Maryland Outback Episode 8: Game Of Duos

Austin delivers the cake to the new Nehama tribe, and fireworks seem to be celebrating the merge as well. Chris T and Phil are finally reunited. Ryan is shocked by the string of Nehamis voted out, and is happy with his spot. Chris T's plan is to get all of Waka to the final 6. That would be quite a comeback. He doesn't anticipate anyone backstabbing him at least until Chris L and Steve are gone.

Chris L's covert operation

Chris L assures the few remaining Nehamis that he doesn't see this as tribe vs tribe anymore, it's a game of duos. Him and Steve, Phil and Chris T, Siona and Ryan...even Connor and Chandler seem to have gotten close. Chris L goes to Connor and Chandler with Steve to propose a secret alliance between the four of them, saying it'd work because they're all from different sides.

The immunity challenge is to spin around a pole and then navigate an obstacle course. Connor beats Chandler in the first match. Ryan then beats Xandria when she makes several mistakes. Nicole L wins against her namesake Nicole C. Phil narrowly edges out Steve, Chris L beats Chris T to take the last spot.

Steve and Phil go down to the wire

In the next round, Connor beats Nicole L. The other three face off at the same time, which Phil wins. Down to the last two, Connor takes a lead going into the block stacking, but Phil overtakes him and wins immunity.

The general consensus among the group is that a Xandria vote is the easiest option, since she's the least connected player. Chris T would rather vote out the bigger threat in Steve, but is met with some resistance, most surprisingly from Ryan. Nicole C is trying to get Nicole L out, which Chris L doesn't like. He discusses options with his new alliance - make a big move and take out Chris T, or go for Xandria and keep playing the middle a while longer.

At tribal council, Chandler is happy to have made the merge whilst Nicole C says it doesn't really change the game that much. Austin asks Steve why the Nehamis blew their numbers advantage and he says the Wakas they were with were strong players. Siona takes the compliment, but claims the Nehami slaughter was accidental. Yeah, right.

The vote is surprisingly split, with Xandria, Siona, Chris T and Ryan all voting Nicole L. Steve and Nicole L both vote Xandria. Chandler takes ages to vote. When the vote comes back, it's Xandria who leaves, which is a shock to Ryan. Well, we're at the halfway point now, and I think we have a strong final 10. Which faction will reign supreme?