‘Race to Survive: New Zealand’ Recap – ‘Death Snails’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

RACE TO SURVIVE: NEW ZEALAND -- “Deep, Dark, Holes” Episode 205 -- Pictured: (l-r) Oliver Dev, Spencer "Corry" Jones -- (Photo by: Brian Finestone/USA Network)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 206 of ‘Race to Survive: New Zealand’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It wasn’t that long ago that the hit USA Network series, Race to Survive: New Zealand, made it clear that there was going to be one important secret to making it to the end of this race. In that, just finishing first won’t be enough… one needs to really live up to the title and survive. Which means the champion of this competition will have to have enough to eat, to replenish and renew and find the energy to make those finish lines. And for proof, just look at how some of the teams have struggled badly and barely made it to the finish line without food in their bellies and well, that lesson is top of mind today… because it was reinforced in a fascinating manner last night.

For ‘Death Snails’ once again focused heavily on Survival Camp, and the inner workings of that… to see how well the teams had learned that all-important lesson. That is… after we found out who was going home in this particular tale. Because with the show barreling toward the back half of the season, more teams have to head home and with Coree and Jeff already stepping away, the time seemed right for a double elimination and well, it was in essence down to two teams in this story: Kennedy and Nik, and Rhandi and Ashley. Who were both just chugging along despite being exhausted, and in the case of Rhandi and Ashley… battling an injury. Because Ashley’s ankle just wasn’t getting better. But she battled and believe it or not… they finished.

But alas, there were no medallions left for them to claim, but this duo was pretty thrilled to have battled through injuries and the odds to make their way to the end, and with their journey at an end, the show turned its attention to the lesson at hand. Wherein we could see who took it to heart and who did not. Thankfully everyone at Survival Camp understood the message and understood the need for food. The trick was learning how best to fish, and hunt and do what must be done to eat and that led to some outright ingenuity on the matter. Wherein we saw so many begin to figure out how to live off of the land and enjoy some warm meals, which was a godsend for Bronsen and Ryan, who were struggling without the ration kit but enjoyed a little food courtesy of another barter executed by Creighton.

But where the story hammered home how important it is to eat and how game changing that might be, was through Spencer and Corry. Because despite winning their third straight race and getting a calorie rich charcuterie board as their reward for coming in at first place again, they struggled to find food. For their attempts at fishing ended in failure sadly; despite coming very close to having a couple of big fish in their hands and bellies and well, they expressed grave concern over this. Because while they ate and were able to use their rations accordingly… both men outright stated, they didn’t recover properly during their downtime at Survival Camp because they didn’t get enough food. Which speaks to how important it is to have that food and those precious calories, and well… that could be quite the game changer for the next leg of the competition.

Because with less energy, and bodies that aren’t fully ready to compete, there’s a chance that Corry and Spencer may fall behind in dominating the competition. Giving a window of opportunity to the other competitors in this race. All of whom have proven themselves to be resilient and fierce, especially when one considers how neck and neck the final stretch of Race Three turned out to be. All of which made for a fascinating episode, one that really hammered home the importance of surviving off of the land and how that is not an easy task. Because while other teams ate, they certainly had to work for their meal or do deals to enjoy one, and of course… knowing that the dynamic may have shifted, leaves us eager for more. To see if Corry and Spencer can rally and find a way to recoup that much needed strength to win, and to see, how this next race and its brutal implications, will play out. Until next time.

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