The twenty civilian castaways were marooned on a raft off an island in the South China Sea. They were pulled onto a boat with supplies, where Nico instructed them to take the supplies onto their raft and reach the shore. Team captains Corné Krige and Mark Fish were awaiting the castaways' arrival. The team captains selected tribes by school yard pick, forming the tribes, Selatan (Krige) and Utara (Fish). Nico explained to the castaways that both Corné and Mark would partake in all challenges and Tribal Councils, but they won't be able to vote until the very end for the winner, alongside the jury.

After the first immunity challenge, Utara celebrated their victory with Mark highlighting Solly's efforts in the challenge. Meanwhile, Corné advised Selatan to not give up and vote for the weakest tribe member at the first Tribal Council.

Returning from Tribal Council, Zavion lashed out at the rest of the tribe for voting out his closest ally, Ashleigh. Moyra and Gena explained that his and Marsha's gameplay forced a "Rugrats Alliance" to form to counter his own.

After what came across as a surprise split vote for Philip the night before, he vowed to do whatever he could to improve his position in the Selatan tribe. His main focus was to prove his own worth around camp in comparison to David, the tribe's outcast.

After their first Tribal Council, Buhle came clean to the entire tribe about her falling out with Sonette involving the hidden immunity idol. Selatan shared some sorely needed unity after avoiding Tribal Council for the first time.

After voting off their biggest provider in Zan, Utara’s morale was down; meanwhile, Selatan’s mood was better, as the tribe bonded over a yoga session.

A rainstorm rolled into both camps, and on Utara, Sonette was injured by a falling beam from the shelter. Solly was infuriated by Shane’s careless construction of the shelter from earlier, which he felt led to the accident.

David thanked the rest of the Utara tribe for keeping him in the game before Shane told him to keep the perception that he was on the outs. Sonette felt paranoid that she would be targeted for elimination before David due to her perceived weakness in challenges.

Marian continued to privately taunt Stephen over his claim that he had nothing to do with Gena’s idol being stolen by the rest of the original Utara.

Reduced to a tribe of four, Utara expressed concern of how the merge will play out with the seven-strong Selatan. Shane hoped that sending Stephen home before the merge would be enough of an olive branch to Buhle to reunite the Utara tribe with David as their number for a majority.

The next morning, Shane buried one of his idols by the water well. Zavion contemplated between voting out Marian or David, while Sivu told Solly about the stolen idol, causing Solly to distrust Shane and Marian.

After his closest ally was eliminated, Shane stated his embarrassment over playing with the tribemates he was playing with, calling them "children". He was especially disgusted with David, and plotted to sabotage his personal belongings just to get back at him. Shane proceeded to verbally accost David for going against him. Meanwhile, Graham pulled Altaaf aside with a plan to blindside Solly or Buhle to take control of the game. Shane attempted to sway Altaaf to his side. Sivu set up a cricket game for the tribe to bond over.

Zavion disclosed to Shane that Vel and Buhle would likely be the next targets by the majority; Graham aligned with Zavion and Shane, planning to bring in Sivu and David. Graham worried about the possible four-person alliance of Vel, Buhle, Altaaf, and Moyra bringing in Sivu to take control.

Altaaf was stunned that some of his alliance members turned on Moyra, while Shane celebrated staying in the game. However, he and Sivu agreed that they needed to make big moves instead of trusting others to make them so that they would stay in the game. Sivu sought to eliminate Zavion and Graham next. Zavion likewise targeted Shane, who considered bringing in Altaaf to make a move.

Graham decided he would stand a better chance against David in the finals than he would against Sivu or Altaaf.

Zavion affirmed his desire to reach the end alongside Graham and David, with Sivu as his first target for being a jury threat. David saw Zavion’s attempts to align with him for the final three as disingenuous; he was a swing vote between the alliances of Graham and Zavion, and Buhle and Sivu.

After Sivu and Buhle's successful blindside of Zavion, Juara were informed at the final immunity challenge that this season will have a Final Three as opposed to a Final Two.