It’s a new season of “Deal or No Deal Island” with an all new cast of players.  The first thing that returning host Joe Magnello asked these contestants was if they did their homework.   All of them had.  He then quickly informed them that it actually doesn’t matter.  Because this season is a whole new game.  A lot of new twists are included.  Hint, including some of the players themselves!

Most of the players are “regular,” everyday people that include Philip who’s a teacher.   Luke, who’s a private chef from Wisconsin.  C.T is keeping her Poker Player and Corporate Banker jobs under wraps. Then there’s the ultimate power players that include Parvati Shallow and David Genat, both competitors and winners on “Survivor.”

Every night, the contestants still must battle the Banker in a game of “Deal or No Deal.”  But, first there was a new game on the Banker’s island called “Pyramid Scheme” (worth $5 million) that contestants had to conquer.  Just like in the first season, this game also revealed game play and personalities about the players to each other.

One side one of the Pyramid contained the highest value cases that required them to navigate over slippery steps above water.  The second side held the “medium” value cases where they could get to via a trek through the jungle.  The last side had three red cases that include: A Steal, a Swap (brand new) and the lowest value case.  To get to these cases, they’d have to travel via a zip line. 

Also just like in season one, the player with the highest value case got safety and would decide who would be playing against the Banker later that night at the Temple.  Another similarity to season one, the person who ended up holding all the power was also the one who had the most trouble playing this game.

MAJOR TWIST:

Pictured: (l-r) Parvati Shallow, Alexis Lete, Sydnee Peck, Phillip Soloman — Photo by: Monty Brinton/NBC

Upon the contestant’s arrival to the Banker’s island where they got the rules of the first game (or “Excursion”) called “Pyramid Scheme,” at the very end of the rules announcement, a major twist was revealed.  The paths that the players chose to get to whichever side also determined their teams.  The team with the lowest value cases would ALL be up for elimination.  This game would have been more entertaining had Joe left that info out until after the Excursion!

This gave way to some major planning and game play.  Instead of the contestants just running off in all directions to the sides of the pyramid in a free for all, they came up with different strategies.  One of those strategies decided by the team of three people, David, Luke and Seychelle, who were going for the red cases, was to wait and see which player would retrieve the million dollar case.  This however was quickly forgotten by Luke and Seychelle!

A ballsy move for Philip was taking the stones over a water path because he doesn’t know how to swim!  The majority of the players took the safer path through the jungle to the medium dollar amount cases.

THE MILLION DOLLAR CASE!

One important note, these cases (except for the red ones) had the dollar amount on the outside for all to see!  Soooo….Pavarti was part of the group to go for the highest value cases.  She noticed that David was perched above carefully watching which one of them would get the million dollar case.  Lete took the million dollar case. But, after David jumped into the water to go for a red case, which he was certain would be a Swap or a Steal, Lete and her teammates switched the million dollar case to another player so Lete no longer had it.

BIG MISTAKE!

After everyone had their cases and back in front of Joe to have all their cases revealed, Luke had the “Steal” case.  As part of the game play, he had to choose a case right then and there to swap his out for before every case had been opened.  This is where Luke had a little bit of trouble.  Because he went for the highest money amount that he could SEE.  NOT one of the cases on the highest cases team, which had not yet been opened btw.

His team members were reeling, as David even tried to explain it to him, to take any case from the highest money amount cases.  Instead, Luke chose the $450,000 case.  Lol!

Pictured: (l-r) — Photo by: Monty Brinton/NBC

David’s case was a $200,000 Swap case.  He still believed that Lete had the million dollar case.  The girls with the high amount cases offered David a deal. They would give him the $750,000 case in order to keep his team out of the bottom.  The intention was “a favor” for a favor down the line.  David didn’t take that deal.

Once David opened the case that he swapped with Lete, he revealed a $500,000 case!  Thus, David’s team ended up in the bottom.  It all fell onto Luke who didn’t choose a case from the high values.  He called it “a rush decision” and felt like “the village idiot.” 

