The first week of “Survivor: Australia vs. the World” has officially come to a close as its third episode aired yesterday, Tuesday, August 19. So far, two former series have had their torches snuffed by longtime host Jonathan LaPaglia and been sent home, leaving just 12 castaways left to battle it out for the title of the “Greatest ‘Survivor’ Player of All Time.”
Still not caught up on the latest happenings from the international all-stars season? Be sure to check out recaps of Episode 1 and Episode 2 before reading on. For fans eager to know more about the latest installment, however, here’s everything that happened on Episode 3 of “Survivor: Australia vs. the World.”
Who Will Rise to the Empty Throne at the Aussie Camp?
Following the shock elimination of former “Australian Survivor” champion David Genat on Episode 2, the Aussie tribe return to their camp. “The Mad King,” George, who narrowly avoided elimination himself, confronts “The King of the Jungle,” Luke, for writing his name not once, but twice at Tribal Council.
While Luke laments losing George as an ally in the game, Shonee begins to regret her decision to eliminate David when what she really wanted was revenge on George, who voted her out the last time they played together on “Australian Survivor,” adding that George is like a “cockroach,” and that he’ll be “very hard to get rid of” if the tribe doesn’t act quickly.
Despite not being able to exact her revenge just yet, Shonee quietly hopes that she’s solidified her trust with Kirby and Sarah by going along with their plan to eliminate David.
Though Kirby seems happy enough to have pulled off a big move, relishing in her new title as the “God-Slayer,” Sarah begins to question whether or not they made the right decision. Not only does she lament losing David, who was her long-time friend, even before their time on “Survivor,” but Sarah similarly worries that Kirby may be manipulating her, prioritizing her alliance with Shonee instead.
Sensing Sarah’s resentment, George warns Kirby to keep her on a “tight lease” to avoid getting blindsided. Meanwhile, Sarah approaches Kirby with a plan to vote out Shonee, arguing that Kirby made her eliminate her friend, so now Kirby should return the favor. As the rest of tribe head to bed to get some much needed sleep ahead of the next day’s Immunity challenge, Sarah similarly recruits Luke and Janine for the Shonee vote during a late-night rendezvous.
The World Tribe Finally Open Pandora’s Box
Back at the World tribe, the team, spared from Tribal Council the night before, return their focus to the mysterious wooden box they won during the season’s first reward challenge. Up till now, the tribe have remained unable to open the box to reveal its contents, needing to search their camp for its key.
Everyone sets out in search of the key. After hours of scouring the jungle, Parvati manages to spot the key hanging from a tree branch. She quickly pockets the key, showing her bounty to Kass and Cirie, who previously entered into an all-girls alliance with the former “Survivor: Micronesia” champ.
Together the women formulate a plan to open the box without Tony and Tommi knowing, so they can keep its secrets to themselves. With Cirie keeping watch, Parvati attempts to unlock the box, only for Tony to stroll into camp at the exact moment that she unlatches it. Parvati sits on the box as Tony enters, hoping that her skirt will hide the fact that the lock is hanging, unlatched, from the box.
Eventually, Cirie convinces Lisa to keep Tony distracted long enough for them to open the box, reveal its contents, and lock it back up. Lisa agrees, asking Tony to accompany her to gather water for the tribe. With Tony gone and Tommi still searching the island for the key, Parvati finally manages to open the box, which contains a clue to the location of a Hidden Immunity Idol.
However, securing the idol will require players to be “daring,” as the clue reveals that the idol is hidden at the base of Jonathan’s Tribal Council podium. After informing Cirie and Kass of what the clue says, she rips it up and hides the evidence, relocking the box and throwing out the key.
To keep up their charade, the women continue to pretend to search for the key. While searching, however, Kass stumbles across a real Immunity Idol in the rocks. Unlike Parvati, Kass decides to keep her newfound idol a secret, even from her allies, declaring, “I’m here to lie, steal and betray. Sorry girls!”
Once Again, Immunity is Back Up for Grabs
After eventful days at both camps, the tribes reunite for another Immunity Challenge. The World tribe get their first look at the new Aussie tribe, noting that David was eliminated at the last Tribal Council ceremony.
