Tensions Rise in ‘Extracted’ Episode 9: Alliances Crumble as Survivalists Face New Challenges
After Ryan Heavner’s elimination in the penultimate episode of Fox’s survival reality show, Extracted: “Banished,” the remaining contestants faced intense challenges. New alliances formed as family teams plotted strategy from headquarters while their loved ones fought the brutal Canadian wilderness.
The episode saw emotional showdowns, the game-altering “Blackout Card,” and a shocking plot twist that required contestants to leave their camps and journey farther into the wilderness, paving the way for an explosive conclusion.
Family Rivalries Erupt Amidst High Emotions
Tensions boiled over in HQ after the empty supply crate incident from the last episode. Abby Hayes tried to apologize to Blake Kaminer for selecting his father, Woody, to receive an empty crate.
Blake dismissed her apology, accusing Austin Legg and Justin Denison of using his father to move forward with female contestants Haley Lindell and Meagan Delatte. “He’s not listening to her explanations or her apology,” a show insider said of Blake walking off before the conversation had ended.
This confrontation sent the dominoes in a tailspin. Austin and Justin attempted to mediate with Blake and his cousin Collin Hodson but were rebuffed. When Blake called out the brothers for sexist gameplay, Austin said he would no longer try to be cordial with them.
That divide between teams grew wider. Like Abby’s father, Gerrad Delatte, who stood with Meagan’s father, tried unsuccessfully to mediate with Blake and Collin. Later, Papa Collin apologized to Abby for Blake’s anger but stood firm on their position on the supply decision.
These headquarters disputes mirrored the stakes for contestants in the wilderness. While squad members squabbled, their family and loved ones endured hunger, cold, and isolation in the Canadian wilderness.
Supply Drop Offers Fleeting Happiness Before Fresh Challenges
A new supply drop raised spirits at headquarters when teams discovered that all contestants would receive something useful. Whereas in previous drops, crates were sometimes found to be empty, each survivalist would receive supplies this time.
It was held in a “White Elephant” format for distribution. Teams were randomly assigned closed crates, looked inside a crate, and had one opportunity to trade with another team. The final distribution sent:
- Worms to Jake (intended originally for fish bait)
- Steak to Woody
- Meagan: Apple slices and peanut butter
- Roasted crickets to Haley
The survivalists’ responses ranged widely. Meagan, sick and now vomiting at a friend’s house, wept while receiving comfort foods she routinely ate at her own home. Haley was thankful while they ate crickets, even if they weren’t her first choice. Jake boiled and ate his worms instead of using them to fish, calling them “tasteless noodles.”
Woody’s was the most troubling response. He threw it into the lake after he could not light a fire to cook it despite receiving what many consider the best item: a steak. His son Blake could not bear to see this wasteful act of the competition, which took an emotional toll on contestants and their families.
This supply drop exposed both the physical and psychological difficulties of survival. Even helpful items might ultimately be useless or annoying, depending on the individual survivalist’s situation and state of mind.
Games Changing as Secret Alliances Form
Behind the scenes, new alliances were forming that would shape the final days of the competition. Grainy footage of Jake and Meagan came up on the screen, and when Haley’s team (Karly and Natalie) approached Blake and Collin, they made a secret pact to target either Jake or Meagan.
“They conclude that this is all gameplay,” the episode explained, revealing how the teams developed secret signals — 1 meant target Jake, 2 meant target Meagan. They made a “pinky promise” to one another, which Karly said she takes “very seriously.”
Australia found a secret weapon—a wooden box with a “Blackout Card” inside. This ruthless device enabled its possessor to silence any survivalist’s audio-video feed for four hours. Instead of hiding this advantage, Gerrard disclosed it to all the teams as a testament to fair play.
But that survival trial added a new layer of strategy. Teams needed to build torches for their survivalists to light a bonfire, and one team had to sit out the meeting. Woody and Haley’s teams teamed up when Haley’s team offered to forfeit, as he hoped Meagan would wear herself out in the challenge.
Meagan went through the challenge with an energy that was completely unexpected. This foiled their plans of making it through easily, showing how, even with careful planning, you could not count the game out. Jake took the victory at that trial and, with it, his status as the strongest competitor.
Blackout Card & Unanimous Decision Wreak Havoc
Gerrad and Abby—having finally allied the Blackout Card—redeployed it on Jake, cutting him from headquarters (and the dinner seats he was about to cash in on, 16 ounces of meat due to his victory in the survival trial) before their hunger and consciousness kicked in.
The move shocked Jake’s brothers and showed how tenuous alliances can be. Due to their history of conflict with Woody and Haley, Gerrad shared that they had no choice but to go after Jake.
The episode’s most consequential twist came when the teams were given five minutes to agree unanimously on which survivalists would have to leave their camp armed with only three items and move into the wilderness. Otherwise, all four contestants would have to move.
Haley and Woody’s teams nominated Jake almost immediately, reasoning that he was doing well in the competition. Austin and Justin backed their brother, claiming he had earned his opportunities fair and square by getting the most empty supply drops earlier in the season.
“So, they know that they have to fight for Jake to make sure he’s got the best shot at winning in the end, so they do.” The episode laid out.
Since a unanimous agreement could not be reached, the four survivalists had no choice but to head deeper into the wilderness with sparse supplies. Contestants were allowed to bring only three items:
- Jake: Tarp, matches, sleeping bag
- Meagan: Sleeping bag, tarp, knife
- Haley: Blanket, tarp, rope
- Woody: Blanket, tarp, canned peaches
The episode ended with a medical scare as Haley’s heart rate dropped dangerously low, to the 30-something beats per minute, leaving viewers to wonder whether she would be medically evacuated right before the finale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did Woody toss his steak?
A: After Woody couldn’t start a fire to cook his steak, he threw it into the lake. Unlike some other contestants, he did not eat it raw, even though his son Blake secretly hoped that he would as a means of protein.
Q: What on earth was the Blackout Card for?
A: The Blackout Card lets Gerrad and Abby black out the audio-visual feed from any survivalist for four hours. They applied it to Jake when he was rewarded for surviving the test.
Q: Why were all four survivalists forced to move their camps?
A: The headquarters teams could not agree on which survivalist should venture further into the wild—their inability to decide within five minutes forced all four contestants to relocate.
Q: What type of items did Jake decide to bring with him when moving his camp?
A: Jake took what he could to the nearest motel, including his sleeping bag, tarp, and matches. He was the only contestant to choose a fire-starting tool among his three allowed items.
Q: What does that mean for Haley at the end of the episode?
A: The episode concluded with Haley having a medical crisis. Her heart rate fell to about 30 beats a minute and wasn’t rising, even with rest, which required medical intervention and threatened her ability to continue in the competition.
Final Words
Extracted: Season 1, Episode 9 would be yet another testament to how captivating the show’s dynamics are, with survival endeavors, tactical choices, and emotional bonds between distant family members.
As the finale gets closer, people are anxious to know who will win the race and if all four remaining contestants will make it to the final challenge. This finale will be unpredictable between Haley’s medical emergency, Jake’s consistent performance, Meagan’s grit, and Woody’s struggles. The next episode will follow up on these cliffhangers and unveil the winner of “Extracted.”
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