LEWATU - NIGHT 21
In the aftermath of the unanimous Sophie vote, Sage said it best that “everyone has experienced some hurt…and needed a break…Sophie was the mutual break” and everyone is beaming. The tribe finally came together to vote her out and the idea of coming together at this point in the game has everyone laughing and loving the result.
Savannah reminds us that despite the kumbaya good vibes, there is no possible way this continues forward. Plus, it sets up a back to back heavyweight prize fight at Tribal where everyone is bringing the heavy artillery. Steven has his Block a Vote, Sophi has her Knowledge is Power Advantage, and Rizo still has his idol. I appreciate the endless tale that Rizo is telling about this idol of his and it’s nothing short of a miracle that he has kept it this long.
My hope at this Tribal is that Sophi uses her Knowledge is Power to steal Rizo’s idol, they vote him out, and he walks away thinking he had a clear path to final 5 or 4 but Sophi got the best of him.
Fingers crossed.
LEWATU - DAY 22
Sophi heard me and is seeing the end of the game. She knows that she has to get Savannah and Rizo out because sitting next to them at the end would be a harder path forward than sitting next to other people. For her, Kristina has to be part of this plan. She doesn’t like Savannah and would love to get her out, so use that. I do think Sophi will make her move.
Fingers crossed.
REWARD CHALLENGE - DAY 22
I love Savannah’s brutal honesty and vulnerability. She describes that the coconut, bread fruit, and rain have beaten her into submission. How could it not?
REWARD - tacos, guacamole, margarita, tres leches and doughnuts
SANCTUARY - Pillows and blankets
LOVE - Letters from home
The biggest reward of the season and Rizo screws up the rope, Kristina tosses her sandbag behind her (somehow), and Steven has the most throws by far, yet Savannah plops her black sandbag on the pedestal and wins the best reward yet.
Savannah wins the Mexican feast, the sanctuary, and the letters from home. With her win she gets to share the reward with two people. Her first choice is her biggest ally - Rizo. No surprise there. The second choice is tougher but she paints this picture of sticking to her word and selects Sophi. No surprise, except for Sophi who thought (rightfully so) that Savannah might choose her game before direct allies. She didn’t. It feels like the winner of 49 is coming from this group.
SANCTUARY - DAY 22
I love how Sophi says “can we talk about how you guys are going to be some of my best friends after this?”. I love hearing that people get that from this experience. As much as we are here to see the game be played, it’s refreshing to know that relationships like that come out of this too.
Having said that, I also understand that it’s a great thing for Sophi to say in this moment because she isn’t oblivious to what is going on back at camp with Kristina, Sage, and Steven.
Back at camp, Steven is opening up to Kristina and Sage that with his advantage, Kristina, Sage, and Steven have the majority. It seems too easy.
Back at the sanctuary, Sophi is doing exactly what Kristina feared. Then, she TELLS RIZO AND SAVANNAH ABOUT THE HER KNOWLEDGE IS POWER ADVANTAGE!!!!!!! SOPHI NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Sophi just made her bed in cement. The final three of Sophi, Savannah and Rizo is going to the end. Revealing that advantage seals the deal. She could have (AND SHOULD HAVE) stolen Rizo’s idol and stamped that move at the top of her resume, but she is passing on that opportunity to steal Steven’s Block a Vote and actually have the numbers advantage at the next Tribal Council.
I can’t believe she told them about Knowledge is Power. Maybe it still could work out for her, but I need to see it to believe it.
LETTERS FROM HOME
In this moment watching them open the letters, Rizo’s letters from his father who doesn’t express emotion often, and his brother, who has autism and doesn’t understand that Rizo is even out there, allows us to see Rizo is out there finding his purpose. The emotions are so raw and so deep.
I can’t help but think about how incredibly powerful it would be to not only be cast, go to Fiji, and play, but to make it to this point in the game and actually receive these handwritten letters, there are no words, just emotion. It would be a once in a lifetime experience beyond my wildest dreams. And now, I’m crying.
Speaking of purpose, we learn of Sophi’s greater purpose for Survivor keeping her Grandmother’s spirit alive. They shared the show together and she’s her inspiration. Again, I’m crying.
Like Sophi said, this reward has solidified these three to the end, and I don’t think they will go against that.
LEWATU - DAY 23
I’m glad that Savannah is self aware enough to acknowledge the awkwardness of returning to camp misery with Steven, Kristina, Sage, rain, and the rats. On top of that, they have to tone down their once in a lifetime night of comfort, love, and power in the game to not piss off three people who already hate them.
