Parental Discretion is Advised: Some scenes may be disturbing to younger or sensitive viewers.
Previously, on Survivor Canada
The Cree tribe argue about tribal unity while Paleo wins both reward and immunity challenges. Rob and Miriam express concern about being blamed for failures and build alliances which square-off against each other. But Shane C, the swing vote, is disqualified and Cree is spared from Tribal Council.
Fearing that his tribe might still be divided, Staton is relieved that they were exempt from Tribal Council. "I was gonna vote for Shane anyway. It's a shame we lost that challenge but I'm so glad that we pulled together as a team. We will bounce back and get back into this game."
Hiking back from the immunity challenge, Diana discusses with Tabatha the trials they're likely to be facing.
When they get to their campsite, Tabatha congratulates everyone on their third consecutive win. "Great job, everyone! We are on a roll."
"Great work guys!" Kelley pipes in. "I love this tribe."
"Go Paleo! Go Paleo! It's your Birthday!" Rick chants. "Let's just celebrate." Rick points out that they've never lost when it counted for anything.
Diana laughs at Rick's chant, then says, "This is a great team... I feel kind of bad for Cree." However, Diana quickly shrugs off this compassion. "Okay, that's over. Yay for us!!!"
The next morning Miriam is tending Cree's fires, as has become her dedicated role. It helps that she has a lighter as her luxury item. But moreover, Miriam likes being in camp all the time so that she is never far away from what's being said, determined that she won't be blind-sided again at Tribal Council. Thanks to Miriam's study of the fire, she has taught herself how to build little smouldering "smudge" fires that are all smoke and keep the mosquitos away. And that makes for a happy camp.
Cree's camp is getting to be homey and comfortable. They've made themselves a little kitchen area, and a couple benches where they can sit by the fire. However, they seem to have grown complacent and haven't done much to improve their shelter. The structure which was crowded for their first nights now has a familiar coziness after losing two of their tribe. Given that they also keep a watch at night, Cree's shelter now only has to sleep six.
Staton is worried about what's going to happen when they get their first real rainstorm. The shelter's pine-branch roof is adequate thermal insulation, but the needles won't divert water like broadleaves. Unfortunately, they don't have a lot of options. Cree will have to consider it, and how to make best use of the materials available.
Another area where Cree could make improvements is in their diet. They haven't found much forage and have had no success at fishing or hunting. The biggest animals they've seen are squirrels, which have been quite happy to stay out of reach in the trees. Janei once saw a chipmunk sniffing around camp, but it was too cute and wouldn't have been much to split eight ways.
Vince, Cree's youngster from the Philippines, is a little more open-minded about what is edible. He has dug up some grubs, but so far nobody else has been hungry enough to join him in a snack. Vince has been the target of some quiet derision for this, and for something else: he'd used cool mud to sooth insect bites and has since taken to covering himself in mud as protection. But Vince means well, and decides to use the rest of his grubs to go fishing and try to catch some proper food for his tribe.
Paleo's campsite is more hangout than home. They play volleyball and cards, and half of the tribe is napping at any given time. While they have been winning challenges, Paleo is making little effort at camp and saving their energy for the competitions. It has been a successful strategy so far. However, there is a downside to winning: Paleo has to feed ten people, and on their current rations they'll exhaust their supplies well before the merge.
Some of the tribe are strongly motivated to fix up the camp, remembering their first night without shelter or fire. However, others believe what they have is adequate. And some are already anticipating a merge at a new camp, which would make any improvements a wasted effort. So due to indifference, fatigue, laziness or gamesmanship, a half-dozen people on Paleo are left doing the work for ten.
Diana is uncertain if her tribemates are using her, and takes the subject lightly. "It's ok if they do, it's a game." Diana wonders, though, about winning too much. "Who am I kidding, I love voting people off!" Diana laughs.
Rick figures that he's probably being used. "It's the nature of the game. This type of game is about using people. As long as they get me farther in the game, I'll continue to use them."
Shane believes that he is using and being used by his secondary allies, Rick and Michelle. "I think they are going to try to use me — but it's not going to work."
Making absolutely sure that nobody can overhear, Janei ranks her tribemates. Karen is at the top of her list, and still really impresses her. But the tension Rob created drops him to the middle of her list, just above Mike and Vince. "Vince wasn't around much lately and Shane C was completely inactive."
But while Rob and Mike have fallen in her opinion, her non-allies are on the rise as she gets to know them better. "Miriam and I made up and she raises on the scale," Karen explains, ranking Miriam second. "Staton and Aiden slowly climb the chart; I continue to like them."
