader, Colby, rallied them together with a speech about strength of mind over strength of body. Though still dejected, the tribe took solace in his words, ignoring the domineering bantering of the increasingly unpopular Jerri.
The next day, at the Immunity Challenge, the Ogakor showed up to win. As each tribe was forced to scatter through a human maze – which took two weeks to build – the Ogakor did use their minds, squinting through the cloth barriers of the maze to spot the five medallions needed to win. The Kucha stumbled through the maze; the Ogakor slid out victorious.
Finally, the Ogakor would spend a few days actually intact.
At Tribal Council, as the rain poured down, the Kucha gathered. And voted. Kimmi selected Jeff to be exiled. The remaining six members voted for Kimmi.
Score a victory, of sorts, for Alicia.