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Probst asks Shamar if he feels like he is letting the tribe down, because they’ll be “not only losing a big force in challenges but a number." But they are also losing a big, loud mouth so I’m sure they’ll get over it. Probst brings in the tribe to say goodbye, and they all look guiltily at their feet while saying sorry and goodbye. Only two or three people – Julia and Eddie – bother giving platitudes like “Sorry, Shamar” and “I hope you heal quickly." Shamar says “I know you care about my well-being, I want you guys to win." Probst tells the “fans” to gather their stuff for an immunity challenge later that morning.

And going with Shamar is my last opportunity to make a joke involving him, Sherri and The Blind Side. Oh well.

Reynold interviews that he thought Shamar was just wanting to quit, but it turned out there was something serious with Shamar after all. “So that’s my mistake” he says, unconcerned. “Still, he was disrespectful, lazy and I’m just happy that he’s gone”. Back at camp, there is a similar vibe. “Glad he’s gone,” says Michael. “Yeah,” says Matt. But Reynold is not too busy gloating to note that the majority alliance will now go ahead with their “pre-meditated plan” to vote out him or Eddie, like that would be the unfairest thing in the world, ever.

Probst sighting! Immunity challenge! The “favorites” learn that Shamar is gone, and being more camera-aware than the “fans”, make shocked faces. Anyway, the challenge begins with tribe members running out one at a time over a balance of floats into the water. They swim out to a platform, which they climb up. Then they jump off the platform, smashing a tile on the way down, collecting the key that was tied to the tile and swim back. Five swimmers, five tiles, five keys.

When all five keys are ashore, the two players who didn’t swim will use the keys to unlock a chest with three locks. Then they will use the sandbags inside the chest to knock off a lot of wooden blocks from a platform. Knocking off all the blocks drops the tribe flag and wins immunity. The rule that you can’t sit out the same person twice in a row has been reintroduced thanks to Abi from last season, so Corinne and Dawn will be sitting out for the “fans”.

First to swim out are Erik and Sherri, and from the start Erik is leading by some distance. He smashes his tile and swims back, while Sherri only clips the edge of hers and does not release the key, so she has to climb the platform and smash it better this time.

Brandon absolutely races over the floats, swims, climbs, jumps, smashes and is back just as Matt is getting in the water for his tribe. Sherri is exhausted. Brenda takes off and has a bad fall on the floats, but she gets up quickly and she and Matt return with their keys at the same time. Matt must be a tremendously slow swimmer.

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