'Survivor: David vs. Goliath' recap: Natalie Cole voted out of 'Survivor' after cyclone evacuation

Survivor: David vs. Goliath featured the entire cast being evacuated due to a storm and the subsequent elimination of Natalie Cole during Wednesday night's Survivor Season 37 episode on CBS.


Natalie Cole, a 56-year-old publishing CEO from Los Angeles, CA, became the sixth castaway to leave the game on Day 15 through a 3-2 vote instead of Lyrsa Torres, a 36-year-old airline agent from Puerto Rico, who currently resides in Boston, MA, at Tribal Council after her Jabeni tribe lost the Immunity Challenge.

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"I don't feel like I deserve all of the bad rap that I got. Some of the things that were said are true; however, I was loving the game and my only regret is that I didn't stay in the game longer," Natalie said following her Survivor ouster.

Following a recent tribal swap, the castaways were divided into three tribes: Vuku, Tiva and Jabeni.


In addition to Natalie and Lyrsa, Jabeni was also comprised of Nick Wilson, a 27-year-old public defender from Williamsburg, KY, who currently resides in London, KY; Mike White, a 47-year-old filmmaker from San Diego, CA, who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA and has previously competed on The Amazing Race; and Angelina Keeley, a 28-year-old financial consultant from Sparks, NV, who currently resides in San Clemente, CA.

Vuku was made up of Alec Merlino, a 24-year-old bartender from San Clemente, CA; Davie Rickenbacker, a 30-year-old social media manager from Orangeburg, SC, who currently resides in Atlanta, GA; Elizabeth Olson, a 31-year-old kitchen staffer from Dallas, Fort Worth, TX, who currently resides in Longview, TX; Carl Boudreaux, a 41-year-old truck driver from Beaumont, TX, who currently resides in Houston, TX; and Kara Kay, a 30-year-old realtor from San Diego, CA.

And Tiva featured Christian Hubicki, a 32-year-old robotics scientist from Baltimore, MD, who currently resides in Tallahassee, FL; Gabby Pascuzzi, a 25-year-old technical writer from St. Augustine, FL, who currently resides in Denver, CO; John Hennigan, a 38-year-old professional wrestler from Los Angeles, CA; Dan Rengering, a 27-year-old S.W.A.T. officer from Lake Butler, FL, who currently resides in Gainesville, FL; and Alison Raybould, a 28-year-old physician from Leawood, KS, who currently resides in Chapel Hill, NC.

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The Survivor broadcast began on Night 11 after Tribal Council at the Vuku tribe. Kara expressed how she felt "naked" and "exposed" because Alec had blindsided her and backstabbed Natalia.


Kara thought it was the wrong time to make a big move, but Alec promised Kara he was still playing the game with her. Alec promised they were allies while he just viewed the Davids as extra votes.

Kara realized she had some scrambling to do in order to get on the good graces of the Davids since Alec had become their "knight in shining armor."

Gabby was then shown saying on Day 12 she felt rejuvenated in the game and the morning sunlight was a sign of good things to come, but then footage flashed over to Jabeni's camp hours later and rain was pouring down on them.

Not only was there thunder and lightening, but the winds were extremely heavy and the tribes' camps were flooded.

At Vuku, Kara noted the weather was "insane" and then Carl read Tree Mail, revealing a "massive storm" or cyclone was set to hit the islands in the next several hours so producers were going to evacuate the castaways from the game.


Christian noted this season had been plagued with catastrophes and all 15 castaways were Davids on Day 12, facing the Goliath storm.

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On Day 14, the castaways returned to their respective camps and the shelters were "obliterated," according to Angelina.

"I feel like I have lived a lifetime out here on the island of Fiji -- two cyclones, a medical evacuation, a person quitting, I mean, it just speaks to the crazy nature of this game. It's moving at lightning-fast speed and it's up to us to keep up," Alison told the cameras.

The three tribes then gathered together and met Jeff Probst for the a Reward Challenge.


For the challenge, the players were required to use poles to knock sandbags out from an overhead net. Once all sandbags were collected, they'd use a giant slingshot to hit two targets.

The first tribe to finish would receive four hens and one rooster to eat, while the second tribe to finish would receive one dozen eggs.

Vuku finished in first place, and then Jabeni placed second.

Vuku won their first challenge, and once they returned to camp, Kara decided to throw Alec under the bus because there were only two Goliaths left again three Davids. Kara turned on her "social charm" and attempted to team up with Carl, Davie and then Elizabeth.

Elizabeth wanted to trust Kara, but she had a feeling Kara still wanted to work more with the Goliaths going forward. Elizabeth, however, did not get that sense when talking to Alec.


Since Alec had betrayed the Goliaths, Elizabeth noted Alec was going to need her a lot more than Kara would and so Kara was the one who needed to go home.

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Meanwhile, at Jabeni, Natalie insisted the tribe had to eat its eggs right away or they'd go back quickly in the sun.

Lyrsa didn't understand how Natalie could be so "egotistical." Since she graduated from culinary school Lyrsa insisted she knew what she was talking about and the eggs would be fine for a couple of days.

