Malcolm and Angie continued to snuggle after Roxy was voted off and Russell felt very vulnerable since there were only 4 people left in his tribe. Denise and Malcolm seemed to strengthen their secrete couple alliance despite the presence of the beautiful Angie. Jeff Kent realized that the Rice box looked different and then came to the conclusion that Jonathan found the idol. He told the rest of the tribe and they planned to try and blindside Jonathan if they got the opportunity. Lisa from the Facts of Life made an alliance with Pete after Pete made sure Lisa was willing to vote off veteran Michael.  RC and Abi continued to get into verbal fights mostly because Abi is a fucking lunatic and RC looks great in a bikini.

The tribes headed for another immunity/reward challenge. The challenge was another relay race with a puzzle at the end. The tribes had to dive to different depths to release 8 puzzle pieces. Angie struggled with the 2 foot deep piece and Matsing instantly was way behind. Russell also struggled throughout the challenge and at one point had to come back empty handed because the puzzle piece was too deep for him to retrieve. Michael continued his clumsy ways by breaking the diving mask and bloodying his face. The fact that he has not gotten a terrible infection may prove that the show is entirely shot on a stage in Hollywood.

Tandang’s RC and Matsing’s Denise proved to be the physically strongest women in the game, but Kalabaw was first to start the puzzle. Matsing was able to close the gap a bit, but they again finished last and would go to tribal. Kalabaw continued their winning streak and won immunity and the reward of a giant fishing kit with a canoe. Tandang came in second so they also won immunity. Tandang received a smaller fishing kit.

Jonathan decided to talk to Jeff Kent to tell him he found the idol. He used the fact that he gave up the information as a way to try and create an alliance with Jeff. Jeff told Jonathan he was in for the alliance, but he later told the camera that he gave Jon a 4-finger handshake. Jeff said 4 finger handshakes didn’t count in his book and for us to ask Barry Bonds (ok he didn’t mention Bonds by name).

Despite the immunity, Tandang was upset that they didn’t win the challenge and the top reward. Artis was most upset with Michale Skupin’s crazy, reckless ways. Abi and Pete went to look for the idol and found it together. Abi was extra obnoxious about how smart she is.

The dwindling Matsing tribe contemplated whom to send home. Malcolm complained about the team he was stuck with. Angie tried to make her case to Denise and Malcolm, while Russell didn’t try and make any desperate pitch. Russell did decide to turn to prayer, but he kept it all in English, unlike recently voted off Roxy.

At tribal council Angie immediately attacked Russell for quitting, but that was not true. He made a smart decision to come back empty handed during the challenge to better his team’s chances of winning. Russell then eloquently defended himself, while also attacking Angie. Angie broke down after Russell’s speech and that weakness might have sealed her fate. Angie was voted off by a vote of 3-1 and I think the Matsing tribe made the right decision for survival. I will miss two things about Angie.

I think this format is proving to be problematic. With one tribe so decimated, it makes the dynamics of the game weird. Also, an immunity idol is always big, but in a tribe of just 6 people its importance is amplified. I think a merger may be coming fairly soon, after one more elimination maybe?