This is the most pivotal episode of “Survivor 48.” We now have our top-10 as well as the beginning of the jury who will eventually decide which of the remaining castaways wins the title of Sole Survivor.
Let’s break it down in my “Survivor 48” Episode 7 recap and then power rank the remaining castaways!
(Warning: Spoilers Ahead)
“Survivor 48” Episode 7 Recap + Castaway Betting Odds
Episode Recap
Damage Control After the First Merge Vote
Mitch feels blindsided that his No. 1 ally, Charity, was voted out at the previous tribal council. Understandably so, he explains his frustration has more to do with being left out of the vote than the actual result. Mitch apologizes to Sai for voting for her. Sai likens herself to a cat with nine lives. She is so used to seeing her name written down at tribal council; there are no apologies necessary!
Jam-Packed Immunity Challenge
Whenever “Survivor” jumps right into an immunity challenge at the start of an episode, the stakes are usually high. At the start of Episode 7, the remaining 12 castaways are told that two of them will win an immunity necklace. On the flip side of the coin, there will be two voted out as well.
The tribe is randomly divided into two groups of six. Each castaway is to hold onto a bar that has a coiled rope attached to it, suspending a bucket into the air. The bucket contains 25% of each respective castaway’s pre-game body weight. When each castaway can no longer hold the bucket in the air and it drops, they’re out! The last remaining member from each of the two divided groups wins immunity.
In addition to immunity, whichever player lasts the longest wins a reward, which includes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips and juice for their group. Last, but certainly not least, the group that has all of its members eliminated first goes to tribal council first. This is significant because the first of the two players voted out in this episode of “Survivor 48” will not be on the jury. The jury decides who wins the million-dollar prize and title of Sole Survivor at the end of the game.
One by one, players drop their buckets. In one of the best moments of “Survivor 48” yet, there is an amazing montage of the remaining players trash-talking each other. We even see Shauhin, who was eliminated, begin to mimic the chanting the post-production would typically include for an intense challenge showdown like this one. There is a standoff between Joe from one group and David from the other. The previous record for this challenge was 38 minutes. David ultimately outlasts Joe as the two set a new record of just under an hour holding their buckets.
Pre-Tribal Council
The first group going to tribal council consists of Joe (immunity necklace), Eva (immunity idol), Mitch (block-a-vote), Chrissy, Sai and Star. Whoever is voted out will not be on the “Survivor 48” jury. That is the biggest consideration regarding who is best to vote out. Joe, Chrissy and Star voted for Charity at the last tribal council. Charity was Mitch’s biggest ally. Eva and Mitch voted for Sai. It’s clear that Mitch or Sai are the targets amongst this group.
While the other group is deciding who to vote out, they must consider who the first jury member of “Survivor 48” will be. This group consists of Cedrek, David, Kamilla, Kyle, Mary and Shauhin. That’s three original Civa in David, Kamilla and Kyle, two original Vula in Cedrek and Mary and a lone Lagi in Shauhin. However, new alliances have formed. Loyalty to original tribes does not seem to be a factor in “Survivor 48.”
Tribal Council
At the first tribal council, the biggest takeaway is a difference in opinion between Chrissy and Joe. Chrissy explains that she does not believe a game rooted in honesty is capable of winning the title of Sole Survivor. While she has no intentions of deceiving anyone at this tribal council, she makes it clear that at some point, people will have to lie to one another. Joe pushes back, claiming a strong alliance can go very far. A strong alliance will then battle for the title through challenges at the end.
When it’s time to vote, Sai discovers that her vote has been blocked. Mitch played his block-a-vote advantage earned on a previous journey. Now, only three votes are needed for a majority. Ultimately, Sai is voted out unanimously 5-0.
The next group arrives to tribal council without knowing that Sai has been voted out. Their plan is to vaguely suggest keeping things simple by voting out a player without any allies among them. That’s Shauhin as the lone original Lagi member. However, this is to make Cedrek feel comfortable so he won’t play his shot in the dark with a chance at safety. Cedrek is voted out 5-1, with the lone vote for Shauhin cast by Cedrek.
“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 seventh episode of “Survivor 48,” these power rankings reflect my thoughts on each player’s chances to win the game. In three-straight episodes, players from the bottom-three of the previous power rankings have been eliminated each time. While I’ve felt I have had a good pulse on “Survivor 48,” it could get messier as the remaining 10 castaways start throwing haymakers and attempting to blindside one another.
- Kyle (+500)
- Kamilla (+500)
- Joe (+600)
- David (+750)
- Eva (+800)
- Shauhin (+800)
- Mitch (+900)
- Mary (+1000)
- Chrissy (+1200)
- Star (+1500)
Power Rankings Analysis
The Favorites
Kyle and Kamilla continue to remain under the radar as the strongest alliance of “Survivor 48.” Although he is at the top of the “Survivor 48” power rankings, Kyle continues to stand out as a threat in immunity challenges. However, with just 10 players left, he and Kamilla are guaranteed two united votes with a strong influence on others around them.
Joe remains inside the top-three as he has all season. He continues to prove himself as a physical threat, has strong bonds with those around him and hasn’t been discussed yet as a player this group wants to vote out. The only thing keeping Joe from the top of the “Survivor 48” power rankings is his seeming unwillingness to make a big move to vote out another strong player. His loyalty could be what ends his game.
The Mid-Range
David, Shauhin, Eva and Mitch all seem to have varying-sized targets on their backs. Mitch has dropped considerably in the power rankings, as it seems the other castaways have correctly identified him as a threat in challenges. He is also a bit of a free agent when it comes to alliances. Mitch can fluidly vote with whomever for the rest of this game as long as it guarantees him a spot in the final three.
Eva still has an idol, so she is ahead of Shauhin in this set of “Survivor 48” power rankings. Shauhin’s name keeps coming up as a consensus threat. It seems some of the remaining castaways believe he is capable of pulling off a big move and want him gone before he gets a chance to do so.
I still have David higher than the others in this group. However, the preview for Episode 8 of “Survivor 48” paints David in a negative light,t with some claiming he is “losing his mind.” Let’s hope his actions are not as dramatic as the preview makes it seem.
The Longshots
Mary, Chrissy and Star are all capable of getting to the end of “Survivor 48.” Being at the bottom of these power rankings just means they have an outside shot of actually winning. As of now, if any of them were to make the final three, it’s hard to imagine them having a legitimate case to earn votes from the jury if they’re sitting next to two others ahead of them in these power rankings at the final tribal council.
Thanks for reading my “Survivor 48″ Episode 7 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.
