Something to be Thankful For

Plot
The episode opens up with Team Friendship in first class for the first time. It's extremely early in the morning, but Chris had a wake-up call throughout the jumbo jet to make sure everyone was awake to enjoy the holiday. It’s Thanksgiving, and first class is milling with interns dressed as pilgrims and turkeys.

Myra (CONF): Oh how princess Myra has missed first class

Annie (CONF): Alright hi everyone so I literally never want to go back to economy class

Myra, Ryan and Annie are sitting at the mini-bar, enjoying smoothies and talking about the past few challenges. Myra says this season has been ridiculously harder than season one, so is scared to see what’s coming next.

Ryan (CONF): I feel like I always forget that Myra competed last season...that's honestly super dangerous because she made it far

Karthik, Gianna, Nico and Sibu sit in one set of chairs, laughing about something that happened at Blackout Night. Clayton, who is sitting in the next set of chairs with Miller, Kelsey and Dan, is concerned.

Clayton (CONF): Look I love those guys, but one of them has to go or they're going to become too strong of a voting block

He tells Miller, Kelsey and Dan that they're going to have to watch their backs or risk having the numbers turn against them.

Back at the other set of chairs, Sibu laughs and tells a story about throwing up outside the Sydney Opera House.

Sibu (CONF): This game is honestly so much fun

Karthik laughs along and says he stole 10 chicken tenders when they had to re-board the jumbo jet, and Gianna adds that she did as well. Clayton watches warily as Nico joins in on the laughter.

Frances is napping on the couch, which everyone is happy with, as she is still upset that she got a vote after the singing challenge and continues to obsessively try and figure out who it was.

Alex, Izzy, Dani, Nick, Beyla and Zach are eating at the mess hall with Wilson, Kirk, Ranjitha, Sofia and Yuri. The eleven are laughing about how crazy the game as been, trading stories like when Yuri peed on himself and Kirk in Dublin when they were encircled in branches in the “evil” forest and Izzy getting too drunk in San Marino and puking out the window of the castle and into the ocean. Duncan, Suzanne, Phillippa and Ani join, and the fifteen enjoy getting to spend time with the other teams.

Suzanne (CONF): It's times like these that make me love the game

Dani adds that she thinks she peed her pants a little too when the were rising into the fake hunger games to which everyone laughs and Ani adds that she absolutely hated that challenge. Duncan begins telling a story about secretly crying from fear in the mines during the horror scavenger hunt as the scene transitions to economy class.

In economy class, Paige and Rourke talk about how lucky they are they have the most remaining members left. Further down on the bench, Hank is still talking with Abbey about taking out Rourke next. Abbey agrees saying she loves having him around, and he makes the game a ton of fun, but without him the other alliance would fall apart. Despite this, the concern in her voice is clear.

Hank (CONF): Look I get why Abbey is hesitant, but we gotta make some moves fast

Colby sits with Rice, who starts telling him that Nick is starting to get suspicious of being on the outs of the politics of their team. Colby says that's ok, because the numbers are overwhelmingly against him, but Rice says they are still better off with him not knowing in case he can get people who feel like they're on the bottom to flip.

Rice (CONF): I just feel like this game can change at any moment and this information needs to be kept secret for as long as possible

Helina is sitting with Archer, and the two are joking at first but eventually Archer admits that he, Sofia and Sammi voted out Cleo as payback for them voting out Leigh back in San Marino.

Helina (CONF): I guess he has a point, and it wasn’t me so…

Helina forgives him, and tells him she officially wants to make an alliance of six: the two of them, Fiona, Ranjitha, Sofia and Sammi. She then suggests they add Patrick and Yuri to create an advantage of eight and make it their top priority to vote out either Kirk, Wilson or Townes. Archer agrees, and the two high-five. He and Sammi get up to go to the mess hall, and Fiona comes and sits down, asking her if she actually forgives him that quickly. Helina says she doesn’t, but they need the numbers right now.

