Dance Dance Electrocution

Plot
The episode opens up with the camera panning across an empty first class, before landing on Beyla, Duncan, Alex and Clayton sitting in one of the four sets of chairs. They sip on coffee and stare outside, the floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing a beautiful view of the clouds whizzing by.

 Clayton (CONF):  Alright first class being this empty is kind of freaking me out

Duncan asks the three of them how they’re feeling about the game right now. He shifts nervously in his chair.

 Duncan (CONF):  I genuinely have no idea where things stand right now, and I’m scared everyone in the main alliance associates me with Abbey, Annie and Colby who have been wishy washy to say the least

Beyla says they need to buckle down and make the hard decision. No one even bothers to ask what that means, an unspoken understanding washing over the others.

 Beyla (CONF):  Jeez I'm nervous…we’ve all come so far, getting booted this close to the end would just suck man

Duncan looks as if he’s about to protest, but holds off. Alex grabs a cookie off a tray, as Clayton continues to look out the window. The silence continues, as the scene transitions to the mess hall. Nico sits alone, eating and periodically looking out the window.

 Nico (CONF):  This is kind of depressing

*flashback to Nico surrounded by Eli, Gianna, Frances and Archer, laughing on their way to Thailand, Gianna still intermittently puking from the night before*

Vani is a few tables over with Ranjitha, explaining to her why she voted the way she did in the previous elimination ceremony.

 Vani (CONF):  Shit bruh…one mistake could wreck you and to make one this late in the game...

She says that she doesn’t trust the majority alliance to protect her and needed to check their power. Ranjitha says she understands, but hopes Vani realizes this will only put a target on her back.

 Ranjitha (CONF):  I honestly feel so torn…Vani is literally all I have left from my original alliance, and she’s my #1 ally but…it’s not smart to keep playing this game with her

Vani nods her head, and the two girls think about how they’re going to make this partnership work as the scene shifts to Abbey, Rourke, Colby and Annie. Rourke is making a pitch to the other three.

 Rourke (CONF):  I am out of options at this point, I mean I literally watched my entire alliance get decimated

*flashback to everyone in a group hug with Townes*

He says that he knows they’ve been on the fence, but they need to open their eyes and realize how threatening the majority alliance is.

 Rourke (CONF):  They have got to realize how big of a threat the people in the main alliance are…people have been talking about how the final three is going to play out, and if it’s any sort of jury vote I don’t think those six are beatable

Annie uncomfortably eats her food as she listens to Colby and Abbey go toe-to-toe with Rourke. Colby agrees, but says he needs to think about making it to the final three before he can think about how to beat the people there with him. Abbey says they don’t have the numbers, shifting her attention to Annie.

 Annie (CONF):  This is getting ridiculous

Annie tells Rourke she understands where he’s coming from, but she isn’t ready to make any sort of drastic jump. When Rourke gets up to use the confessional, she tells Abbey and Colby that they need to buckle down and pick a side. She doesn’t even care if it’s hers, but for their own sake. She gets up, leaving the two in silence.

 Colby (CONF):  Sorry that we’re actually playing this game Annie

 Rourke (CONF):  You know…I feel like the biggest thing holding this group back from me is Annie and Duncan, I mean they’re the closest links to Alex…hm…

Chris calls the remaining eleven contestants to the cargo hold. Chris says they know the drill, and he pulls a string hanging from the ceiling, releasing the floor and sending the contestants falling through the sky and into a giant bowl of plain white rice.

 Abbey (CONF):  This feels racist?

As they exit and shake the grains out, they find themselves on the streets of downtown Tokyo. Chris is dressed in a kimono, with Chef snickering. Chris asks what’s up, and Chef reassures him that what he’s wearing is in fact traditionally worn by males.

Chef (CONF): *cracking up*

Also with him is season one contestant Eugenia, prompting Beyla and Alex to freak out with excitement. She shyly waves hello, awkwardly giggling.

Eugenia (CONF): Lol I can't believe I'm actually back

She asks Chris if he knows that she's Chinese, not Japanese, and Chris nervously laughs then says something angry into a microphone. Chris then tells the contestants they may remember the “Slap Smack Revolution” challenge in the alps last season (as an intern gets dragged away in a brown burlap sack by Chef in the background).

*flashback to Ian and Emily weakly slapping one another, when a misstep from Emily causes Chris to shock the both of them*

He says they are going to be recreating that, but with greater intensity than the previous season. Chef has now returned to the background, dusting some mud off his apron.