That day, while Staton and Aiden are exploring around to find a better fishing spot, they spot a small stand of birch trees on some high ground in a spruce swamp. It takes a lot of effort to reach them, but Staton thinks this is just what they need for their shelter. They carefully slice the bark and try to peel off sections as large as possible, without cracking them.
It's difficult, pain-staking work. They often tear edges, and a lot of the pieces have knot-holes, or smaller holes from insects and the woodpeckers which hunt them. They're amazed that the natives could make a canoe out of the stuff. But this could be just what they need for their roof. Rolling up the bark they've collected they head back to camp, leaving behind the stripped and dying trees.
Paleo psyche themselves up for the reward challenge. "Are we all excited?" Rick asks them. "One more time we can kick Cree butt!"
Jon reluctantly puts out the fire before they leave. It's a major inconvenience having to make fire again after every challenge, but they can't leave it burning because of the forest fire risk.
As the tribes assemble in the challenge clearing, the Host has a surprise for them. There will be an individual reward for today's challenge, called Happy Birthday!
The Survivors are instructed to each stand before one of the tables which have been set up. On each table are the names of the Survivors from both tribes, and a score of shiny stones and little animal dolls.
Zoe, The Host, gives them a short lesson on how the resources of the Shield region of Northern Ontario made Canada a rich nation. In the beginning there was the fur trade with the First Nations, which brought more wealth than spices from China. Then there were the fine white pine stands for shipbuilding which allowed the British Empire to rule the waves. And then, in the wake of railway building, there were great mineral strikes — gold, silver, nickel, copper, iron, lead, uranium, platinum, titanium, cobalt, and more. The region also has gemstones, although many of these were swept away by glaciers — such as diamonds found in glacial drift in Wisconsin.
Zoe informs them that, yes, those are real gemstones in front of them — and there will be no free samples. For this challenge, they must try to correctly match to each player their corresponding birthstone and animal totem. The person with the most correct will win an individual reward which could be very helpful for them — and could be deadly to another player.
The Survivors begin, some of them chuckling at trying to match up the "totem" animals to players. Many of the dolls are bears, there are a couple bunnies, a raccoon, a bumble bee and a spider, among others. A few Survivors finish quickly, either confident in their answers or having merely guessed. But soon everyone has made their selections.
It seems that the Paleo tribe know each other better. Of the 8 top scorers, 6 are from Paleo. It's close, and Zoe checks these top scores again before declaring a first-place tie between Michelle and Rick, both from Paleo. Zoe brings Rick and Michelle to the front two tables and mixes up the gemstones. Then she tells them that for the tie-breaker, they will have to guess the gemstone for her birthday. Whoever gets it, or is closest, will win.
Michelle thinks that Zoe had been hinting earlier and picks the diamond. Rick picks the amethyst, thinking that the Happy Birthday challenge might be taking place on Zoe's birthday. What both of them completely fail to notice is that while mixing up the stones, Zoe had deftly slipped an emerald onto each table which was the correct answer. Smiling, Zoe sees that Michelle came closest.
"Congratulations Michelle... For your reward, you will have two votes to cast at your next Tribal Council."
Cree almost laugh, as Michelle's extra vote will almost certainly be used against one of her tribemates from Paleo. The Paleo tribe must be thinking about that themselves, as they miss Cree's bemusement.
Zoe thanks the Survivors, and sends them back to their respective camps.
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Rick, runner-up in the reward-challenge, is the first to congratulate Michelle. Even he quietly admits this is a "Kiss up to Michelle" so that she doesn't use the the extra vote against him. Pushing for unity, he notes how their combined scores rocked Cree, and they would have kicked butt if it was a tribal challenge.
Diana, Kelley and Tabatha congratulate Michelle, and Nathan manages to throw in a "Good job!"
Michelle appreciates it all, and thanks them. "You guys are all so awesome." But she tells them that she doesn't want to use her extra vote until the merge, because she doesn't want them to lose even one immunity challenge.
Not all is sunshine and roses for Paleo. "I have decided Dan is a stuck-up!" Tabatha declares in a confessional. "Tried to talk to Dan... no response!" Tabatha groans in frustration.
Things are not so happy at the other tribe. "The downward losing spiral of Cree continues," Rob sighs after the reward challenge.
Glumly, Aiden has to agree with Rob on that.
When they're back at camp and have their fire started again, Rob apologizes to everyone in Cree for the fight he'd started a couple days ago when he asked which of them would be voted out next. "It was a rash thing done by me because I was pissed off about losing. I let my emotions get the best of me." He is aware that it didn't make him any friends and doesn't blame them for disliking him. Very apologetic, he says, "I can see the handwriting on the wall and realize that something that is going to happen. I just want everyone to know that when I go there will be no hard feelings towards anyone."
