Jeff Probst addresses the 18 castaways in the early moments of Season 48, saying that even if they attack the game of “Survivor,” they may still fail. However, he follows this up, encouraging them all by stating, “Failure in the pursuit of something amazing? That’s admirable!”
I have admittedly never put my thoughts, feelings, or analysis of the game of “Survivor” into writing. Like many others, I share it all with friends and family who still, after nearly 25 years, tune in every Wednesday for two full seasons, each calendar year.
The speech by Jeff struck me because it was my first time watching “Survivor” and taking notes with the intention of recapping the episode here via In-Between Media (IBT). Though it’s taken 48 seasons to pursue an avenue in which to expand my discussion of “Survivor,” with a bit of fear of doing so, I’ve always been a massive fan of this show and this game.
While I would love to play it myself someday (and trust me, I’ve applied!), expanding and strengthening the fan base by discussing “Season 48”, though with a bit of fear, is something I deem admirable.
The first minute of the “Survivor 48” premiere is enough to give anyone chills. While production is setting the scene for another epic game in Fiji, viewers get an inside look at the moments when each castaway finds out that they’ve successfully made it through the auditioning process and will get to compete for the title of sole survivor.
What has always made “Survivor” so great is the different people willing to play and ultimately dictate the story of the game that follows. Getting a glimpse at the “Survivor 48” castaways’ different reactions reflects this concept.
(Warning: Spoilers Ahead)
RELATED: “Survivor 48” Episode 2 Recap + Castaway Betting Odds
“Survivor 48” Premiere Recap + Castaway Betting Odds
Episode Recap
The Game Begins
Jeff makes it known to the “Survivor 48” castaways that their reaction to landing on the beach in Fiji may be the best he’s ever seen. This group is full of energy and has seemingly more physically capable players than some of the more recent seasons.
The Lagi tribe specifically stands out with Joe’s size and strength as well as Star’s height. It’s no wonder this tribe dominated the first challenge of the season to earn camp supplies.
The most notable moment from this season’s first challenge is Kevin, of the Vula tribe, complaining of shoulder pain almost immediately after diving under a net into the mud. Luckily, he’s able to remain in the game and isn’t a way-too-early medical evacuated player.
Fight for Supplies
After the Civa and Vula tribes are unable to earn camp supplies and flint in the marooning challenge, they have a chance to redeem themselves shortly thereafter. Each of the two losing tribes must send one castaway by boat for a chance to compete against the other for a second chance at earning supplies. Civa sends Kyle while Vula suggests Kevin go. Yes, the same Kevin who dislocated his shoulder minutes prior in the first challenge of the season.
Kevin and Kyle read the instructions for their one-on-one challenge. It details following a buried rope into the jungle, retrieving a machete at the end of the rope in the sand, heading to a beach and retrieving a cooking pot “by any means necessary” that’s hanging on a large, tall piece of bamboo. He then needs to use the pot to fill a jug with water to lift a key out of the jug to unlock flint. Kevin and Kyle are essentially neck-and-neck throughout the entire challenge despite two different strategies.
Kyle describes his approach as “erratic,” which ultimately leads to his downfall. While filling the final jug with water, he strikes the jug with the pot, smashing the jug. This disqualifies him from the challenge. Despite the loss, Kyle helps Kevin fill his jug in a noble gesture that could lay the groundwork for a post-merge alliance.
Sai Finds a Hidden Immunity Idol
Throughout the “Survivor Season 48” premiere, we are shown various symbols on different items and areas around each respective camp. While the Civa tribe seemingly abandons building a shelter to investigate what the symbols could mean, Sai, on the Vula tribe, takes it upon herself to flat-out look for an idol. This episode is called “The Get To Know You Game,” notably mentioned by Sai herself. While everyone is getting to know one another, Sai is making a play at earning an early advatnage.
She eventually finds a notorious Beware Advantage clue that leads to a hidden immunity idol. The clue is a series of color-coded numbers with a handheld container that only opens when a word scramble puzzle lock is solved on the container itself. Sai reveals her discovery of the Beware Advantage to her all-male alliance of Kevin, Justin and Cedrek.
