No Light At The End Of This Tunnel

No Light At The End Of This Tunnel is the second episode of Survivor: Thailand.

Day 3 (Night)
The Chuay Gahn tribe returns to camp having just voted West out at the first tribal council of the season. Having received votes, Gypsy decides to try and make amends with the two remaining tribe mates that wrote down her name.

The group head to sleep in the cave, with Vince lying down eyes open, clearly thinking over his decision at the first tribal council that may have placed him in the minority.

Chuay Gahn
As the weather appears to be clear, Aaron suggests he and two others set off in order to collect the tribes next supply of water. Rachel volunteers immediately, followed by Gypsy, who wants to take the opportunity to better her rowing skills.

The trio row towards the water source, using the time to give Gypsy a lesson in techniques on how to row efficiently. Although they stay away from discussing strategy, the time spent alone allows the three to continue strengthening their bond, seemingly making an alliance without using the word to solidify it.

After collecting the water, the new supposed alliance sit together on the boat, taking a break before heading back to camp in order to replenish their energy. Meanwhile, the four remaining by the Chuay Gahn caves get to work collecting food and firewood for when the others return. Salma, Harper and Vince get a fire going, with Julius off alone down the beach.

Julius returns after several more minutes, bringing with him a bucket full of clams. He places the bucket down, before dropping next to it, sighing as he thinks about the repetitive meal the tribe will once again have.

Julius and Harper both lie down in the caves to rest, whilst Vince begins to clean the clams for the others who come back. Salma decides to tell the group a story about her writing habits and how she comes up with her ideas. Harper is seen somewhat rolling her eyes, clearly wanting silence so that she and Julius can rest. However, no one voices their frustrations out loud, resulting in Salma talking for a substantial amount of time.

The tribe eventually reunite an hour later, eating their meal of clams once again, all hoping that the next few days will find them an alternative food source.

Sook Jai
At the Sook Jai camp, the group sit around their poorly built shelter to speculate who they think may have gone home at the first tribal council.

The group decide to get on with some daily chores, knowing today is their day off without any challenges to keep them busy. Estan, Kanda and Rick go off to collect some wood, wanting to do so whilst the weather is dry. The other five members of camp stay behind to work on the shelter, which still hasn't been finished to an acceptable standard.

The tribe continue their day with a tense atmosphere, fixing their shelter and collecting supplies to make their camp life easier, although the lack of synergy between the team appears to be taking its toll.

Day 5
Challenge: Palanquin Square

Each tribe would have to pick one person to act as the guide, while the others would be blindfolded. The blindfolded tribe members would have to carry the guide in the palanquin. The guide would navigate them through a course. Along the way, they would find several stations with a tribal bag hanging from them. First tribe to have completed the course and collect their bags would win.

Reward: A lantern, fishing supplies, and a 30-meter fishing net.

Winner: Chuay Gahn

Chuay Gahn
Having just won the reward challenge, the Chuay Gahn tribe returns to camp ecstatic to have obtained a fishing net along with supplies, giving them an opportunity to leave their clam based diet. Julius, Vince and Aaron immediately begin setting the net up, wanting to waste no time before they begin catching new forms of protein.

As night falls, Vince and Julius go out to check the nets, they find three fish caught, much to the delight of the boys and the tribe. The group prepare the fish, and sit around to eat the uplifting meal, laughing over stories of their lives back home.

The group head to sleep after the meal, wanting to get adequate rest to face their next immunity challenge, feeling good about their chances after winning the reward challenge with ease against their rivals.

Sook Jai
After losing to Chuay Gahn in a crushing defeat, the Sook Jai tribe returns to camp even lower in moral than their previous day. Very little is said initially, with each member looking around at one another unsure how to talk the loss over without causing an argument.

The tribe thank Ricardo for taking control of the situation, agreeing to halt any potential further arguments from arising. Over the course of the day the group separate to fulfil their daily tasks. Phillip and Karen remain by the shelter to tend the fire, whilst the others go off into the jungle. Estan, Joan and Melissa go off in one direction, with Estan and Joan somewhat holding back so they can talk one on one.

Elsewhere, Ricardo, Kanda and Rick collect food for the tribe. Kanda asks Ricardo for his opinions about the tribes failing unity, to which he responds by telling her that it is something they'll have to work on, fearing that the group may fall apart if others can't bury the hatchet.

