Heading into the third episode of Survivor 51, Rob Antonson had just been told by producers that he couldn’t, in fact, cast a vote against himself. Instead, Rob voted where he thought the majority of Savu was going — against Eric Macksoud, who he had also promised to use his hidden idol to save. Rob was wrong there, as well, because most of the tribe ousted Ana Sani in what Eric calls a “complete and 100% bonafide guaranteed bada-bing success.”

Tonight, both tribes are thrown for a loop when an unexpected invite sends one of their own to “mingle” at the other beach with an offer to mutiny and join them. Chaos ensues, as new opportunities arise for players on the outs and the game’s earliest alliances experience a shift in where the real power resides.

Another Injury

As Day 6 begins, Rob struggles with a lack of sleep and a desire to leave the game without formally quitting. Seen by medical for what becomes the game’s third injury, it is confirmed that no visible issue can be detected in Rob’s foot despite his wincing from what he claims is an infection. Jeff Probst makes clear that while he’s not pulled from the game, Rob has made the decision to leave of his own accord, leaving Savu to wonder if what he’s actually suffering from is the “emotional injury” of being on the wrong side of last night’s vote.

Rob’s exit serves as a stark contrast to two other injured players, one with a severed thumb and another with a broken foot, who remain active. Before Rob makes his exit, he secretly passes his hidden idol to Carter Krull, offering his ally a little bit of safety going forward.

Time to Mingle

A note arrives at both camps asking them to choose one person to journey to the other tribe’s beach. Savu draws rocks and Carter is picked to visit Toka. Devin Way openly volunteers at Toka and is sent away to Savu. While on their way, both gents receive a second note informing them of the whereabouts of an advantage at their destination. In addition, the twist comes with the layer of mutiny, an offer to join the other tribe instead of returning to their original home.

Embracing his “weaponized honesty” mentality, Devin tells Savu all about the chance to mutiny, but quickly rejects staying with them at their “soggy” camp. Before he leaves, Sharonda Cox pulls him aside for a one-on-one where they affirm their commitment to the Helicopter Alliance and, together, uncover his Secret Extra Vote advantage at the water well. Later, he keeps Helicopter ally Ori Jean-Charles in the know about the advantage, and in other conversations, plants the seed of doubt against Danny Kilby.

Carter is almost as honest at Toka, informing them that Linnea Capobianco and Sharonda are running things at Savu, but initially omitting details about his journey. Mike Pinsky is immediately drawn to Carter (likens him to Survivor: Tocantins winner J.T. Thomas) and while the two of them are away in a one-on-one, Lewis Kelly and the others go into Carter’s bag and find the note about the advantage in the oar of their boat and his opportunity to mutiny. Maggie Nestor is already at the oar when Brady arrives with the machete, so they find the Secret Extra Vote advantage together. Brady allows Maggie to keep it with a promise that she uses it to vote the way he does. Later, Brady delivers a hard pitch to Carter that he stay at their camp and join him in an alliance. Carter puts that thought on ice, but is forced to stay when he misses the boat to leave while unsuccessfully looking for the oars on the beach. Whether he wanted to or not, Carter becomes a member of Toka.

Immunity Challenge

Carter gets his new Toka buff at the Immunity/Reward Challenge, leaving Savu with only seven players compared to Toka’s eleven. As such, four players sit out for Toka (Maggie, Kilby, Mike and Jelly) and the rest race through a course that ends with a very steep ramp and, of course, a puzzle. Both tribes make it to the ramp at the same time and while Toka is quicker at getting up and over it, Jenna Doore and Thien An Nguyen squander their huge lead on the puzzle, ultimately losing to the “underdog” Savu tribe, who walks away with safety and four egg-laying chickens as a reward.

Tribal Council

Upon returning to camp to deal with their loss, Savu splits along lines of tension that already exist between Devin and Kilby. Together, Devin and his alliance of Brady, Jelly, Mike and Patt Cannaday plan a “kill shot” to get rid of Kilby, who they see as the leader of the other side of the tribe. Needing a sixth vote, the group is worried about trusting that “wild cards” Carter and Lewis. Based on his experience at Savu, Carter prefers to not stir the pot with this vote, but Lewis doesn’t want to give the wrong side of their tribe too much power.

On the other side, Kilby and Maggie initially decide they should target Mike because the others are “off the table” for either of them. Kilby thinks he’s closer with Brady than Devin is and informs him of the vote on Mike, but Thien An later switches the target to Patt because Mike “will be an easy vote later.”

In the vote at Tribal Council, Devin and Patt’s “kill shot” on Kilby misses as the 6-5 majority goes for Patt instead, including votes from Lewis and Carter.