We knew going into episode four of Survivor 51 that we were going to get a Tribs swap. But with 17 people left in the game after Rob’s quit, we were wondering how the two Tribes were going to split into three. We got our answer in this episode, but before the Tribes meet Jeff Probst on a beach, Kilby confronts his Toka Tribe members about trying to blindside him at Tribal. Devon, Jelly, and Mike own up to it. All Brady cares about is why Maggie lied to him. Lewis is struggling and feels ill, but he says in a confessional that him and Carter had a mindset that they were not going to let a majority alliance dominate the game in the Open Era. Jelly tells us that Patt was the only one that knew about her idol, and this is the first time she’s truly felt blindsided.

Here are the new Tribes:

  • Toka: Brady, Kristin, Carter, Maggie, Thien, Mike
  • Savu: Jenna, Ora, Devon, Jelly, Alexis 
  • Dina (NEW): Linnea, Cristian, Sharonda, Lewis, Danny, Eric

At Toka camp, as a crisis manager, Kristin makes in-roads quickly by telling the Tribe that Toka means a family of Tribes. Brady feels close to her immediately, and Mike and Carter both individually try to make good after the blindside of Ana and then they both in separate confessionals say they don’t trust her.

Over on Savu, Jenna realizes that if this Tribe does go to Tribal Council, her only shot of survival will be to stay old Toka strong, and that is what she tries to preach to Devon and Jelly immediately. Meanwhile, Devon is focused on trying to get Jelly and Ori to start a showmance and solidifying the helicopter alliance with Ori.

On the outside looking in, the new Dina Tribe looks like the weakest. The two strongest guys on the Tribe -- Kilby and Eric -- connect right away, which Cristian and Shanadra notice. Lewis is pretty much out of it this episode, taking a nap in the boat, as he is still feeling ill.

For immunity, Tribes must pass a bucket of water to their teammates to get enough water to lower a ball from a cylinder, then maneuver that ball through a wheel maze. Winners earn a full coffee bar while second place gets a pitcher of ice coffee.

Dina ends up finishing first, with Toka coming up the rearview, sending Jenna, Jelly, Devon, Ori, and Alexis to Tribal. In a confessional, Jelly tells us that she thinks Alexis is a bigger threat than Jenna, but she doesn’t want to upset Ori. Alexis tells Jenna that Devon was throwing her name out during the mutiny to try and get her and Jenna to maybe work together. Alexis asks Jenna for her Shot in the Dark or her shoes to show trust. 

In the end, Jenna’s attempt to remain Toka strong is unsuccessful, and Devon’s prediction at the first Tribal that if she got through that Tribal she would make it to the end does not come to fruition, as she is voted out 4-1.

Jenna was a strong player who was this season’s person to get screwed by a Tribe swap. In last week’s recap, I said I wasn’t in favor of a Tribe swap because it feels too random after in-roads have already been made in the game, and I stick to that take.

This episode was probably the weakest of the season, but the swap did once again set precedent for the permanent uncertainty that is the Open Era. We saw a lot of Jelly, Devon, Kilby, Eric, Krisitn, and Brady this episode, and with the helicopter alliance again getting screentime, those six, along with Sharondra, feel like the main characters of the season, as we head into the merge in the next episode or two. I would keep my eye out on Jelly as a potential winner.