Previously on Survivor 49playing the center did not hold for who, in waffling between her new alliance with Savannah Louie and Rizo Velovic and her original allegiance to Hina, found herself caught out by both sides. Furthermore, Sage Ahrens-Nichols put her animosity toward Savannah aside in order to avenge Sophie’s part in eliminating Jawan Pittssetting up a final six that on paper seemed evenly split with three per side. This week, the three advantages alive in the game — one idol, one Knowledge Is Power, and one Block a Vote — provide a dangerous variable in determining which five advance to the season finale.
The six players still competing to be “sole survivor” at the start of the episode were: Kristina Mills, Rizo Velovic, Sage Ahrens-Nichols, Savannah Louie, and Steven Ramm. The eliminated contestants making up the jury so far were: Nate Moore, Michelle “MC” Chukwujekwu, Alex Moore, Jawan Pittsand .
Read on for our recap of Survivor Season 49, Episode 12, titled “The Die Is Cast,” which aired Wednesday, Dec. 10 on CBS. After watching the episode, be sure to make your predictions at Gold Derby for who you think will go home next week.
Revenge and Strategy
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After seeming like he was on the bottom of the tribe, the vote on Sophie was music to Steven’s ears because it was both “revenge and strategy” for him in that he got to get “the biggest target in the game” out as well as join Sage in avenging Jawan, while also keeping his new Block a Vote advantage in his back pocket. Savannah was equally happy to get Sophie out, but she was also “honestly shocked” that everyone else was on board for the vote as well, knowing full well that it would be “the last time” they all work together unanimously.
Because everyone was aligned in the vote against Sophie, Soph was not able to execute her running plan to finally turn on Savannah and Rizo. From her vantage point, in order to make a case to win the game she’d need to participate in “something flashy” by blindsiding the people she’s been strategizing with since the first tribe swap.
Highs and Lows
At the site of their next Reward Challenge, Jeff Probst that the “rollercoaster of highs and lows” would continue in the grueling obstacle course they’d have to run in order to earn an overnight stay at the Survivor Sanctuary, inclusive of a Mexican food feast and the letters from home that always equate to Jeff’s “biggest reward of the season.” Steven kept a frontrunner position through to the last part of the challenge, but was eventually caught by everyone else and in the end Savannah landed her bean bag first and earned the win. As part of her win, Savannah brought along Rizo and Soph as her guests, fulfilling promises she made to the two players she’s been close with all season.
The high of attending the reward with her best friends in the game was mirrored by the inevitable low of Savannah sending the three players that already against her back to camp without any of the love from home. Sage felt like Savannah’s decision was karma for not getting her out when she had the chance, but it also gave her the opportunity to combine with Kristina and Steven to firm up their plan to include Soph in the next blindside. In addition, Steven revealed his Block a Vote to them to assist in their plan to obtain an easy majority over Rizo and Savannah no matter what.
Meanwhile, at the reward the “Tres Leches” alliance was officially born and Soph accepted it as a “sign from God” that maybe she shouldn’t turn on Rizo and Savannah. In that regard, she told them about her Knowledge Is Power advantage as a plan for her to use it against Steven. Instead of worrying Rizo, it actually helped him trust Soph more because it signaled that she wasn’t planning on using it against him.
Mission: Immunity
With the six evenly split and multiple advantages (both known and unknown), the next Immunity Challenge came with the “many variables” of determining how those advantages would be played and which trio would come out on top. To win, the players had to balance a ball on the end of a beam balanced with only the weight of a single leg. Winning was not in the cards for Rizo, Soph, or Kristina who were the first three to drop within the first three minutes. When Steven fell fourth, Savannah started up with the “friendly chatter” she’s known to give in head-to-heads, but Sage gave her nothing back. At 24 minutes, Sage’s balance began to waver and she started to ask Savannah if she’d be willing to trust her and drop so that Sage could get a win. Savannah encouraged Sage to remain in the competition and assured her that she wouldn’t give it to her, but at 35 minutes Sage couldn’t hold any longer and Savannah won her third individual immunity.
Winning the challenge was important to Savannah because it “armed with as much ammo as possible” her alliance between immunity, Rizo’s idol and Soph’s own advantage. Naturally, the Hina alliance had no viable path forward except to target Soph for their vote, necessitating that they successfully use Steven’s Block a Vote in order to get the majority. Knowing about Soph’s ability to steal Steven’s power, Rizo still wanted to pad their own ability to gain the majority vote by discussing with Sage that her and Kristina should target Steven because he’d be the hardest to beat at the Final Tribal Council. When Sage brought that idea to Kristina, she wasn’t on board and countered that Steven is their own best chance at someone beating Savannah for the last immunity so that she doesn’t slide into the end and beat them all.
Tribal Council
Ahead of Tribal Council and as per the specifics of his advantage, Steven executed his Block a Vote prior to leaving camp and locked in that he’d be stopping Savannah from voting. While Rizo was certain that his plan for Soph to steal Steven’s advantage would secure them the majority, Soph was not sure that she’d be so successful in that effort and privately considered the value in securing her own safety by stealing Rizo’s idol instead to play on herself.
At Tribal Council, Jeff addressed that Rizo’s idol has come up time and time again, but has yet to be played. Rizo reinforced the false belief of his competitors that his idol expires this week (it really expires at final five) and noted that it “holds a lot of value” because of Steven’s unknown advantage. Steven admitted that he’s nervous even with his advantage because he can’t anticipate how the other side is going to attempt to counter it. What none of them were expecting was for Soph to speak up just before the call to vote, referring to herself as a “silent assassin” and ask to take Steven’s advantage. Forced to tell the truth, Steven said he does not and Soph’s advantage was negated.
Savannah learned of her blocked vote at the voting booth and based on Steven “cooking” Soph’s advantage and thwarting his plan, Rizo felt forced to play his idol. Apologizing to Soph in another showboating moment, Rizo did not play the idol for her or himself. The cast votes were read: Steven, Soph, Steven, Steven. Sage turned to Steven and apologized, stating that she “couldn’t beat” him and Rizo rightly declared the misplay of their advantages “such a cluster.” In his exit interview, Steven says it “feels pretty amazing not to be an impostor” for proving to himself that he’s “capable of so much more” than he thought. He called the game a “complete mission success in terms of self-discovery.”
Next Time
In the season finale, the final five compete in two more immunity challenges in their attempt to outwit, outplay and outlast one another.
