Survivor 44 episode 4 twists and turns players for a loop

Survivor 44 episode 4 drops players and fans for a loop as a new twist enters the game. As players compete in a reward challenge, the winning team gets to pick one person from each of the three tribes to go off on a separate adventure. Although viewers have seen this concept before, the resulting twist when the trio reaches their destination gives us something new to think about.

What new twist was added to Survivor 44 episode 4?

After the Soka tribe won the reward challenge, they selected Josh as their representative in this three-person trek. They also picked Jaime from Ratu and Carson from Tika. After the three go on their hike together, each castaway separates onto their own path leading to a piece of parchment with a bag next to it.

Right off the bat, the parchment reads: “You have earned a hidden immunity idol.” That’s right – these players just earned an idol and all they had to do was be selected for this trek. However, it wouldn’t be Survivor if there wasn’t a caveat added to this newly earned advantage. Each player will reach into the bag, pull out a brand-new buff and join one of the other tribes.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding players when they switch tribes, the ultimate advantage comes with this idol. Survivor 44 has given its players real and fake idols, and now it gives them ones with an expiration date. Each one earned on this hike can only be used before the merge. Once all the tribes are merged onto one beach, those idols become powerless. With how this season is going, I’m guessing they could be used as leverage later if players decide to tell others it’s still valid.

Who wins and who is going back to tribal council?

The immunity challenge looked exhausting, and by the reactions of the players performing in said challenge, it had to be! This water obstacle course had players climbing up a ladder and jumping out hoping to grab a key before splashing into the water. If successful, they would swim to a floating balancing beam which they’d have to cross before swimming to the final landing platform.

In this instant, Lauren was the one player who missed their key when leaping from the high platform. It’s important to note she did not hesitate to continue forward, which meant someone would have to swim back and take her place. This decision benefited them as Brandon made the long swim back in her place; if she had tried to get the key again and missed, the Ratu tribe would’ve fallen farther behind. Soka was in the final puzzle phase of the challenge first and their lead was insurmountable.

The last two tribes were only a few puzzle pieces apart, and the Ratu tribe eked out the victory over Tika. Survivor 44 episode 4 highlights how a team is never truly out of it as long as players continue to push forward. In this case, Lauren recognized the key was too far out of reach and didn’t waste time, which allowed her tribe to get back into the challenge and earn immunity and avoid the dreaded tribal council.

Will one of the Survivor 44 players be voted out after being handed a free idol?

The Tika tribe lost the immunity challenge, so the four-person tribe was back at tribal council. As Josh is the newest member of the tribe, it seems obvious for Carolyn, Yam Yam, and Sarah to vote him out. Although they are apprehensive about him potentially having an idol, Yam Yam unleashes a plan to throw Carolyn’s name as the target – which she’s rightfully unhappy about – and tell Josh they want to work with him.

Josh and Carolyn also spend time together and he tells her about his idol. He tells her he’ll play it for her since the others are voting for her. As we all shout, “Please play the idol for yourself, Josh,” it’s safe to say he heard all of our screams. The interesting dynamic that comes from Survivor 44 episode 4 is Yam Yam admitting to Carolyn that others would see him as the threat and not her. Sometimes, honesty does come back to bite people in this game.

Carolyn highlights her frustrations during confessionals, but she can also see the writing on the wall. Josh says, “I’ll play this for you and we’ll both vote out Sarah.” Does he end up playing the idol for Carolyn? No. He does play it for himself (*breathes a sigh of relief*), but Yam Yam and Sarah’s plan to use Carolyn as the decoy would’ve sent her packing. If Josh played the idol and they told him to vote for her, his potential vote for her would’ve been the only one that mattered.

Who was voted out of Survivor 44 episode 4 and what’s next?

If Josh had voted for her, Carolyn’s vote for someone else would have at least brought it to a tie. Unfortunately for Sarah, Carolyn and Josh teamed up and their two votes made her the fifth player to be sent home. Carolyn decided to protect her life in the game by casting a vote for Sarah while potentially forming an alliance with Josh. As for Carolyn and Yam Yam’s previous bond, it will be interesting to see whether they move forward as friends or enemies.

Were you glad Josh played the idol for himself in Survivor 44 episode 4? Will we see fireworks from Carolyn and Yam Yam next week? Did you like the new twist that sent one player from each group to a new tribe? Share your thoughts in the comments below and don’t forget to follow Hidden Remote for more Survivor coverage!