Suvechha Sarkar
Just when the viewers think that Fox’s ‘The Snake’ can’t possibly get more intense, episode 5, titled ‘Life Line,’ delivers a shock that leaves hearts heavy. The haunting memory of Jacob’s ultimate sacrifice still lingers in the aftermath of the last Saving Ceremony. Especially for Derek, the emotional toll is mounting fast since within just a few weeks, he has not just lost Cody but also Jacob. As the episode unfolds, the Detective is at a dangerous crossroads as he is bound to decide who he can truly trust in a game where one wrong move can lead to his elimination.
With Loyalties Shifting, Jacob’s Final Move Shakes Up the Game
With the morning rolling in, Derek is lost in thought because he thought Amanda had his back, but she is now close to Devonte. Hence, he feels alone in the game, but he is okay with it. The focus shifts to Jack, who notes that the Detective is still the first enemy because he has been overly targeting him. However, he adds that luckily, he has an army behind him, who are going to come for Derek. In his confessional, Devonte discloses that initially, he became close to Amanda so that if Derek came to power, she could support him. However, he now really likes her, but on the other hand, Amanda has formed a bond with the boys- Jack, Devonte, and Brett because the tides have changed. Although she first made a pact with Derek, her defense strategy has changed because Jacob has been eliminated.
Brett notes that although he and Derek are supposed to go against one another, he has a soft spot for Derek because he can notice Jack, Maclaine, Devonte, and Amanda getting closer. Similarly, Derek feels that his bond with the Boxer can benefit him. However, he also observes that Brett is a good physical opponent and is unsure if he can beat the latter. The game takes a new turn as the host, Joel McHale, arrives at the house to reveal that the players are mistaken if they think Jacob’s effects on the game are over. He elaborates that starting after the previous night’s Saving Ceremony, the eliminated contestant can change the course of the game for the ones who are left. Each week, this player will be able to either give an advantage or disadvantage to someone.
Joel is going to decide when the card comes into effect, and this is going to happen every week. The player who gets the advantage or disadvantage is not going to know what the exact curse or gift they have received is. He then announces that Jacob has chosen Derek, and it is soon revealed that he has gotten the advantage. However, Joel adds that the Detective is not going to know the advantage until they get to the challenge. As all the contestants reach for the challenge before a water body, Joel instructs everyone to pick a partner. While Jack selects Maclaine, Brett and Derek become a team. Brett remarks that they wanted to team up to dominate the game physically. The rest of the pairs are as follows: Alyssa and Frank, Jordan and Kethryn, Amanda and Devonte, and Christine and John.
A Shocking Twist Turns Allies Into Rivals During the Life Line Challenge
The twist arrives when Joel announces that the pair each contestant has chosen is actually their opponent. As everyone advances to the shore, the host explains that on his signal, each pair is going to step onto the metal beam up in the air on each side. They must maintain their balance as they overcome the obstacle towards the Life Line. If they pull their Life Line, it can send their opponent flying into the water. However, he adds that it is not just dropping one’s competitor 50 feet because the fastest player can become the Snake. In her confessional, Alyssa divulges that she once again wants to be the Snake because she wants the Boys to go home due to their scheming nature. To make things more interesting, Joel announces that the advantage that Jacob has given to Derek is to remove the obstacle on his beam.
Derek remarks that he is doing all of this for his wife and daughter, and he needs to win or else he is going home. The first players to take their positions are Jordan and Kethryn. The latter discloses in her confession that she despises Jacob and Derek and wants to win to become the Snake and pay back. Although Jordan is petrified of heights, she surprises everyone by pulling her Life Line first and becoming the winner. It is now the turn of Maclaine and Jack, and the latter notes that he is afraid of Derek. No matter how much he likes Maclaine, he has to win the challenge. He quickly runs through his beam and pulls his beam first, snatching the win. Right after, Amanda and Devonte follow suit, when the former observes that after she saw Jack going quickly, she realizes she has to go faster.
Devonte, on the other hand, is trying to maintain his composure so high in the air. Ultimately, when Amanda wins, Brett remarks that Amanda is a formidable competitor. As Christine and John step on the beam, the latter observes that, considering Jack and Amanda’s speed, he must throw his body to get the fastest time. Considering Christine’s fear of height, the Politician wins the round with agility. When it’s Frank and Alyssa’s turn, he falls into the water first, trying to get to the Life Line, making his opponent the victor. It is the turn for the final pair, Derek and Brett. The Detective wants to win badly because if Jack becomes the Snake, he is going to eliminate him. He is also thankful to have the advantage Jacob has given him because Brett is a fierce opponent. Despite the Boxer’s confidence, he misses the rope as it slips through his fingers, while Derek manages to do so, becoming the winner.
With the Power of the Snake, Derek Orchestrates a Plan to Break up the Boys
Joel announces that the winner has won by one second among the four of Amanda, John, Jack, and Derek. To his delight, Derek becomes the winner at 2.11 seconds. As everyone returns to the house, Derek and Frank discuss the former’s strategy. Both of them agree that it is time to break up the boys. While speaking about John, Frank observes that he doesn’t trust him since he is a Politician and quite smart. Similarly, he remarks about Christine, saying she must feel important to be on Derek’s team. The spotlight moves to Brett, urging Devonte to kiss Amanda to help seal the deal. When the two go outside to speak privately, he tells her he likes her and gives her a small kiss with her permission.