Chris announces over the intercom for everyone to meet in the mess hall. The scene flashes to everyone sitting at the tables, as Chris and Chef walk out in pilgrim clothes. Chef dawns a pilgrim-like dress that he doesn’t seem extremely happy about. Chris wishes them a happy thanksgiving, and tells them that their challenge is going to be where it all began…Plymouth Rock.

Myra (CONF): Honestly as long as we're not turkey racing this year, I'll be fine - that was terrifying last year I hate birds

Before the contestants can act much further, Chef busts open the door, and the contestants get sucked out the side of the plane. As they fall over Plymouth, Massachusetts, they get to see the trees in full color-change, with vibrant reds, oranges and yellows surrounding them as they drop into the preserved pilgrim village by the water, next to a replica of the Mayflower.

Chris announces that they are going to start off this Thanksgiving the same way they did the last – a feast. He steps aside to reveal a giant table big enough for all 52 of them filled with turkey, stuffing, noodles, cauliflower and many more delicious Thanksgiving dishes. As people sit down, they immediately begin digging into the food, but Alex, Sam and Myra know better.

Alex (CONF): There are definitely gonna be idols in here…and I want one

Immediately, Alex bites on something hard, and pulls it out of his mouth. It’s Chris’s head carved out of wood. Chris congratulates Alex on finding the first of six individual immunities hidden within the feast. Another cheer is heard when Gianna triumphantly holds up a little figurine.

Gianna (CONF): Hell yeah, immunity from eating this is literally my dream come true

People go from eating for enjoyment, to competitively shoveling food into their mouth. Also, without really noticing, Ian from season one appears among the competitors, also eating.

Ian (CONF): I'm back baby

Alex, who begins leisurely eating now that he is immune, is the first to notice. He is confused at first, but then excited, running over to see his friend. Myra and Sam still have all of their attention focused on food, determined to find an idol.

Another member of Team Glory sighs with relief, as Izzy pulls an idol out of a bowl of noodles.

Izzy (CONF): *kissing the idol* Thank you thank you thank you

Hank, who always eats quickly and profusely, is the next to find one. Sam, thanks to his head start, similarly gets one. Him and Alex grin at each other, which causes him to notice Ian. He also runs over to greet him. The last person safe is Ranjitha, who yells "hype" when finding an idol in her mashed potatoes.

Ranjitha (CONF): Your girl is *whips* safe

Chris announces that Alex, Gianna, Izzy, Hank, Sam and Ranjitha are safe from tonight's barfbag ceremony.

But he adds a twist.

Patrick (CONF): I just actually hate when he "adds a twist"

He says that those holding idols from the team that comes in first, can give them to whoever they want on the team that comes in last. He also formally acknowledges the day’s visitor – Ian. Myra finally also runs over and hugs him, and the rest of the feast everyone talks to Ian and he asks how the game is going.

As they finish up their feast, Chris begins to explain the day’s challenge. He tells them that while Squanto is known for helping the pilgrims grow corn, he also taught them something equally important – how to catch eels. Chris also says for the purpose of the challenge, he added this own twist to history – these were electric eels. This causes everyone to groan. He announces that their challenge will be one by one to run onto the replica mayflower and dive over into the water, trying to grab an eel. Then, they have to run back up and try to find one of the twenty-five tanks hidden around the pilgrim village – in the woods, in the log cabins, on the Mayflower replica and more. But the twist is the eel will be electrocuting them the whole time.

Fiona (CONF): Ok this is straight-up sadistic

Dan (CONF): He can’t be fucking serious

He says that if they can’t find a tank within one minute, or they can’t handle the pain anymore, they lose a point for their team, and an intern or Ian will be ready to return the eel to the ocean. As Ian is saying "wait wha-", Chris cuts him off and continues, saying that whichever team has the least when all the tanks are full will be sending someone home – and he adds that no one wants to go home on a holiday.

