Threatening Players

Threatening Players is the third episode of Survivor: Vanuatu.

Day 6 (Night)
The final eight women return to camp having just voted Ruth out from the game in a 7-2 result, with only Evelyn sticking by her friend after both were called-out as the weakest members by the rest of the tribe. Despite the tension at tribal council, the mood in Yasur seems to be up, with those who voted in the majority feeling as though the experience will ultimately benefit them in the long run.

Jokes continue to flow between those who voted together, with Evelyn sitting silently on the side-lines, feeling even more on the outs of the group after isolating herself the past few days.

Lopevi
Jonathan and Raymond walk together around the shallow waters by the rocks, looking for sources of food for the rest of the tribe. Despite finding nothing substantial, the pair talk openly about the dynamics of the tribe, having both recently become disillusioned by the idea of sticking with the initial builders group (consisting of themselves, Craig, Max H., Max O. and Youseph).

Back at the shelter, a majority of the other men lounge around doing very little. Max H. and Craig talk loudly whilst the other men rest, discussing NFL statistics and debating why their chosen team is the best. Charles opts to get up and leave the conversation, feeling irritated by Craig and Max H.'s relaxed states whilst he feels he is at risk of leaving the game. Max O. decides to follow Charles, finding him sitting solemnly on a fallen tree in the jungle.

Max H., Craig, Marvin and Youseph note the two leaving them alone, leading to speculation as to what is 'wrong' with Charles, who is noticeably quieter than usual.

Yasur
Throughout the early hours of the day, most of the women get on with basic chores around the camp. Evelyn initially joins in, but soon finds herself moping alone on the beach as she looks out on the ocean, claiming to be 'enjoying' what may be her last few days in the game. Elsewhere in the jungle, Helene, Nargis, Donna and Minnie forage for sources of food, having become fed up of the bland plantains growing nearby their shelter. During the search, the four women continue bonding well, establishing that as a tribe smaller alliances are not yet necessary whilst Evelyn remains in the game.

Back at the shelter, Mildred, Shirley and Virginia sit together boiling water to pour into the tribes canteens. The three women discuss the situation of the game whilst watching Evelyn mope in the distance, feeling frustration that she is taking up a space in the game without trying.

An hour later, all the women have returned to camp to share another meal of fried plantain. During the meal, Donna reads tree mail to the group, informing them that they'll once again be facing a challenge. Nargis does her best to bring up morale during the meal, wanting the women to get back to beating the men after suffering their first defeat the previous day.

Immunity Challenge
Both tribes arrive at the challenge area, with Lopevi seeing the Yasur tribe for the first time since they voted Ruth out from the game. The men are curious as to why they were instructed to bring along the tribal immunity idol, having expected a reward challenge to come first.

Jeff explains that both tribes will initially compete in a reward challenge as tribes, in which they must work through locked cages and retrieve keys. The winning tribe will gain fishing and snorkelling gear, as well as the right to compete for individual immunity. During the challenge, Lopevi dominates the team section, with all eight members doing well. For the individual challenge, Jeff explains that the men will now dig ladder rungs out from the sand, putting them together to build a ladder that will take them to the top of a tower. The first man to do this will win individual immunity. After the women take their spaces on the sit-out bench, the men begin competing for immunity. The race comes down to Marvin, Max. H and Max O., with Marvin edging out the rest of the men in the assembling of the puzzle.

Reward/Immunity Challenge: Great Escape Run

The challenge is divided into two parts: one for tribal reward, the other for individual immunity. For the reward half, the tribes must work together to make their way through three locked cages by untying planks, using grappling hooks to retrieve keys, and mastering a series of interlocking slide rails. The first tribe to crawl through the three cages to safety would win reward and the right to compete for individual immunity. For the immunity half, each person must dig ladder rungs out of the sand. The players would then use these rungs to assemble a ladder and climb the top of a tower. The first person to reach the top wins individual immunity.

Reward: Fishing and snorkelling gear, and the chance to vie for individual immunity.