The scene flashes to a beautiful lit-up sculpture garden outside of the Tokyo Dome. There are four “arenas”, two of them with two “DDR” mats and the other two with three that form a triangle. He says the contestants must work to knock the other contestants off the platform, while keeping in step with the DDR mat. As the arrows light up in rhythm to the music, the contestants must step on them, a misstep leading to a fun shock.

 Alex (CONF):  A fun...shock?

He says to keep it fair, he will randomly assign the match-ups for the first round – but, as they may have noticed there is only room for ten competitors. He says one of them, similarly to Serena, Myra and Justin last season, will be the “gambler.” If he or she can correctly guess the winner of two matchups in the first round, one in the second and who wins the overall challenge, they’ll join the overall winner in first class and earn themselves immunity. If they fail, only one person will be winning immunity and will have complete control over who goes to first class. The contestants discuss amongst one another, fighting for that position, but eventually agree to give it to Annie, with her seeming the least comfortable with electric shocks.

 Annie (CONF):  Well that’s partially it, I also like these odds much better I mean I’m not exactly a CrossFit trainer

On a dramatically large plasma screen dangling outside one of the sculptures, a chibi-version of Chris comes and holds a piece of paper up to the screen.

 Clayton (CONF):  Alright all this cultural appropriation is extremely questionable

 Vani (CONF):  I’m deadass calling the ACLU

The screen becomes the round one match-ups.

Round I

Alex v. Rourke v. Ranjitha | Abbey v. Clayton v. Colby | Duncan v. Vani | Nico v. Beyla

A remixed version of “Spooky Scary Skeleton” begins to play, and the contestants begin to step to the beat as the platforms rise high into the sky.

 Colby (CONF):  I am seriously going to die on this show

A camera shot from over Annie’s left shoulder shows her holding a little electric device with names on it. It shows her click “Alex”, “Clayton”, “Duncan” and “Nico.”

Chris yells “Go!”, and the contestants immediately begin swiping at one another, an eerily dramatic voice singing about skeletons ringing through the air. Alex blocks Rourke’s chop, only to be pushed by Ranjitha and nearly fall off. Thankfully for him, Ranjitha’s push prompted her to lose her footing, leading to an electric shock that’s strong enough to send her over the edge of the platform. A comically large airbag suddenly inflates around their platform. Eugenia loudly cheers for her friend from the ground as a disoriented Ranjitha rises to her feet.

 Ranjitha (CONF):  *hair frizzled and clothes a little singed from the shock* Oh HELL yeah let’s do that again

Alex and Rourke resume slapping, as the scene shifts to Nico and Beyla. Nico feels hesitant hitting Beyla, but she just chuckles and slams into him, sending him flying over the side and into another airbag. Eugenia is yelling "fuck it up girl" from the ground, as Beyla shyly waves.

Eugenia (CONF): This challenge was the worst

Nico rubs his shoulder as he gets off the airbag and the scene shifts to Vani and Duncan locked in combat.

Duncan swings, Vani ducks – Vani swings, Duncan blocks. As the pace begins to pick up, Vani gets nervous and steps on the “down” arrow instead of the “left” that lit up, sending a shock. She isn’t knocked off, but the distraction gives Duncan time to lightly push her off the side. She is still twitching with electric shock, next to Nico who now has an ice pack.

 Vani (CONF):  What is with this show and electri- *zzt*

Abbey, Clayton and Colby are exchanging hit after hit, also keeping up with the increasing pace. Alex and Rourke, nearby, are impressed, the light distraction giving Alex time to send Rourke over the side and slide into the semifinals.

Annie cheers, as she successfully moved to round two guessing at least two correctly with Alex and Duncan moving forward, while Rourke goes to join Nico, Ranjitha and Vani in the loser area with Eugenia.

Abbey gets into a groove, and lost in the music she shoves Colby over the side as the “duh duh duh” plays in the background from the song. However, her triumph distracts her and she gets shocked. Clayton uses this opportunity to push her, but she remains strong and pushes back, a shock sending him that last bit over the edge and onto the airbags.

 Abbey (CONF):  And they say yoga isn't a real form of exercise, it's all about core strength baby

The scene flashes to both of the two-person arenas back in the air, this time with new match-ups.

Round II

Alex v. Abbey | Duncan v. Beyla

Annie’s choices are Beyla and Abbey.

 Annie (CONF):  I mean come on, did you see how Beyla viciously took out Nico? I’m honestly kind of impressed

A trap song remixing “I’d Rather Be” and “Kanye” begins to play, and Chris yells “Go!” indicating the second half of the challenge is on. Duncan and Beyla are in a cycle of hitting and blocking, with the camera panning over to Alex and Abbey more focused on making sure they get into the groove and aren’t shocked. Rourke nervously watches from the sideline.