As the game progresses, Derek informs John that he is going to select him first, to which the Politician quickly adds that in that case, he will choose whoever the Detective wants. Derek moves on to Christine, fills her in on the plan, and asks her to select Amanda. He asks her to state during the Ceremony that she is choosing Amanda because she saved her before. With her agreement on the side, Derek sets his eyes on Amanda. Meanwhile, Jake, Devonte, and Brett discuss how they can get things in their favor. In the confessional, Amanda reveals that she feels conflicted because Derek has asked her to choose Frank, who can then select Alyssa, followed by Jordan, Kethryn, ultimately, pushing the boys down in the chain. She is in a difficult position because she cannot decide whether she wants to stick by Derek or go with her pact with the boys.
Amanda realizes that the night’s Saving Ceremony will completely fall on her decision. Devonte approaches her right after and states that if she chooses him, he is going to be indebted to her. He then goes to Brett and Jack and states that they can manipulate Derek into thinking that the boys can work with him. Each of them approaches the Detective one by one, stating how they can team up instead of fighting one another. As Devonte urges Derek to team up with him, he reveals in his confessional that, being a Poker Player, he is comfortable bluffing. The Detective notes that the boys are coming at him. Despite his reassurance to Brett and Jack, the Boxer feels that Derek can flip the game, as Jack and Devonte bamboozled him and Jacob. The Detective states that either he can join them or flip the game against them.
What Begins With Strategic Whispers Ends in a Surprising Turn
After hearing Jack and Devonte’s conversation with Derek, Brett observes that although he and Derek may trust each other, there is only a 40% chance that all three boys are making it through the night. Devonte hopes Amanda can save him, but to keep a backup plan, he approaches Kethryn to obtain the promise that she is going to choose him. Shortly after, when Jack goes to her, she bluntly states that although she stated she is not going to gun for him, she has already given her word to Devonte. Jack realizes that while protecting his people, he shouldn’t have made enemies earlier. This is because his people are going to be by his side until they push him to the front. As he informs Maclaine about the situation, he asks her to fight for them and promises her that he is going to see her once the show is over, in case he leaves.
As the Saving Ceremony approaches, Derek remarks that everyone acknowledges that their actions have consequences. While Kethryn is nervous because she has no idea who is picking whom and doesn’t want to be the one to go home, Jack admits that tonight, everything depends on Amanda. The Lawyer also feels bad because she has to decide where the game heads after tonight. Once everyone reaches the Snake Pit, Derek heads up to stand beside Joel and hopes everyone sticks to their words. He also notes that if anything goes wrong, everyone is going to team against him. He chooses to save John, who, according to the plan, picks Christine. She selects Amanda, noting that the latter saved her from the Snake Pit the previous week.
Amanda can now feel the pressure and states that from this point in the competition, it is going to get harder, although several relationships have been formed. She adds that she has thought about her decision all day and will choose this person because he has shown her kindness from day one. Although Devonte becomes hopeful that his relationship with her can save him, he is shocked when she picks Frank instead. In her confessional, she discloses that she has been playing Devonte all this time because she is in a relationship back home. She likes him as a friend, but states he cannot handle her in the real world. Frank next selects Alyssa, who, in turn, saves Kethryn. She notes that she always has to look at the bigger picture and prioritize what helps her in the long term, and adds it’s hard to choose between five people she loves and respects.
A Shocking Betrayal Shatters the Boys’ Alliance, Eliminating Devonte
Devonte observes that if Kethryn makes the right choice, it can spoil Derek’s plan and save him, Jack, and Brett. Ultimately, she saves Jordan and divulges in her confessional that although the boys don’t think she can ever betray them, this has been her plan. She wanted to break up the strong alliance between them. This decision prompts Jack to remark that everyone is just looking out for themselves, and Kethryn’s betrayal stings most because she didn’t save either of the boys. As the chain goes forward, Maclaine feels bad because Jack has stood up for her many times, and she may be the reason he goes home. Hence, she should be the one to go home, but Jordan decides to save her. This makes Jack elated since, considering their relationship, he knows he is safe. As expected, she picks Jack, leaving Devonte and Brett in the bottom two.
Before Derek chooses whom to save, Joel reminds the Snake that the person he eliminates can later influence the game. Kethryn also pleads with him to remember that Devone is a good person. Devonte then points out to Kethryn that she did not choose him when he had picked her first twice. He states that he always had the back of the people he has promised to, but he is a little disappointed with Amanda that she sided with the one who has the power. When it’s time for Brett to plead his case, he states that he has always kept it real with Derek, and they were set apart without getting to know each other. He remarks that he respects whatever Derek decides to do. The Snake announces that both Devonte and Brett have been great people.
Derek observes that although Brett is the strongest athlete in the house, he cannot choose to save Devonte. Hence, he announces that he saves the former, hoping their relationship can progress. He also points out to Devonte that it hurt him when he shook his hand and didn’t pick him. Before leaving, the contestant notes that he chose to lie to Derek and save Brett, but it ultimately cost him. In his exit interview, he acknowledges that he betrayed Derek, and the Detective also took his share. He is just crushed because he feels Kethryn screwed him over. Similarly, Kethryn remarks that since the boys are broken up, she feels Jack and Brett are going to have beef with her. So, she must learn to navigate those strained relations as best as possible. Jack confesses that for the first time in the game, everyone is on the same level, and true colors are coming to the forefront. In the end, Derek is satisfied because he has finally broken up the boys.
Read More: The Snake Episode 4 Recap: Surprise Snake
