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Kucha is a tribe from Survivor: The Australian Outback.

Initially the weaker of the two tribes, Kucha managed to win three consecutive Immunity Challenges. Later in the game, the tribe's intertribal dynamics were to their detriment after the merge. Their tribe color is blue.

Members[]

Alicia Calaway
32, Manhattan, NY
Personal trainer
S2 alicia t
Debb Eaton
45, Milan, NH
Corrections officer
S2 debb t
Elisabeth Filarski
23, Newton, MA
Footwear designer
S2 elisabeth t
Jeff Varner
34, Manhattan, NY
Internet projects manager
S2 jeff t
Kimmi Kappenberg
27, Ronkonkoma, NY
Bartender
S2 kimmi t
Michael Skupin
38, White Lake, MI
Software company president
S2 michael t
Nick Brown
23, Steilacoom, WA
Law student
S2 nick t
Rodger Bingham
53, Crittenden, KY
Farmer
S2 rodger t

Tribe History[]

Personalities on the tribe clashed early, as Kucha had trouble navigating the hike to their campsite. Many of the castaways were annoyed by Debb Eaton, who took the reigns and rubbed people the wrong way with her outspoken personality. She wasn't the only over-the-top persona in the tribe: Michael Skupin annoyed some with his overbearing leadership, and Kimmi Kappenberg earned the ire of the tribe due to her loud voice and raucous antics. After losing badly in their first Immunity Challenge on Day 2, the tribe was divided between eliminating Debb, who had been annoying the tribe with her bossy behavior, or Jeff Varner, who had been sick since getting off the plane. In the end, Kucha decided that Debb should go home, with a unanimous 7-1 decision.

As Kucha settled into life in the Outback, Michael emerged as the tribe's leader and provider. In spite of his survival capabilities and physical prowess, Michael's leadership was resented by some members of the tribe, particularly in the grandiose way he would make the tribe convene for prayers before a meal. Other members took different roles: Alicia Calaway emerged as the tribe's motivator, Rodger Bingham as the group's moral center, and Elisabeth Filarski as the team cheerleader.

The Day 4 Reward Challenge involved jumping off a cliff and swimming down treacherous rapids. This was doubly intimidating to Rodger, who feared both heights and water. Even though Kucha ended up losing the challenge, Rodger was looked upon with admiration due to his courage in facing his fears. It was at this challenge that Kimmi accidentally revealed to the Ogakors that Jeff had received a vote at the previous night's Tribal Council.[2]

The Day 5 Immunity Challenge had the tribe members choking down various exotic "local delicacies." Kucha was put at a disadvantage when vegetarian Kimmi refused to compromise her morals and eat a cow brain. However, Kimmi redeemed herself by eating a mangrove worm in the tiebreaker round and kept Kucha from attending its second Tribal Council.

Kucha managed to continue winning Immunity Challenges and avoid Tribal Council, allowing the castaways to build relationships with one another. One such friendship was between Alicia and Jeff, who enjoyed each other's personalities and often strategized with one another. Elisabeth and Rodger also formed a bond that would last throughout the game, with Elisabeth referring to Rodger as her "Outback Daddy."

Despite its harmonious appearance, Kucha was not without its share of conflict. Alicia and Jeff became annoyed with Nick Brown's lack of work ethic, feeling that he would only work on activities that were not necessary to the tribe's survival. Kimmi became aggravated with the rest of her tribe when Michael slaughtered a pig and displayed the corpse back at camp. This wasn't the first time Kimmi's vegetarianism had alienated her from the tribe, and it wouldn't be the last.

On Day 10, Kucha won a Reward Challenge that entitled them to three egg-bearing chickens and a rooster. The tribe felt that Kimmi had become too attached to the chickens, and was thus overly distraught when they were slaughtered. Kimmi countered that the tribe should simply kill the birds at a slower rate, in order to spread their protein intake over a longer period. It was this point that got her into a heated argument with Alicia over her attachment to the birds. The ensuing screaming match remains one of the most iconic scenes in Survivor history.

When Kucha lost the fifth Immunity Challenge, Kucha finally returned to Tribal Council on Day 15, nearly two weeks after their first visit. The tension between Alicia and Kimmi weighed heavily on people's votes, and in spite of her strong work ethic, Kimmi was voted out of the tribe unanimously 6-1. Kucha then managed to rebound from their previous loss by winning the next Reward Challenge, winning them a picnic of Doritos and Mountain Dew. Despite the victory, on Day 17, tragedy struck on the tribe. While tending to the fire, Michael inhaled a large amount of smoke and passed out face-first into their bonfire. The ensuing events resulted in the loss of most of the skin on his hands. Michael was airlifted from the game to stunned reactions from his tribemates. The news immediately reached the rival Ogakor tribe, announcing the cancellation of what should have been their sixth/final tribal Immunity Challenge via Tree Mail. After the fateful accident, Kucha was now even with Ogakor going into the merge with five members each.

On Day 19, Elisabeth and Alicia went to the Ogakor camp, while Jeff, Nick, and Rodger entertained the opposing tribe's men (Colby and Keith) at the Kucha camp. The tribes received notice of the imminent merge, and on Day 20, the two groups reconvened at a new beach to form Barramundi.

Challenge History[]

Episode Challenge Challenge Type Sit-Out Result Eliminated
(Vote)
Finish
1 Bridging the Gap Reward/Immunity None Lost Debb
(7-1)
1st Voted Out
Day 3
2 Butch Cassidy Reward None Lost Tribe Immune
Tucker'd Out Immunity None Won
3 Water Torture Reward None Lost Tribe Immune
Lock Step Immunity None Won
4 Mastermind Reward None Won Tribe Immune
True or Falls Immunity None Won
5 Triage Reward Kimmi, Rodger Won Kimmi
(6-1)
5th Voted Out
Day 15
The Maze Immunity None Lost
6 Blind Leading the Blind Reward Rodger Won Michael
(no vote)1
Evacuated
Day 17
Tribes Merged, Day 20
Notes:
^1 Michael was pulled from the game due to medical reasons, thus the Immunity Challenge was cancelled.

Voting History[]

Original Tribes
Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Voted Out S2 debb t
Debb
Tribe
Immune
Tribe
Immune
Tribe
Immune
S2 kimmi t
Kimmi
S2 michael t
Michael
Tribes
Merged
Vote 7-1 6-1 No vote1
Elisabeth Debb Kimmi
Rodger Debb Kimmi
Nick Debb Kimmi
Alicia Debb Kimmi
Jeff Debb Kimmi
Michael Debb Kimmi Evacuated
Kimmi Debb Jeff
Debb Jeff
Notes:
^1 Michael was medically evacuated after falling into the camp fire and severely burning his hands. No vote occurred for his removal.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

References[]

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Lopevi Yasur Koror Ulong Nakúm Yaxhá Bayoneta Casaya La Mina Viveros
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Aitutaki Manihiki Puka Puka Rarotonga Moto Ravu Fei Long Zhan Hu Airai Malakal
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Huyopa Merica Orkun Dara
Millennials vs. Gen X Game Changers Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers Ghost Island
Takali Vanua Ikabula Mana Nuku Tavua Levu Soko Yawa Malolo Naviti Yanuya
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Survivor 41 Survivor 42 Survivor 43 Survivor 44
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Dakuwaqa
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