Opening Pandora's Box

Opening Pandora's Box is the third episode of .
==Story==
===Day 7===
As morning broke over Galang, the tribe gathered around the campfire, discussing Tyson Apostol's cupcake belt buckle and joking about food temptation ("Who wants to take a lick?"). Colton Cumbie, however, tried to divert the conversation once more to strategy, wanting to plan ahead for who would sit out the upcoming challenges, but was quickly shut down by the rest of Galang. Later, Colton talked with Aras Baskauskas about his place in the game. Aras admitted that Colton was in trouble, but tried to persuade him that it wasn't over yet as there was still an opportunity for someone else to make themselves a bigger target. Colton begged Aras for a second chance, but Aras said he couldn't commit to that, leaving him with a simple directive to "enjoy yourself."
Later that day, the tribes convened at Redemption Island Arena for the second Duel. Galang got their first look at the new Tadhana tribe, with Rachel Foulger voted out at the last Tribal Council. Rachel, Candice Cody and Marissa Peterson then entered the Arena, ready to compete in the challenge. Jeff Probst turned to Tyson and asked him about his reaction seeing his girlfriend voted out. He admitted that it was probably a smart move if the other tribe was trying to lure him into taking her place at Redemption. Rachel agreed with the theory behind her elimination from Tadhana, and revealed that Brad Culpepper was controlling the votes on her former tribe. Jeff asked Tyson if he was going to take Rachel's place, but Tyson told Rachel it was her decision. She told him that she felt he had a better chance in the game, and supposed that he was in a good place in Galang, choosing to stay at Redemption herself. Tyson then stood up, threatened Tadhana that if he ended up at Redemption, none of them would "have a chance in hell" and addressed "Mr. Football," (Brad) warning him that "you can be big, but that is the worst thing you can be in this game".
Brad retorted that Galang hadn't had to make the difficult choices of voting out peoples' loved ones. Marissa interrupted him, arguing that the votes should have been easy, and that they should voted out the weaker players instead of their two strongest women. Brad tried to brush the comment aside, and Marissa cussed Brad out twice, eliciting a strong reaction from the contestants and prompting her uncle Gervase Peterson to warn her to tone it down.
Out of the blue, Colton broke down in tears. Jeff asked him why he was crying, and he answered that he didn't want to be in the game anymore. Jeff pointed out that Colton had wanted to come back and rehabilitate his image, but he was doing the exact opposite. Colton responded that he didn't care about his tribe and that quitting would be the best move for him, which Jeff defined as a purely selfish move. Jeff continued by saying that he believed Colton was quitting for a second time, having feigned appendicitis in One World, but Colton denied it, saying he had been treated for a bacterial infection after his evacuation.
Growing more distraught, Colton rationalized that when he was under pressure, he reverted to the unpleasant person he had been in his first season, but Tyson interjected that he had turned into that person "before his back was against the wall." Tina Wesson then added Colton knew he had no chance to win the game, and was merely upset because the rest of the tribe didn't want to play his game. Jeff then asked Colton definitively if he was quitting, and Colton confirmed it.
Jeff turned to Colton's fiancée Caleb Bankston, who admitted that his heart was "crumbling" knowing that Colton was such a fan of the game. However, Jeff pointed out that watching the game and playing the game were entirely different things, adding that he believed Colton should never have gotten up off of the couch. A tearful Colton crossed the bleachers to embrace Caleb, and told Caleb that the latter had a chance to win whereas he didn't. An unflappable Caleb responded, "If you need to do this, just do it. You know me, I don't care." An incredulous Jeff denied Colton the honor of burning his Buff ("we'll keep that reserved for people who compete") and dismissed Colton from the game, making him the second person eliminated from .
Turning back to the Duel, Jeff explained the challenge: Domino Effect. Each contestant would place a series of dominoes along a sloped platform, avoiding trip wires that could cause the platform to move and knock over the dominoes and force them to restart. The first two people to complete their row, and push them over like dominoes to release a ball to smash a tile, would remain in the game at Redemption Island. Additionally, the first-place finisher would also be given the opportunity to give a clue to the Hidden Immunity Idol to anybody still left in the game. The last person to finish the challenge would be permanently eliminated from the game.
All three women got off to a solid start as the blaring sun bore down on them. Candice pulled out to an early lead, and pushed down her dominoes, successfully smashing the tile and winning the Duel. She rushed to the bleachers to kiss her husband John Cody. Meanwhile, Marissa and Rachel fought for the last remaining place on Redemption. Marissa made an attempt to push over her dominoes, but it fell short. Rachel then tripped the platform, costing her almost half of her pieces. With moral support from their loved ones, the two women fought the heat, the panic and multiple failed runs and accidents. After 45 minutes, both women were only a few blocks away from completion. Marissa got her dominoes falling first, with Rachel only seconds behind. However, Rachel's fell short whilst Marissa's succeeded, earning her the last remaining place at Redemption.
