“Survivor: Australia vs. the World” is only two episodes deep and is already establishing itself as one of the most entertaining and legendary seasons the series has ever seen across any of its international franchises. The series kicked off on Sunday, August 17, with its premiere episode, which ended in “Survivor South Africa” champion Rob Bentele getting blindsided by the Black Widow herself, Parvati Shallow.
If you haven’t caught up on Episode 1 yet, you can check out a full breakdown of the episode here and come back later. If you’re ready for Episode 2 spoilers, however, read on to see what went down on the second installement on “Survivor: Australia vs. the World,” including which castaway became the next player voted off the island.
The Black Widow Brigade Starts Weaving its Web
As the third day of the “fast and furious” 16-day competition dawned on the beaches of Samoa, the World tribe set to making fire with their freshly earned flint and washing off the shame of being sent to the season’s first Tribal Council ceremony with much-needed baths in the sea. On the surface, the tribe seems unified after unanimously voting to blindside Rob the night before, believing that eliminating the domineering South African will give them all more freedom to play the game on their own terms.
A closer look at the new World tribe dynamic however, shows Tony and Tommi on the outskirts, now doubly outnumbered by the tribe’s women in a four-two split. As Parvati, Cirie and Kass set off to collect water, the boys can hear the girls laughing from afar. Their camaraderie sets Tony on edge as he worries that, with Rob gone, he’s unwittingly placed himself on the bottom of the tribe, despite his alliance with his fellow American players.
It certainly wouldn’t be the first time that Cirie and Parvati dominated a game of “Survivor” with an all-girls alliance. In fact, it was thanks to their “Black Widow Brigade” alliance in “Survivor: Micronesia” that Parvati was able to clinch her first and (so far) only win in her five appearances on the show.
Despite his concerns, Tony tries to keep his anxious energy to a minimum, attempting to replicate his winning strategy from “Survivor: Winners at War” by placing himself on “house arrest” from his trademark wild antics that led to him being labelled a “lose cannon” by past competitiors.
That being said, Tony’s worries about an all-girls alliance are far from unfounded as Cirie and Parvati approach Kass in the ocean about working together to pick off the remaining men one by one. Kass agrees to the plan, leaving only Lisa, who last episode declared herself as Cirie’s “biggest fan,” to join their cause.
The King of the Jungle Uncovers an Advantage at Camp
After winning Immunity, saving their entire tribe from elimination in the premiere, the Australian castaways are sitting pretty at their camp at the start of Episode 2. But the game is moving on quickly, and the players are starting to feel the pressure of a potential date with host Jonathan LaPaglia at Tribal Council.
Before setting out for their second Immunity challenge, several conversations happen at the Aussie camp, with just as many plans starting to form about who should go home if the team loses the challenge.
David, anxious about being targetted as the only former winner on the tribe, feels confident in his alliance with Janine and Luke, who he’s played with before. In order to secure a four-vote majority to target George or Shonee, who are already on the outs, David believes he can manipulate Kirby into joining their voting block.
Kirby, on the other hand, has no intention of bowing to the “Golden God’s” plans, instead roping George, Shonee, and her ride-or-die ally Sarah into a plan to target David. She even pitches the plan to David’s No. 1 ally, Luke, though both Luke and George worry that eliminating the former champ will not only weaken their tribe, but also put a target on their backs moving into the Merge.
Frustrated by the other players’ reluctance to make big moves, Kirby reminds her fellow castaways that they’re the best of the best, saying, “You’re all kings and queens, what are you talking about?”
Only Sarah agrees to go along with Kirby’s plan, wanting to rehabilitate her “shady” reputation from her first “Australian Survivor” appearance and wary about getting “sucked into the supernova that is the Golden God.” That being said, Sarah is conflicted about targeting David, not because he’s a formidable opponent, but because the two have been friends for years, well before they ever played the game, having run in the same circles when they were both working as models in Australia.
Before departing their camp for the day’s Immunity challenge, Luke uncovers a Hidden Immunity Idol in the woods, revealing his newfound power to no one, not even his closest allies.
Immunity is Back Up for Grabs
As both teams meet Jonathan at the Immunity Challenge, the Aussie tribe gets their first look at the new World tribe, shocked to see that “Survivor South Africa” champ Rob Bentele was voted out at the first Tribal Council.
For the challenge, teams will have to use a heavy battering ram to smash through a brick wall, manuever through a key hole and move blocks across a balance beam. Once across the beam, teams will use the battering ram as a ladder to stack the blocks along a narrow shelf before returning to their platforms where they are tasked with knocking the blocks from the shelf with sandbags. The first team to knock off all 11 blocks secures Immunity, and is safe from Tribal Council.
With one extra player on their team, Shonee volunteers to sit out for the Aussie tribe.