*flashback to Clay running through Dublin during Halloween with Alex, Kathryn and Colby*

Kathryn (CONF): Alright Chris that dig at Clay felt unnecessary

The scene flashes to everyone in his or her swimsuit, stretching and nervous about the painful challenge. As turkeys, interns dressed as pilgrims and others roam around the village, everyone lines up, ready to roll. Chris yells "Go!", and immediately Zach, Mary, Grant and Annie run toward the Mayflower. Zach is the first to the tip of the boat and dives off, grabbing an eel almost immediately. Right when he gets out of the water, his countdown begins.

Zach (CONF): This is horrible

Grant and Mary aren’t too far behind, but Annie is having difficulty diving down far enough to grab an eel.

Annie (CONF): This is horrible

Suddenly, a scream is heard from one of the log cabins in the village. Alex, Kirsten and Colby run in to see Zach on the ground, occasionally still being electrocuted from the leftover electricity in his body, and the eel on the ground a few feet away from him. Alex pokes his head out and yells for the next member to go, prompting Dani to make a dash for the Mayflower. Suddenly, a cheer is heard. Duncan and Matt are hugging Mary, who made it to one of the tanks in one of the cabins. She too; however, is still clearly in pain, but Chris just seems amused.

Kelsey (CONF): Ok not gonna lie Chris is starting to scare me a little…

Mary (CONF): *occasionally twitching from electric shocks* I love you mom *zzt*, can you please pass the *zzt* potatoes *passes out*

Eventually, Annie gives up and swims back to shore, putting Team Friendship behind as Grant successfully finds a tank in the Mayflower and Dani finds one behind one of the cabins.

Grant (CONF): *also occasionally getting aftershocks* Oh come on that wasn't that ba- *passes out*

Hank is already diving into the water as Grant tags off with Archer, Dani tags off with Alex and Annie tags off with Kelsey. The three run toward the boat, catching up to Hank who isn’t incredibly fond of heights, and the four dive off at the same time.

Alex and Kelsey smirk at each other as they both resurface with eels, but that quickly changes as they both are electrocuted. The two bolt for the shore, with Hank and Archer not too far behind. Alex, having seen a tank when checking on Zach, bolts toward a cabin while Kelsey loops back around onto the ship.

Archer (CONF): This just honestly feels like it's can't really be legal?

In the meantime, Clayton, among others, is asking Annie why she gave up but she replies saying it is a lot harder than it looks. Suddenly, two cheers are heard as Alex, still writhing in pain, and Kelsey, still being electrocuted, both secure tanks, Alex's in one of the cabins and Kelsey's in the captain's quarters of the ship.

Clayton (CONF): Come on we know it's hard but you can’t give up on things like this

Alex tags Beyla and Kelsey tags Miller and the two head out just as Archer and Hank are returning. Neither of them, however, make it to a tank, with Archer giving in to the pain and Hank unable to find one within the time limit. The two tag off Patrick and Erica respectively and head for the make-shift infirmary that was set up, occupied by Alex, Kelsey, Zach, Mary, Dani and Grant shivering and still being electrocuted every so often.

Mary (CONF): This is just the worst

Grant (CONF): The worst

The scene shifts to Erica, unable to take the electric shocking, tossing the eel through the window of one of the cabins and coincidentally having it land in one of the tanks.

Erica (CONF): Huh...honestly I'll take it

Hank and Mary cheer from the infirmary as Erica joins them.

It also shows Miller on the ground, his eel next to him, unable to make it to the tank in time.

Miller (CONF): Fuck this

A montage follows of Ani, Kirk, Kirsten and Gianna running and diving over the side of the ship, Nick, Ranjitha, Nico and Phillippa swimming around looking for eels, and Vani, Rice, Yuri and Sibu running onto shore, eels in hand. It then shows Hailey screaming as she drops hers into a tank, Helina slamming hers into one with only two seconds on her clock, Dan with his hands in the air next to a tank with his eel in it but then getting shocked, and Garrett successfully throwing his into a nearby tank in the woods.

