Week 3: Survivor South Africa: Return of the Outcasts Summary

The Survivor South Africa: Return of the Outcasts Castaways have found themselves working across tribal lines almost since the start of the season. With Hidden Immunity Idols that can only be played for or by Castaways on the opposite tribe, the chance to piece together two Half-Idols, the chance to select losing Castaways to join in on Reward Feasts, Diplomatic Immunity that allowed for defection to the other tribe, a Tribe Swap and now, Merge – the Castaways have been playing together, apart since Nico handed them their buffs.

After Thoriso honoured her ally Felix by not voting for him and virtually guaranteeing she’d be going home and then Palesa found herself being taken out for being too strong a player after an inter-tribal conspiracy at a joint Tribal Council, it’s time for Merge. It’s traditionally time for an individual game as the remaining Castaways battle for the title of Sole Survivor and – this season, for the first time ever – R2 million in prize money. But will they continue to play solo games if they continue to be presented with opportunities and advantages that must be shared with others?

Snuffed 

When Masu went to Tribal Council in episode 9 on Monday, Killarney sensed her time was up after receiving the first three votes, but the next four then went against Pinty, sending already-eliminated Tania’s favourite sparring partner, home.

Votes 

  • Voting for Killarney:  Pinty, Felix, Thoriso.
  • Voting for Pinty: Steffi, Killarney, Tejan, Toni.

Episode 10 on Tuesday saw this season’s first revote after Killarney, Thoriso and Felix – the latter two acutely aware that they were in danger – garner two votes each.

When the tie was revealed, Nico announced that only Tejan, Toni and Steffi will cast their vote and they could only vote for the three tribemates who have received votes. All three voted for Thoriso – Toni and Steffi switching from their previous votes for Felix – effectively seeing Thoriso fall on her sword to protect her ally Felix when she could have voted for him and snuffed his torch, giving him a chance to fight again.

Votes 

First vote:

  • Voting for Killarney: Thoriso, Felix.
  • Voting for Thoriso: Tejan, Killarney.
  • Voting for Felix: Steffi, Toni.

Revote:

  • Voting for Thoriso: Toni, Steffi, Tejan.

Both tribes attended Tribal Council on Thursday in episode 12, with Masu taking their place on the Jury benches and Yontau taking up their place in the firing line. Nico had revealed at Wednesday’s Immunity & Reward Challenge that both tribes would be attending the next Tribal Council – with both voting for someone on the losing tribe. Tribal Council rapidly descended into a series of whispered asides, to the point that Nico offered all the Castaways the opportunity to huddle with anyone they wanted to, to make a decision.

Once they were called to order, the votes were cast – in an epic blindside which saw Palesa become the 9th Castaway to see their torch snuffed this season on the back of the sheer power of her game.

Votes 

  • Voting for Meryl: Toni, Palesa.
  • Voting for Palesa:  Steffi, Killarney, Marian, Felix, Tejan, Shane, Dante, Meryl, Phil, Dino.

Immediately after her departure, came Merge…

Challenged  

Episode 9 saw Killarney faint before Nico could reveal what the Castaways would be playing for at what turned out to be a combined Immunity & Reward Challenge – but was soon on her feet after a quick intervention from the medics. The reward would be a visit to the FreshStop Survivor Shop, filled with everything they’ve been dreaming of. With blindfolds limiting the competing Castaways to listening to shouted directions from their tribes, Shane’s suggestion that Yontau make enough noise to drown out Masu’s instructions had the desired effect, with Dino completing the puzzle as tempers flared.

Tuesday’s 10th episode also delivered a combined Immunity & Reward Challenge, with the Castaways competing for pizza, drinks, and safety. Dante eventually raised the Yontau flag to get some revenge on Masu. Toni took the opportunity to – clumsily – slip Dino the Hidden Immunity Idol Tejan found at Yontau, which has to be played by someone on the opposition tribe.

On Wednesday, the tribes found out at the Immunity & Reward Challenge that both would be attending the next Tribal Council, where they would both cast votes for someone on the losing tribe. The reward would be a trip to The Outpost – for the last person standing on each tribe, after an incredibly tough game that put the emphasis on ‘Outlast’. After negotiation between Steffi, Toni, and Tejan, Toni was left the last Masu member standing, after Phil had toppled from his perch to hand Masu immunity – but scoop himself a trip to The Outpost.

