No Man Left Behind (S45: Episode 3)

🗣️🗣️WHO!!??🗣️🗣️ LULU!!!🗣️🗣️ WHO!!??🗣️🗣️ LULU!!!

Episode 3 brought us a glimmer of hope for the “Lululosers", but unfortunately their fate remained the same :( Let’s look at the key moments:

• Dee and Julie catch Austin and Drew looking for the idol. The guys lie and say it's because they saw Sifu snooping in that area, but Dee knows they’re hiding something. Austin eventually tells them a sorta true version of the story of his Beware Advantage in an effort to mend things.

• Austin, Drew, Julie, and Dee then work together to search for the idol. They end up finding a hammer with a clue on it that leads them to smashing a rock at the water well, and ultimately finding Austin’s idol. (Do you guys think Dee made the right call giving the hammer to Austin or you think she should have kept it and found the idol herself?)

• Lulu finally wins a challenge, proving that voting out Brandon did make the tribe stronger. But sadly for them, it was just a reward challenge.

• As part of the reward, Kaleb gets to head to Reba’s camp to steal their fishing gear and suss out the social dynamics. While there, he gives the Goodwill Advantage to Drew. (Anyone else feel like Drew’s reaction was kinda weird/underwhelming?)

• Lulu loses the immunity challenge (again), and Sabiyah quickly starts targeting Kaleb. Emily could have easily jumped on the bandwagon as the person at the “bottom” of the tribe, but she decides to lean into the most trusting connection she has on the beach, Kaleb. Props to Emily for going from the absolute bottom of the tribe to essentially being the person who determined the outcome of Tribal Council this week. I just know the producers are l-i-v-i-n-g for this story arc.

• Sabiyah is able to regain her vote by melting her hidden immunity idol in the fire at Tribal Council, but she still chooses to sacrifice her vote in order to give her idol power for future tribals. Had she voted, there would have been a tie between Kaleb and Sabiyah and who knows what would have happened?! (Anyone else feel like Sabiyah should have had a better pulse on the fact that Emily’s loyalty would ultimately lie with Kaleb when it came down to it?)

Sadly, we say goodbye early to a fan-favorite, Sabiyah.

Let’s check out the league!

Sabiyah is leaving her tribes with a lovely parting gift of 37 points. That is 18 more points than Austin, who had the second highest sum of points, so there was a pretty big point gap amongst the castaways this episode! What’s this mean for Vukelulu? WELL every person in the top 10 this week had Sabiyah actively on their tribe (with the exception of Nolan who had her as his merge bonus).

SEVEN people lost their Sole Survivor - Adam, Connor, Coachjuju, Cousin Lori, Jill, Joyce, and Sam. Plus let’s pour some out for Emily F., Jill, Joyce, and Cousin Lori who are now left with only 3 tribe members after just three episodes. Never fear though, the season is YOUNG and there’s a whole lotta game left to play.

Based on previews, it looks like we’re gearing up for a TRIBE SWAP so get ready for an exciting and presumably messy Episode 4!

Signing Off,

Tribemasters Liv + Brian