The Circle of Life

Plot
The episode opens with Ranjitha sitting in a set of chairs with Alex, Duncan and Nico. She is trying to avoid Helina’s angry glances.

Ranjitha (CONF): Ugh...I need to do something about this, soon

The four are laughing and sharing stories from the night before, Temple having been absolutely insane.

Nico (CONF): Never thought I’d have that much fun at a pride but hey…that was a good time

Nico talks about how he got hit on by a guy but it was ok because it got him free drinks, Alex talks about sneaking into the VIP section and Duncan laughs that they played a remix of "Breaking Free" from High School Musical.

Helina sits with Vani on the couch, the two girls eying Ranjitha hanging out with the boys. She asks Vani if she thinks Ranjitha is drifting away, to which Vani nervously tells her she's overthinking it. Helina seems suspicious, and calls Ranjitha over to hang out.

When Ranjitha leaves, Nico tells Alex and Duncan about Townes’ proposal to him and Clayton in economy class, and while he doesn’t plan on doing anything about it, he kind of has a good point – Clayton is a very dominant physical threat, and not someone anyone would want to face off against in the final.

Duncan (CONF): After seeing last season’s insane final in Namibia, the thought of going head-to-head with Clayton is a scary one

Alex argues they need to make sure they get rid of Townes and Helina first, but Duncan says he’s not sure as the scene shifts to economy class.

Colby is sitting with Annie, and tells her how weird it is to no longer have Miller there with them.

Annie (CONF): Something worries me about the last elimination ceremony

Colby (CONF): *sighs* It’s gonna be harder without him around…did I make the right decision?

Townes sits with Rourke, and Townes fills him in on his plan to attempt to get the physical players to band together and take the target off the two of them. Rourke is hesitant, given his game is more social and less physical.

Rourke (CONF): Hm Townes that sounds like it would help…you? Not sure where that puts me

In the mess hall, Abbey and Clayton sit and eat. Abbey tells him that they need to stick together, as the “Returning Player” label is going to become a problem soon. Clayton tells her that he’s honestly not sure he can trust her.

Clayton (CONF): I mean come on – Garrett, Mary, Lauren, Miller…why the hell would I believe you now?

Abbey (CONF): Those were dangerous players we needed out of the game, like jeez move on

A few tables down, Beyla and Sofia eat together. Sofia comments about how empty it feels.

Sofia (CONF): There are so many empty tables…I mean fourteen of us left? Of sixty-four? This is insane

Beyla agrees, and says they need to stand strong as an alliance as the numbers dwindle or risk being on the wrong end of a blindside.

The plane lands in northern Tanzania on the Serengeti, and Chris stands there in a full safari costume. Chef stands nearby, dressed as a cheetah and rolling his eyes. Chris says today’s challenge is going to be a harder variation of this challenge from the last season –

*flashback to Lizzie, Kacvinsky, Sydney, Nupur and Caelan all hit by tranquilizer balls*

Also with him is a large rectangular object under a tarp. Chris rips off the tarp to reveal a giant cage.

Duncan (CONF): This absolutely cannot be good

He has a bowl with little wooden slates in it, like the ones from the treasure hunt challenge, and says each contestant will be assigned an animal native to the Serengeti to capture and bring to this cage. The first three to finish win immunity, while the other eleven risk having made it this far only to have their dreams tragically ripped from them. Vani rolls her eyes.

He goes around and they begin to pick.

Alex has a gazelle on his card.

Alex (CONF): That can’t be too bad right?

Helina gets a hyena.

Helina (CONF): *groaning* Why me

Ranjitha pulls a card that has Chef’s face on it. Chef looks at Chris confused, and Chris smirks, saying he better start running. Chef curses under his breath and makes a break into the wilds. A montage of picking shows Duncan getting a lion, Annie getting a buffalo, Vani getting a giraffe and Townes getting a leopard.

Abbey gets a waterbuck.

Abbey (CONF): I’m sorry a what now?

And Sofia gets a warthog.

Sofia (CONF): Alright pumba you’re going down

Clayton draws a card with a picture of a wildebeest on it, Beyla gets an elephant and Nico gets a zebra.

Duncan (CONF): So Nico has to get a zebra and I have to get a fucking lion?

Finally, Colby draws a flamingo and Rourke gets a crocodile.

Rourke (CONF): A flamingo? That’s a joke right? I have to go full throttle Steve Irwin and Colby has to get a pink bird that stands on one leg?

He hands all of them slingshots and seven tranquilizer balls each. He says to use them wisely, because they won’t get any more unless they swipe them from one another.

Chris yells "Go!" and the challenge is on. Everyone takes off in different directions onto the vast plains. Given they’re in the middle of the Great Migration season, animals are everywhere. Nico immediately spots a huge herd of zebra and chases them down. He fires two balls, missing both.