Tyson entered the Arena to farewell Rachel, asking her if she had had fun during her time on the Island. Tearfully, she assured him that she had, and burnt her Buff as she departed the Arena, making her the third person eliminated from . Candice once again chose to give the Hidden Immunity Idol clue to her husband John, and she and Marissa returned to Redemption Island to await their next Duel.
As Galang returned to camp, Tyson assured his tribe that he was holding up well despite the loss of Rachel. Aras assured them that he'd made the right move to not take her place at Redemption. Conversation also passed over Colton's unexpected quit, with the tribe agreeing that he simply couldn't handle their unwillingness to play by his rules. Monica Culpepper, meanwhile, noted that she was only struck by the abuse hurled at her husband Brad, and in a confessional, Tyson noted the awkwardness of the situation, knowing that Brad had been responsible for Rachel's elimination.
Meanwhile, at Tadhana, Brad asked his tribe if he was acting tyrannical, and they assured him that he wasn't. He expressed frustration towards the Redemption Island twist, since the people they voted out still got a chance to air the "dirty laundry," but in a confessional, revealed that he still felt secure in his game, despite being targeted by Marissa and Tyson at the Duel.
Later, John snuck out of camp to read the next clue for the Idol: The waterfall is refreshing, but not as refreshing as power in this game. Find the "serpent" in the trees and dig for the power to save your flame. Deducing that the Idol was buried on the way to the waterfall, John decided to share the clue with Brad, hoping to assuage any suspicions that he was being sneaky. On a water run, he told Brad about the location of the Idol, but when Brad suggested they work together to find it, John said that he was worried that if the two of them went out Idol-hunting together, it could arouse suspicion from the rest of the Five Guys Alliance. John suggested that he continue to look for the Idol on his own, prompting Brad to worry about John's true allegiances.
===Day 8===
Monica returned to the Galang camp with Tree Mail about the upcoming challenge, revealing that it was to be a physical fighting challenge. The group discussed who they would like to fight, with Aras saying he would like to challenge his brother Vytas Baskauskas. The feeling was mutual, as on Tadhana, where Brad was doling out pointers on how to go into such a challenge. Vytas hoped to finally best his brother in a challenge.
At the Immunity Challenge, Jeff took back the Immunity Idol and then revealed the rules of . One member from each tribe would square off against each other on a floating platform. Using padded bags, they would attempt to knock their opponent off of the platform to score a point. The first tribe to five points would win immunity, as well as a choice of comfort (a tarp, pillows, blankets, mosquito nets, hammock, and rope) or fishing gear. To even up the tribes, Monica sat out for Galang.
In the first round, Brad took on Gervase. Gervase made the first move, and held up a fight, but Brad bested him to score the first point for Tadhana. Next, Laura Boneham took on Katie Collins, where Laura bulldozed Katie into the water to even up the score at 1-1. John then challenged Aras and won out in the evenly-matched pairing to give Tadhana a 2-1 lead. Ciera Eastin and Kat Edorsson blew kisses to each other before the challenge, but when Kat knocked Ciera into the water with a single push, she once again evened the score.
Hayden Moss and Tyson shook hands before their bout. Hayden hit hard with his first push, and Tyson immediately jumped into the water, giving Tadhana a 3-2 lead. However, Tyson revealed that he had heard his shoulder pop during the challenge and the Medical Team was called in to examine it. Dr. Ramona assessed the injury as a popped shoulder with a potential torn tendon. However, she noted that these injuries did heal quickly and although he couldn't compete in the challenge, he was okay to stay in the game.
In the first loved ones matchup, Katie and Tina squared off, with Tina trying to make her daughter laugh to throw her off. Katie gained an early advantage, getting Tina on the ground, but the mother regained her feet and managed to push Katie in the water to even the scores once again at 3-3.
Brothers Aras and Vytas were next on the mat and Jeff quizzed them about sibling rivalry: Vytas said that Aras had been "afraid of [him] since he was a little kid," and Aras admitted he felt like he was seven-years-old once again, but wanted to take on the bully. Aras gained an early advantage, with Vytas losing his balance and staying down. However, Vytas stayed firm, preventing his brother from rolling him off into the water. Eventually exhausted, Aras backed up, telling his brother to stand up and offering to start the bout again. However, Vytas took advantage of his brother letting his guard down and attacked Aras unexpectedly. However, Aras fought back and finally bested his older brother to give Galang the lead, 4-3. Jeff asked Aras about how it felt to win, and choking back tears, he explained that it was difficult, because he loved his brother and didn't enjoy fighting against him, but was proud that he'd won out the battle. Vytas echoed the sentiment.
