New tribes, same chaos! The tribe swap of “Survivor 48” presents challenges and triumphs across the board to the remaining 15 castaways. After a wild end to their first 10 days on the island, this season’s power rankings and betting odds get a big update.
(Warning: Spoilers Ahead)
“Survivor 48” Episode 4 Recap + Castaway Betting Odds
Episode Recap
The Tribe Swap
The tribe swap is a great opening to Episode 4 of “Survivor 48” because we have such a strong and obvious difference in emotions from the players. The Vula tribe arrives to what they believe is a new challenge, physically, mentally and emotionally depleted. Meanwhile, the Civa and Lagi tribes arrive at the beach upbeat, confident and eager.
The Vula tribe had gone to three-straight tribal councils leaving them with half of the amount of people as the other two tribes. Then, the tribe swap happens. We see a complete shift to excitement from Vula. They’re getting a fresh start. Meanwhile, Civa and Lagi become afraid of the unknown.
Below are the before and after groupings of the “Survivor 48” tribe swap:
- Civa: Charity Chrissy, David, Kamilla, Kyle, Mitch → Chrissy (C), Mitch (C), Cedrek (V), Sai (V), Bianca (L)
- Lagi: Bianca, Eva, Joe, Shauhin Star, Thomas → Charity (C), David (C), Eva (L), Star (L), Mary (V)
- Vula: Cedrek, Mary, Sai → Kamilla (C), Kyle (C), Joe (L), Shauhin (L), Thomas (L)
Tribe swaps are obviously a big change in power dynamics and allegiances. Some players are entering new conditions with or without certain powers in the game.
Here’s a quick review of the advantages/disadvantages currently present at the point of the tribe swap:
- Block-A-Vote: Mitch
- Extra Vote: Kamilla
- No Vote: Bianca
- Steal-A-Vote: Thomas
- Immunity Idol: Kyle
- Beware Advantage (Clue to Idol): Star – does not have a vote until she finds the idol
- Shot in the Dark: Everyone but Mary
The New Vula Tribe
After eight days without flint to make fire but with a focus on attending three straight tribal councils, the Vula tribe is easily the worst camp of “Survivor 48.” Thomas claims they are the best group after the tribe swap, but they are stuck on the worst beach. He feels comfortable with the “California Girls” alliance of him, Joe and Shauhin all staying together through the tribe swap.
Kyle and Kamilla pretend that they hardly know each other. They each privately sell a story of a different game in which they have not been working together up to this point. In front of Kyle, Kamilla conjures up a fake belief that she was on the bottom of Civa. Kyle and Kamilla have potential power here with her extra vote and his Immunity Idol, all unknown to the “California Girls” of the original Lagi tribe.
The New Civa Tribe
Chrissy boasts that she and Mitch are tight and plan on remaining #CivaStrong through the tribe swap. Cedrek shares with Mitch a history of working on his own stutter, which bonds the two. He then shares with Mitch and the viewers that there is loyalty between him and Sai. She, on the other hand, feels “stuck” with Cedrek, which she shares with Bianca. This discovery of a crack within this new tribe is great news for Bianca, who is without a vote or a member of her original tribe to work with.
The New Lagi Tribe
Eva resents the tribe swap as she loses her biggest ally, Joe, while remaining on a tribe with Star, who she does not consider an ally at all. In a conversation with her new tribemates, Eva serves them the information that Star does not have a vote as she struggles to solve the Beware Advantage clue to earn an immunity idol. Eva provides an easy vote-out if need be.
David recognizes that he is in a tribe as the only man with four women. Eva finds an ally in David as she acknowledges an easier time connecting with men due to her background as a member of a predominantly male ice hockey team. Charity explains to Eva and Mary that David is extremely loyal but not very strategic. Then, David reveals to Eva that Charity is at the bottom of Civa and he wouldn’t mind voting her out.
The Immunity Challenge
The arrival to this episode’s immunity challenge shows a very confident Vula tribe that doesn’t consist of an original Vula member. They’re confident in winning their flint back as well as a massive platter of fruit as a reward for winning this challenge.
