Rule change knocks out a strong player on 'Survive in Istanbul'

In the reality show «Survive in Istanbul» (16+), passions are flaring by the fourth episode. While some participants try to calculate every move mathematically to break through to victory, others play their own game. But no matter what plans the teams make, the project organizers follow their «Tarantino-esque» script and abruptly change the voting conditions. The players are stunned. And unexpectedly, the show«s strongest participant leaves.

The new episode began with the return of Mia Boiko to her team. The singer spent several days on a personal challenge, trying to survive in Istanbul without money or knowledge of the language. Not all of her teammates were happy about the reunion; tension was literally in the air. Mia herself added fuel to the fire. She did not hide the fact that she perfectly understood she was the next one to be sent to the elimination challenge by the star team. Her only salvation was immunity, which the singer fought for by staying in the foreign city. But she did not win that prize.

Boiko returned to her camp at the villa much later than her rival Alena Blin. The journalist, who ended up on the «commoners» team, turned out to be just as much of a black sheep; the players do not accept her and constantly nominate her for votes.

Mia had no choice but to change her strategy. The girl bet on honesty and confessed to the team that after the departure of Ekaterina Gordon and Irina Shibetskaya from the project, all she could do was try to fit into the group.

Things are not calm in the commoners« team either. Alena Blin, angered by her team losing the luxury villa, issued an ultimatum.

— If at the vote you burn my immunity and vote against Sergei (the journalist«s friend. — Ed.), then I will sabotage all the big challenges. You will not see the villas anymore, — the star threatened the »commoners«.

Her team members did not seem to expect such a turn. They understood that this was how Alena Zhigalova (Blin) was trying to stay on the project. But what to do about it — the question remained open.

In the new episode, the inhabitants of the «Istanbul forest» (the losing team) went to their task at the villa. If before they were just cleaning there while the stars were away, this time they had to entertain the winners.

Each of the «commoners» came up with an activity — from making cocktails to relay races in the pool. Only Alena Blin and Sergei Stepanstov stayed aside. They tried to establish communication with the stars, as the teams will merge in the future, and new allies never hurt.

A mutual attraction is budding between Magomed Murtazaliev and Mia Boiko. The stars began to support each other. This was visible during the fun competitions hosted by the commoners-as-animators.

A fierce battle awaited the teams at the big challenge. They had to knock down barrels of sand with 2-kilogram (4.4 lb) balls. Only a few people from each team could participate. From the commoners, Igor Prokhorov, who works as a volleyball coach in Tyumen, fitness trainer Leonid Vakhitov, blogger Alena Grom, and Russian powerlifting master Vlad Zolotova volunteered.

From the stars went rapper Seryoga, actor Kuzma Saprykin, actress Maria Gorban, and singer Mia Boiko.

— I«m on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I want to accept this battle, — comments Igor Prokhorov, anticipating the start of the challenge. — This is my challenge. I am a professional volleyball player. I»ve been with balls all my life.

If the men were up to this game, for the female half it was a real blow. The female participants were literally falling off their feet. And Maria Gorban, overwhelmed by fatigue, even asked to go home.

The commoners won this challenge. The last, heaviest barrel was knocked down by the volleyball player. It wasn«t easy.

— Seryoga was standing opposite me. He«s just a beast. His swing is incredibly powerful, — Prokhorov commented on the course of the game.

And since the victory belonged to the «common people», their team went to rest at the villa. The stars packed their suitcases and mentally prepared to sleep in the forest and switch to an endless rice diet.

In the finale, the teams went to vote. It seemed there would be no surprises: everyone knew who they wanted to vote against. But then came the first unexpected decision from the project organizers — only one team is present at the ceremony. The commoners and stars were separated, meaning they would not know each other«s intentions. But that»s not all.

Under the new rules, the teams nominate not their own players, but participants from the rival team. This means the outcome could be anything, but the strongest are under the biggest threat. At this moment, Alena Blin could not contain her emotions: the journalist rejoiced because she knew she definitely would not be chosen.

Thus, rapper Seryoga and Leonid Vakhitov went to the elimination challenge. They had to play two games: the first for memory, and the second for endurance. In both cases, the fitness trainer from the commoners« team won. And the rapper went home, saying:

— I came to hunt, to knock him out. But luck was on his side, — the star commented on his loss.