Additional Stipulation: The player that wins individual immunity will spend the rest of the day at the other tribe's camp, after which he or she would assign individual immunity to a member of that tribe.

Winner (tribal reward): Lopevi

Winner (individual immunity): Marvin ​(gave individual immunity to Virginia at Yasur's Tribal Council)

Lopevi
The men return to camp having just won the fishing and snorkelling gear, excited for the element it adds to their camp life. However, confusion runs rampant with Marvin now absent from the tribe, and the victory being intertwined with the knowledge that in a matter of hours they will vote somebody else out of the game.

Max H. and Craig continue talking in such a manner as the others stand around, pondering as to what point they should split off to begin conversations. Feeling he has little to lose, Charles decides to interject and plead his case in front of the entire tribe.

Max O. encourages Raymond to join himself and Charles on a walk down the beach, leaving the other four men stood around the shelter. Max H. mocks the idea of the three of them going off together, noting that four remain at the shelter.

Down the beach, Charles pitches his case to both Max O. and Raymond, with Max openly agreeing with everything that Charles says, hoping to flip the vote off his friend and onto Craig or Max H. instead. Raymond remains conflicted, with his gut telling him to stick to those he gets along better with, whilst his head tells him to stick with the already established numbers. Charles explains to Max O. and Raymond that his loyalty is firmly to the men, particularly the two of them if they're able to save him. He goes on to explain that Craig and Max are both too unstable individuals who will turn their back if they mistrust anyone, suggesting a swap would be the first opportunity they'd have to do so. Raymond voices his concerns about establishing a new group, noting that it would certainly alienate members of the tribe.

Throughout the remainder of the afternoon, Charles and Max O. do their best to convince Jonathan to change on his position. Raymond opts to stay quiet, not wanting to stick his neck out too far either way, knowing that if he fully assigns himself to a potential minority that his game will surely take a hit. Jonathan remains conflicted, knowing that he has concerns about Craig and Max H., but that he also feels at risk if he were to switch alliances so easily.

Yasur
The women return to camp having just lost the reward challenge, taking solace in the fact that despite their loss... both tribes will be voting somebody out at tribal council. Marvin immediately joins the women, having made the journey back to Yasur with them, knowing that he's got just a few hours to decide which of them to hand off his individual immunity to.

Marvin sits down in the comfortable shelter designed by the women (fitted with cushions and blankets) after going through a tour of the camp. The women sit around Marvin, sharing stories about their first week in Vanuatu, laughing over similarities between the two camps. Eventually, Marvin asks the women openly as to how he should go about their decision.

An awkward silent presides over the camp after Evelyn's comment. The other women fail to interject immediately, knowing the amount of power Evelyn's position could give her. Marvin asks Evelyn why she thinks this, leading to Evelyn admitting what occurred during the last tribal council for Yasur. A small passive aggressive exchange ensues between Mildred and Evelyn after issues again are brought to light, with Nargis and Helene both speaking up to support Mildred, calling out Evelyn for poor social play in front of Marvin. Marvin and Virginia both speak up and stop the fight from getting worse between the women, instead suggesting that Evelyn go privately with Marvin to plead her case. The other women remain around the shelter, immediately panicking after Evelyn leaves with Marvin.

Over on the beach, Evelyn continues to tell Marvin about her position on the outs, mentioning that she doesn't want to quit the game, and that the only way she survives is if he gives her the necklace.

After speaking with Evelyn, Marvin returns with her to the other women who are all sat silently. Marvin asks the group if any of them would like to speak, with Helene being the next to volunteer; requesting that she and Nargis are given an opportunity to speak alone with him. Marvin heads back down the beach with Nargis and Helene in tow, unaware of what sort of conversation he is about to step into.

Back down the beach, Helene sits with Marvin and Nargis, having come up with a plan in her mind to steer his decision away from giving the individual immunity necklace to Evelyn.