Nico (CONF): Hm…

As he loads up a third the herd sharply turns and charges him. He curses and makes a run for it.

Colby slowly approaches a pond where a group of flamingo sit. He readies his slingshot when a flamingo looks at him, laughs, and the flock takes off into the sky.

Colby (CONF): Did that flamingo just taunt me?

Alex and Abbey plan to work together, given their animals are somewhat similar. They both slowly approach one of each, and the gazelle turns and prances off, forcing Alex to split from Abbey and chase it, while the waterbuck charges and Abbey makes a run for it.

Abbey (CONF): I’m not sure I’m a huge fan of this waterbuck creature

Helina finds Ranjitha hiding in the bushes, Chef drinking from a waterhole nearby, and tells her she needs help with the hyena. Helina approaching scares Chef off and Ranjitha curses, and Helina says she can help her with Chef after they get the hyena together.

Ranjitha (CONF): Helina, this is an individual game, I also want immunity? Competitive Ranj is not happy right now

To avoid conflict, Ranjitha goes with her as the scene shifts to Townes approaching a leopard. He fires a ball at it, hitting it square in the side and knocking it out. He cheers, but as he approaches it three more leopards appear from the bush. Townes slowly waves and starts to back away, before the one growls prompting Townes to make a run for it.

The scene flashes to Clayton approaching a whole herd of wildebeest. There are tons.

Clayton (CONF): There’s no way this could be hard

He hits one, and as he goes to pull it away from the herd, the rest begin to circle him.

Clayton (CONF): This is horribly unsettling

As he tries to pull the wildebeest through the herd, the scene flashes to Annie walking with Colby. Once he’s finished swearing that the flamingo was making fun of him, Annie says she knows he’s the one who changed his vote after the revote. She says she’s concerned because she knows how close he and Miller are, so wants to make sure he wouldn’t do the same against her. He looks hurt, saying he would never, and says the other option was leaving it up to pure chance because he knew no one else was going to change their vote.

Annie (CONF): Did he though?

She says she has been thinking about it a lot and potentially wants to stick with Alex’s alliance for a little longer, at least until Helina, Townes, Ranjitha, Rourke and Vani are out of the game. Colby asks why, and she says it’s their safest bet.

Colby (CONF): Being at the bottom of the alliance is definitely worse than turning the tables while we still can

He watches as she eyes Duncan run by, a pride of lions chasing after him.

Colby (CONF): Ok I’ve been getting weird vibes from those two is that…?

The scene flashes to Vani walking up to a giraffe and shooting it with a ball. It hits and gets knocked out, and Vani cheers, then pauses.

Vani (CONF): How, in the hell, am I going to get this thing back to the cage

A shot of the Serengeti shows a montage of Sofia chasing a warthog to the left as Annie chases a buffalo to the right. Vani comes into the scene lugging the giraffe, as does Alex running after a gazelle from the left, Colby running from the right, stopping in the middle to look up, then changing direction, Duncan running from the left being chased by lions next to Townes running from leopards, Clayton with a wildebeest over his shoulders walking from the right and finally Helina and Ranjitha walking in the background to the right.

Sofia is having a lot of difficulty with the warthog, chasing one before it burrows into the ground.

Sofia (CONF): What?

And Rourke searches for a body of water in hopes of finding a crocodile.

The scene flashes to Chris standing at the finish line by the cage, looking out over the Serengeti with binoculars. In the distance, Clayton is walking toward him, profusely sweating. He’s now dragging the unconscious wildebeest across the ground, out of tranquilizer balls after having to defend himself from an onslaught of attacks from the rest of the herd. He pops the wildebeest into the cage and closes the door. Chris congratulates him on being the first one to complete the challenge, and for a guaranteed spot in the final thirteen.

The scene flashes to Colby. He fires a tranquilizer ball upwards at the flock of flamingos, but they weave around and dive down. They circle around him, one snickering in his face, before flying off.

Colby (CONF): *screaming in frustration*

Helina and Ranjitha are close to the hyena when she tells Ranjitha to fire a ball at it to test the waters. Ranjitha says she can’t waste any, given her target is huge, and Helina says at this point it doesn’t make sense for her to go after Chef anyways given it’s unlikely they’ll have time. Ranjitha asks how that is a good plan, and Helina says that way she’ll be immune as she's the bigger threat and can just lobby to protect Ranjitha at the next elimination ceremony.

Ranjitha (CONF): I’m sorry, what?

Ranjitha looks at her hurt and storms off.

In the meantime, Rourke swims around a nearby river. He hasn’t seen any signs of a crocodile, which he’s happy about.