Mike said Natalie was putting a huge target on her back because every time a decision needed to be made, Natalie's voice was "the loudest and most intractable." Natalie was starting to wear on Mike's nerves and patience, and he was looking forward to playing the game without her.

On Day 15, at Tiva's camp, Dan noted Christian was definitely one of the guys with himself and John. They called themselves the "brochachas." Dan therefore called Gabby an "outsider" and admitted she'd probably be the first one to go.


Dan, who had a hidden Immunity Idol himself, went looking for another idol just to make sure Gabby didn't have one in her possession. Dan couldn't find another idol "for the life of me," but he came across a large open area and a piece of wood at the base of a tree that was wrapped in green.

Dan found a clue to a hidden Immunity Idol that read the idol would be waiting for him hidden on the underside of a station at which a ball must be untied. The location of the idol would require Dan to be daring, but if he could seize it, he'd obtain even more power in the game.

Dan was proud of himself for playing a great game, but he was afraid of getting caught at the next challenge.

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It then became time for the season's next Immunity Challenge. Jeff instructed each tribe to race up and over an obstacle, lift a ladder, climb up, use a rope to raise a bridge, cross the bridge, make their way to the finish, retrieve a ball, and finally maneuver the ball to the top of a snake maze.

The first two tribes to finish would be safe from the vote, while the losing tribe would be forced to attend Tribal Council.


Dan was ultimately able to take the idol from its hiding spot during the challenge.

Alec, Christian and Nick worked on the puzzle, and the winner was Alec. Vuku therefore won first place, and then Christian came through for Tiva, who placed second.

Jabeni would therefore be going to Tribal Council for the first time.

Lyrsa planned to vote for Natalie, saying, "I can't stand her." Lyrsa, however, feared the Goliaths staying strong because if that turned out to be the case, she or Nick would be in big trouble.

Natalie assumed the Goliaths were staying strong. Natalie, Mike, and Angelina then discussed voting out Lyrsa because they needed Nick in challenges going forward. Nick agreed they were going to vote Lyrsa out.

Because it was so cold outside, the castaways' jackets became hot commodities. Angelina desperately wanted Natalie's jacket, and Natalie hoped to obtain Lyrsa's jacket.


"You have to get it now or you're out of time," Natalie told Nick of Lyrsa's jacket.

"I'm not stealing anybody's stuff or anything like that," Nick replied.

"Well, how do you feel about giving up your jacket?" Natalie asked.

"No, I'm taking my jacket with me," he said.

"So the jacket is worth a million?" Natalie pushed.

"Are you trying to bully me or something?" Nick asked.


"No, I just asked a question -- that's not bullying," Natalie noted.

Nick thought Natalie was definitely bullying him because she was using her power position to coerce him into doing something he didn't want to do. Nick refused to tolerate Natalie's bullying and intimidation tactics.

Nick then warned Lyrsa that Natalie was after her jacket, and he really wanted Natalie to go. Mike, however, trusted Nick and the guys had become close, so Nick was going to try to convince Mike to get rid of Natalie.

Mike explained Angelina was on the fence but he was onboard with voting Natalie out. Mike just hoped Nick could get Angelina onboard because Mike didn't want his fellow Goliaths to lose trust in him or become angry with him.

Angelina noted to Mike and Lyrsa that Natalie's ouster was "long overdue." Angelina was nervous because it was a big move.

"This vote tonight is so critical, because given Natalia is out of the game now, by taking out Natalie, we are taking out another Goliath, which puts us even matched seven to seven with the Davids. So my mind is racing. This is definitely a big decision and there is no wiggle room or room for error," Angelina explained in a confessional.


That night, Jabeni attended Tribal Council, and Angelina said it was important to maintain the numbers so she had decided to stay "Goliath strong." Natalie agreed she had committed to the Goliaths as well.

Natalie insisted she's never the center of drama but seems to be the focus of drama all the time in Survivor.

Mike said Natalie had a lot of strong opinions about how things should happen at camp, such as where things should go and how quickly things should get done. Mike said "a disapproval" looms in the air if things don't go Natalie way.

Natalie, who works in sales back home, told Jeff that she had no problem with Angelina and was trying to use the jackets in her tribe as "a negotiation" instead of "bullying."

In Natalie's defense, Angelina announced Natalie was trying to help her out because she had been freezing at night and so her behavior "came from love."

Jeff pointed out that Natalie always needed the last word before it became time to vote.


Jeff then read the votes aloud in the following order: Natalie, Lyrsa, Natalie, Lyrsa, and Natalie.

Angelina hugged Natalie goodbye and apologized. She then asked Natalie for her jacket, and Natalie completely ignored her.

Jeff noted Jabeni chose "tribal harmony over tribal lines."

"I didn't give Angelina my jacket because I wasn't sure if she's part of the reason why I'm out, so why should I? I don't have to. I chose not to, and so I'm wearing it," Natalie said following her ouster.

The episode's closing credits later showed that Natalie and Angelina both voted to oust Lyrsa from Survivor: David vs. Goliath.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski