The end is dangerously close; at least, that’s what the competitors think. Who will be holding a star in the end?
Working the Poles
No one knows if there’s another daily challenge or if it’s time for the final, but when they get to the Pressure Sandwich challenge, it’s clearly not the final. Teams start with four puzzle pieces; they need to move together in unison and keep them together like a sandwich using pressure. Then, they must collect six more pieces, making the stack wider. Once they’ve collected all 10 pieces, they must use the pieces to solve a totem pole-like puzzle. If the pieces fall outside of the designated zone, the team must reset at the prior checkpoint. Nany & Turbo use a slow and steady approach, which seems wise because other teams struggle. Particularly, Shane & Da’Vonne can’t seem to coordinate, and they start arguing. Tensions rise between most partners, except for Frank & Sam. They don’t drop any pieces, and they are the first team to start assembling their puzzle. Nany & Turbo are narrowly behind them, but to most people’s surprise, Frank & Sam get the victory.
The Walk of Shane
After the challenge, the cast prepares for TJ to announce the winners, and Adam puts his hand on Shane (presumably to move him into the correct spot so they can film TJ’s statements). Shane freaks out and yells at Adam, claiming that he is mentally and physically exhausted after that challenge and he walks away from the cast. Adam gets angry with Shane, but Da’Vonne is the one who’s truly exhausted by him. She had to deal with his screaming for the entire challenge, and she kept her composure because she didn’t want to get angry, but most people recognize how stressful the day had been for Da’Vonne. Afterwards, Adam comes to talk to Shane. Shane says he was “seeing black” after the challenge, but Adam wanted to stand up for Da’Vonne.
Making Adam & Steve
The cast goes out to the bar, and while Turbo is feeding fish, Shane and Adam revisit All Stars 4. Adam claims he doesn’t know why Steve took his star last season, so he talks to Steve and tries to get closure. Steve doesn’t really give an apology because he wouldn’t do things differently if he could redo them, but he also says he felt like he had “no other choice.” Adam leaves the conversation just as confused as he was when he entered it, but he also recognizes the All Stars 4 feud led to the All Stars Rivals pairing.
A Villainous Departure
Later, Da’Vonne talks with Frank about working with Shane, and she tries to maintain some positivity because she’s been biting her tongue all season and doesn’t want to cause a rift this late in the game. During the conversation, Da’Vonne says that her partner thinks being a villain on TV is cool, and Shane overhears because Da’Vonne is literally talking about him behind his back. He gets frustrated and feels like he wants to go home. He packs his bags and threatens to quit, but he talks with Da’Vonne the next morning. They vow to work on their communication, and Shane agrees to stay because he really does want to be friends with Da’Vonne.
Sympathy and Strategy
At the house vote, Nany & Turbo ask to go into the Jungle, and everyone votes for them so they have one last chance to get their star. However, no one knows who Frank & Sam will name as the second team. Adam & Steve have a deal with Frank, so they’re hoping Frank honors that, and Adam feels Shane (Frank’s foe) is the best option because he and Da’Vonne are struggling as partners. However, Frank wants to better his odds in the final, so he throws in Steve & Adam.
Final or Bluff?
The Jungle Game is called Star Bluff. The teams start with a game of lies. They’re given chests that may or may not have stars in them, and they get to ask their opponents a series of questions. Then, they must guess whether their opponents are bluffing or not. It’s an interesting concept, but it turns into a joke. It results in Nany & Turbo getting two points and Adam & Steve getting three. Then, the teams have to transfer big yoga balls using bamboo chutes like chopsticks. Nany & Turbo get two balls pre-placed in their goal because of the bluffing round and Adam & Steve have three replaced. Adam & Steve seem comfortable from the beginning and they immediately develop a rhythm. Nany & Turbo struggle at first, then Turbo’s strategy is to go fast. It works sometimes, but it leads to some mistakes. In the end, Adam & Steve had the right approach. They retain their star, and all four remaining teams are heading to the final.
Stop Being Polite 