After that it shows a montage of failures, with Izzy on the ground, giving up, Clayton turning the corner into a cabin and spotting a tank just as time hits zero, Abbey finding one in a makeshift teepee but the shocks cause her to trip and take the teepee down with her and Townes dropping the eel onto the ground, unable to take the electricity. The montage ends with Wilson slamming one into a tank, causing Chris to blow the air horn indicating the challenge is over.

The scene flashes to all four teams gathered around Chris, Chef and Ian, still in their swimsuits and most of them suffering electric shocks. Chris asks if they had fun in today’s challenge, which earns him some groans and glares. He says he’s proud of some of them, and disappointed in others. He then says that the winning team, with a whopping nine eels, is…

Team Glory!

Alex runs over and hugs Ian, causing both of them to get shocked, and the members of Team Glory hug and cheer, excited that the electric shocks weren’t for nothing.

Kirsten (CONF): I just would be so pissed if I were on one of the other teams

In second place, with seven, came...

Team Waka…again!

They similarly cheer, just excited to be safe from elimination. He then says the bottom two were only one eel apart, one team with five and the other with four, and the team that came in last was…

Team Friendship.

The members of Team Booty sigh with relief, with Yuri scooping up Helina and Fiona jokingly dancing. He reminds Alex and Izzy that they have the option of giving their little idols to whoever they want on Team Friendship, and reminds Team Friendship that Gianna is already safe from the night’s vote.

At dinner, which is all leftovers from the huge Thanksgiving meal from earlier, most of the competitors are talking about how scared they were for the upcoming challenges, given how intense the past ones have been and the season is still just beginning.

*flashback to Miller sweating as he climbs up the cliff, the contestants rising into the arena in the hunger games challenge, Paige and Kirk climbing the volcano in Hawaii, Vani being dragged away by a grim-reaper figure in Dublin and Hank vomiting from the gross food on top of the mountain in Norway*

Alex and Izzy are discussing who they should give idols to. Izzy says she noticed that Annie did poorly in the challenge, but likes her and wants to protect her. He agrees, but asks to who they should give the other one to. She tells him he should just to protect someone who could be an ally down the road. He decides to eavesdrop as Team Friendship is broken up at different tables discussing elimination.

Clayton is at one table with his alliance, and they talk about voting out either Annie or Frances, the latter for being a strategic threat in the enemy alliance and getting on everyone’s nerves for frequently trying to figure out who voted for her.

Clayton (CONF): Preferably Frances, nothing against her but that's another counselor out and a dangerous player

Gianna is talking with Karthik and Myra, and three are also talking about voting for Frances, for a similar reason.

Karthik (CONF): Frances, you know I love you, but this is getting to be a lot

Gianna (CONF): Bye!

In the meantime, Frances talks with Miller and Dan about going after Kelsey or Clayton for being such big threats. They nod, but Dan isn't paying attention, not really intending on working with her.

Alex talks through his options with Rice, Colby and Dani as the scene fades into the elimination ceremony.

~*Elimination Ceremony*~

Chris appears holding a plate with eleven barfbags on it, but this time he is also with Alex and Izzy. He gives everyone the elimination spiel, but says before they go vote, he has to ask the two Glory members if they are protecting anyone. Izzy says she wants to give hers to…

Annie.

Clayton mouths “plan B” to his alliance, which Annie catches.

Annie (CONF): Ok wow could you have made that a little more obvious

Alex gives his to…

Frances.

Clayton verbally curses, causing Frances to shoot a look his way. Chris says he is excited to see what’s going to happen, and it’s time to vote. Even as people go up one by one, there are whispers among the contestants about the plan.

<font color="mediumpurple">Clayton (CONF): Fuck, the two people we were thinking of voting, and we already can’t vote Gianna…

<font color="mediumpurple">Nico (CONF): I know you’re a part of the alliance, but I gotta to protect my friends…*stamps Kelsey’s passport*

<font color="mediumpurple">Miller (CONF): Sorry man it’s nothing personal but I think this is what Clayton wants?