For the challenge, teams will have to hold 10-pound sandbags above their heads for as long as they can. Each player will lift their own sandbag, each of which is tethered to a trough above the team’s heads. If they drop, the trough will dump, signalling the end of the challenge. Jonathan similarly informs the team that players can drop out of the challenge if they tire, but that another player must take over holding their sandbag if they choose to retire.
As the challenge kicks off Jonathan notes that several of the Australian players have faced this exact challenge in their previous seasons, adding that Parvati also played a similar version on the American series, a challenge that Parvati endured for more than six and a half hours.
Noting that this challenge could go on for a very long time, George attempts to taunt the World tribe, but ends up accidentally revealing inside information about David’s elimination, much to the annoyance of his tribemates, who see the boasting as George exposing cracks in the Aussie tribe.
After 30 minutes have elapsed, many of the players are visibly and verbally struggling to keep their sandbags aloft. On the Aussie tribe, Luke continually bears the weight of Shonee’s sandbag, while Tony does the same for Cirie on the World tribe. Unfortunately, while attempting to transition from one arm to the other, Cirie removes her hands from the bag and is eliminated from the challenge, leaving her remaining tribe mates to bear the extra weight.
The challenge continues past the 1 hour 40 minute mark. On the World tribe, Parvati attempts to soothe and encourage a struggling Lisa, while Sarah and Luke begin to buckle under the weight on the Aussie tribe. Mere moments later, Sarah drops her sandbag, tips the trough, showering her team in water and buying them a one-way ticket to their second consecutive Tribal Council.
The Mad King’s Decree and the Rebel Resistance
The Aussie tribe return to their camp after another disappointing loss, but Shonee, for one, is glad to be returning to Tribal Council, hoping to capitalize on George’s verbal blunder during the challenge to finally exact her revenge on the “Mad King.”
Keeping up the ruse that she is working with George instead of against him, Shonee agrees to George’s plan to put Luke and Janine on the chopping block. Invigorated by dethroning the Golden God last episode, George uses his newfound confidence to tell Luke and Janine that they have to vote for each other, no room for argument or scheming.
Frustrated by George taking control, the Shonee, Kirby, Luke and Janine conspire to eliminate him. Only Sarah, who still wants to undermine Kirby’s other alliances, keeps her sights set on voting out Shonee. She tries to convince Kirby to join the plan, but as the tribe sets out for Tribal Council, it remains unclear which way the vote will play out.
Tribal Council: An ‘Iron Fist’ Changes Everything
At Tribal Council, Janine opens up about her dissatisfaction with George telling her how to vote, arguing that he’s trying to control the entire game. In rebuttal, George insists that the Aussie tribe needs to be ruled with an “iron fist” if they want to stand any chance of defeating the World tribe after the Merge.
George’s verbage earns him a quizzical look from Kirby, who is clearly put off by the Mad King’s show of dominance. Regardless, George remains cool, calm, and confident, leading Janine to believe that he’s sitting on a Hidden Immunity Idol. She quickly whispers to Luke to change his vote to Shonee, knowing that if everyone votes George and he plays an idol, it will be herself going home.
Eventually, Jonathan sends the tribe to vote. Ahead of the final tally it is revealed that George actually cast his vote for Luke. Luke follows Janine’s plan and writes down Shonee’s name. In turn, Shonee, hoping to finally exact her revenge, votes for George.
Back at his podium, Jonathan reads out the votes:
One vote Luke. One vote Shonee. One vote George. Three votes left.
The following two votes reveal an additional vote for George (courtesy of Kirby) and for Shonee (courtesy of Janine), leaving the two longtime rivals on the chopping block with only one vote left in the urn.
Jonathan turns out the final vote, revealing that the third person voted out of “Survivor: Australia vs. the World” is… George.
Network 10“Tonight, I fell one day short of my century,” said the three-time player after having his torch snuffed. “99 days in the game and I’m out. But I understand why the tribe voted me off. I’m one of the legacy players. Nobody will ever forget what I’ve done for ‘Australian Survivor.’ And at least I made it further than the Golden God.”
“Survivor: Australia vs. the World” will return with its fourth episode – featuring two Tribal Council ceremonies and two eliminations – on Sunday, August 24, 2025.
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‘Survivor: Australia vs. The World’ Episode 3 Recap