‘Survivor: Game Changers’ Episode 4 Recap: Unbalanced?

“Survivor: Game Changers” (CBS)


Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor: Game Changers”

Last Week: Malcolm was voted out and apparently I’m contractually obligated to continue writing about this heartbreaking show.

39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog…


The Mana Tribe (wearing orangey-red)
Brad, 47
Debbie, 51
Hali, 26
Sierra, 29
Tai, 52

The Nuku Tribe (wearing blue)
Aubry, 30
JT, 31
Jeff, 50
Michaela, 25
Sandra, 41

The Tavua Tribe (wearing green)
Andrea, 27
Cirie, 45
Ozzy, 34
Sarah, 32
Troyzan, 54
Zeke, 28

We kick things off at Nuku Beach where JT's got some 'splainin' to do. He swears up and down that he didn't tip Mana off. I guess they can't prove it until 6 months later.

Sandra knows she can't prove anything, but she wants revenge. She doesn't mention if she's still the queen. Probably safe to assume she is.

The next morning, JT goes on an idol hunt. And…he's successful. He finds a clue that is very similar to the one Tai found. When everyone is away from camp, he has a chance to retrieve it. Well done, JT. But how are you going to get it to Russell?

Reward Challenge Time: The tribes will use a grappling hook to retrieve a bow. They’ll then dig up a bag with a ball. One player will balance the ball on the bow and walk over a balancing beam. They’ll then do the same with a handle. Once both balls are at the end, one member from each team will have to complete a slide puzzle. The first tribe to complete the puzzle will win peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with all the fixins. The second place tribe receives sandwiches that are fixin’less.

Before the challenge, Andrea’s reaction to seeing a Malcolm-less Nuka would put Eliza Orlins to shame.

During the pre-challenge strategy talk, Debbie talks about how good she is at balancing. Brad, because he's a logical person, thinks this means she should do one of the balance portions.

Troyzan will sit out for Tavua.

We start off and things are pretty even until Debbie gets to the balance beam portion. It…is…a…trainwreck. She just can't do it.

As she struggles, Zeke picks up the win for Tavua and Sandra takes second place for Nuku.

Before we head off to commercial, Debbie lets us know that they lost because Brad is a dictator who tells people what to do.

FLASHBACK: Debbie telling everyone she has a really good sense of balance.

Wait, is this what she’s so upset over?

Later on, we learn that that's exactly what she's upset over. Debbie immediately tells the other four that they can give her clothing to Hali after they vote her out.

It’s so weird and abrupt that Brad honestly asks if she’s acting.

Debbie tells us that Brad has a total lack of respect for her. She even tells Hali that he has his head so far up her (tush) that his eyeballs are sticking out of her mouth. Well, that's graphic.

Then, she says that Hali took ten minutes to do the balance beam while she zipped across it. Which…is…not…at…all…what…happened. At first, I wondered if this was an editing trick, but Tai backs it up saying Hali was way better with the agility.

I guess it’s alright though, because Debbie tells us she doesn’t explode in anger.

CUT TO: Debbie screaming in Brad’s face as he tries to apologize.

Quick Aside: I’ve been doing this gig since Gabon.  In my experience, either Brad is a jerk and they aren’t showing it because they want us to like him. Or, Debbie is reading into things. Either way…yikes.

Later at Tavua, Sarah starts talking to Troyzan. She tells him that she's willing to work with him. He's happy about this, but he doesn't trust her enough to tell her about his idol.

At Nuku, Michaela requests a cup of coffee that is seven drops of coffee and a scoop of sugar. This infuriates JT because he doesn't like the rate at which Michaela is consuming the sugar. Or he's some kind of coffee purist.

Sandra sees this as an opportunity to rile everyone up and eats the rest of the sugar. Varner, knowing that JT and Michaela are the only ones who consume the sugar, finds this hilarious. I agree.

Sure enough, JT sees an empty sugar jar and flips out.

Back at Mana, Tai decides to get away from his crazy camp and go on an idol hunt. He finds an idol clue that seems to be hinting at the water source. But, he doesn't have time to follow up on it.

Immunity Challenge Time: The tribes will race up and over a wall. They’ll then roll a wooden cube to a post and retrieve a key. They’ll use the key to open a chest full of beanbags. From there, they have to carry all of the beanbags over a balance beam. When all of the bags are transported, they’ll use a slingshot to launch them at targets. The first two tribes to hit all five of their targets will win immunity.

Cirie will sit out for Tavua.

Before the challenge, Brad proposes that Tai should do the balance beam portion. Debbie does not approve. Then…it…gets…ugly. Once again she claims that it took Hali way longer to complete the previous balance beam portion. After some bickering, she decides that she doesn't want to do the balance beam.

The Survivors are ready…and they go.

Debbie is the first one over the wall and makes a point of making sure that everyone knows it. Man, people who brag about their challenge prowess are annoying. #nineinarow

Mana is the first tribe to get to the chest, but their lead is tiny.

Tai and Hali are the balance beam team for Mana. Andrea and Ozzy go for Tavua, and Varner and Michaela go for Nuku.

Tai wipes out at one point and Debbie lets him have it, saying that she’s glad they didn’t pick the gymnast for this challenge.

Quick Aside: Is it possible that Debbie and Brad cooked up a fake feud so they can work opposite sides after the merge?

Tavua is the first tribe to get to the slingshot portion. Mana and Nuku eventually catch up.

Sierra hits the first two targets quickly, then Brad takes out the rest. Mana wins immunity.

Ozzy and JT battle back and forth with Ozzy eventually taking the win for Tavua.

Back at camp, Aubry and JT want to target Michaela. It seems like Varner and Sandra are on-board as well.

Later on, Sandra tells us that she wants to get vengeance for Malcolm. I can dig that. She plans to get Michaela and Varner on her side and send JT home.

That night at Tribal, Sandra claims to not know who leaked Sierra’s name to Tai.

Michaela is annoyed because JT thinks he’s running the show.

JT says he’s never been so excited to be at Tribal Council because he can’t wait to get rid of Michaela.

Sandra claims they’re going to keep the strongest player in the game and with HIM they’re going to move forward.

JT is tired of babysitting. He doesn't think Michaela does anything around the camp.

Michaela begs to differ, pointing out several occasions where she’s done things.

Aubry tried to work with Michaela, but she’s tired of it.

JT wraps it up by saying that some people aren’t game changers, they’re just taking up space.

Voting Time: JT votes for Michaela, Michaela votes for JT, Aubry votes for Michaela, Sandra votes for JT, and the rest are secret.

Probst tallies and returns. He asks if anyone wants to play an idol…and nobody does.

We’ve got one vote for Michaela, one vote for JT, one vote for Michaela, one vote for JT, and the fifth person voted out of “Survivor: Game Changers” is…JT.

…and his idol.

On the way out, Michaela tells JT to tell Malcolm that he sent him out of the game. A defeated JT says he will.

And finally, Sandra admits to being the sugar thief. I'm not sure that was smart, but it was funny.

Verdict: Sandra has been to the first five Tribals and hasn’t received a single vote. (Edit: Oops…four of the first five.) That’s amazing. Also, there’s only one winner left in the game.

The Debbie thing? That’s just hard to watch.

That said, I’m ready to see Tavua take a trip to Tribal.

Power Rankings Results: Adam Klein had JT in spot fifteen. I had him in spot sixteen. The current score is now Team Adam 38, Team Gordon 36.

Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes