Survivor 49 | Ep. 11
LEWATU - NIGHT 19
Kristina kicks off the episode further showing us how out of the loop she was at Tribal. She played her idol for the wrong person (Steven) and she got blindsided by everyone. But, what’s most interesting is Sophie using this opportunity to put herself first and look to the damaged people - Kristina, Steven, and Sage - to reconcile and make up for voting Jawan out and lying to Sage.
It’s always interesting how people handle these instances. Sophie is talking to Sage who is CLEARLY EMOTIONAL. Then, she doubles down, and is arguing that what she did was the best thing she could do. Like, if you’re trying to reconcile with someone you just blindsided, don’t argue with them, don’t say “you had to do what you had to”, and just come clean and let them vent the emotion. That’s it. A clearer day and mind lies ahead, this is NOT the time for that. Bad move Sophie.
DAY 20
It feels like Survivor 49 is about to take a turn toward being great. That potential lies in Soph’s hands because she is controlling the game and on the right side of the votes with Rizo and Savannah. Soph pulls Sage aside and has the conversation that Sophie could have had but blew it. Soph is willing to take a shot at Rizo or Savannah, knowing they are the major threats to win the game, but the challenge will be, can Sage overcome her emotion in regards to Sophie’s lie and wanting revenge.
JOURNEY - DAY 20
Nobody wants to step up, nobody wants to exhaust energy, and people seem down right afraid of the “strenuous” journey. I get it. But, I don’t get passing on the opportunity. I know it’s final 7 and you feel good in the game, but at some point you need to take a chance or a second chance in the game. This moment feels like one of those moments.
Good job Steven taking the risk. I think it will pay off for him. He needs a break in the game and I feel like he’s given this great opportunity with little to no resistance. He knows he’s at the bottom and has nothing to lose. The desperate person is a dangerous person to give a chance at power to in this stage of the game.
Side note - can we get Sophie a bra??? The claw clip is hanging on for dear life.
The Sophie and Soph conversation is “distracted” and as much as they seem to have conversation that they are on the same page with, I’m not buying it. I don’t think Soph turns on Rizo and Savannah just yet. There’s still too much time.
STEVEN’S JOURNEY
Steven has to run around the entire island to find 6 numbers and then hustle out to the pot with an advantage before the tide dumps it. the insane part is the walking over coral, climbing up on rocks, and the slightest misstep could be catastrophic.
Great camera work for this journey. Shots from the water looking at Steven travelling the border of the island. Very cool. You could really see the danger of the footing.
STEVEN HAS DONE IT!!! He has won power in the game via BLOCK A VOTE and has never felt this good in “his entire life”. The moment brings him to tears. He is experiencing the moment that Jeff talks about - the transformation - aka the true prize of Survivor. I love these moments and love it for Steven. Now, all he has to do is use it effectively.
LEWATU - DAY 20
Chickens were chased. Moving on.
I like the move of telling the truth about winning the advantage but keeping the advantage a secret. Good for Steven. It’s a good move and I don’t think will punish him for it. The power Steven has is greater in how much real estate it’s having in Rizo’s head. Rizo thinks it’s a STEAL A VOTE, which is a wise thought, but just a bit off. I think at this point, the biggest thing that could happen would be the BLOCK Rizo’s vote and force him to play the idol. Especially because it’s too early for Soph to play her Knowledge is Power.
IMMUNITY CHALLENGE - DAY 21
REWARD - Spaghetti
Stacking I-M-M-U-N-I-T-Y blocks with a twist. Instead of the platform the letters are stacked on being what you’re holding up, instead, the rope is wrapped around your waist and the rope rotates a small circle platform that you’re stacking the word on. WOW! What a level up. Seems RIDICULOUSLY tough.
STEVEN WINS IMMUNITY and the Spaghetti reward. He makes the easiest decision taking Kristina with him and then hooks up the NY kid (Rizo) with some pasta. It brings him to tears. I love Steven winning here because it throws a wrinkle into Sophie’s plan and as a domino effect opens up Sage’s revenge vote.
REWARD - DAY 21
Steven’s whole game has been flipped upside down and he’s feeling a complete 180. Add some spaghetti into his system and he’s on cloud 9 and open to hearing the strategy talk from Rizo.
Rizo pitches the strategy of finding a common enemy and his laser is pointed at Sophie. I love the strategy of finding the best common enemy and selling that. Kristina says she wants Savannah out because their vibe is off aka Savannah point blank asked Kristina who she was voting for and she didn’t like it. Ultimately, Kristina isn’t a threat in any way.
PRE-TRIBAL SCRAMBLE - DAY 21
I think Sophie’s next misstep was telling Sage and Soph that voting Savannah was best for all of their games. I just don’t think people want to hear what is best for their game from someone else’s mouth. It puts up an immediate wall. Try something like asking a question or saying who isn’t the best vote and explaining why better than “I think it’s best for all of our game”.
Rizo’s calculation is landing with Sage who’s ready to get revenge for the Jawan vote. However, Sophie’s calculations are not. I think Sophie has correctly tried to take control of her game and steer the vote for Savannah and start cementing her resume for Final Tribal Council, but it’s going to be too much too soon. I know that is crazy because there is hardly any game left, but it feels like she needs Sage to be on board but Sage’s game and desire for revenge combined with Savannah having a strong alliance will be enough to prevent Sophie from steering anything except her torch over to Jeff to be snuffed.
PREDICTION: Emotion and revenge are too powerful and it plays into the power alliance’s interests. Sophie gets voted out.
TRIBAL COUNCIL - NIGHT 21
Tribal starts with Sage’s emotions of Jawan being voted out. Further solidifies her voting for Sophie despite wanting to get Savannah out.
Steven’s advantage is out there but he hasn’t told anyone what exactly it is, and he can’t trust anyone enough to share that.
Challenges have been won by only 3 out of 7 people - Steven 2x, Sophie 2x, and Savannah 2x. Sophie and Savannah are vulnerable.
Kristina opens up and blatantly shares she dislikes Savannah and will be voting for her. At least their was laughter within the extreme awkwardness. I think for Savannah, she can never vote out Kristina because she will not be receiving her jury vote.
The final word comes with a music change - REVENGE. The decision will be “very calculated” as Soph puts it and she’s right. But no matter the reasons, I think the power alliance has sold the revenge angle to solidify Sage’s vote as well as throw Sophie off the scent of her being the target. Well done Rizo, Savannah and Soph.
VOTES
SOPHIE - 6
SAVANNAH - 1
They certainly got you good Sophie. She took that unanimous blindside as well as anyone could have. I don’t think anyone LOVED IT as much as Sage and Jawan. I mean Jawan was literally double arm body builder flexing because he was that happy, LOL.
As we say goodbye to Sophie or Yellow Sophie (don’t have two people with the same name on a season or maybe who cares? IDK still working this out) my thought is she was able to get to a place in the game where she was playing her game and I think she can be voted out and feel proud of herself. This is the first person this season that I think can say that and I don’t think as many players get to that place as they would like.
Sophie played her game by having success in the first phase of the game, adapting after the merge, competing her butt off in individual immunities, and playing the game to steer votes the way she wanted them at final 8 and 7, but it just happened to be short lived.
Lastly, as much as it must suck to get voted out at final 7, I think she can rest easy knowing that in a season with pretty set alliances and allegiance to original tribe, she was voted out unanimously at final 7. Despite the pain, anguish, and disappointment of losing, I think the way she went out, in the new era especially, is a complement to her and the game she was able to play.
Now she can at least be the only Sophie at Ponderosa.
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