Bring the Popcorn

**Bring the Popcorn** is the season premiere of *Survivor: Cook Islands*.

## Story

### Day 1

After all four tribes collected items and jumped to their raft from the boat, when season started.

Bakhao Tribe arrived to their camp. Cornelia, Lusi, Matt, Nico and Theo welcome each other. Nico feels great, because he wanted to be in a very strong tribe and he feels like he has now. Nico is taking the tribe leader role. He tells everybody they should work on camp early, so they will have more time to meet each other. Cornelia and Lusi are working together. Lusi tells Cornelia, that she's glad about having Cornelia here, because she seems to be a very strong woman. Cornelia is happy to have Lucy too. She tells her they need to be careful because there's 3 men against 2 women. Lusi is saying that it will be easy to throw Nico under the bus, because he's bossy. Cornelia agrees and laughs about it.

Makawe Tribe arrives to their camp. B'shara, Darnique, Feleysa, Giovante and Jalal welcome each other. B'shara is worried about being in a such young tribe. The only thing that is making her happy is that there's more women. They start to build a shelter. Darnique asks Giovante about his occupation. Giovante is talking about being a hairdresser and Darnique surprises everybody talking about working in circus. They've bonded a lot.

At Komai Tribe, Boon-nam, Cui, Han, Xiong and Yabuchi welcome each other. They start to build a shelter, as they want to finish as soon as possible. Xiong is very clumsy, it makes guys mad but Boon-nam likes Xiong. She feels like Xiong is her little sister. Cui and Han talk in the woods. Han approaches Cui about all men alliance. Cui is 100% on board. Yabuchi sees them and joins. They tell him about this idea. Yabuchi is not very sure about it, but he agrees. Yabuchi feels like he needs to think about it, because it's sketchy for him to make an alliance so early.

Aomaya Tribe arrives to their beach. Audrey, Ervin, Kelli, Rickey and Wendy meet each other. They introduce to each other and then start to work. While building a shelter, Audrey whispers to Ervin and Wendy to make a "youth alliance". They smile and agree. Audrey feels like she has to make allies quickly, because there's only five people in the tribe.

### Day 2

At Bakhao, Cornelia and Lusi talk with each other a lot, while Nico and Theo work. Matt watches them and thinks he doesn't like his tribemates. He feels alienated. People see how Matt behaves and that he's dissatisfied. Lusi wants to vote out Matt as soon as possible, because he doesn't fit in the group.

At Makawe Tribe, Feleysa spends some time with Giovante. They talk about some stories from their lifes. Feleysa asks Giovante about Darnique. She thinks she may be jealous, because Giovante talks with her. Giovante doesn't think so, also he mentions to Feleysa that he would love to work with them and vote out Jalal first. Feleysa says that B'shara is more separated from the tribe, because she's older but she will do whatever Giovante wants. Giovante says that they will talk about it, but he's happy to have her and Darnique.

At Komai Tribe, Xiong starts to hang out with guys and talk with them a lot. That leaves Boon-nam totally alone. She isolates herself and spends some time alone on the beach. She starts to cry but she tells to herself to get a grip.

At Aomaya Tribe, Kelli and Rickey have a walk in the woods. Kelli says that she wants to work with him and Rickey feels the same. He's telling Kelli, that they need to bring Wendy to their side, because she seems to be more open for discussion than Ervin and Audrey. Kelli agrees.

### Day 3

After the Immunity Challenge, Aomaya Tribe as the losing tribe had to pick one person either from Komai, Makawe or Bakhao to go to Exile Island. They picked Nico.

On the Exile Island, Nico reads a clue of the location to Hidden Immunity Idol. He can't find it.

Back at Aomaya Tribe, the five losers came back to their camp. Wendy feels like it's going to be younger group against older group, so she's happy. Audrey looks at Wendy and Ervin. They whisper about voting out Rickey. Ervin says that they should split, because it will be suspicious. Later on, Kelli talks with Wendy about Tribal Council. Wendy says that she's open for her proposition. Kelli talks about Ervin being a very good social player but at the same time, she can't stand his selfishness. Wendy tells her that she has to think about it. Kelli asks Wendy if they can talk later with Audrey and Rickey. Wendy agrees.

Later on, Rickey and Kelli talk with Audrey and Wendy. Audrey feels uncomfortable about Ervin being left alone in camp. Wendy wants to quickly discuss Ervin's elimination and go back. Rickey says it's obvious as there are all of them except for Ervin. They are all back to camp. Ervin sees how Wendy and Audrey are back and ask them what the hell is going on. Audrey whispers to him: "it's you." Ervin is mad, but Wendy hugs him and tells him they've got his back. Wendy feels like the best option is to stay loyal to Ervin and Audrey.

In the end, Rickey is voted out by a vote of 3-2.

## Challenges

**Reward/Immunity Challenge:** **Lock, Load and Light**
The tribes must run up and over two sand mounds, assemble a puzzle boat using unique braces to hold it together, row out to a cauldron, light a torch, row back, remove the braces, and take them to the starting line. Two players will use 16 puzzle pieces to assemble blocks representing compass directions, after which the entire tribe must then fit the blocks and braces into a climbing wall, and climb up to light a fire bale. The first three tribes to do so would win reward and immunity.

**Reward:** Flint for the first three tribes to finish. In addition, the first-placing tribe would win a crate full of fire-making essentials (firewood, husks, kerosene, etc.)

**Winner:** Komai, Makawe and Bakhao (*Aomaya exiled Nico Acaunus*)

## Tribal Council

 Ervin (2 votes)
 VOTED OFF:Rickey McDonald