 Rourke (CONF):  If I want any chance of making it further in this game, I need Annie to lose this challenge

Suddenly, a misstep from Alex prompts an electric shock from a gleeful Chris.

Chris (CONF): I love this game

Eugenia (CONF): Ok aside from the Chris being a literal psycho part, I low key kind of miss this

Abbey uses this as an opportunity to try and push him, but he stays strong, pushing back. She doesn’t budge, the distraction shocking him again and sending him over the side.

 Alex (CONF):  I hate this game

Annie cheers and jumps up and down, already securing that she moves to the final. Rourke curses under his breath.

Duncan and Beyla sweat as they pick up the pace, both occasionally getting minor shocks but laser-focused.

 Beyla (CONF):  Ok I have to win this, there’s no way I’m going home this late in the game

 Duncan (CONF):  I don’t really feel at risk right now of going home, but immunity would just be the icing on the cake at this point

Eventually, a weary Duncan missteps, prompting Beyla to savagely shove him off as she did Nico, securing her a spot in the final.

Round III

Abbey v. Beyla

The scene flashes to Abbey and Beyla on a raised platform, the other nine contestants and Eugenia surrounding them.

 Colby (CONF):  Ok I’m low key kind of excited for this

 Ranjitha (CONF):  Y'all know at this point I'm here for the tea

A shot of Annie’s voting device shows her hovering back and forth between little pictures of Abbey and Beyla, not revealing her choice.

A dancey mash-up of “Heads Will Roll” and “Thriller” begins to play, and Chris yelling “Go!” means the final round is on. Abbey really wants the win, having not won individual immunity and reward since "Team Waka" did in the relay race.

Both girls immediately get into a groove, with the lyrics “off, off, off with your head” filling the air. The two girls exchange hit after hit, with Beyla jumping over a low kick from Abbey and Abbey ducking when Beyla side-hooks her. Both are perfectly in rhythm, neither suffering a shock.

 Nico (CONF):  Ok who’s making fun of Raas now?

A full eight minutes pass and both girls are drenched in sweat and beginning to get sore, with the dancing combined with the lingering effects of the electric shocks. Alex, Eugenia, Rourke, Vani, Ranjitha, Annie and Duncan dance below and laugh, getting into the beat of the song.

Suddenly out of the blue, Beyla missteps, prompting an electric shock perfect chimed with what seems to be a ninja-pose straight out of Wii Fit.

 Clayton (CONF):  *rolling eyes* Ok Abbey

Beyla goes soaring over the side, the scene switching to slow-motion as Beyla slams into the air bag below. Abbey cheers and jumps up and down, with Chris rewarding her with one final shock that sends her over the edge as well. Chris says it’s time to reveal if Annie was correct, with the chibi-Chris returning to show that Annie’s pick was…

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

Abbey, securing her immunity alongside her best friend. Rourke curses.

 Rourke (CONF):  Well, time for plan B

Chris congratulates the girls, and tells them that after fifty grueling challenges, one of the nine vulnerable will have the prize money tragically yanked from their fingertips.

The scene flashes to dinner, where Alex, Nico, Clayton, Beyla, Ranjitha, Vani and Duncan sit. They say that as much as they hate to say this, it only makes sense to vote Rourke at this point.

 Beyla (CONF):  Rourke is so fun to have in this competition, but I mean come on he's a huge social threat

They say this should be an easy vote, with the seven of them plus Annie making a clear majority.

In line for the confessional, Rourke stands with Clayton and Beyla. He tells the two that he knows his neck is on the line, but they need to think about relationships between those left in the game. He says the tightest group by far? Annie, Abbey, Colby and Duncan. That core four is extremely dangerous, and too big of a voting block to have this late in the game.

 Clayton (CONF):  *sitting in silence*…shit, he kind of has a point

A montage shows him whispering to Alex as they stand in line to get more of Chef’s “surprise soup” (pretty much just a liquefied mash-up of their last seven or so meals), to Ranjitha as she lies on a bench in first class and Vani as she sits at the table. He receives some mixed reactions.

When he returns, he sits with Abbey and Colby, saying they have to go after Nico. The two don’t question it, seeing how dangerous Nico is as a player. They ask him if he has the numbers, and he says to trust him. Once he leaves, Abbey and Colby go back and forth, debating between voting Nico or sticking with the majority alliance who obviously plans to target Rourke.

As tensions rise, Chris summons the final eleven into the elimination ceremony.

~*ELIMINATION CEREMONY*~

Chris tells the contestants that he’s extremely proud of them for how far they’ve come, but soon only ten will remain. Eugenia stands next to him, nervously eying her friends.