Tools 

In the Game this week 

  • Tribal Pass Advantage – Meryl (Yontau)
    • Meryl found the Tribal Council Pass in a cake at the FreshStop Survivor shop reward in episode 9.
    • The Tribal Council Pass allows her to choose one person to leave Tribal Council and head straight back to camp. They will play no further part in Tribal Council, which means they will not take part in the vote. It also means that they cannot be voted out of the game. She can choose herself or any other tribe member.
    • The last time the Tribal Council Pass can be used will be when there are six Survivors left in the game.
  • Hidden Immunity Idol – Steffi (Masu)
    • It can be played until after Merge, when 6 players remain in the game,
    • Steffi found it while everyone was sleeping after the braaibroodtjie feast.
  • Hidden Immunity Idol – Dante (Yontau)
    • Dante found the clue to the Idol at the Outpost in his tribe’s rice bag.
    • It has to be played by someone from the opposite tribe (Masu). Valid until Merge.
  • Hidden Immunity Idol – Tejan (Masu) and then Dino (Yontau)
    • Tejan eventually found the Hidden Immunity Idol near the water well in episode 10 – and was excited until he found out it had to be played for someone on the opposite tribe. After consulting with Toni, they agreed that she would slip it to Dino at the next challenge.
    • Dino called it “the least smooth exchange in the history of all exchanges” and is pretty sure that everybody saw it – and many did.

Fake Idols 

  • Shona and Seamus have both placed fake Idols at Tribal Council, which are still ‘in play’ for those who know they’re there.
  • Dino, Phil, and Palesa know about Shona’s.

Played / Out of the Game this week 

  • Diplomatic Immunity – Marian (Yontau)
    • Marian found Diplomatic Immunity at Masu in the form of a Yontau buff, in Episode 2.
    • After losing the challenge in Episode 11, Marian played her Diplomatic Immunity to move back across to Masu.
  • Half-Idol – Toni and Phil (Masu and Yontau)
    • Toni and Phil found a parchment during their visit to The Outpost in Episode 11. If they could predict who would be voted out at the next Tribal Council, they would each receive half an Immunity Idol which would need to be played together. They both wrote Shane’s name down, but Palesa was sent home, meaning they didn’t gain the advantage.
  • Diplomatic Immunity – Shane (Yontau)
    • Shane found his first-ever advantage, but was then disappointed when he realised that it was useless as the first person who uses this power is the only one who gets to use it – and Marian already had.

Merged 

For the first time in Survivor South Africa history, Merge took place at Tribal Council in episode 12 after Palesa had been sent home. The new tribe – sporting yellow buffs – is called Salan.

The Merge tribe comprises 7 members from the original Masu (Dante, Meryl, Marian, Steffi, Shane, Toni, Tejan) and 4 from Yontau (Dino, Phil, Felix, Killarney), with players with post-merge experience in the game, in the majority.

Game Relationships 

  • Killarney and Steffi have formed a bond, but we know that Steffi is playing Killarney. But taking Killarney, a perceived goat, to the end will serve Steffi well. Will she string Killarney along?
  • Toni slipped Dino Tejan’s Idol and thinks Dino owes them. Will Dino remember this play that saved his life? Or will this put a target on Toni and Dino, whose relationship was a problem for some Yontau 2.0 members?
  • Dino has said that Phil is his number one. Will he find out that Phil didn’t tell him everything after Phil’s Outpost visit?
  • Steffi is Marian’s number one, but Steffi was not happy when Marian defected to Masu with her Diplomatic Immunity, fearing that Marian would mess up her game. Will this turn into a problem again?
  • Dante is not on good terms with Toni and Dino. Will that change?
  • Phil and Dino don’t trust Shane. But he wanted to form secret alliances with them. Will they need each other as numbers?

Pre-existing relationships from shared seasons 

Season 5: Marian, Shane, Phil, Killarney

  • To date, Marian has distanced herself from Shane, but they are known as Season 5’s villainous couple.
  • Marian has also expressed that she wouldn’t mind working with Phil after Merge.
  • Killarney left the game early and didn’t really have strong relationships with the other Season 5 players.

Season 7: Dante, Meryl, Felix

  • Dante was Felix’s “ride or die” in Season 6, and Dante and Meryl were the “Dynamic Duo.”
  • Meryl doesn’t want to play with Dante, this time around.

Survivor South Africa: Return of the Outcasts is broadcast Monday-Thursday on DStv’s M-Net Channel 101 each week until the Finale on 25 August, where South Africa’s richest-ever Survivor prize will be awarded. There’s also an omnibus broadcast on M-Net on Saturdays 15:30-19:30 and, of course, every episode is available on DStv CatchUp. For more about Survivor South Africa, visit the official M-Net Website and join the conversation using #SurvivorSA and #MNet101 on  Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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