The Episode 4 immunity challenge consists of the tribe moving approximately 10 heavy sandbags from an area of a giant cube structure to a nearby mat. Once all sandbags are delivered, the tribe needed to push the cube structure to two hanging bags containing smaller, lighter sandbags. One tribe member would then toss the sandbags through a frame and onto a barrel. Then, the entire tribe must dig out a singular puzzle piece that belongs to a three-layer temple tower puzzle.
Vula takes a significant lead to the puzzle, with Civa not far behind. At the puzzle, Vula declares victory to Jeff Probst, then realizes the puzzle is wrong. This opens the door for a Lagi comeback. Lagi does come from behind and shares the immunity challenge victory with Civa. Despite Vula going to a fourth-straight tribal council, none of the three remaining original Vula tribe members are attending this tribal council as a result of the tribe swap.
Tribal Council
Kyle and Kamilla continue to sell one another to the “California Girls” Liga alliance on the new Vula tribe. Both players get a chance to pitch why the other is better to go at tonight’s tribal council. Just to be safe, Shauhin and Thomas searched Kyle’s bag beforehand in front of Kamilla. They do not find his immunity idol. Kyle tells Kamilla the idol is in his shoe, which she is confident they did not search.
At tribal council, both Kyle and Kamilla are given the opportunity to say what the first few days of “Survivor 48” have meant to them. Thomas then explains, after hearing them speak, that it’ll be tough to take the dream of winning “Survivor 48” away from one of them.
Unfortunately for Thomas, the dream is taken from him. He, Joe and Shauhin all vote for Kyle. Anticipating their votes, Kyle played his hidden immunity idol. He and Kamilla conspired to vote out Thomas with a majority vote of 2-0 after the votes for Kyle no longer counted. Thomas is definitely a fan favorite despite playing less than 10 days. This was a massive vote-out.
RELATED: “Survivor 48” Premiere Recap + Castaway Betting Odds
“Survivor 48” Castaway Betting Odds + Power Rankings
Every week, I’ll have the remaining Season 48 castaways ranked and paired with odds to win the game. Just like any other set of rankings, these are fluid based on new information from each episode.
After the fourth episode of “Survivor 48,” there has to be much more consideration to the power rankings. Not only was a heavy favorite blindsided, but the power dynamics elsewhere have shifted. Based on challenge performances, alliance chatter and advantages, there are some players in a much better position than others:
- Joe (+400)
- Kyle (+500)
- Kamilla (+500)
- Mitch (+600)
- Shauhin (+600)
- Eva (+700)
- David (+750)
- Chrissy (+800)
- Sai (+900)
- Mary (+1000)
- Cedrek (+1000)
- Bianca (+1100)
- Charity (+1200)
- Star (+1500)
Power Rankings Analysis
The Favorites
Joe still sits at the top of the “Survivor 48” betting odds and power rankings, but there’s hardly a gap for him as a clear favorite. The duo of Kyle and Kamilla are not far behind. They showed tonight that neither of them should be underestimated.
The Mid-Range
Chrissy finally got to talk strategy to the fans. She had not been too much of a focal point in the first few episodes. Since Bianca doesn’t have a vote, Chrissy and Mitch may be able to exploit the crack between Cedrek and Sai. Mary, surprisingly, doesn’t seem like the target on her new tribe. She’s the only member of the original Vula tribe who moved to a different tribe alone at the swap.
The Longshots
Star still hasn’t found the Lagi tribe’s immunity idol. She still doesn’t have her vote, either, as a result. Eva giving the rest of the new Lagi tribe an “easy out” if put in a position to need to is tough to ignore. Charity’s place on the bottom of Civa also seems to have carried out to Lagi. It seems like a question of “when,” not “if” Charity leaves this game. Bianca is playing the middle on her new tribe correctly. She’s only at the bottom of the current “Survivor 48” power rankings because she doesn’t have a vote.
Thanks for reading my “Survivor 48″ Episode 4 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.