TOUGH DECISIONS:

It was Sydnee who got the switch-a-roo million dollar case and that meant that she was safe and would be deciding which one of the three players in the bottom – David, Luke, or Seychelle,  would play against the Banker.  Luke made it known to his team right away that he wanted to play against the Banker in the “Deal or No Deal” game.  Also wanting to determine his fate, David wanted to play.”

Sydnee had major eyes for David and as noted by co-contestant, La Shell, didn’ t have her full attention on the game.  David, who’s married, fully intends to lead Sydnee on for the sake of his game play.

Are they G.O.A.T.’S?

Meanwhile, no one is making it known that they know who Pavarti is. Parvarti is known for winning “Survivor” and competing on three other seasons.  She also competed on “The Traitors” season 2 in the U.S.  Philip asked her point blank why no one is picking up on it? However, once Pavarti started asking around, it turns out, everyone knew, but were just keeping hush, hush about it.  Probably based off of what happened in last season’s first episode, where Braxton got eliminated after vocally calling out who Rob Marino was, along with Kim Matina.  After that, Rob had a vendetta on Kim.

Another “All-Star” of sorts, is David, a.k.a. “D.G.”, also “Golden God” of Australian Survivor.  He bragged that he is considered the greatest Survivor player of all time according to some groups on the internet.

Pavarti and David quickly built an alliance with each other with the intention of going to the end of the game together.  But, not if Seychell has any say.  Because she was secretly plotting to get David off of the island.  The reason? “He’s the biggest one here” she exclaimed. 

Pictured: (l-r) — Photo by: Monty Brinton/NBC

DEAL OR NO DEAL:

Sydnee did in fact choose Luke to face the Banker in a game of “Deal or No Deal.”  Before the game got started, last season’s Banker Howie Mandel made a video call to tell them that he isn’t the Banker this season. “There’s a new Banker pulling the strings.” 

Luke played his way to an extremely first low offer from the Banker of $55,000.  Of course it was “no deal” from Luke.  Meantime, both David and Seychell were sweating bullets because it ultimately would be one of them going home if Luke won his game.

The second round of Luke’s game was way better than the first, with the bulk of the remaining cases being large numbers.  The second offer was $220,000.  It was another “no deal” from Luke. 

SPOILER!! SPOILER!!

The next round was brutal because the million dollar case was opened, and the offer from the Banker was $185,000.  This is where Luke SHOULD have taken the deal.  But, it was down to exactly a 50/50 situation with the cases.  Two high cases vs. two low.  Luke continued in the game to open one more case in the next round.  Unfortunately, that was the highest case left, $750.000.  

Luke’s cases were $600,000, $1, and $500.  So, the Banker offered him a last saving grace of $218,000.   A second pivotal point where he should have taken the deal.  But, he didn’t and proved again that he’s lousy at playing this game!  When the $600,000 case was open and he was only left with $500, and $1, that was all we needed to know that Luke had most likely already lost.  

Pictured: (l-r) Luke Olejniczak, Joe Manganiello — Photo by: Monty Brinton/NBC

The Banker offered $300 and Luke said “no deal.”  When he opened the case after that, he revealed that he had the $1 inside his case which meant that Luke went home.  After that, Joe revealed that the Banker this season is a “she.”  The women cheered in solidarity. 

In the aftermath, David and Pavarti were strategizing on perhaps “dominating” each side.  But, first seeing who was going to be the clear cut player in position of power after their upcoming Excursion.  However, things are going to get sticky between David and Sydnee because she has him as her number one alliance!

SNEAK-PEEK:
In the second Excursion the players were brought to a swamp and the pressure was on to grab some big money cases after Luke left them with only $1 contributed to the communal pot.  

THE DOCTOR IS IN! The Banker created a “twisted treasure hunt” where players must choose treasure chests filled with various things.  Plus, another contestant is being added next week.  It’s Dr. Will Kirby, from “Big Brother” fame, who said he’s there to “bankrupt the Banker” and is out to get “big numbers!”