It's a Cruel, Cruel Game

**Next:** | "This Protects Me, and Me Only"

**It's a Cruel, Cruel Game** is the seventh episode of *Survivor: Thailand*.

## Story

### Night 17

When Phayao returned to camp after blindsiding Nasir Watts, Alessia pulls Espen and Tati aside to have a conversation with them about the vote tonight. Alessia tells the both of them that she felt like she couldn't trust Nasir.

### Day 18

At the Reward Challenge, the castaways climb a tower and launch sandbags at a target. Once they hit all the targets they win immunity. Kalasin won their third challenge in a row also earning an authentic Thai feast. Before Kalasin returns to their camp for a feast, they choose Novak to go to Exile Island. Novak chooses Serene to join him on Exile Island and miss out on the feast. The two head out to the boat, and head to Exile Island.

Upon arriving to Exile Island, Novak and Serene walk up to the urns where they both choose one. Novak chooses Urn 2, and Serene chooses Urn 1. They both open their urns. Novak opens his note and finds the note.

Novak walks down the path to read the note over again. He contemplates for himself a little.

Novak opens the dangerous note section, and he is given a map of the next immunity challenge and on the map is a circled spot as to where he can find the advantage.

On Kalasin, the tribe returns to their camp and awaiting them is a Thai feast out. They all sit down and enjoy the feast together.

While everyone is enjoying the food, Bree decides to share a story about the time she almost traveled to Thailand, but she ended up flying to China.

After the feast, Foley and Rico take a walk on the beach and start discussing the easy vote offs if they were to lose the challenge. Foley and Rico both agree that Helen gets on everyone's nerves the most over Darion.

Foley throws Bree under the bus for trying to make moves against the Phayao tribe already. Foley tells Rico that she's considering flipping to work with Darion and Helen to possibly get one of us out of the name. Rico tells Foley that she would need four votes, and she would only have three. He tells Foley it would make sense for her to do that.

Rico tells Foley that he doesn't think Bree would be that stupid to try to against the majority.

On Phayao tribe, the tribe returns to camp and goes their separate ways to find food to eat. Alessia and Tati decide to go hunt for food together. Alessia expresses how she's really right now in the game and feeling alone after she voted Nasir out of the game. Tati does her best to comfort Alessia.

Alessia apologies to Tati about betraying her at the tribal council. Tati understands that she had to do what was best for her game. Alessia tells Tati that she still wants to work with her. Tati tells Alessia that if she can keep her safe if they lose another challenge then she'll be down to work with her. Alessia tells Tati to not worry about anything that she has her back.

### Day 19

At the Immunity Challenge, Novak and Serene rejoin their tribe after being exiled at Exile Island. The players are explained the rules of the challenge. One person from each tribe will swim out, then race up a platform, dive into the water and retrieve a ring and bring it back. The next person from the tribe will then do the same. Once a tribe has collected all four rings, the two remaining tribe members will attempt to land those rings on posts. During the challenge, Novak swims out to retrieve a ring, but goes a little off course to dive underneath to grab the advantage that he shoves into his pants. His move goes unnoticed, and he is now the holder of a secret advantage. However, despite this, Phayao loses their fourth challenge in the row and will attend tribal challenge.

Returning from their loss at the challenge, Espen and Tati both seem defeated. Espen is furious about the constant losing.

Novak heads off into the woods alone to open the advantage that he received in the challenge. He opens the note and reveals a "block-a-vote advantage" that allows him to prevent a player from voting at any of the tribal councils up until the final six.

Tati talks with Alessia and Espen about the vote tonight. Tati thinks that they should try to convince one of them to vote with them. Espen and Tati both agree that Novak would be the best option to leave tonight.

Espen tells Tati that it seemed like Daughtry wanted her to go based on their recent conversation. Tati tells Espen that they have to try bring Freya into their group.

Tati calls over Freya who joins their group of three. Tati asks Freya what she thinks about Novak. Freya confesses that she doesn't have a preference right now, and she's willing to do whatever it takes.

Alessia, Daughtry, Freya and Novak meet up for a quick alliance meeting. Alessia, Freya and Novak all agree that if they were going to vote one of them out it should be Espen for being a physical threat and having a bad attitude around camp. Daughtry believes that Tati would be the smarter option because she's a social player and strategic.

Right before tribal council, Novak and Freya have a conversation about how they have really patched up their relationship over the course of the game. Novak feels grateful that they were given the chance to do so. Freya agrees.

The tribe grabs their torches and begin walking to tribal council.

At Tribal Council, Espen is asked about what happened after the seemingly shocking tribal council. Espen said that he lost friend since the start thanks to Alessia flipping on their original tribe. Alessia confesses that she felt like she would be able to work with the Kalasin members more than the phayao tribe. Tati admits that Alessia has tried to rebuild their relationship, and it has worked in some way. Espen is asked after last tribal if the vote would be between him and Tati. Espen answers saying that the vote would be between the two of them. Tati is asked what she has done to make sure it's not her. Tati expresses that she's talked with the people she needed to in order to make a move to change the game. Novak mentions that Tati didn't talk with him. Tati shrugs her shoulders, and tells him that he wasn't apart of the plan. Novak becomes anxious. The tribe gets up to vote.

After voting, they are asked if they would like to play a hidden immunity idol. Novak considers it for a second but ultimately decides to save it. In the end, Alessia, Daughtry, Freya and Novak stuck together for another vote to make Espen the eighth person voted out of Thailand. Tati sits alone as her last ally was just voted out of the game.

## Challenges

* Reward
* Immunity

**Challenge:** *Air Raid*

Both tribes will race up a tower and through a series of obstacles. Once all tribe members have made it to the top of the tower, they will each take turns launching sandbags with a giant slingshot. They will attempt to have the sandbags hit targets out in the field. The first tribe to hit all six targets wins reward.

**Reward:** An authentic Thai feast.

**Winner:** Kalasin

**Challenge:** *The Cruel Sea*

One person from each tribe will swim out, then race up a platform, dive into the water and retrieve a ring and bring it back. The next person from the tribe will then do the same. Once a tribe has collected all four rings, the two remaining tribe members will attempt to land those rings on posts. First tribe to finish wins Immunity.

**Winner:** Kalasin
## Tribal Council

 Espen (4 votes)
 Novak (2 votes)
 VOTED OUT:Espen Robles

## Trivia

### Episode Title

* The title was said by Rico Caddle about the harshness of the game.