Once again, mother and daughter squared off, with Ciera taking on Laura Morett. Before the bout, Laura began to tear up, explaining, "That's my baby. And to hurt your own child intentionally? It's never fun." Ciera gave her mother permission to fight hard and the battle began. Evenly matched, the two women locked up in the middle of the platform, though it was Laura who eventually won out to score the fifth and final point for Galang to win them comfort and immunity. The two women hugged in the water, with Laura asking Ciera if she was angry with her. Ciera told her she wasn't angry and the two parted ways. Galang headed off victorious, but Tadhana had been defeated for the third time in a row, demoralizing them.
Returning to camp, the tribe discussed the challenge, agreeing that they had been clobbered by the other team, with Ciera and Vytas particularly disappointed by being beaten so handily by their loved ones. The Five Guys Alliance met at the well, with John focusing on the poor challenge performance and noting the necessity for getting rid of the weaker women. He targeted Ciera for her lack of contribution in both challenges and at camp. The alliance agreed, but as soon as John left to walk back to camp (and search for the Idol), Brad suggested blindsiding their ally, fearing that he could reconnect with his wife Candice down the road and abandon them. Brad also shared the Idol clues with the rest of the men.
Back at camp, the men told Ciera and Katie about the plan to blindside John. However, Brad stuck his foot in his mouth when he bluntly told the girls that if John didn't go, then they would, and overplayed his hand by telling them that he might still vote for Ciera in order to avoid burning his bridges if John ever got back in the game. Brad's weaseling out of writing John's name down did not sit well with the rest of the tribe. Later, Ciera expressed her worries about John's Idol, and in discussion with Hayden, Katie and Vytas, considered turning the vote on Brad. However, the group worried that it could be more dangerous to risk keeping John and potentially give him more opportunity to find the Idol. Tadhana departed for Tribal with only one certainty: that a blindside lay in wait.
At Tribal Council, Jeff began by asking John about Tadhana's losing streak, with John noting that the male brawn was one of the tribe's strengths, but noted that everybody on the tribe needed to be capable of winning themselves. Katie was then asked about her second time losing to her mother, and she noted that it was unfortunate particularly because the gender imbalance had forced her and Ciera to have to compete multiple times. Ciera agreed that it had been rough, embarrassing and disappointing to the team.
Caleb was asked about the precedent of sending women home set by the first three votes. He bluntly agreed that Tadhana was dominated by the men. Vytas countered that it wasn't "quite as rudimentary as men versus women," pointing to the element of trust as the deciding factor in the votes, and that every word or action contributed to that decision. Brad said that such thinking concerned him, particularly because he had been taking the heat for the votes at Redemption Island, and denied being the leader of the tribe.
Jeff turned to John and asked him about the second Idol clue. He said that Candice was a "student of the game" and would have known that the public nature of his receipt of the clue would make him a target, but evidently trusted that he was in a safe place on his tribe. Vytas noted that while the Idol could help one's game, the fact that everybody knew about John's clues was worrying, and concluded that he was glad he wasn't the one holding the clues. Hayden revealed that John had not shared the clues with him, and said that it worried him a little, but at the end of the day, he had to take John on his word. Brad added that it was important to remember that in the end, this is an individual game.
Katie was then called to vote, with John and Hayden following. Ciera cast her vote for a huge threat. Caleb, Brad and Vytas concluded the proceedings before Jeff tallied the votes.
Nobody elected to play a Hidden Immunity Idol, and Jeff read the votes. The first vote was for Ciera, but in a unanimous decision, John became the fifth person voted out of . He took his snuffed torch and left for Redemption Island. As he dismissed the tribe, Jeff observed that they appeared to be making votes based on the future, but in doing so, were also weakening their tribe.
John arrived at Redemption Island dumbfounded and awoke his wife, Candice. She asked him what had happened and he answered that he didn't know. Trying to look on the bright side, John said that it was good that they were her reunited, but in unison, both Candice and Marissa returned, "It's not good! That's not good!"
==Challenges==
<tabber>Redemption Island Duel=Challenge: Domino EffectThe three castaways each stack domino style wooden blocks on their separate raised courses. Once all of the blocks are properly stacked on the course, the castaway can then start a chain reaction by releasing a ball which travels down the course to the end and smashes a tile. First castaway to break their tile wins.Winners (in order of finish): and (Candice gave Hidden Immunity Idol clue to )|-|Reward/Immunity=
Challenge: Tribe members engage one on one sumo-style battles using padded duffel bags to knock their opponents off a platform raised over the sea. The first tribe to five points wins.Reward: Comfort items (tarp, pillows, blankets, hammock, mosquito nets, and rope) or fishing gear.Winner: </tabber>
==Redemption Island==
colspan="2"	
Competitors	Result(according to finish)
 	Won
 	Won
 	Lost
colspan="2"	
==Tribal Council==
===Day 7===
Removed fromRedemption Island Arena
===Day 8===
colspan="2" 	
VotedAgainst	Voter
 	
 	
colspan="2" 	
====Voting Confessionals====
Ciera's vote was not shown to the camera during her confessional.