Cree receive it well. "It takes a big man with a big heart to apologize," Staton tells Rob, "and I totally respect that."
Others are similarly moved. "I think you posting that boosts the tribe's morale," Janei tells him and the group.
Staton adds, "Everyone on our team are really great people, and we are gonna whoop some asses from now on." Believing this immunity could be pivotal, Staton rests up and saves his energy.
However, Aiden still doesn't trust Rob and is upset at having lost the opportunity to vote Rob out when the last Tribal Council was cancelled. Aiden later says that he is aligned with Staton, Miriam and Vince. "The thing is, Staton doesn't want to vote for Rob... blah blah blah. He promises not to vote any of us off, but there will be times where he won't vote the same way. Blank that!" Aiden exclaims, censoring himself, then laughing. "He's a really really good friend of mine. We just play the game totally different. He's just trying to be the 'nice guy.' I really don't like nice guys." Aiden doesn't know what's going to happen.
While chopping and splitting some wood for the fire, Nathan gets an idea. The dry softwood splits easily, and when he's really careful with the axe he can split it down the grain about an inch thick. It's nothing like milled lumber, but the thin board could be used as a shingle... with enough of them, they could have a proper, rainproof roof for their shelter.
Nate excitedly tells the others and they work out some calculations in the dirt. They figure the minimal job — a 6x10 foot roof with a 30-degree pitch will require 140 board-feet of shingles. And that's only to keep them dry huddled together, with the rain coming straight down. There are a few problems: they need a source of dry logs to split; the shelter's current frame won't support the weight; and they need a way to fasten the shingles. And most importantly, the tribe does not seem willing to provide the necessary manpower for the project.
While Nathan continues to stubbornly work on the project, some of his tribemates question what he's doing for them.
If they were sent to Tribal Council, Jon says that he'd vote off Nathan or Kelley. As Diana has said to others, her choices are Nathan, then Michelle and Emmanuel. Shane likewise says, "the inactives like Nathan or someone like that."
But Rick has other ideas. His vote would be between Dan or Emmanuel. He knows that Dan is a strong player and could be a threat after the merge, while Eman is an unknown who has made minimal effort.
A lot of others have no idea, as Paleo has yet to undergo Tribal Council. Michelle says, "If I had to vote today, I'd probably approach my teammates and try to make sure that none of my friends are voted out. And then I'd just pick eenee-meenee-miney-mo."
Paleo and Cree are summoned to a different location for their third Immunity Challenge. They can see sunlight through the trees and then suddenly they are out, the moss and decomposing pine needles underfoot replaced by solid granite. They walk out onto a rock outcropping scattered with patches of lichen, and enjoy the warmth of the sun.
Zoe, the Host, informs them that the bare rock they are standing on is part of the Superior Province of the Canadian Shield. It is the original nucleus, the foundation of the North American continent, vast and ancient. This Precambrian rock predates the fossil record and all life on Earth. It has existed in its present form for two-and-a-half billion years. Zoe gives them a moment to reflect upon that before going on with the challenge.
On this rock, the tribes are playing for Immunity in a challenge called "Time Machine." The tribes will be answering questions about some of the pivotal moments of all time — 70's and 80's pop culture! (gasp) Randomly selected to sit out of the challenge for Paleo is an annoyed Diana.
Michelle eagerly answers what she can and takes her answers to Zoe to be sure that her part will count, but Zoe sends her back. The rules say she can only accept one submission for each tribe. Terribly embarrassed, Michelle lets Kelley take over. Kelley tries to be as inclusive as possible and is very cautious about their final answers, trying to get everybody on Paleo to check them and be sure that they don't have any problems.
Cree are a bit upset that Michelle's slip-up didn't disqualify Paleo, but they carry on answering the questions. Miriam, Karen and Janei end up answering the bulk of the questions. Miriam gets the feeling that Staton is feeling left out and convinces Karen and Janei to let Staton write up their answers so that he knows he's contributing and is important to their tribe. Staton whispers, "It seems like Karen wants all the glory."
Indeed, as time comes down, Karen takes the answers and runs them up to the Host. But after Michelle shocked everyone with her initiative, the members of Paleo are reluctant to take final responsibility. With time running out, Tabatha finally grabs the answers and runs them up to the Host.
Zoe checks over the answers. With a slight preamble about "freaking out," she announces that there is another tie. As a tie-breaker, Karen and Tabatha represent their tribes in a game of chance — which is won by Tabatha.