After some time, Sai realizes that various pictures of animals painted in specific colors around camp and in the jungle correspond to the color-coded numbers in her Beware Advantage clue. The numbers represent the letter in the name of the animal of the corresponding colors. After identifying the letter from each animal, Sai, with the help of her alliance, is able to unscramble the code “LISTEN” and unlock the container. Sai successfully takes possession of the game’s first hidden immunity idol and restores her vote at the next tribal council.
The Highlight of the Season 48 Premiere
While every story is unique and worth telling in its own way on the show, a moment between Eva and Joe of the Lagi tribe stands out from the “Survivor Season 48” premiere. In a confessional, Eva reveals that she is on the Autism spectrum. We come to find out that she was diagnosed as a one-year-old, and her parents were told she would never be able to live alone, unassisted. Fast forward over 20 years later, Eva is a PhD student and touts being the only female to play on the Georgia Tech men’s ice hockey team.
Eva does not share that she has Autism with her entire tribe. However, she does form an early bond with Joe, a firefighter and father of two, and shares her story with him. Eva explains to Joe that she may experience “episodes” throughout the game of “Survivor” in which she may need assistance working through them. Joe is not only extremely receptive and sympathetic to this information but vows in a confessional to get Eva as far in the game as he can. Not only do these two have a strong position in the game on a 2-0 Lagi tribe by episode’s end, but their alliance could take them far into the merge.
Tribal Council
The Vula tribe came up short in the first immunity challenge. After making a brief comeback, they fell behind at the very end in the puzzle-making finish.
Stephanie specifically owned up to failing to complete the puzzle in time after volunteering to do so. In a confessional after the challenge, Stephanie acknowledges the burden of failing the piece of a challenge where all eyes are on a specific person or people. She then played her Shot in the Dark, was unable to earn protection and was voted out 4-1 by the rest of the Vula tribe.
While Sai appears to be throwing haymakers early on at camp and in tribal council, simply possessing an immunity idol and sharing the knowledge with her allies likely saved her from being the first boot.
Stephanie says it best herself before having her torch snuffed: “Had to be someone.”
RELATED: The Issue With the “Survivor” 47 Cast: Contenders Over Characters
“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 “Survivor 48” season premiere, I’m ranking the remaining 17 castaways based on first impressions, tribe strength, challenge performances and alliances (however strong):
- Joe (+250)
- Mitch (+300)
- Thomas (+400)
- Shauhin (+450)
- Eva (+500)
- Kamilla (+600)
- Bianca (+850)
- Chrissy (+1000)
- Kevin (+1000)
- Kyle (+1000)
- Justin (+1200)
- Star (+1200)
- Mary (+1200)
- David (+1200)
- Cedrek (+1200)
- Saiounia “Sai” (+1400)
- Charity (+1500)
Power Rankings Analysis
The Favorites
Joe, Thomas and Shauhin are firmly inside the top four of the initial “Survivor 48” power rankings. The three men on the Lagi tribe appear to be in an alliance they’ve dubbed themselves “The California Girls”, given they all share a home state.
However, I’m confident in placing Mitch among the Lagi men. He seems like the glue to the Civa tribe early on. His social game should take him into the merge.
The Mid-Range
Eva forming an alliance with Joe early on could be the start of a duo that makes it to the end together.
Chrissy (54) is the oldest player in Season 48. However, age is likely just a number for the fire lieutenant from Chicago. Still, after 47 seasons of “Survivor,” the average age of sole survivor winners is 31.5 years old. The oldest female winner of “Survivor” is Denise Stapley, who won “Survivor: Philippines,” the 25th season, at the age of 41.
The Longshots
It pains me to put players like Star and Mary so far down this list. Based on the premiere episode, I fear that if either of their original tribes faces tribal council over the next two episodes or so, they could be next to go. Mary, specifically, is the only member of the Vula tribe on the wrong side of the first vote, having written Sai’s name down.
Speaking of Sai, while she has found the season’s first immunity idol, nearly her entire tribe knows about it. If that doesn’t put a target on her back, speaking her mind more freely than she should about her tribe, as seen in the first episode, definitely will.
I have Charity at the bottom because she seems to be the easy out if the Civa tribe heads to tribal council. She has already thrown Kyle’s name out there to one of his closest allies, Kamilla.
Thanks for reading my “Survivor 48″ Premiere 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.
