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1. Malcolm

I love Denise, but if Matsing loses a fifth straight challenge, Malcolm is better at starting fires.

2. Denise

I was tempted to keep Denise at #1 because with her particular set of skills, she’s going to find it easier to fit in with a new tribe than Malcolm. But Matsing actually has to get to a merge situation before that happens. Start practicing with that flint, Denise, because a “we’re going to matches” scenario is not on the cards.

Day 10 and Matsing is down to two members. We get some night shots of Malcolm and Denise shivering, and speculating how a tribe switch would go down. Next morning, we are still at Matsing. Nothing is happening except rain, and they have no tarp, because they haven’t won anything. Malcolm and Denise get a note to go to a conveniently-timed reward challenge, which is a huge relief because I don’t want to watch another episode beginning with everyone on the tribe agreeing on what a bunch of miserable losers they are.

Malcolm and Denise have a sense that something might be up - or maybe it's in the clue, because it's been seasons since I've listened to any lame Survivor challenge rhymes. Anyway, since they realize that this could be their last time at the Matsing camp they immediately go off looking for the idol together. There are plenty of money shots of them looking in the background while ignoring the monkey symbol in the foreground. They even take off the lid and search through the basket of rice without finding anything. Both Malcolm and Denise talk about how they feel like clueless idiots.

But then they decide to re-check the rice basket, and Denise checks underneath while Malcolm grabs at the lid. He has the idol, and Denise is surprisingly thrilled and excited and they do their Matsing alliance finger-twiddling gesture.

In interview, Denise interviews with her usual rationality that they have the idol, but if they are split into other tribes, then she is on her own.

Reward challenge! Tandang and Kalabaw get their first look at the new Russell-free Matsing tribe. Michael looks stunned that a returnee is not returning while everyone else wonders “what’s the deal with Denise?” Probst asks Lisa what she thinks about the “decimated” Matsing tribe. Probst needs a new word – what is the Latin for two-thirds? Lisa correctly points out that you can look at Matsing as “two people who have prevailed."

But before the challenge gets underway, Probst orders Denise and Malcolm to drop their buffs! Matsing is no more, and will be absorbed into Kalabaw and Tandang. Malcolm and Denise reach into a bag to get their new buffs – and Malcolm is going to Tandang while Denise is on Kalabaw. They go to join their new tribes.

There’s still a challenge to describe! Two people - one from each tribe – will face off gladiator style. But instead of tridents or bat’leths, each person will hold a stand with an idol balanced on top, and they will try to knock the other person’s idol to the ground. The first person whose idol touches the ground loses. The first tribe to five victories wins reward.

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