Three tribes became two on the most recent episode of Survivor: Kaôh Rōng. Brains, Brawn and Beauty are no more as the castaways are mixed up for the first time this season.
After the last week’s horrific reward challenge under the sun, which sent Beauty tribe member Caleb Reynolds up and off the island, the contestants enter this game changing-moment at an unplanned odd number. Jeff Probst explains that instead of dividing into two uneven tribes of six and seven, one cast member will be temporarily exiled from the game. They will later join the losing team after tribal council, replacing the voted out castaway and evening up tribe numbers, six to six.
At the end of the random draw, it is revealed that Julia Sokolowski is the odd woman out. The 19-year-old will spend the next two days in isolation, cut off from her alliance and freezing her game.
The exile of a Beauty tribe member specially creates a trickledown effect into the game’s strategy. With two Beauty tribe members drawing slots on each new tribe, Julia’s return becomes an ominous grab for power. If a former Beauty tribe member is not voted out this week, Julia’s return will tip one tribe’s numbers in favor of the old Beauty tribe alliance.
Berks County local Debbie Wanner landed herself in a stalemate position. Her new tribe included old alliance member Neal Gottlieb, two former Brawn members (Kyle Jason and Cydney Gillon) and two former Beauty members (Nick Maiorano and Michele Fitzgerald). She instantly set herself to work, bonding with Cydney over workout regimes and strategizing with Kyle.
The threat of Julia returning to the game gives the former Brain and Brawn tribe members common ground over which to bond. Instead of using this as a crutch, Debbie makes it a spring board. She does everything in her power to forge a bond that runs deeper than necessity with the former Brawn tribe. It’s not hard, after all she’s personable and an athlete herself. She’d once questioned how she hadn’t been originally cast as a Brawn.
However, her work won’t come into fruition this episode, after earning an immunity challenge win. The strategic leader of the Beauty tribe, Anna Khait, is voted off the island from the second tribe.
Tune in Wednesday at 8pm on CBS to see more of Debbie’s time in Cambodia. Will she be able to recreate her early success and form essential bonds with the Brawn tribe members? Or will her efforts fall short in favor of other plans?