===Still in the Running===
									
									
==Trivia==
==Secret Scenes===
* Day 7 at , Rachel expresses relief at not having to feign interest in her tribemates as she could be more "real" with Candice and Marissa. She vents her frustration with Brad, and the three women band together in a "Redemption Alliance" to expose Brad as a tyrannical dictator at the Duel, hoping to influence the game and see Brad voted out.http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/video/g3T0oY7DiIytwamYcaG6v6OPhpDwrOHn/survivor-blood-vs-water-secret-scene-rachel/
* Tadhana Returns from Tribal Council: After voting out Rachel, Tadhana returns to camp where John is on edge after receiving two votes from Ciera and Katie. Ciera discusses John's aversion to talking to her, while Brad (noting the shrewdness of the girls' plan to put votes on John in case he'd played an Idol for Rachel) pulls John aside to assuage his concerns and assure him that the Five Guys Alliance is still intact. John is relieved by this, but says the votes against him have been a wake-up call, and he needs to prioritize finding the idol.http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/video/
* Day 7 at Galang, Laura B. goes on a fishing expedition hoping to improve her position in the tribe.http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/survivor-blood-vs-water-episode-3/5/ 
* It Got Me Riled Up: Gervase talks about the Duel, saying that he feels for Tyson's loss of Rachel, but is secretly glad that Marissa would be able to take her on. He is also relieved that Rachel did not urge Tyson to swap with her as it would have significantly weakened Galang. He later expounds the the impact of the Blood vs. Water format and the difficulty of dealing with the fallout of playing with people who genuinely care for each other. He vows to defeat Tadhana in every Immunity Challenge and have Marissa exact her revenge on her former tribemates by beating them on Redemption Island.
* Don't Want to Get Too Cocky: Candice is elated of her second win, but is cautious from becoming too confident. 
* It Puts a Target on His Back: Hayden talks about the target placed on John's back after receiving a second clue to the Hidden Immunity Idol, saying that he will be surprised if a smart person like John does not find the idol even with two clues. However, he points out the advantages of having an Idol within the Five Guys Alliance.
* Caleb Reacts to Colton Quitting: After the duel, Caleb laments on Colton leaving the game but feels "a weight lifted off [his] shoulders".
** No Negative Effect on the Tribe: Tyson states that Colton will not be missed and camp life will be quieter without him.
* I Was Shocked: Marissa is shocked to see Colton quit the game, but pragmatically approaches it because there is one less person she will have to beat.
* He Showed His True Colors: Brad is disgusted with Colton's quit, especially when the game has not gone cutthroat enough yet.
* It's Hard for Me to Hear: Following a sleepless night after the Duel in which Marissa had cussed out Brad, Monica finds it difficult to stand by as her husband is called out.
* Tyson Sees the Doctor: Dr. Ramona Salins examines Tyson's shoulder injury that he sustained during the Immunity Challenge and states that Tyson may not have just dislocated a shoulder but also tore a tendon behind the affected shoulder. Dr. Ramona suggests to have Tyson be examined further by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), but she rules out pulling him from the game.
* The Challenge Was Rough: After the Immunity Challenge, Ciera admits she knew her mother will defeat her as they often pick fights at home and wrestled where and Laura always won. 
* No Mercy: Also after the Immunity Challenge, Katie notes that their loved ones show no mercy at them in challenges.
* I Was a Nervous Wreck: Aras recounts his match with his brother Vytas at the Immunity Challenge as a proud moment for him and a point of bragging rights between the two of them. 
* Aras is an Emotional Guy: Vytas echoed Aras' comments about their match, believing that Aras had tapped into all the pent-up anger and emotion directed towards him. Vytas describes his brother's victory as "cathartic."
* I Still Got a Little Bit of Fight: Tina brings up her match with Katie; that her body is not as physically strong as it used to be.
* I Knew She Couldn't Beat Me: Laura M. expresses she knew she will defeat Ciera, but fears for her safety in the game every time she defeats her.
* No Idea What's Going On: Kat is not worried about sending her boyfriend to Tribal Council as she believes he is in a strong alliance. 
===Other===
* This episode marks the first time a contestant quits a season with Redemption Island in play. This is also the first time a contestant on a season with Redemption Island is permanently eliminated prior to the finale without them having lost a duel.
==References==
Category:Episodes
Category:Survivor (U.S.)
2703
Category:Survivor: Blood vs. Water
03