Survivor: Second Chance episode 2 recap: Who is the two-headed snake?

Survivor: Second Chance Episode 2 recap (original airdate Sept. 30): It’s new school versus old school at Ta Keo. Just when it looks like new school has the upper hand, things take a wild turn compliments of the colorful Jeff Varner who sets the target on Shirin and Spencer. Let’s take a quick look at how we got there…

Varner’s playing both sides — new school and old school — and thinks the biggest threat is Shirin and Spencer. He’s actually on old school’s side. The too-smart-for-you duo (Shirin and Spencer) is a little too much strategy, not enough get to know you and Varner starts making his case against them. Varner sees them as two heads on one snake. He gives a pep talk to Terry, affirming his alliance with the old schoolers, but encouraging him to get in on the social game. That was brilliant advice as Terry stepped up his social game at the perfect moment, which created a whole new majority alliance.

While the entire tribe privately complained about Abi — describing her as a permanent liability, a cancer to the tribe, a cancer to an alliance, a Brazilian soap opera, a drama queen and more. All completely valid. (But remember, Abi makes things interesting — she’s way cray-cray crazy and we want her to stick around.) The only people Abi actually witnessed and busted talking about her were Peih-Gee and her closest friend on the isle Shirin.

That had dire consequences, as the love-to-fight Abi immediately pounced. Peih-Gee and Abi went at it. Shirin walked away. But it was back at camp, where the entire tribe was laughing about the situation, Abi was left feeling ostracized — again. While Abi sat abandoned and alone on the beach, Terry made his social move and approached her as a friend just offering to listen. They connected, bonded, formed an alliance and were a major factor in getting Shirin voted out. Yes, Ta Keo lost the immunity challenge, again, and were sent back to Tribal Council.

It wasn’t a blindside, however, for Shirin. Prior to council Shirin approached Abi, apologizing for not coming to her defense — despite their initial alliance and friendship. Silly Shirin. She underestimated her fellow outcast. It wasn’t Abi’s style to forgive and forget. Abi was brutally honest, as expected, and gloated when telling Shirin that the real situation now is that either she or Spencer who would be going home that night. While Shirin and Spencer scrambled trying to come up with a new plan (Spencer cried), neither could come up with an executable solution. Shirin knew she screwed up, and admitting it during Tribal Council, essentially sealed her fate. Spencer, on the other hand, professed that if he was given the opportunity to stay he would change his ways and start focusing a lot more on getting to know them. The vote was 4 against Spencer, 5 against Shirin. Shirin went home.

Bayon
As for Bayon, Joe is deemed Survivor MacGyver — but “he’s too much of a golden boy,” so he’s got a target on his back if the tribe ever loses. Kass is pleased to realize that not everyone behaves like last season, and there are actually some decent people she would enjoy getting to know. Those feelings were prompted by Savage’s heartwarming love story he told about his wife. He left everyone in tears (well, accept Stephen Fishbach). Savage noticed, too, and concludes that Fishbach lacks in some of the morals, values, loyalty, dignity and courage he wants to surround himself with, so he may be another target.

Immunity Challenge
Who rocked it: Keith pulling that crate. Joe and Jeremy on the puzzle in the end.
Who won: Bayon (they got a survivor tool kit)

Tribal Council
Who Went Home: Shirin from Ta Keo

Next Week: Buffs come off already and Jeff Probst makes the groups form three tribes

STANDINGS
Ta Keo Tribe
Kelly Wiglesworth (Season 1, Borneo)
Jeff Varner (Season 2, Australian Outback)
Terry Deitz (Season 12, Panama)
Peih-Gee Law (Season 15,China)
Abi-Maria Gomes (Season 25, Philippines)
Vytas Baskauskas (Season 27, Blood vs. Water) 1st Eliminated
Woo Hwang (Season 28, Cagayan)
Spencer Bledsoe (Season 28, Cagayan)
Kelley Wentworth (Season 29, San Juan del Sur)
Shirin Oskooi (Season 30, Worlds Apart) 2nd Eliminated

Bayon Tribe
Kimmi Kappenberg (Season 2, Australian Outback)
Andrew Savage (Season 7, Pearl Islands)
Stephen Fishbach (Season 18, Tocantins)
Monica Padilla (Season 19, Samoa)
Ciera Eastin (Season 27, Blood vs. Water)
Tasha Fox (Season 28, Cagayan)
Kass McQuillen (Season 28, Cagayan)
Keith Nale (Season 29, San Juan del Sur)
Jeremy Collins (Season 29, San Juan del Sur)
Joe Anglim (Season 30, Worlds Apart)