Seventeen castaways, including two contestants with ties to New York, are continuing their quest to become the Sole Survivor and win at least $1 million in Episode 4 of “Survivor 51” on Wednesday.
After a dramatic third episode featuring a quit, a mutiny and an elimination, the Savu and Toka tribes will continue navigating the islands of Fiji as they compete in challenges, search for hidden immunity idols and brace for twists under the show's new “Open Era” format.
Here's what to know about this week's episode.
Who are the two New York contestants on 'Survivor 51'?
“Survivor 51” features two contestants with ties to New York.
The first is Mike Pinsky, 32, an assistant director of baseball operations for the New York Yankees. Pinsky was assigned to the Toka tribe, where he formed early connections with
former WWE NXT wrestler Brady Booker and Maggie Nestor.
By Episode 3, Pinsky was part of an alliance with Booker, Devin Way, Angelica “Jelly” Loblack and Patt Cannaday. The group became a target during a dramatic Tribal Council.
The second New York contestant is Ori Jean-Charles, 27, a personal trainer from Spring Valley. An early fan favorite, Jean-Charles formed close bonds with Way, Loblack and Aaliyah Puglia, the first castaway eliminated.
Jean-Charles was separated from his original alliance when he was assigned to the Savu tribe, but he quickly established himself as a strong, reliable member of the group. He also formed a secret alliance with Sharonda Cox.
What happened in Episode 3 of 'Survivor 51'?
After a quit, a mutiny and a dramatic elimination, Toka had 10 members remaining, compared with seven on Savu.
Rob Antonson quit at the beginning of Episode 3, saying he was concerned about a possible infection even though the show's medic had not found a serious injury.
Savu's troubles began earlier, when Antonson's ally Carter Krull was given the opportunity to visit the opposing tribe alongside Devin Way of Toka.
Way successfully reconnected with members of Savu before returning to his own tribe. Krull, however, missed the boat back to Savu while searching for an advantage hidden in the oars. The advantage had already been taken by Toka members who had searched the boat. Krull had Antonson's hidden immunity idol with him, and his failure to return sparked a mutiny that further weakened Savu.
Despite having more members, Toka struggled during a soggy immunity challenge and was sent to Tribal Council. There, Krull and former exiled islander Lewis Black joined forces to break up the strong alliance of Way, Loblack, Booker, Pinsky and Cannaday.
Cannaday became the third contestant eliminated from the game and the third woman voted out at Tribal Council, leaving Toka with 10 members.
What will happen in Episode 4 of 'Survivor 51'?
After last week's controversial leak of the episode's results, Paramount has been selective about the previews released for this week's episode.
In a video posted to “Survivor's” official Instagram account and CBS' website, Booker and the rest of the Toka alliance appear to be reeling from Cannaday's elimination.
Booker appears particularly upset with Black and Krull after they previously told him they would vote with him to eliminate Danny Kilby at Tribal Council.
According to CBS' episode description, one tribe will feel “torn apart” after the vote, while the other celebrates a successful immunity challenge.
Another twist is on the way when “an unexpected summoning changes everything,” according to the description.
With the tribes unevenly matched in numbers, the twist could involve a reshuffling of the groups. CBS also teases that “old wounds and previous alliances” will be put to the test.
The post-episode preview shows a boat arriving to collect the castaways for the upcoming twist. It also hints at possible romantic developments involving the two New York contestants.
In Episode 1, Loblack said she found Jean-Charles attractive and had developed a crush on him. The preview suggests that storyline could resurface.
Meanwhile, Pinsky appears to take a similar approach with his ally Maggie Nestor, saying he is “turning on the charm.” Nestor seems less than enthusiastic about the prospect.
The preview also hints that former targets Maksoud and Kilby could form a new alliance, potentially as part of a new tribe, and develop a friendship.
What is new in this season of 'Survivor'?
This season introduces a new theme called the “Open Era.” Under the format, advantages and twists from previous seasons can return at any time, making gameplay less predictable.
Host Jeff Probst also revealed that the theme could bring back a coin toss introduced in Season 50, with the potential to increase the show's prize money to $2 million.
Probst explained that if a contestant loses the coin toss, the prize money still increases but carries over to the next season. For example, contestants on Season 52 could compete for $2 million, while another coin toss could raise the prize to $3 million.
When is the next 'Survivor' episode?
"Survivor 51" Episode 3, titled "What I'm Smellin' Is Stinky," airs Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. The episode is scheduled to run for 90 minutes.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: New twist coming to 'Survivor 51' episode 4. How to watch
