The Mole 7/28- The Final Four Do Kids Stuff and Jail Time

Previously on The Mole, Paul and Nicole traded hatred and death threats, the players had a memory challenge, and Clay started to play the game and got promptly evicted. Mark is sad that Clay is gone. Nicole is happy to still be there and dubs herself a badass. Paul is obnoxious about the fact that he’s made it to the final four.

Jon welcomes the players to their first mission, “How’s The View”, worth $64,000. The team splits into teams of two, and then splits them apart and puts a member of each pair with one of other. It involves Craig and Paul wearing video goggles and Nicole and Mark showing them what they are seeing. And they’re doing tests aimed at 7 year olds and under. But everything is mirrored because of projections, so it’s harder than it sounds. In the first part of the challenge, Craig and Paul manage to add 6 grand. But $1,000 is discounted because Nicole talked during this part of the mission, which is not allowed. But it’s unclear whether it’s actually Nicole’s fault. On a fun little sidenote, it turns out that Nicole is a laparoscopic surgeon, meaning that she uses a camera to perform surgery. So she does Craig and Paul’s part for a living. Mole at Work?

The second part of the challenge, kicking a soccerball into a goal, is less successful, with everyone but Mark sucking miserably at their part. The next part, pouring tea into teacups, earns the team $5,000 from Paul and $2,500 from Craig. Honestly, it’s not clear who is sabotaging the mission more, Craig or Nicole. The final bit of the challenge involves them walking a plank two stories above the ground. Paul is freaking out as we go to commercial.

Turns out, they also have to pick up a piece of chalk in the middle of the plank and copy what is written on a blackboard. Paul has a couple near misses, but he gets the chalk alright. Then the timer kicks in, because they only have one minute from when they have to pick up the chalk. Paul manages to finish in the nick of time, literally two seconds left. Meaning another 10 grand is added to the pot. Craig is freaking out on a much more grand scale, since he has vertigo and a fear of heights. But he manages to get to the chalk. He moves very slowly though, and is nowhere near the chalkboard when his time runs out. The team makes a total of $22,500, $18,000 of which came from Mark and Paul. At dinner than night, Nicole is really big on Craig sabotaging the mission. Paul, meanwhile, is working on sabotaging Nicole’s chances on the Mole quiz.

Mark is all alone now, which is worried. He is really hoping there’s an exemption tonight, and tells everyone. But no one listens to him. Hmm, I wonder if that’s some reality show editing for you. The players’ next mission is called “Cell Out” and involves the games’ final exemption. It involves people being locked in cells, solving word problems, a paintball obstacle course, and a snipers’ rifle. Nicole is happy about the fact that she may get to shoot someone. Everyone goes into their cell, and the mission begins. Mark is confident and desperately wants to get out first. And he manages to get out first, meaning he gets the sniper rifle, and the chance at the exemption. Paul, meanwhile, is terrible with words. Mark has never shot a paintball gun before. Nicole and Craig decide to wait for Paul because he’s good with paintball. When he finally gets out, they briefly strategize. Then, Paintball time!

The strategy decided on is to have someone draw fire while the other two run. Paul and Nicole actually work well together. The three actually seem to be doing pretty well, and are evading fast and furious. Mark hits Paul but the paintball doesn’t break, infuriating Mark. He then manages to nail Craig and Nicole while Paul makes it to the door and survives. Paul’s success adds $15,000 to the pot. Nicole does not have the exemption, but Craig’s card ominously looms as we go to commercial.

But Craig does in fact have the exemption, meaning Mark is guaranteed to be in the finals. At this point, I’m convinced he’s not the mole. The total pot is now up to $368,500. Paul is unhappy about the exemption, very unhappy. He even mouths off to Jon a little. At dinner, Paul is his usual vocal self, but he indicates that tonight is different. He seems very confident though about his mole choice (I’m guessing it’s Craig that everyone has decided on). They all have a nice toast to “Sportsmanship” before the quiz.

QUIZ TIME
I Suspect Craig (But secretly hope it’s Nicole, since that’s a badass and risky mole strategy that I would totally love, overplaying the part so that you’re not suspected)
Nicole is focusing on one person instead of playing the field, seemingly Craig.
Paul does, in fact, suspect Craig. Although he’s worried by Nicole.
Craig is also only focusing on one person (Maybe Craig?).

At the execution, there’s only three possible victimes. Paul is up first, and I’m not really surprised when he’s executed. Happy, but not surprised. Nicole was confident she’s going home, but she’s alleviated. There’s no doubt in my mind that Craig is the Mole now, because everyone seems to suspect him and he knew which door he wanted immediately (the one with the exemption). I’ll be shocked if it’s not Craig who is the Mole. Nicole admits that she’s kind of sorry to see Paul go. Jon congratulates the final three on making it to the end. They all deny being the Mole. But someone’s lying….

Next Time on The Mole, bomb diffusion, what’s behind briefcase number one, and the final quiz!