Tonight on Survivor 2011 we got our first look at Redemption Island when Francesca arrives. She reads the posted rules and learns she’ll get only the bare necessities as she awaits her first challenger. Doesn’t look like a very fun place to be by yourself, despite Francesca’s claim that it could be the best thing for her, but maybe that’s just the nightfall talking.

Back at the Ometepe camp Phillip promises his vote to Boston Rob, but Rob isn’t buying it at all. Matter of fact, the very next conversation has Rob telling the group to vote out Phillip at their very next chance. Let’s just hope Phillip has a few more days for crab-hunting because these scenes are hilarious.

Zapatera camp reveals Russell is hot on the trail for the Immunity Idol with the help of Krista and Stephanie. He’s decided he can’t wait for the first clue, but guess who beats him to the punch? The crowing rooster himself, Ralph. Why the heck are they making these so dang easy to find??

Time for this week’s Immunity challenge. The castaways have to swim across a channel, jump up, break a tile to release a key, and finally break a few more tiles. Fishing gear is the extra reward for this week’s challenge which looks like a lot of fun. Ometepe has a slight lead after the swimming portion, but Zapatera quickly catches up and gets ahead.

Ralph and Phillip are the respective team tossers and after an amazing comeback by Phillip, Ralph still manages to seal the deal and secure immunity for the second week in a row. Sorry Ometepe, but someone is heading home again this week. Will it be Phillip facing off against Francesca at Redemption Island?

Back at Zapatera’s camp, Ralph spots Russell pocketing a clue from their fishing basket. Ralph spreads the word and the team isn’t happy at all. It doesn’t take long for a face-off when Ralph confronts Russell who denies he has the clue. Busted!

Ahead of Tribal Council, Kristina plans to use the Immunity Idol but it might be for nothing. Rob has a plan to eliminate Matt for getting too close to Andrea and then shaking hands with the other tribe after the challenge. Rob wants to be part of 5 votes for Matt while the rest of the tribe votes against either Phillip or Kristina. Let’s see if he can pull it off.

We get back to the Tribal Council and Phillip delivers with his wandering talk about his tattoos on each arm along with something about what he’d do if someone attacked America or his family. Yeah, he shines in front of Probst.

Survivor returned tonight with the first Redemption Island episode and it looks like this could be as good as we had hoped!

The 16 castaways landed on the shore and split in to the two tribes only to be quickly followed by Rob and Russell. After drawing tags from a bag, Rob went to Ometepe while Russell headed over to Zapatera. Not so surprisingly, Rob received cheers from his new tribe while Russell got just a few claps. The big bombshell fell next when Probst revealed the big twist of the season: Redemption Island. One thing worth noting there, Probst didn’t specify when the Redemption Survivor would return to the game other than “at some point.”

Zapatera arrives at their camp first and quickly gets to work setting up camp after a short speech from Russell. He promises them he’s only there to be good and won’t be sabotaging anyone this time around. I’m not thinking anyone was buying that for a minute! Overall, the team comes together well and gets their shelter set up for what looks to be a lot of rain this season.

Ometepe was a love fest as the group congratulated themselves on getting Rob on their team, assuming Zapatera was falling apart with Russell in their mix. The big stand out from Ometepe would have to be Phillip who showed himself to be a bit of a conceited jerk. I think I’ll be ready for him to leave before any day now.

Kristina struck out on her own and sure enough, discovered the coveted Immunity Idol and then quickly hid it in another location. Smart gal! Let’s see how long it goes before we see that come in to play.

The first Survivor Redemption Island immunity challenge was pretty cool. Tribes had to push a series of large blocks down a runway to create a series of steps, then cut loose a ladder, and finally assemble a patterned pyramid. Zapatera took a huge lead when they got all the way to the last stage before Ometepe could even complete the first stage. But could they keep that advantage?!

The gap closed at the very end but Zapatera managed to pull out the win. Sorry, Boston Rob! Someone from Ometepe is going home tonight.

The first Tribal Council is explosive. Woohoo! Phillip exposes Kristina and Fran’s plan to eliminate Boston Rob on the first night and even worse is when he shouts out that Kristina has the Immunity Idol! Hilarious. Rob offers Kristina her safety if she gives him the Immunity Idol, but she declines.

Fun fact: The Survivor Blur-Cam was back in full swing tonight protecting us from butts and crotches all night. Gee, thanks CBS!

According to  underground survivor sites, it appears that the always assumed notion of Rob and Russell receiving immunity until the merge might not be accurate. It was hinted that something took place early in the game that made it seem like this may not be possible.???!!!

HMMMMMMM! I always thoght Rob and Russell would be protected until the merge so as not to ruin the concept before it has a chance to get going (meaning one of them getting the boot early) but now with the Redemption Island twist where voted out players can get themselves back into the game, the immunity to the merge may not be needed. Either way S22 is shaping up like some sort of a circus. 

This will for sure be a different game alltogether!!