<font color="mediumpurple">Frances (CONF): Don’t think I didn’t catch that curse word, at least I know who that one vote was from…*stamps Clayton’s passport aggressively*

<font color="mediumpurple">Karthik (CONF): *holding up two passports* Ah I honestly don't know

<font color="mediumpurple">Kelsey (CONF): Shit

Chris begins calling out those safe from elimination, starting with those with idols…

Gianna. Annie. Frances.

All three girls are excited to have avoided elimination, with Frances running up and hugging Alex, before shooting Clayton a dirty look. Annie and Frances both look especially relieved, knowing it probably would have been one of them voted out.

Sibu. Myra. Miller.

More excited exchanges. With all the chaos surrounding the idol, the nervous energy in the room is so tangible it could be cut with a knife. Ian sits next to Chris, totally invested in the results even though Myra, the only person he knows and is friends with on the team, is already safe.

<font color="mediumpurple">Sibu (CONF): *stamps Kelsey's passport and shrugs at the camera*

Nico. Dan. Ryan.

Dan hugs Nico and Ryan runs over to hug Myra.

<font color="mediumpurple">Dan (CONF): *stamps unknown passport* Sorry dude but I was kind of out of options

Chris tells Clayton, Kelsey and Karthik that all three of them got votes, but the person escaping the bottom two is…

Clayton.

He sighs loudly. Kelsey and Karthik both look extremely shocked, both expecting to be the person safe from the bottom two. Chris announces that this was a close one, but the final barfbag full of airline-issued peanuts goes to…

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Kelsey.

Karthik looks shocked. He turns to Clayton and asks why, but he just says he had to take out someone from an opposing alliance. Frances gasps, but he comments that everyone knows the line is drawn in the sand. Chris giggles at the drama. Kelsey on the other hand is shaking, extremely excited she survived the bottom two. Gianna, Frances, Nico and Sibu hug Karthik, before he shoots Clayton a dirty look and jumps out the Drop of Shame.

<font color="mediumpurple">Karthik (CONF): This is bullshit, I thought Clayton had my back and I wasn’t going to be a part of this purge against CK people but I guess I was wrong…man this sucks

<font color="mediumpurple">Kelsey (CONF): That was horrifying, I think it’s time for me to step up my game

Team Friendship returns to the other three teams, all hanging out in the common area and eating leftovers, with no party that night so they can fully commemorate the holiday. Sofia curses when she sees Karthik is no longer with them.

Sofia (CONF): Ok it's time we start taking action

Alex, Ian, Ranjitha, Kelsey, Erica, Nico, Nick, Hank and Gianna dig into some leftover turkey as Phillippa, Vani, Suzanne, Paige, Helina, Izzy, Clayton, Fiona, Yuri, Patrick, Brian and Rourke watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Rourke provides snide commentary that makes people laugh. Sammi is watching clouds go by with Zach and Kathryn, and Myra is showing Ryan, Rice, Kirk, Ani and Abbey how to make turkeys by outlining your hands.

Townes and Wilson are talking about the history behind Thanksgiving and common misconceptions with Grant, Garrett, and Matt and Colby is getting to know Hailey, Dani, Miller and Eli better over some more of the leftovers, given they are all allies.

Frances is stressed out, and is already talking to Sibu about how to eliminate Clayton. Sibu, however, is only half-listening, and more so watching the parade. Sam is telling Duncan, Mary, Beyla and Sofia how the atmosphere is a lot better but it’s been strategically harder this year already, pointing out that now they are at how many contestants started in Season One – 51. They all gasp at the odd concept. Beyla also asks questions about how weird it was to play with people from their high school, as Beyla went to the same one, and he tells stories about being on a team with Channing, running through the redwood forest with Caroline, the drama with Camila on Easter Island and more as the others listen on.

Dan and Kirsten join the parade-watching and cuddle up again, to everyone’s suspicion. The scene fades to black as everyone goes to join the movie, and begin talking about how hard the day’s challenge was and wondering what was coming next.