I think this is a healthy reminder that Sophi’s Knowledge is Power advantage being used to steal Steven’s advantage and knock him out, is a tremendous resume builder in itself. In other words, as much as we all want to see her use it to take down Rizo and/or Savannah, using it to take down Steven is also a great move. Midway through episode 12, Sophi may actually be the favorite to win 49.
IMMUNITY CHALLENGE - DAY 23
STAKES - Final 5
This challenge was done in 45 and won by Dee who also went on to win Survivor 45. Interesting that they are trying to sell this challenge as a legacy builder. Dee’s 24 minutes was enough to win, but will someone better it.
To me, balancing this ball isn’t the challenge, but the real challenge is the awkwardness of standing on one foot, having your knee up, balancing the board and ball with your foot, and what do you do with your hands. Advantage to anyone who does yoga aka no surprise to see Sage and Savannah left standing.
Sage and Savannah break Dee’s 24 minutes and a new record will be had and a shift in the game will happen. Sage is pleading with Savannah. We haven’t seen this level of struggle and desperation from Sage. She is talking to Savannah, she is talking to herself, and she is talking to her loved ones.
Sage drops. Savannah wins immunity but the attention is on Sage. She gave it her all and came up short. To add insult to injury, she loses 1 on 1 to Savannah which means she will beat herself up about letting her stay in the game as long as she has. Savannah is just too strong for Sage in this game.
PRE-TRIBAL SCRAMBLE - DAY 23
Savannah won immunity. Rizo has an idol. So for Sophi, Sage, Kristina, and Sage, who do you target? The vote for Savannah, Rizo, and Sophi is easy - Steven. For the others (Sage, Steven, Kristina), they feel powerless in the game except for Steven’s Block a Vote which he is playing on Savannah.
I guess the tacos and love is wearing off because I looooooooooove Sophi’s idea of taking Rizo’s idol and guaranteeing herself final 5 instead of taking Steven’s advantage and leaving herself vulnerable. I love how she is channeling her Grandmother, and logic, to remind her she didn’t know him 22 days ago and to take his idol and gain security in the game.
YES SOPHI!!!!!!
PREDICTION: Sophi uses her Knowledge is Power advantage, takes Rizo’s idol, and Steven Blocks Savannah’s vote. In the end, Steven still gets voted out because Sage votes Steven. Brutal.
TRIBAL COUNCIL - NIGHT 23
Jeff gets the conversation going pitting the group who went to the sanctuary versus the group who didn’t. At this point the game is Steven, Sage, and Kristina’s side versus Rizo, Savannah, and Sophi. I think Sophi’s talk about her vulnerability at this Tribal and Steven’s advantage.
I’ve had enough of Steven’s analogies. Thank you editors for showing the jury roll their eyes at his shins in the dark or whatever.
Then….
Sophi pulls out her Knowledge is Power advantage and starts reading and she asks Steven, Do you have an advantage?
NOPE!!!!!
THAT WAS AMAZING!!!! WAY TO GO STEVEN!!!! WAY TO GO EDITORS!!!!
Now, the one question remains, WHO WILL RIZO PLAY HIS IDOL FOR? HIMSELF OR SOPHI??????
HE DOESN’T PLAY IT FOR EITHER?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? (cue confused jury reaction)
VOTES
STEVEN - 4
SOPHI - 1
SAGE AND KRISTINA TURNED ON STEVEN!!! WOW!!! THAT WAS EVEN BETTER THAN I EVER THOUGHT!!! Steven reads the situation correctly and gives away his Block a Vote. Sophi plays her Knowledge is Power and comes up empty handed. Rizo fake plays his idol, AGAIN, AND, he actually pulls off the “good until final 6” lie (come on Sage). The coude gras lies with Sage and Kristina. They use Steven’s Block a Vote on Savannah (revenge for Sage) and then flip on Steven and vote him out.
In that moment that Steven knows he has been blindsided, the most interesting takeaway is the jury’s reaction and the Rizo, Sophi, and Savannah reaction. The jury understood what Sage and Kristina just did to Steven and the other three realize that the only thing they can do in that moment is respect the move.
We say goodbye to Steven and his corny rocket science jokes (which nobody will miss) but as he leaves he leaves feeling less of an imposter and “the feeling of self confidence is worth more than anything”. REALLY??? I get it and I don’t. I get that only one person wins Survivor each season and everyone else doesn’t. I get that people want to win the million dollars. I get that people are playing to win. I get that people who don’t win can have moral victories and take away more than just money from the experience. What i don’t get is how someone like Steven can essentially have the pants that was his game pulled down on national television for all to see and in the moments following his blindside, he is able to eloquently communicate, even with his cheesiness, the victories he did win.
Unbelievable. Credit to you Steven. I would be devastated but thanks to players like you, I can point to examples of how to see the light even from the dark side of the moon.
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