Extracted Season 2 Episode 4 Recap: Sink or Swim

From the beginning, Fox’s ‘Extracted’ pushes amateur survivalists to test their limits and strategies in the wilderness. In Season 2 episode 4, appropriately titled ‘Sink or Swim,’ the stakes feel higher than ever in the aftermath of the previous episode’s brutal nighttime survival trial. After their lamps flickered out during that challenge, some participants were left stranded without light and warmth. As dawn inches closer, the emotional and physical toll becomes impossible to ignore. New alliances begin to form while some doubts creep in at the Headquarters (HQ). The contestants are also set to face their first raft-building challenge.

With Lamps Dead and Bodies Aching, the Episode Captures a Tense Night

The episode commences with the focus on Doug and RJ, whose lamps’ batteries have already given up. On the other hand, Luke faces the predicament of sleeping in the wild after hurting his knee and losing direction to his camp. In the meantime, Eric gets lost in the woods three times, prompting Nina to reveal that he is inexperienced in their 10 years of togetherness, since they have gone out camping only once. Her mother, Sandra, also chimes in, adding that the things that motivate Eric to leave the couch are going to buy sneakers or visiting a restaurant. In her confessional, Sandra discloses that they need the $250,000 because Eric and Nina are planning to buy a house. The focus then shifts to Makala, who remarks that, although she considered extracting RJ after seeing him suffer, she doesn’t want to make any rash decisions.

Similarly, Alec and Dayton are concerned that Doug may not make it to the camp and may have to sleep in the dark. Fortunately, Eric finally returns to his camp shortly after. In the meantime, Luke finally decides to sleep in the dark instead of taking the risk of hurting his legs further. His brother, Daniel, opens up in his confessional that Luke may be faking it because they had decided before coming into the game that the competitor would make others think things are worse than they actually are. With a long night ahead of them, RJ, Doug, and Luke try to make themselves comfortable in the wilderness. As the next morning rolls in, all three of them finally return to their shelter. Back at the dining table at Headquarters (HQ), Makala tells the others she needs to speak with Tanisha.

Makala reveals that although the last challenge was for two people, she kept guessing everything, which wasn’t productive. In her confessional, Makala continues that although there is no rule on how to play the game with one’s sibling, both she and Tanisha must put their love for RJ first. Meanwhile, RJ tells Makala that although his legs are cramping, they will know when he is done. He continues that he is fighting, but he needs love and support too. The spotlight then falls on Summer, who explains that she is afraid of birds and isn’t sure how to eat the protein she has received. The other contestants also begin harvesting their protein. On the other hand, Eric notes that there is a lot of pressure since Nina and Sandra are a winning family, and so, he must show them what he is capable of.

The Families Confront Old Wounds Before an Upcoming Challenge

Although Summer succeeds in harvesting the protein, she fails to light a fire using a match. It makes both her brother Sage and mother Stacy worried since she has not had any fire for seven days. While the other survivalists cook the meat and begin eating, Rhoman reveals that the bird he received is already wet, leaving him unsure whether it is healthy. It turns out that at home, he usually asks his mother, Lynsey, whenever he has any questions about food, but now he is unable to do that. Watching Rhoman makes Dallas impatient, prompting him to criticize his brother. However, Lynsey soon defends Rhoman, stating that he is trying his best and Dallas shouldn’t be so hard on him. In his confessional, Dallas reveals that his parents split up when he was just 12 years old, and his mother raised 5 kids alone.

Dallas admits that, although he possesses some great qualities, his hardheadedness may come from his dad’s side. As the day passes and the next morning rolls in again, the families at the HQ finally receive an announcement about the next survival trial, in which the survivalists must build a raft using supplies provided by their families. There are some books to make the raft kept at the HQ, among which one has clear instructions. The families first need to find the one book and then write down the instructions for their competitor. Nina notices Luke’s brothers, Daniel and David, hovering around the book, and she remarks that she doesn’t trust them. It is soon proven true as Luke’s family rips off the only page on raft construction to use it to their advantage.

Since Daniel and David do it in secret, everyone wonders who might have done it. The attention then falls on Summer, who reveals that her father didn’t expect her to last even a week, while her children thought it wouldn’t be more than two days. She continues that it is possible the families back at the HQ may underestimate her due to her pregnant background, but she usually proves others wrong. In her confessional, Summer’s mother, Stacy, reveals that her daughter is tough, having gone through 2 divorces and being a single mother of three. As the focus shifts to her brother, Sage, who divulges that he and Summer have been distant, but her sister is now relying on him. Hence, he is here to see his sister succeed.

Strategic Pairings and a 20-Minute Prep Window Set the Stage For the Survival Trial

Back at HQ, the families learn that, for the upcoming survival trial, the contestants must retrieve supplies from the supply crate using a raft to reach an island 500 metres from the lake shore. They contain items like a bow drill, fishing line, a propane stove, matches, a mousetrap, toilet paper, gloves, and a single empty crate. The contestants must team up in pairs, which will be decided by their families. The survivalists must then create a raft using the items and instructions provided by their family before reaching the crates. The team that arrives at the crates before everyone shall receive their best choice, while the ones that arrive last shall receive nothing. The families are then given 2 minutes to reach a decision on teams.

Bailey states that although Luke’s brothers are not their first choice, it is better to pair Luke with Polly since he is a strong competitor. Amey and Rhoman’s family also teams up, but when Summer’s family asks to partner with Eric, Nina and Sandra underestimate her. Hence, Nina and Sandra opt for RJ’s family and team up with them. Meanwhile, the alliance between Katie and Doug naturally brings them together. Since Summer is left alone, Sage notes that he knew others may think Summer would slow them down, but he knows she will prove them wrong. The families are then given 20 minutes to collect the necessary items for their survivalists to make their raft. Once the time on the clock begins ticking, they rush to collect the items and write the instructions for raft design.

While Nina and Sandra instruct Eric to use four logs for his and RJ’s raft, Luke’s brothers reveal that he has never made one before. For Doug and Katie’s instructions, their families mention that it’s better if she stays in the front with Doug in the back. Amey’s family also makes sure to provide all types of necessary items for the raft, hoping she and Rhoman will figure it out. Once the 20 minutes on the clock tick away, the contestants finally receive the details about the survival trial. Once all of them head to the lakeshore, they become delighted to meet their partners. Unfortunately, Summer is disappointed to find herself left alone, with Daniel remarking that the other families consider her the weakest opponent. Wasting no time, the survivalists begin making their rafts, with Luke and Polly off to the best start.

Lake Challenge Provides the Contestants With Crucial Supplies and Empty Crates

As the focus shifts to Summer, her mother, Stacy, observes that since her daughter is alone, it will be easier for her to move forward. Meanwhile, Eric and RJ’s family note that they are struggling to make the raft since they are not following any instructions. Luke and Polly become the first pair to set out for the crates with their raft. Although Eric and RJ eventually set out on the water, their family members are left disappointed when they notice them paddling in opposite directions to one another. As Luke and Polly continue moving forward, Nina notices that Eric and RJ are still moving in circles. Shortly after, Summer successfully gets into the water with her raft, followed by Katie and Doug. On the other hand, Amey and Rhoman sadly don’t find their raft to be working.

Luke and Polly become the first team to reach the crate and pick their desired tools before heading back. In the meantime, Amey and Rhoman finally succeed in getting their raft to work. As everyone watches Summer moving forward, Sage remarks that his sister is someone who never quits. Doug and Katie become the second team to reach their crates and are soon followed by Summer, who gets the propane tank that can help her build a fire after a week. Shortly after, Eric and RJ also manage to get their supplies, but unfortunately, Amey and Rhoman receive an empty crate since they are the last ones to reach the small island in the middle of the lake. As every survivalist returns to their shelter, Rhoman expresses that he feels defeated. However, he also adds that the more effort he puts into his shelter and catching a fish, the more he wants to soldier on.

Rhoman refuses to walk away from the game without a proper reason. Meanwhile, Tanisha states that when she paired RJ and Eric together, she expected Eric to motivate RJ, but now she feels Eric may have slowed him down. Hence, Tanisha and Makala must be aware of who they want to work with from now on. In her confessional, Nina notes that Eric now understands it isn’t as easy as he thinks. Back at HQ, Polly, Bailey, Daniel, and David are seen discussing the pair-ups. Polly remarks that putting Luke and Polly together as strong competitors has worked out best. Bailey also agrees that working together with Luke’s family may make things easier for Polly. Although Polly and Bailey make it clear they don’t want to sacrifice their integrity, Luke’s brothers say they will play the game hard.

Eric Makes an Emotional Exit After the Raft Challenge Breaks His Resolve

Once the next morning shines on the contestants, Polly decides to go fishing with her new fishing line. As soon as the spotlight falls on Eric, he reveals that the raft challenge has taken a toll on him both mentally and physically. He continues that his opponents look quite strong, and he wonders how long he can go because he is tired. Sandra can be seen nowhere near her seat at the HQ when this goes down. Eric opens up that he can’t be here for another day, pleading to his loved ones to press the extraction button. He explains that Nina once told him to make a decision if it makes him happy, and he thinks being extracted will make him happier. According to Eric, the $250,000 is farther than he expected. However, when Sandra hears that Eric wants to go home, she makes it clear that she will not be the one to extract him.

As Eric continues to plead, Nina declares that she cannot keep watching him beg because once he has made up his mind, he is done. Ultimately, she becomes the person who pushes the extraction button. While Eric becomes relieved upon learning about his extraction, Nina expresses her disappointment in her confessional. She states that she hoped Eric would work through the bad day, but instead, it left her devastated. In his exit interview, he reveals that the raft challenge was hard on him and despite his good efforts, he just cannot do it anymore. In Sandra’s confessional, she notes that she and Nina have stepped back on several occasions at the HQ, believing that they were here for the long run. Nina asks everyone to step up for their families because stepping back may cost them their game.

As Nina and Sandra reunite with Eric, Nina admits she is indeed proud of him, but she hoped he would go further. On the other hand, Sandra reveals that he now has to pay the bills since Nina had quit her job to participate in the competition. With just 8 survivalists left, David and Daniel now feel that they are ready to make moves. They are also happy that the power couple, Eric and Nina, are now gone because the brothers were ready to fight them. Meanwhile, Alec, Dayton, Emily, and Tanisha can also be seen planning their strategy. When Tanisha points out that Luke and Polly’s families are working together, Emily suggests targeting Polly first. With the risks getting higher, it is high time each family chooses their alliance cleverly.