Survivor: Philippines' merged Dangrayne tribe voted off Carter Williams from their tribe during Wednesday night's twelfth episode of the CBS reality series' 25th edition.

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Carter, a 24-year-old track coach from Shawnee, KS, was voted out of his tribe at the season's twelfth Tribal Council, which was also the sixth elimination vote for Dangrayne.

"The realization that my Survivor experience is over is weighing heavily on me. It does hurt to know that that four would rather play with someone like Abi, who they feel like they can beat in the next few days, as opposed to me. I can understand it, but it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. They're playing with their heads -- not their hearts at this point," Carter said following his ouster.   

Survivor: Philippines' twelfth episode began following the Tribal Council session in which returning player Jonathan Penner was eliminated on Night 30.

Once the castaways returned to camp, Abi-Maria Gomes, a 32-year-old business student from Los Angeles, CA, told Carter it was clear Denise Stapley, a 41-year-old sex therapist from Cedar Rapids, IA; Malcolm Freberg, a 25-year-old bartender from Hermosa Beach, CA; Lisa Whelchel, a 49-year-old former actress from Dallas, TX; and former Survivor: Australia castaway Michael Skupin were in an alliance together.

Carter realized Abi would probably make it far in the game because she had a hidden Immunity Idol, but in reality, she really didn't have one and had made it all up. Meanwhile, Lisa admitted she was definitely playing the game with her heart rather than her head.

"Tribal Council was a very tough decision. I think Penner is correct. I do think Malcolm is playing a brilliant game because it's strategic but likeable -- underdog but good at challenges -- all around really great game. Going to the end with Malcolm and Denise is not a really great strategy, but betraying that trust poses who I am," Lisa said.

On Day 31, the tribe met with Survivor host Jeff Probst for a Reward Challenge.

Jeff explained that each castaway would be paired up with a loved one. Upon the announcement, the castaways began getting emotional, knowing someone they cared about was soon to be revealed. Within no time, Skupin's son, also named Michael Skupin, ran out followed by Carter's mom Bianca. Denise then jumped on and kissed her husband Brad. Afterward, Lisa's little brother Justice appeared followed by Abi's mom Vera and Malcolm's little brother Miles.

For the challenge, each tribemate had to toss a muddy bag to his or her loved one. The loved one must then catch the bag and use it to knock down a bamboo target. The first pair to knock down all five targets would win the challenge. The winning pair would be able to spend the afternoon and an entire night at Dangrayne's camp.

In the end, Malcolm and his brother Miles won Reward. Jeff told Malcolm he could pick one other pair to join him, so he selected Lisa and her brother. Jeff then told Malcolm he could select one more pair to stay with them at camp, and Malcolm chose Skupin and Skupin Jr.

"I don't have a lot of time. You only have moments to make these decisions and I'm rewarding Lisa and Skupin for sticking with me and Denise at the last Tribal and for the past few votes. Those are my allies. I need to take care of them. I need to keep them close," Malcolm explained of his decision.

Back at camp, Lisa told Justice about her Final 4 alliance but said she didn't want Malcolm to potentially join her in the Final 3 because she knew he could win. Skupin agreed with Lisa and discussed how he wanted to blindside Malcolm while simultaneously getting rid of his hidden Immunity Idol he had in possession.

Lisa acknowledged voting Malcolm off was the smart move to make strategically, but she was struggling with the plan because she had given Malcolm her word. Lisa and Skupin then decided they were going to ask Abi and Carter to vote with them to blindside Malcolm, which would be enough votes to get him out.

At that moment, Lisa realized she could actually play the game of Survivor -- and play it well. She had faith in God the game would play out as He desired.

The following day, Malcolm was beginning to worry that maybe Lisa's brother had influenced her in a way that would negatively effect his own game going forward.

"One of the biggest fears I have after having the loved ones here is Lisa. She was at rock-bottom emotionally and was playing with her heart, as she likes to say. And I'm afraid that her brother, who seems like a very level-headed intelligent guy, might've snapped her back to her senses and got her thinking about who she really needs to be sitting next to in the Final 3 to have a shot at winning," Malcolm explained. 

