All-Stars Episode 9 & 10: Our Country And Our Sate

Chris T knows he's on the bottom, but he has been the whole game so this is nothing new. Chris L tells Evan that Jordan is playing both sides. The trio are worried about being targets now and feel that sticking together might not be their best move, though Micah thinks he might go the furthest as he's the least threatening. Jordan is trying to make it up to Shannon after admitting his secret partner lie. Chris T finally finds out Victoria is his partner when Jordan brings them together for an alliance.

The stage is set for the biggest merge yet

The merge is announced, and Holli finds an idol clue in the buffs. The only problem is Shannon sees her grab it. The immunity challenge is to memorize symbols. Eric is first out, not even making it past the first round. Evan and Shannon go next. Holli switches too late and is eliminated. The third round eliminates Chris L and Jordan, then Victoria and Foluke. Chris T, Micah and Ashley contest the final round. Chris T is then out. Micah wins immunity over Ashley (good showing though), and gets to give somebody an idol clue, for which he chooses Evan.

Evan and Micah are looking for the idol, with Holli and Chris L also doing the same off their clue. Alex is hoping to latch onto Evan and Micah, who are also talking to Eric. Chris T is making new connections too, such as an unlikely alliance with Foluke.

Partners not on the same page

Holli wants to make a big move and go for Shannon, since the partner twist is still an elephant in the room. Chris L is resistant, but eventually gives his blessing. Holli gets to work on spearheading the blindside, but Chris L has other ideas and decides to side with Shannon. After learning Holli was after her, Shannon rallies numbers against Holli. Foluke lets Holli know she's going home, and now she's rightfully livid at Chris L.

But when Micah and Evan find out Shannon has been giving out the clue, they decide they need to weaken her by going after Foluke. Alex, Jordan and Victoria are the the votes they need, and they decide to bring in Holli as their 6th vote since she's desperate to stay. Chris L finds out about it and isn't happy, hoping for Victoria instead. The target then switches again when Jordan sees an opportunity to get Chris L out, with Evan and Micah's help. But even right up to the last minute, there seems to be a lot of confusion as to whether the plan is going to go through.

At tribal council, Chris L talks about how All-Stars is a whole other level from his first season. Jordan says things have changed 100 times today. Micah jokes (?) about putting a target on Evan's back with the idol clue. Holli says the partner twist impacted her game a lot at first, but now she sees that's not smart. Holli and Shannon reveal they are targeting eachother, though not by choice on Shannon's part.

Shannon votes for Holli, wondering if she's the only one. There are 2 others, but the majority goes to Foluke. In her final words, she admits she wasn't playing as hard as everyone else but wishes and Holli and Alex (of all people) luck. It seems like Foluke's return will go down as little more than a brief cameo now, her story never really getting off the ground, but she still commanded the screen for every second she was on it.

"There's no trio anymore"

Shannon is pissed that she was out of the loop and has no allies she can count on, with only Chris T willing to fill her in. Chris L tells Jordan he heard there was a plan to put votes on him, and he admits to it. However Jordan voting for Holli does buy him some trust with Shannon, who now wants a final 2 with him. Alex is stepping up his game, trying to get Chris L out, as he happens to be basically the only player he doesn't talk to. A secret 5 of Jordan, Shannon, Chris T, Victoria and Alex begins to form and is ready to take over the game. Evan gives Jordan a fake idol clue to get him off his back, but leaves in a typo that kinda gives the game away.

Like a real-life game of Mario Kart

The immunity challenge has everyone popping eachother's balloons. It starts a little cagey, though Micah pops Victoria first. Victoria is out quickly, and Eric also loses one. Holli is next to lose one and Shannon takes one from Chris L, which is a big surprise to him. Eric, Chris L, Micah and Evan all go for Jordan, but can't get him. Jordan gets hit in the nuts, loses a balloon, but is able to take out Chris L. Evan knocks out Holli, Micah knocks out Ashley. Eric stomps Jordan's last balloon. Chris T takes out Shannon just before she gets him. Alex is out next. Evan gets Chris T, allowing him and Micah to team up on Eric. Micah steps out of bounds, eliminating himself, but Evan is still able to outlast Eric, winning immunity. He pays Micah back with an idol clue.

Jordan makes an analogy about how him and Chris L are the mafia bosses and Evan and Micah are the dirty cops playing both sides. The two of them are so confident they're in the middle they even tell Chris T they're willing to let him make the decision between them...right in front of Jordan. Chris L and Jordan talk about coming together and getting Micah out. Chris L and Eric tip Evan off about the vote, but then Evan is able to flip him to vote Jordan or Victoria instead. Jordan suspects he is the target and lets Chris L know he doesn't buy his bullshit.

Shannon gets annoyed with Chris L after hearing he's been spreading rumours about her hooking up with Chris T. Jordan then has to hide whilst Shannon talks with Alex. Jordan is hopeful the split vote will backfire and he'll be able to get Chris L out, but he's not sure what will happen, and neither is Chris L. Shannon assures her 5 that they're together and the ones deciding it tonight.

At tribal council, Shannon talks about how Evan and Micah broke her trust on the last vote. Jordan says him and Victoria have the whole tribe against them. Ashley claims Jordan has been very aggressive and that's why he's in the position he is. Chris L says it's been hard to separate the game from his personal friendships. Jordan pitches to stay by downplaying his threat level and pointing out there'll just be other targets once he's gone.

After the vote, Jordan stands up and reveals two idols...one real and one fake. He plays an idol, and cancels several votes against him. Victoria votes come up, but 5 for Chris L send him out of the game. A teary Chris L says he respects the move, but is clearly hurt by Shannon in particular voting for him. Another pair down, a power player taking the hit and the Sohcahtrio split. With two clear sides forming, which one will come out on top?