In the sixth episode of “Survivor 48”, three tribes become one as we officially have the merge. However, it’s not as simple as just getting all 13 of the remaining castaways onto the same beach. Once there, the game becomes even more complex.
(Warning: Spoilers Ahead)
“Survivor 48” Episode 6 Recap + Castaway Betting Odds
Episode Recap
Mayhem at The Merge
After 12 days, the three tribes of “Survivor 48” become one. The castaways on Civa and Vula begin the sixth episode traveling by boat to the Lagi beach. Once there, the 13 castaways are immediately notified that while they are now together, they are not officially merged.
First, they will compete in a reward challenge where half of them earn the merge feast. From there, the winners of the reward challenge will compete in an individual immunity challenge to earn safety at tribal council. The winner of this challenge will be the first official castaway on the “Survivor 48” merged tribe with a new buff and an immunity necklace.
Before these challenges begin, the 13 castaways are notified of a challenge advantage in the Lagi jungle. They all immediately begin the hunt for it. After seeing all 13 castaways scramble, there is a focus on Charity, who is following Sai.
After some time, Charity spots the advantage in a small opening within the jungle and begins running for it. However, in arguably the best shot filmed in the new era of “Survivor,” Sai suddenly appears from the jungle in a full sprint and beats Charity to the advantage.
The Reward Challenge
Once again, the 13 remaining castaways of “Survivor 48” are reminded that they must compete for a spot in the merge. They are to be split up into two teams for the reward challenge. Each team must maneuver their way through a narrow mud pit. Once through, they need to navigate an obstacle full of wood shavings.
Each team then works together to clear debris from a cage, revealing a bag of heavy coconuts that other team members must lift out of the cage with a grappling hook like some jungle version of a crane machine. Lastly, they are all to climb a large warped wall and, once at the top, solve a “Survivor 48” logo puzzle.
Before the challenge begins, Sai advises Jeff Probst that she found a challenge advantage back at camp. He reveals to Sai that the advantage is that she does not have to compete in the challenge. Despite sitting out, Sai will compete in the individual immunity challenge and participate in the merge feast. In hindsight, seeing Sai out-hustle Charity in the jungle for this reward is even cooler now.
The First Individual Immunity Challenge
The team of David, Kamilla, Kyle, Mary, Chrissy and Star won the reward challenge. They made it to the puzzle with a decent head start, but Cedrek struggled to get up the warped wall for the other team, giving the winners a huge time advantage.
Sai joins the reward challenge winners in the immunity challenge. Each castaway must balance what looks like a volley ball on a disc that sits on top of a pole. It sounds easy until Jeff explains they will add another length of poll at regular intervals until there is only one ball left balancing for someone.
Kyle outlasts the group with a final showdown against Star at the end. He earns the first merge tribe buff and immunity necklace, guaranteeing his safety at a tribal council with the most castaways voting that “Survivor 48” will have at once during the season.
Sharing More Than Just Food
At the merge feast, seven of the 13 castaways naturally find their way to discussing the game. There are four original Civa members (Chrissy, David, Kamilla and Kyle), two original Vula (Mary and Sai) and just one original Lagi (Star) involved in this discussion.
Star gets the party started by throwing out Charity’s name. She asks if this would be a problem for the original Civa tribe, which still has six members in the game. Kyle explains he does not necessarily view “Survivor 48” as a game of Civa vs. Lagi vs. Vula now that they are merged.
Eva has an idol, and that information becomes universally known at the merge feast. Sai hears this news and immediately sets her sights on Eva. She claims Eva could win the whole game and asks the group if there are any cons to voting out Eva now.
Pre-Tribal Council
All 13 castaways are reunited at camp post-merge feast but pre-tribal council. At this point, Charity and Eva’s names have been thrown out there as potential votes. Charity is very on board with voting out Eva but introduces Sai’s name as an easier vote out for the first merge vote.
Earlier in the day, Charity had told Star that she should ask Eva for her idol back. This is when Star recognizes Charity as a schemer. Star also tells Eva about what Charity said, which further invigorates Eva’s interest in voting out Charity. However, after a messy tribal council before the merge in which Cedrek and Chrissy blindsided Bianca, unbeknownst to Sai and Mitch, the tension with Sai is apparent. Her fast and furious gameplay is available for all to see on the merged tribe.
Tribal Council
In the first merged tribal council of “Survivor 48,” the group dynamic is compared separately to scenes at a dog park, socializing at a house party and the various relationships within a family. Regardless of where each castaway fits into each of these analogies, none of them wish to leave.
After the votes are cast, Jeff announces the results as five for Sai, three for Charity and one for Cedrek after nine votes. The final four votes are all for Charity. She is voted out with a final tally of 7-5-1, with Sai receiving the second-most votes. OK, now Sai out-hustling Charity in the jungle earlier for the challenge advantage is even cooler because it’s somewhat foreshadowing of how tribal council shakes out, too.
“Survivor 48” Castaway Betting Odds + Power Rankings
Every week, I’ll have the remaining “Survivor 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 sixth episode of “Survivor 48,” these power rankings reflect my thoughts on each player’s chances to win the game. This could become clearer each week with a merged tribe. However, given the advantages and how hard everyone is playing, I expect nothing but chaos.
- Kyle (+500)
- Joe (+600)
- Kamilla (+600)
- David (+750)
- Shauhin (+750)
- Eva (+750)
- Mitch (+800)
- Mary (+1000)
- Chrissy (+1200)
- Cedrek (+1200)
- Sai (+1400)
- Star (+1600)
Power Rankings Analysis
The Favorites
Kyle already has a successful blindside idol play and the first individual immunity win on his “Survivor 48” resumé. Even though he stands out to the audience, his name hasn’t been thrown out there at all! Additionally, Kamilla is Kyle’s No. 1 ally in the game. This duo continues to conspire under the radar, which is good for both of them. Kamilla fits inside the top-three for this reason. She does come across as someone who would backstab Kyle if given an opportunity, and I’m here for it.
Joe is no longer at the top of the list. His alliance with Eva could blow up in his face sooner than later. However, Eva has an idol and, if necessary, would likely play it for Joe. That, in addition to his physical and social strengths, make up a really well-rounded player.
The Mid-Range
David is the biggest riser from the first few sets of “Survivor 48” power rankings and betting odds. The perception of him changed after the tribe swap when he found himself as the only man on a tribe with four women. David really developed his social game during this short period of time.
David, Shauhin and Eva are outside the top three but are very much looking in. Kyle has already alerted David to the potential dangers that Shauhin presents as a strategist. It’s worth noting that David and Eva voted for Sai at the first merge tribal council. It may have just been precautionary to split with their alliance.
Mitch remains a sneaky, strong physical threat. In this episode, Mitch does most of the work in holding Cedrek up on the warped wall to advance their team to the reward challenge puzzle. Now that he has lost his No. 1 ally in Charity, we should see Mitch forge a different path to advance in this game. It’s likely with the aforementioned alliance.
The Longshots
I want to start by saying how much Star has grown on me since “Survivor 48” began. Her personality has really shone through over the last two episodes. In this one specifically, Star has some of the funniest confessionals, and who could forget he dancing her way into vote while simultaneously fumbling the marker? Hilarious.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to imagine Star advancing to a point in “Survivor 48” where she is a legitimate threat to win. She will either have to make a compelling case to the jury at the end if she rides with an alliance of more obvious contenders… or take those contenders out of the game.
Thanks for reading my “Survivor 48″ Episode 6 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.