The World tribe gets the jump on the challenge, smashing through the brick wall with ease and moving onto the key hole while the Aussie’s struggle to break through. With Rob gone, Tony emerges as a vocal leader for the international competitors, coaching his team through each obstacle in turn as they maintain their lead through the key hole and across the balance beam on their first try.
Trailing behind, the Aussies drop their blocks while crossing the beam, forcing them to restart as Tommi successfully stacks the blocks atop the shelf for the World tribe.
Before the Aussie tribe even finishes stacking their blocks, Tony and Tommi manage to knock off four of their tribe’s blocks. David closes the gap slightly for the Aussies, knocking off two blocks moments before Tony successfully knocks off the fifth and sixth blocks for World.
Luke ties things up, knocking down four blocks in quick succession. From there the challenge is neck and neck as Tony and Luke continue to knock down blocks. With just one block remaining on their shelf, the World tribe leads by two as Tony takes aim on the final 11th block. The two-time “Survivor” winner throws his final sandbag, clearing the last block, and securing Immunity for his tribe, sending the Aussies to their first Tribal Council ceremony of the season.
A Game of Gods, Kings, Queens and Princesses
Back at camp, the Aussie tribe scrambles to come up with a plan on who to vote out ahead of their Tribal Council date with Jonathan.
David wants to target George, believing that eliminating the “Mad King” will be an easy and pragmatic first vote, and attempts to rope Kirby into the plan.
Meanwhile, Kirby still has her sights set on voting out the “Golden God,” planting seeds amongst her tribe mates to convince them to go along with the plan.
George, believing that he’s on the chopping block, reveals Kirby’s plan to David, but with no idol in his pocket and no majority alliance to fall back on, David humbles himself long enough to beg Kirby to target someone else. While Kirby agrees to the plan, David is convinced she’s lying through her teeth and begins searching for other options.
Knowing he has allies in Janine and Luke, David tries to find one other player willing to flip the vote, setting his sights on his longtime friend Sarah. Sarah, still deadset on playing a game of loyalty this time around, informs David that she’s 100% voting with Kirby, saying that the only way David isn’t going home is if they can convince Kirby to change her vote.
Sarah confers with Kirby, who agrees to shift the majority vote to George. Meanwhile, George makes a last minute plan to target Janine, still fearing the wrath of the Golden God.
Tribal Council: A God Falls and a Princess Rises
At Tribal Council the Aussie tribe collect their torches and light them with symbol fire before Jonathan begins the night’s preceedings.
Kirby tells Jonathan she feels like she’s “amongst kings, queens and gods, and I’m the princess of all of them.”
Not falling for Kirby’s modesty, David announces that she’s playing “one of the best games,” adding that she’s “not rattled at all” and that “people are looking to her for what’s gonna happen tonight.”
The ceremony quickly devolves into madness as the tribe begin to have hushed conversations with one another while others answer Jonathan’s lobbied questions. In whispers, the voting plan changes continuously, moving the target from David to Shonee to Janine and back again.
Responding to the chaos, Janine comments on how “Australia vs. the World” differs from her past experiences on the show, saying that it’s like “‘Survivor’ on steroids,” while Sarah adds that it feels she’s “playing with professionals” this time around.
Eventually Jonathan calls an end of the madness, informing the tribe that it is time to vote. One by one, the castaways place their votes in the urn. Jonathan returns and reads out the votes.
The first vote goes to Janine, while the next three all show George’s name. Two votes for David follow after, leaving just one vote left in the urn. Jonathan turns out the final vote, showing David’s name and confirming a tied vote.
The tribe are sent to revote. On the chopping block, David and George do not vote, while the remaining five castaways can only cast their vote for one of the two men.
Jonathan collects the second round of votes and begins to read them out.
The first two votes once again bear David’s name, while the third and fourth vote are aimed towards George. Tied yet again, Jonathan reveals the fifth and final vote, announcing tha the second person voted out of “Survivor: Australia vs. the World” is…The Golden God himself, David Genat.
The Golden God Officially Retires From ‘Australian Survivor’
As David collects his torch after his elimination, he declares, “I think that’s the last time I ever play ‘Australian Survivor.’” In hindsight, the comment proved true, as Genat was recently confirmed to be replacing Jonathan LaPaglia as the show’s new host for its forthcoming seasons.
Network 10Speaking to the camera after having his torch snuffed for what is likely the last time in history, David said, “I’m sour. I don’t take solace in anything. I wanted to stay in the game. But is there an honor to be bestowed upon, like, the biggest threat going out early? Yeah, maybe. I would have much preferred to be still in there.”
“For what’s left of the Aussies…buckle up” David continued. “It’s about to get rowdy.”
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‘Survivor: Australia vs. the World’ Episode 2 Recap