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Tabatha was worried at the tie-breaker and is ecstatic at bringing home immunity for Paleo. "Good job y'all, another win under our belts. Woohooo, Paleo rocks!!!"
Kelley tells Tabatha that she did an awesome job in the tie-breaker and congratulates their tribe.
Nathan is seen walking behind them. Unaware of how close he'd come, he sets a log on the chopping block to take advantage of the remaining light and make more shingles.
Rick says that Paleo is unstoppable. But he is worried about their being too confident: "We have to keep our heads in the game and make sure that Cree doesn't get the best of us." There is a flash of movement behind him and the axe cracks. Rick reminds them that this is the second time that they won on a tie-breaker. "Tabatha saved our Paleo butts," he tells them, and thanks her.
Michelle admits to being worried about this challenge, "I screwed up major time and I feel terrible about it." The axe cracks again. "But it all worked out! You did fabulously!" she tells Tabatha. "I think we're all proud." Michelle adds that she is certain one of them from Paleo will win the game.
The axe comes down again, landing not with the crack of hitting something hard but with more of a thump. It is followed by a bellow of pain and then, a second later, from the same throat, a much higher-pitched scream.
The handheld shakes as the cameraman moves swiftly, made dizzying and confusing by others moving through frame, out-of-focus. From the shouting, it's clear that somebody's been hurt badly. Nathan is on his back, clutching a shoe-clad foot. Something that everyone hopes is bloody sock — but knows otherwise — is sticking out of an ugly gash in the shoe.
Medics arrive quickly, cut the shoe off and administer first aid to stop the profuse bleeding. They shoot Nathan with a local pain-killer before handling the mangled toes with their raw nerve endings, wrapping them with the foot. Nathan is going to need surgery.
Nathan was chopping very close to the edge of the log, in order to cut a thin shingle. He missed, and had carelessly positioned himself and was overbalanced such that the axe came down on his foot. It was then that Nathan made the biggest mistake: in pain, he let go of the axe, and it fell while the head was still buried in his foot. Leverage twisted the head and it scraped his foot from the inside, tearing out one of his middle toes.
While Nathan is being strapped into a stretcher for transport, he gives his final words to his tribe:
"I would just like to say that everyone was great and I'm sorry that I could not dedicate more to the game! Zoe, you are a great host! — Paleo, kick butt."
Tabatha gives Nathan's hand a squeeze, but she can hardly say anything. "Too bad you... Sorry to see ya go."
Cree carry on with their camp activities, unaware of what has transpired at Paleo. Trying not to scratch the mosquito bites from their hike, Miriam quickly gets a fire going.
Although Cree did not win immunity, Miriam is upbeat because they did such a good job, equalling Paleo on the actual challenge and only losing the tie-breaker. "Guys, I think you are all awesome!" Miriam especially thanks Karen for representing them in the tie-breaker. "You did your best and I think you did great. We will get the win next time! It takes all of us to do this and we all have our strengths. I am proud to be a Cree and grateful to be on your team!"
Staton isn't so happy with how the challenge went. "I felt we were being rushed. We had a plenty of time and it wasn't a timed event so yeah I'm a little upset. I know Karen is trying to step up and be a leader, but dear the best leaders are the best followers." Staton is sad but has planned out his TC vote.
As you all know, it is difficult to vote out a fellow tribe mate, but unfortunately you have to do that again tonight. I'll go tally the votes. Once the votes are read, the decision is final, and the person will be asked to leave tribal council immediately. Here are the votes:
VINCE
My vote is for Vince. Out of the 3 that didn't show for challenge, he is the least active. Plus I have never even talked to him since the first night of this game. So it's not hard at all to vote for him.
(Rob)
AIDEN
self-vote
VINCE
Vince, sorry we had to vote again but my vote is going to you cuz he havent really spoken to me much and also you have missed the most challenges. It was nice having u on the team and i wish you the best of luck in the future.
(Staton)
MIKE
self-vote
VINCE
Vince you are such a sweet person and I am truly sorry, but the tribe has to be strong and that means all of us be there as much as possible. You being in the Phillipines limits your ability to participate. Best of luck and I hope that I have the pleasure of playing with you again.
(Miriam)
VINCE
self-vote
VINCE
This vote goes to Vince. I haven't seen him around lately, I'm sure he is a great kid, too bad it didn't work out.
(Janei)
VINCE
(Karen)
Vince, you've received 6 out of 8 possible votes. Your tribe has spoken. Bring me your torch. The rest of you may head back to camp.
CREE TRIBE
| Name | Received Votes from |
| VINCE | Rob Karen Staton Miriam Janei self |
| MIKE | self |
| AIDEN | self |
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