On Day 33, the Dangrayne tribe met with Jeff again, who explained the rules to what would be their twelfth Immunity Challenge and sixth Individual Immunity Challenge.

Jeff told the castaways that they must each race across a bamboo balance beam to a platform where they'd find a hook attached to rope. They must then drop that into the water and use the hook to retrieve three bags. Once they had collected all three bags, they'd race to the finish and use the rope and sticks inside the bag to fashion a pole. Once the pole was long enough, they'd use it to hit a target, ultimately dropping their bag.

The winner of the challenge would receive immunity and be safe from the vote at the next Tribal Council session along with a one in five shot to win the million dollars.

Malcolm ended up winning immunity, which ultimately ruined Lisa and Skupin's plans. Lisa said she was so bummed because she was ready to play the game hard and make a big move but was deprived of that moment.

After the challenge, Malcolm noted he felt relaxed and his mind finally got a break from strategizing and observing everyone's moves. Because the Final 5 would be the last night Malcolm could play his hidden Immunity Idol, he knew he was going to make the Final 4 no matter what. Malcolm said he was thrilled and could taste the end of the game already.

Due to the sharp turn of events, the foursome alliance began discussing whether Carter or Abi should be the next castaway to go. Malcolm and Skupin decided to be honest with Carter by telling him that the only factor held against him was that he was a threat and had previously won two Immunity Challenges. Carter even came close to winning the most recent Immunity Challenge.

Malcolm and Skupin told Carter there was one reason to get rid of him but obviously about a thousand reasons to take out Abi. In response, Carter asked the guys to keep him around out of respect for himself and respect for the game in general.

"On a personal level, I know this game is about strategy and this game is about winning ultimately, but everyone at our camp this whole time has been talking about keeping people in this game who deserve to be in this game. Denise, Malcolm, Lisa, and Skupin are stand-up people, and Abi has been really mean to people in this game. And so, I mean, take me further in this game than someone whom you guys don't respect as a competitor," Carter said. 

Meanwhile, Abi lashed out again at her fellow tribemates. She called Lisa out for being wishy-washy when playing the game because she kept flip-flopping between playing with her head and her heart. Abi determined that Lisa had begun to put strategy before her word, which she had basically lived by the whole game thus far. Abi also got annoyed with Denise, and the pair bickered back and forth a bit.

Abi announced Denise was clearly going to make the Final 4, and Denise seemed extremely ready to take Abi out in return. Abi said she had every intention to keep up the false idea she had a hidden Immunity Idol in her grasp in attempt to save herself or at least survive another week.

"Abi continues to threaten that she has a hidden Immunity Idol. I think she's obnoxious. But even as empty as we think Abi's threat is, it really is something we have to consider," Malcolm admitted.

"With that being said, we're really considering getting rid of this angry, unsocial Brazilian girl over a really fit athletic guy. I'm considering making a really bad strategic decision just for my morale. That's how terrible of a human being Abi is. Plain and simple, cut and dry, if Abi goes home tonight, it's because she's a b-tch."

That night, Survivor: Philippines' Dangrayne members arrived for their sixth Tribal Council session -- the twelfth session of the season overall.

Malcolm told Jeff he felt safe and completely trusted his alliance of four, but at the same time, he felt good to have immunity regardless. The tribe acknowledged they felt terrible to even consider voting off Carter. Skupin said getting rid of Carter would feel like voting off his own kid. It came down to keeping someone whom the castaways believed they could beat in the end versus someone who deserved to stay but served as a threat.

Abi then announced -- and lied about how -- she was going to play the fourth hidden Immunity Idol. She said she was being very protective of her idol knowing she was the most unlikable person in the tribe.

Afterward, Jeff asked the tribe whether it hurt Abi that she hadn't shown anyone her alleged idol, and they said "yes" because they were surprised she wouldn't be trying to gain some type of advantage by using the idol as leverage.

Denise then declared that Abi wouldn't be able to win the game if she made it to the end because she lacked a good balance between playing a social, strategic and physical game.

Jeff then revealed the votes. Everyone voted to oust Carter from Survivor: Philippines, while Carter voted for Abi.


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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