The group head back to camp, allowing Phillip and Karen to prepare dinner for the tribe. After another sombre day, the group go to bed in hope that the following day will offer a different result, and see the tribe avoid tribal for a second straight time.

Day 6
Both tribes receive tree mail giving the details of the second immunity challenge, with both tribes on edge; Chuay Gahn wanting to continue their new found victories, and Sook Jai wishing to get back to their original winning state.

Challenge: Floating Puzzle

Each tribe was given a giant floating Lotus flower puzzle, missing six pieces. The six pieces were tethered and floating at equal distance from the flower. The tribe members would have to swim, one at a time, to a missing piece, unlatch it, then swim back to attach it to their tribe's flower. First tribe to have successfully retrieved all six pieces and place them correctly on their flower would win..

Winner: Chuay Gahn

Information: Both tribes perform generally well in the challenge, with each tribe easily fulfilling their respective roles. Kanda acts as the slowest member of Sook Jai, whilst Rachel is the slowest for Chuay Gahn (although neither perform particularly badly). Ultimately, the challenge comes down to a matter of seconds, with Chuay Gahn fitting in their last puzzle piece a matter of seconds before Sook Jai, handing them their first immunity win.

Sook Jai
The eight members of Sook Jai return to camp, all holding back sadness and anger that one of them is about to become the second person voted out of the game. Ricardo leans over to friend Joan fast upon reaching their shelter, telling her they need to sort out a name. Joan turns and mimes "Karen", following Estan's recommended plan.

Ricardo and Joan manage to get Rick and Kanda down on the beach, trying to talk together in order to select Karen as their target. Back by the shelter, Estan suggests to Karen that they go to collect water, wanting to try and influence her vote, leaving Melissa and Phillip alone.

Down on the beach, Ricardo pitches to Rick and Kanda that they should vote out Karen, feeling that she doesn't contribute much and causes a lot of the tension in the group. Rick agrees with Ricardo, particularly after Joan reveals that it was Karen who complained about his behaviour. Kanda remains sceptical, claiming that she wants to vote with the majority, and isn't fussed who that is as long as they have the numbers.

The group notice Phillip walking towards them on the beach and quickly disperse. Rick and Kanda head towards Phillip, leaving Joan and Ricardo to go off back to camp. Phillip remains correctly suspicious, asking the pair what they were discussing. Rick comes clean immediately, informing Phillip of the plan to vote out Karen, stating he is going along with it.

Whilst collecting water, Estan and Karen make the agreement to stick together, and to vote off Rick after Estan convinced her it was the right thing to do. He claims that he can also get Melissa, Kanda and Phillip on board, feeling that Rick's behaviour has rubbed too many people the wrong way.

As tribal approaches, Estan makes it his mission to get in the ears of those he feels are free votes, pitching the case as to why Rick should be voted out from the tribe. Kanda and Phillip look distressed by this, worried to hear three names being thrown around at the first tribal council, unsure which group will end up being the majority. Estan speaks with Melissa, who talks through strategy with him for the first vote, weighing up the options of voting Joan or Rick, ignoring the possibility of voting for Karen like some others have suggested.

At tribal council Jeff asks the tribe how they went from winning in high spirits to two losses in a row, which Ricardo blames on poor tribe unity at camp, noting the fights between several individuals. Phillip mentions that tribal council is giving the group a chance to oust someone who is apart of the infighting, and that the vote will do everything to strengthen the tribe in days to come. Joan talks about her nerves in the vote, knowing that she will likely be getting votes due to her challenge performances. However, she notes that her performances haven't lowered morale, whilst those butting heads have. Melissa responds by claiming that Joan has caused the tribe to lose, which itself lowers morale, but accepts she isn't solely to blame. When asked who feels at risk, Rick tells Jeff that he has brought his things after hearing "a certain individual" has been throwing his name around, causing Karen to shift in her chair, knowing that he is referring to her. With the general consensus being that the vote will benefit the tribe for the future, Jeff wastes no more time in waiting, signalling Melissa to commence the vote. After Rick sits down as the final voter, Jeff goes to collect the urn, with everyone interested to see who will be the first person ousted from the tribe.

Joan nods in disappointment, having expected to be the one to leave. She hugs an equally upset Ricardo, before taking her torch over to Jeff. Rick and Karen both look equally uncomfortable, having received two votes each. Joan wishes the others luck after Jeff snuffs her torch, leaving gracefully from the tribal council area. The remaining seven head back to camp, hoping that despite the divided vote, that the tribe can finally work on uniting itself.