Rourke (CONF): I don't particularly...want to run into a crocodile

He feels something stir at his feet and wildly swims to shore. He screams and shoots two balls at the water, and three fish float to the top unconscious. He curses, as the scene shifts to Nico.

Nico is sick of the zebras chasing him, so he turns around, screams, and lets a barrage of all five of his remaining tranquilizer balls. It takes out the first couple, but the rest of the herd just goes around them and continues chasing him.

Nico (CONF): Shit

The scene shifts to Chris standing at the finish line again. A “shit shit shit” is heard, and Townes comes running in the distance. He yells for Chris to open the cage, who obliges. Townes runs in, all four leopards chasing him inside, then slips out and slams the door behind him, turning his slingshot, closing his eyes and rapidly firing the remainder of his balls. All four are knocked out, and Chris congratulates Townes for being the second to win immunity for the challenge.

A montage shows Colby chasing the flock of flamingos on foot, Abbey running from a waterbuck, Alex cursing as he trips while chasing a gazelle, and Vani having barely moved at all with the still unconscious giraffe.

Next the scene shows that Beyla has finally found an elephant. She cheers, and runs up, firing a tranquilizer ball at it. She hits it square in the side, but it just slowly turns its head in her direction and looks entirely unamused.

Beyla (CONF): Damn it

Beyla hesitantly fires another one, and the elephant takes its trunk and scoops up a big piles of leaves, shoving them into its mouth. It turns to walk away, as Beyla continues her pursuit.

Sofia is digging at the hole the warthog dug into, hoping it’ll prompt it to come out, when it burrows behind her, snorts and charges her, knocking her into the dirt with the dirt collapsing behind her.

Sofia (CONF): *covered in dirt* I am never watching Lion King literally ever again

The scene shifts to Ranjitha angrily mumbling about how Helina doesn’t treat her well in the alliance, always treating her as a sidekick, when she comes across Chef. As he is about to run, Ranjitha dejectedly kicks a rock and tells him not to worry. He sits down on a rock next to a watering hole, motioning for her to join. She vents that the power dynamic in their relationship is off, and details decisions of moves she disagreed with, from all the way back to voting Leigh out in San Marino, to not working with the Kanye Crew more solidly and not trying to align with Alex after the merge. Chef laughs and says he’s a grown man and feels that Chris treats him the same. After around five more minutes of talking, he says she has a challenge to win. He grabs one of her tranq balls and smashes it against his head, falling unconscious.

The scene shifts to Chris standing with a bruised Clayton and an exhausted Townes. Ranjitha appears dragging Chef behind her. She is struggling, but Clayton runs to help.

Clayton (CONF): Look I still feel bad after Kelsey tried to yeet her in the treasure hunt

The cage is closed behind Chef, and Chris snickers and presses a button that emanates an extremely loud noise across the Serengeti, notifying the contestants that the challenge is over.

As the contestants gather, Chris opens the cage and releases a gas that wakes all the animals up. Clayton and Townes curse, as the animals goes back to chasing them and the scene shifts to everyone eating in the mess hall of the jumbo jet.

Ranjitha is frustrated, sitting off by herself.

Ranjitha (CONF): I just feel like Helina was being so unreasonable in the challenge today

Helina sits with Vani, saying she feels she didn’t do anything wrong. She also says she feel like Ranjitha betrayed her by going off and winning immunity without her.

Vani (CONF): Yeah but I mean Helina…this is an individual immunity challenge what incentive does she have to help you?

Annie sits with Duncan and Alex. She tells the other two not to spread this around, but she thinks Abbey and Colby are going to keep working with Rourke, at least for now. She says she plans on voting with them. Nico, Sofia and Beyla walk up, and they begin to strategize as the scene shifts to a table further in the mess hall.

Townes is trying to work a new angle, knowing that Rourke is extremely vulnerable at the elimination tonight.

Townes (CONF): I’m not sure my athleticism seeds were planted…but I have a better plan

He pulls Clayton and Ranjitha aside. He tells them to look at the majority alliance and think about how many CK counselors are left: Alex, Duncan, Beyla, Nico, Sofia and Abbey. He says they have to be concerned about that further down the line. The two look at one another inquisitively.

Clayton (CONF): He honestly has kind of a good point

Ranjitha asks what his plan is, and Townes says there’s an easy move, and a hard one. He begins explaining as the scene shifts back to the big alliance.

Nico and Sofia push to take out Rourke, hoping to cripple Townes given he’s one of the biggest threats left in the game and Rourke's great social game could let him slide to the end. On the other hand, Alex, Annie and Duncan talk about taking out Helina while they have the chance. They say if Helina gets too close to the end, it's extremely dangerous.

Chris’s voice comes booming over the intercom, beckoning them into the elimination ceremony room. Discussion is active as they file in, knowing while fourteen go in only thirteen will come back out.