The remaining hour of the womens pre-tribal discussions are spent frantically trying to decipher whether a backup vote is needed, with multiple conversations taking place between groups of two and three. Donna begins pushing for a Mildred vote due to the simplicity, whilst Helene and Nargis throw Donna's name out, citing her conversations with Ruth and Evelyn as enough reason not to trust her. Virginia spends time talking to Marvin, noting that he seems less than comfortable after his conversation with Helene and Nargis.

Lopevi
Lopevi arrive first to tribal council, being joined by Marvin who is returning from his afternoon spent at Yasur's beach. Jeff begins by asking the men how strategy has worked, with very little time given for any discussions and pre-planning to take place. Charles answers by saying that the double tribal twist worked against him, given that he was established as the easy target from the moment he arrived in the game. Charles speaks openly about the fact his age has worked against him despite it not truly impacting performance or work ethic, instead calling himself one of the more able members of the tribe. Max O. agrees with this assertion, feeling as though without Charles the group would be "weaker than (they) are now". Jeff then asks the pair who they'd consider voting for if they regard Charles as an unsuitable person to vote for.

Several individuals begin looking at one another, annoyed to have Max H. share the information so openly. Marvin tells Jeff that he was aware there was dealings made without him, but that in recent days he's felt as if he's narrowly above some others on the original totem pole. Max H. confirms that this is true, saying that Max O. has played "badly" to the point that he deserves to leave the game. Max O. calls out the arrogance of Max H., noting that there is now a 'large minority' who rightfully should turn against him.

Charles and Raymond are seen laughing at the exchange between the Max's. Jeff begins to ask others about the clear division in the tribe and how it can be overcome. However, before anyone can answer, Jonathan leans forward and talks quietly in Marvin's ear, getting a reassuring nod off of Marvin before sitting upright.

Max H. sits with a gaping mouth, looking around at the rest of his tribe, only catching an equally shocked face from friend and ally Craig. He laughs and curses his tribe as he takes his torch over to Jeff, telling them that they've made a big mistake in voting him out. Charles reassuringly puts a hand on both Raymond and Max O's shoulders, thanking them for coming through and saving him. Jeff tells the men that their division has led to the first major blindside of the game, leading to what may be an uncomfortable few days. He instructs all the men other than Marvin to head back to camp, as Marvin needs to stay behind in order to pass on his individual immunity to somebody on the Yasur tribe.

Yasur
The women enter tribal council where they find Marvin waiting. The women each take their seats, before Jeff instructs Marvin to make his decision as to who will be receiving the individual immunity necklace. Evelyn smiles as Marvin walks towards her; but quickly drops her smile once he passed by, instead placing the necklace around Virginia's neck, granting her safety for the night. Virginia rubs Marvin's hands in gratitude, whilst the other women appear to breathe a sigh of relief.

Jeff asks Virginia how it feels to be saved, with the second oldest tribe member admitting that it has come as a surprise, with many of the women expecting that Marvin would save the person who identified themselves as the target. Jeff asks who this person is, with everyone admitting it is Evelyn. Evelyn claims to be disappointed in the decision, having hoped to be saved so that the night wasn't another easy one for "certain people". She goes on to accuse Helene and Nargis of "bullying" Marvin into a decision; a statement that causes a heated response from Helene, who rejects being called such a name.

Jeff interjects in the argument between Evelyn and Helene, asking others for their take on the label used against Helene. No other women appear to agree with it, saying instead that Helene is a strong-willed individual, and that she and Evelyn simply cannot get along. Nargis too passionately defends Helene, claiming Evelyn is "intimidated" by the two of them for their occupations (something which Mildred confirms to be true). Evelyn goes on to explain that despite her being the "easy vote", the other women on the tribe still need to move away from playing Nargis and Helene's game, believing this to be a key night to do so.

An unsurprised Evelyn is quick to stand and take her torch over to Jeff, choosing not to look at anyone on her tribe after being booted unanimously as expected. After her departure, the other women are told that despite their unity, there are clear weaknesses showing despite the strong start they had seen. Jeff wishes them luck in fixing these weaknesses, as according to the seven of them, they are now at their strongest possible point.