Episode 7 ended with a shakeup. First, Amy lost her bid to stay in the game and was voted out. Next, immediately after the Tribal Council was over, Jeff Probst told the remaining four Yaxhá tribe members to drop their blue buffs and head over to Nakúm camp with new red buffs for all. It's the merger!
From the previews, we see the Nakúm-ians aren't thrilled to be woken from sleep by in the incoming tribe. Will the less than friendly Jamie react in a positive manner when he sees the "enemy" joining him?
The men of the new tribe out-number the women 6-4. How big a factor will that be in ensuing challenges and Tribal Councils? And which of the men will emerge as the new leader? Judd has been fancying himself as the Alpha make, but will Gary with his years of leadership experience behind him, challenge Judd? Or perhaps will Gary continue his laid-back, mellow style? Who knows?
One thing for certain: there are more surprises in store!
Now, for Episode 8:
It's night on Day 18, when the four remaining Yaxhá tribe members make their way to the Nakúm camp, where the Nakúm-ians are fast asleep and not happy to be woken up. However, before entering camp, Bobby-Jon, Brandon , Danni and Gary agree they'll stick together and do whatever it takes, even if it means working hard as "servants" to the Nakúm tribe. They share a group handshake, saying "One, two, three, team!"
Bobby-Jon grumbles, saying he can't be around Stephenie without wanting to vomit, or around Jamie without wanting to knock him out.
The Nakúm-ians aren't happy to see the four players. Jamie says there's no room in the shelter and the newcomers will have to sleep outside.
In the morning of Day 19, Bobby-Jon busies himself bringing in loads of wood. The new red buffs are handed around and Brandon observes the interactions between the rest of the players, ssaying they are not one big happy family. Danni feels like an outsider and her feelings are demonstrated by the separation of the two ex-tribes. Brandon believes it's either him or Bobby-Jon on the chopping block as Lydia and Rafe retrieve a basket containing paints and a new flag for the new tribe which needs a name. In addition, there's a note announcing that there is a small idol hidden somewhere in the area. The one player who finds it can claim immunity any time up to the Final Four Tribal Council. This immunity is separate from the Immunity Challenge win, and the finder can either reveal or conceal possession of the idol.
The players immediately start searching. Gary says if he finds it, he won't say a word. A heavy rain makes searching difficult as Bobby-Jon calls Stephenie aside to ask for her help in getting on the jury. Steph listens to him, and agrees that she'll do what she can, as long as Brandon doens't win the next Immunity Cahallenge. Later she says that either he or Brandon will go next.
Lydia acts as cheerleader and encourages the others to decide on a new name for the merged tribe. The players agree on Xhakúm, pronounced Shakuum, a merge of the old tribal names and they paint their new flag with the name and tribal symbols.
The search for the idol continues. Judd pronounces himself exhausted looking for the idol that's driving him crazy. Rafe looks, laughing at himself for being the worst "finder," and when he touches a hornet's nest and runs back to camp, he says the hornets were a mesage from the Mayan gods and he's stopped looking.
The Xhakúm group knows that a merger calls for food and grumble that there is none. Danni doesn't like this attitude and she Gary, Brandon, and Bobby-Jon go fishing while the six others remain behind and scramble for chocolate crumbs. This annoys Brandon, but the separation calls for strategizing from both groups.
Jamie scorns the other group and says "let those guys go home," but Rafe doesn't like the hostile attitudes and the "them or us" thinking. However, they agree that they will send Brandon home first, followed by Bobby-Jon and then Danni.
On Day 21, with a lazy day ahead of them, the new tribe enjoys the crocodile-free pool. Steph is pleased to hang out, but Bobby-Jon is determined that none of the Nakúm-ians are going to the Final 6. Rafe expresses his unhappiness with "bashing people when they're not around."