~*ELIMINATION CEREMONY*~

Chris tells them they know the deal by now – and it’s time to vote.

Rourke (CONF): Townes your plan seems a little…ambitious, I feel like this is the safer bet *stamps Sofia’s passport*

Townes (CONF): Go big or go home *stamps Alex’s passport*

Clayton (CONF): Sorry Townes but I can’t do that, this however *stamps Sofia’s passport*

Vani (CONF): Look man that shit's too risky *stamps Sofia's passport*

Helina (CONF): Honestly, I love you but this should have happened a long time ago *stamps Alex’s passport*

Beyla (CONF): You’re way too dangerous man *stamps Helina’s passport*

Duncan (CONF): This just seems like it’s such an easy decision why is this so hard *stamps Helina’s passport*

Sofia (CONF): Let’s hope this works *stamps Rourke’s passport*

Alex (CONF): I love you buddy *stamps Rourke's passport*

Chris walks out with a plate filled with thirteen barfbags. He hands the first three to those immune.

Clayton. Townes. Ranjitha.

All three catch their barfbags, but still look worried at the outcome of the results. Chris tells them they should be glad they’re safe today, because votes were fired left and right. The next person safe…

Vani.

She cheers and catches her barfbag. He draws out a long dramatic pause, pointing out that all the contestants are leaning toward him intently. They ignore his comment, awaiting the names of the next safe competitors. He hands the next barfbags to…

Annie. Duncan. Beyla.

Duncan cheers and scoops Annie into a huge, while Beyla whips.

Abbey. Colby. Nico.

They let out a collective sigh of relief. Chris tells them that everyone left received votes. Alex begins to nervously sweat, given this is the first elimination ceremony this season he's received any votes. He and Sofia grab hands, as Rourke covers his eyes and Helina holds her breath. He says the next person safe…

Alex.

He almost throws up with relief. Sofia hugs him as he catches his bag. He keeps a hand on her shoulder. Townes curses under his breath.

Rourke.

Nico's jaw drops and Sofia turns to look at Duncan with disbelief, thinking they had come to a consensus coming in. That leaves Sofia and Helina as the bottom two, with the last barfbag going to…

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Helina.

Sofia looks a mix of shocked and devastated. Clayton hugs her, but avoids eye contact. One by one she goes through and hugs everyone left. She doesn’t say much, in disbelief she was so heavily blindsided.

Sofia (CONF): I just did not see that coming…like at all…and I just can’t even process it right now, all I feel is just…aw it hurts so bad

She sadly grabs a parachute and walks to the door. She turns her head to the contestants looking hurt, with Clayton avoiding eye contact, before jumping out the Drop of Shame.

The contestants look around, the distrust evident. Chris laughs and says the past few elimination ceremonies have been killer and he can’t wait to see what happens next.

Annie (CONF): I feel like what's shitty is at this point, every elimination ceremony we're losing a friend or at someone who made this experience more fun...don't get me wrong though, I'm here to win

He tells the three winners to pick someone to take with them to first class. Townes picks Rourke, Clayton picks Nico and Ranjitha picks Annie. Helina looks at Ranjitha hurt, but Ranjitha avoids eye contact.

That night on the jumbo jet, Chris holds a movie night for the competitors, showing the movie Spider Man: Homecoming. He has tons of pillows and blankets in the mess hall with a projector set up and bowls of popcorn. As the movie plays, Alex sits off to the side with Ranjitha, who says if they'll have her she is considering joining their alliance. Alex says they would love that, and Ranjitha says she needs time to think about it.

The two return to the movie. Vani lies asleep snoring, with Rourke and Helina laughing and seeing how many popcorn kernels they can stack on her. Helina beckons for Ranjitha to join, who hesitantly agrees. Alex cuddles up to Clayton (much to his dismay) and Annie makes sarcastic commentary prompting the other contestants to laugh. Duncan inhales the popcorn as Townes, Abbey and Colby intently watch the movie, completely engrossed.

Beyla and Nico also sit off to the side, with Nico saying he's nervous about another CK purge coming. She asks what he's talking about, and he confesses that Clayton told him after the elimination ceremony that he voted for Sofia and not with them for Helina. He says that Clayton apologized because he felt bad, but Beyla asks if she thinks they should make a move. He says it might be time, and asks if she can keep a secret. She nods as he pulls out the idol that Sofia passed to him...

*flashback to Sofia reading the clue, reading "you can use it now or at the final nine" aloud, then forward to "if you're voted out, pass it along"*

...and she smiles, as the scene fades to black.

Trivia

 * This challenge is an adaptation of the challenge in Serengeti Smack-down, although that episode was the final five of season one as opposed to the fourteen left in this episode
 * In both however, a well-liked female was voted out of the competition (Lizzie in season one and Sofia in season two)