The final five of “Survivor 48” are set after an episode full of plotting, scheming and plenty of paranoia. Let’s recap how the final five came to be, as well as the power rankings and betting odds of the remaining castaways.
(Warning: Spoilers Ahead)
“Survivor 48” Episode 12 Recap + Castaway Betting Odds
Episode Recap
Game of Chicken
Multiple castaways begin episode 12 of “Survivor 48” claiming that they are prepared to make a big move. As a fan and viewer who’s been along for the ride this season, it’s a bit of an eye roll to hear in the penultimate episode, with an increased difficulty in gathering numbers to do so with just six castaways left.
Kyle acknowledges that he and Shauhin are playing an unspoken game of chicken. Both of them want to make a move to get Joe out. However, neither wants the target on their back that comes with taking out such a big threat. Shauhin wonders if it would be crazy to pass on riding his core four alliance of him, Joe, Eva and Kyle into the finale.
The Reward Challenge
The episode 12 reward challenge of “Survivor 48” is rainy, windy and cold. It’s an added layer of difficulty of what’s to come. The six remaining castaways have a lot at stake: Burgers, fries, cheesecake, a night of sleep at the Survivor Sanctuary and – most importantly – letters from their loved ones are on the line.
For the challenge, the six castaways are each positioned on an inclined ramp. To hold on, they have pegs on the side of the ramp to hold onto. As the challenge progresses, they are to slide down the ramp, transitioning to smaller pegs.
All six castaways make it to the final stage with the smallest pegs to hold onto. To make matters worse, they are no longer allowed to bend their legs and use the bottom of their feet for leverage. Instead, they must straighten their legs and hold on solely with upper body strength.
It comes down to Shauhin versus Kyle, in which Shauhin ends up winning. It’s his first solo challenge win of “Survivor 48.” Shauhin decides to take Joe and Kyle with him on the reward. Kamilla is dumbfounded in a confessional as to why Shauhin would replenish Joe with food and rest.
No More Chicken
Before the strategy talk, Joe, Shauhin and Kyle immerse themselves in the food and letters that come with the reward. During this time, Joe reveals a personal family tragedy in which he lost his little sister to domestic violence. He later takes the opportunity to look out to the ocean and apologize to her. It’s a constant reminder that these are real people playing the game.
But they are playing a game.
Shauhin takes a moment during the reward to make a pitch to Kyle. He believes targeting one another is a waste of time. Additionally, Shauhin believes that voting out Joe just boosts support for Eva on the jury. So, he pitches voting out Eva to Kyle. He realizes the game of chicken with Shauhin that they were once playing is over.
Once back at camp, Kyle catches up with his No. 1 ally, Kamilla. He tells her about his conversation with Shauhin and devises a plan. Kyle tells Kamilla that he is going to tell Joe that Shauhin has flipped with plans to vote him out. He also plans to tell Joe that Shauhin also showed Kamilla an idol. Kamilla, if asked, is to confirm the fake story with Joe. The hope is that Shauhin is voted out. However, to the jury, it looks like Joe and Eva turned on the alliance when in reality, it was a plan devised by Kyle and Kamilla.
The Immunity Challenge
At the beginning of the immunity challenge, each castaway is to retrieve a rope from an elevated platform. Then, with the rope, they are to toss and secure it to a post. Once secured, they must use the rope to pull themselves toward the post while balancing on a barrel.
Upon reaching the post, the castaways must then crawl under a weighted net to the final stage. At the end, they must use a long pole to navigate two balls, one by one, through a flat, snake-shaped table into separate baskets.
Shauhin is the first to reach the snake-shaped table. However, he struggles to navigate it, opening the door for others to catch up. Joe doesn’t just walk through the door. He kicks it wide open and cruises his way to his fourth immunity challenge win.
Tribal Council
Before tribal council, Kyle plants his fake story about Shauhin to Joe. Even though he’s safe with the immunity necklace, there is cause for concern that Shauhin may be targeting Eva. He checks in with Eva, recognizing that someone is lying, but he’s not sure if it’s Kyle or Shauhin. Eva believes Kyle is more trustworthy.
Joe then asks Kamilla about her interactions with Shauhin. She corroborates Kyle’s story perfectly. This is only possible because Kyle and Kamilla’s alliance isn’t well-known or recognized. Joe then sits down with Shauhin to confirm that they’re still aligned. Shauhin, unbeknownst to him that he’s being set up, assures Joe that they’re tight. Joe claims to go into “dad mode” to bait Shauhin into admitting he is trying to flip on him. Shauhin doesn’t bite… because it’s not true!
At tribal council, it’s clear that Joe’s paranoia is the focal point. Even when Kyle and Shauhin are both asked questions, the focus is on Joe and his reaction to their answers. However, the “Survivor 48” editors muffle their answers to create an even stronger illusion of Joe’s paranoia.
Ultimately, when it’s time to vote, the plan works. Shauhin is blindsided. With a vote of 4-2, Shauhin is sent to the jury instead of Mitch. When the votes are revealed as the credits roll, it’s revealed that Shauhin and Kamilla are the two who voted for Mitch. By voting for Mitch, the illusion that voting out Shauhin was Joe’s plan is that much stronger since Kyle and Kamilla were split. To quote Jeff Probst, “That’s how you do it on ‘Survivor!'”
“Survivor 48” Castaway Betting Odds + Power Rankings
After Episode 12 of “Survivor 48,” these power rankings reflect my thoughts on each player’s chances to win the game heading into next week’s finale.
- Eva (+150)
- Kyle (+250)
- Joe (+250)
- Kamilla (+400)
- Mitch (+1000)
Power Rankings Analysis
Eva has the only immunity idol remaining in “Survivor 48” heading into the final five. That guarantees her a spot in the final four, assuming she uses the idol to save herself. If Eva wins the final five immunity challenge, she will almost surely use the idol to save Joe.
Heading into the finale, it’s time to start thinking about final three combinations. More specifically, is there a combination of three in which each player has a shot at winning? I don’t see it with Mitch. It will be hard for him to own any specific move that sways the jury in his favor.
Kamilla is on the outside of the top three, looking inward. If she ends up in a final three with Eva and Mitch, there’s a case to be made for Kamilla. Even if she’s sitting next to Kyle and either Eva or Mitch, Kamilla may be able to talk about how she was the brains behind her and Kyle’s alliance.
If Joe gets to the final three without Eva or Kyle sitting there, it’s a wrap. However, a final three of the top three in the final “Survivor 48” power rankings is what we want to see. For a season that’s been very chalky, I have no idea how a jury would vote between Eva, Kyle and Joe.
There could be a tie at which point the player not involved in the tie would break it. Eva and Joe would choose each other if they needed to vote between them or Kyle. Likewise, Kyle would probably vote for Joe if deciding between him and Eva. Whatever happens, it should be an excellent finale!
Thanks for reading my “Survivor 48″ Episode 12 Recap + Castaway Betting Odds.” For more entertainment content, check out our other blogs here at In-Between Media (IBT). And be sure to follow me @Colin_McT for more Survivor content.