 Vani (CONF):  There were sixty-fucking-four of us when we started…insane

He tells them it’s time to go into the confessional and stamp the passport of the contestant they want to see go home.

 Rourke (CONF):  I hope this plan works...

 Duncan (CONF):  Easy *stamps Rourke’s passport*

 Alex (CONF):  Sorry Rourke, you know I love you *stamps Rourke’s passport*

 Abbey (CONF):  I am just really hoping that Rourke got the numbers *stamps Nico’s passport*

 Clayton (CONF):  *holding up two passports* This is honestly the hardest vote I've probably ever had

 Ranjitha (CONF):  Look, I’m here for the big moves, I love you but…*stamps unknown passport*

Chris returns with a plate containing ten barfbags filled with airline-issued peanuts. He hands the first barfbags to the two immune.

Annie. Abbey.

The two girls hug, with Duncan grabbing Annie’s shoulder in support and Colby hugging Abbey.

Colby. Alex. Beyla.

The three quickly hug after catching their barfbags. Eugenia also runs over and tackles her friends, knowing she'll get to stay for any nighttime festivities and glad they'll be there. Ranjitha nervously sweats as Nico eyes Abbey, who can’t stop staring at him.

Vani. Ranjitha.

The two girls cheer loudly, Vani still scared her decision to vote for Clayton in the previous ceremony would come back to bite her. That leaves Nico, Duncan and Rourke as the bottom three, with the next barfbag going to…

Nico.

Colby and Abbey look bummed, sadly eying Rourke knowing their ally is going home. Rourke just looks completely focused on Chris, nervously sweating, and Duncan looks absolutely shocked, trying to make eye contact with people in the room. Alex grabs his hand in support. Chris says one of these two will be leaving the game tonight, and the last barfbag goes to…

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

Rourke.

Duncan looks absolutely heartbroken, gaping next to a shocked Abbey, Annie and Colby. Abbey and Colby angrily eye Rourke, who just mouthes that he’ll explain later, and everyone looks extremely sad to see a good friend go. Duncan goes one-by-one and hugs his friends, starting with Alex then Ranjitha, Clayton, Annie, Abbey, Beyla then Rourke. He hesitates with each one, not knowing who flipped and made this happen, but in the end calls for a group hug, wiping away tears.

 Duncan (CONF):  *wiping away tears* This is heartbreaking…I trust these people, they’re my friends and…I didn’t want it to end this way

He straps on a parachute and jumps out the Drop of Shame. Colby, Alex and Abbey poke their heads out, watching the parachute fade into the clouds.

Chris tells Annie and Abbey to each choose someone to join them in first class. Annie chooses Colby and Abbey chooses Rourke, much to the suspicion of some of the allies.

That night, Chris tells them they'll get to go out on the town in downtown Tokyo. Everyone is extremely excited.

Eugenia (CONF): Oh hell yes

 Beyla (CONF):  If we didn't have these going-out adventures I don't think I could make it through this game

Some scenes of downtown Tokyo are shown, before another flash-photo montage of the contestants walking down the street: first Alex, Beyla and Eugenia arm-in-arm, then Vani sipping from a brownbag with a little bottle of wine inside next to Ranjitha laughing at her, Rourke and Annie laughing, Colby and Abbey holding hands and Clayton and Nico shooting joking model-faces at the camera.

They go to this bar that has giant lit-up animatronics and a beautifully lit dance floor. The remix of "Thriller" and "Heads Will Roll" from the challenge plays, and the contestants go insane, huddling up and jumping up and down. Eugenia is in the center, laughing and happy to be back.

A montage shows Alex, Nico and Clayton taking a shot, Eugenia and Annie getting to know each other by the bar, Beyla, Ranjitha and Vani dancing hard and Colby and Abbey trying to sneak into the VIP section.

As the night goes on, Alex pulls Colby aside and asks what the deal is with him and Abbey. Colby immediately accuses him, among others, of flipping on Duncan, to which Alex is offended.

 Colby (CONF):  I mean come on, a lot of people needed to flip to make this happen

 Alex (CONF):  Is he serious right now?

He rolls his eyes, with Colby saying with Duncan gone, he guesses this is the end of his and Abbey and maybe even Annie's involvement in their alliance. Alex just silently nods, the two shaking hands before returning to the dance floor. Eugenia leads everyone in a cheer and everyone laughs, the camera zooming out showing a lit-up Tokyo before the scene fades to black.

Trivia

 * A variation of this challenge was performed in the Alps in Smack Slap Revolution