Maryland Outback Episode 1: The Ringleader

The 20 contestants begin the battle to be sole survivor. After the initial banter ends, Holly and Steve become the team captains and select their tribes. The draft poses a few surprises - Rebecca did not expect to be picked so early, saying she's not athletic. Ashley thought she'd be picked sooner, but it appears she's already turning people off with her airhead personality. Ryan is last pick, so feels like he needs to prove himself right away. Holly loses control of her team to the boys.

HOLLY'S TRIBE: Phil, Rebecca, Josh, Katie, Chris T, Nicole C, Chandler, Siona, Ryan
STEVE'S TRIBE: Xandria, Chris L, Nicole L, Alex, Lauren, Brandon, Ashley, Connor, Karla

Ashley finds the challenge a drag

The first challenge is to grab a ring and bring it back to their side. Xandria beats Holly for the purple tribe to win the first point. Chandler evens it up by beating Brandon. Chris L then gets an easy point for purple with his speed. Phil and Katie overpower Alex and Ashley to make it 2-2. Connor and Nicole L then score for purple against Josh and Rebecca. Chris L then beats Chris T to score once again.

Holly and Katie take on Karla and Xandria for the next point, but it results in a tie. Connor and Alex get purple's fifth point with a win over Phil and Josh. Steve then gets a point for purple, but yellow come back into it with points from Josh and Chandler. Able to tie it up, Nicole C and Katie take on Steve and Karla. However, Steve wins the point and wins immunity for his tribe.

Lauren is happy to have won immunity, since she'd been told she would've gone home if they hadn't. But the final 2 alliance of Steve and Chris L have their own plans, and intend to get rid of Ashley first. Xandria attracts the ire of Holly after tackling her in the challenge.

Chandler "the puppet" weighs his options

On the Waka tribe, a final 3 alliance forms between Phil, Chris T and Josh. Rebecca and Holly agree to team up with the boys, but there already seems to be mutual distrust building between Rebecca and Chris T. High on their hitlist are Ryan and Siona, who both sat out of the challenge. Rebecca and Holly form a secret alliance with Chandler and Katie, with Rebecca making it known she thinks Chris T is running the show. Chandler however decides to stick with the guys.

Chris L and Steve expand their alliances further by forming the "Fantastic Five" with Alex, Brandon and Xandria. Chris L is even making contact with Ryan on the other tribe to try and get Chris T voted out, in order to weaken the opposition.

Ryan and Siona work to save themselves by talking with Nicole C. Ryan then tries to convince Holly and Katie to vote off Rebecca, but they don't go for it. Holly and Chandler find themselves in alliances with everyone, and decide to vote off Siona to keep most of them happy.

Right before tribal council, things get crazy when Chris T hears a rumour that Holly is plotting against him. In the end, Rebecca is voted off 8-2, blindsiding both Rebecca and Holly. There's no love lost between Rebecca and Chris T, who calls him out as she gets her torch snuffed. Can Waka rebound from this defunction? Guess we'll see.