Welcome back to another “Survivor 49” episode recap.
Steven goes on a journey, the players spell immunity and two challenge threats are on the block. First, I’ll recap the episode and then provide updated betting odds for the remaining castaways. Finally, in the words of the great Tony Vlachos, I will highlight our “top five, baby” – the five players who not only made a significant impact this episode but are also set up for future success.
Let’s get back to the beaches of Fiji.
(Warning: Spoilers Ahead)
“Survivor 49” Episode 11 Recap + Castaway Betting Odds
Episode Recap
Camp Life
The castaways arrive back at camp following Jawan’s vote out. Sophie states that “she is putting her game first” and then goes to talk with Sage about the vote. Soph approaches Sage next and lets her know that she may want to take a shot at Savannah and Rizo. Soph feels like the third wheel in that group. Sage questions this, as she believes that Soph’s ultimate loyalty is with Rizo and Savannah.
Soph is unsure what to do if Steven wins immunity here, discussing voting out Savannah or Rizo with Sophie.
The Journey
The players must decide who goes on the “strenuous” journey. Many are hesitant because they do not want to lose their vote. Steven volunteers, and Savannah is nervous about him going. She also thinks it could exhaust him and hurt his chances in the next immunity challenge. Steven is picked for the journey and leaves for a different island by boat.
On the journey, Steven must solve a combination lock to unleash a mallet. With this mallet, he must crack open a pot to win the advantage. The difficult aspect of the journey is collecting the numbers. Steven must navigate the island and find six numbers to a code.
The six numbers are dispersed throughout the edges of the island. Steven traverses the island, solves the code and wins the advantage! Steven wins a “Block a Vote” advantage, which must be declared before tribal whose vote is blocked. When that player walks up to the voting booth and attempts to vote, they will see that their vote is blocked.
Camp Life (cont.)
The players plan to cook the remaining chickens they won from a previous reward. However, the chickens are cooking the castaways. They are unable to catch the chickens and are outwitted and outplayed by them.
Steven returns from the journey and says it is the hardest thing he has done in his life. He tells everyone that he won the advantage, but does not share what the advantage is.
Rizo speculates that Steven won a “Vote Steal” and begins to share this with the tribe. He even meets Steven at the water well and tells him he knows he has a “Vote Steal.”
Immunity Challenge & Reward
Immunity is back up for grabs, and the players are also playing for reward! The reward for this week is spaghetti with both pesto and meat sauce, garlic bread and tiramisu for dessert. In the immunity challenge, players must balance blocks on a rotating platform to spell the word “immunity.”
The challenge begins with Steven, Sage and Soph all jumping out to an early lead. Meanwhile, Kristina is taking her time and going slow so she does not drop her blocks. Savannah closes the gap on the front runners, but Steven maintains his lead. His stack of blocks begins to lean and shake with one block to go, and he meticulously places his last one on top the stack. He slowly works his way back to his platform, gently steps up onto the mat, and his stack remains intact for three seconds, allowing him to win immunity! This is Steven’s second individual immunity win, tying him with Savannah and Sophie for the most this season.
Steven is given the chance to take someone on reward. He picks Kristina, as she played an idol on him at the last tribal council. Jeff lets Steven pick a second player for the reward. Steven picks Rizo, as he doesn’t eat coconut and hasn’t eaten in nearly a week. Rizo begins to cry and is very thankful he was picked.
On the reward, Rizo pitches to Kristina and Steven that the three of them should stick together here. He tells them his target is “Yellow Sophie” because she has voted correctly each time and has placed in the top three in every individual immunity challenge. Kristina listens to his pitch, but ultimately, she still wants Savannah to go home. Steven is more receptive, as Sophie leaving would help him win more challenges in the future.
Tribal Council
The players return to camp from the immunity challenge, and the scrambling ensues. Sage and Soph tell Savannah they both want to go after Sophie here. Soph ironically says, “I don’t wanna throw out names… but I really want Yellow Sophie out.” Sage says sending Sophie home would be revenge for her sending her boy Jawan to the jury. She also thinks Sophie is arrogant.
The other name circulating is Savannah’s. Yellow Sophie discusses a Savannah vote with Steven and Kristina, and says they can pull in Sage, and maybe even Soph. Steven says that it is important to play a flexible game, though, and is considering both Savannah and Sophie as options here.
The castaways arrive at tribal, and are greeted by Jawan’s yellow turtleneck! Mr Rogers called Jawan and asked him for his sweater back, but Jawan did not oblige. Savannah mentions how this was an important immunity challenge for Steven to win, as everyone has lied to him. Sage acknowledges her duo ship with Jawan and articulates that she is unsure how to move forward in the game. Rizo says that four is the majority for the vote, and if those four vote together, they can make it through another vote. Soph says people are talking more and more about who they can beat at the end.
Kristina exclaims that there is a strong dislike between her and Savannah, and acknowledges that they have personality differences. Soph says that it’s a very calculated vote tonight.
The players go to vote, and the editors show Sophie voting for Savannah and Savannah voting for Sophie. Sophie states when she casts her vote that “The beach is not big enough for two, hot, 31-year-old challenge beasts,” and Savannah says Sophie being there is “Not good for her game.”
Rizo continues to miraculously hold onto his hidden immunity idol, and Sophie goes home with a vote of 6-1.
“Survivor 49” Castaway Betting Odds
Each week, I’ll rank and pair the remaining “Survivor 49” castaways with betting odds to win the game. These odds are subject to change after each episode. When castaways are eliminated, edits become clearer. As a result, win equities will diverge, and odds will become more favorable to some and less favorable to others.
Soph’s odds improve a little here, as she removes a challenge beast from the game and gives herself full control over a flip on Rizo and Savannah in the future. Steven’s odds also improve, as he wins both an advantage and immunity here. I think Steven will make it through the Final Six vote, but I am uncertain how he will do from there. Sage’s odds decrease a bit, as she is unable to get Savannah out, despite wanting to the entire game.
- Savannah (+275)
- Soph (+275)
- Rizo (+350)
- Steven (+950)
- Sage (+1100)
- Kristina (+2500)
The “Top Five, Baby!”
“Top five, baby!” The phrase coined by the great Tony Vlachos in “Survivor Cagayan” rings true here and will throughout the season. The five most impactful castaways this episode and moving forward, in my eyes, are as follows:
Savannah
Savannah catches a vote and is targeted yet again. She successfully votes out her biggest competition in the challenges, and she still has a strong partnership with Rizo. Voting out Sophie gives Soph more agency in the game, but I am not sure if that will matter if Savannah can keep winning challenges.
Soph
Soph odds improve here; she needed one of Steven, Savannah or Sophie out, and she accomplishes that. She still has her Knowledge is Power that she can use on Steven or Rizo. Her willingness to flip on Savannah and Rizo may help her avoid being targeted in the future. I have her as a joint top contender with Savannah.
Rizo
Rizo shows flexibility by voting out Sophie, whom he had worked with for three votes prior to this tribal. He is shown strategizing with Steven and Kristina, and trying to build trust with the other side. He also still has his idol, after playing a fake one at the Jawan vote. My concern with Rizo is still challenges. I could see him losing in the Final Four Fire-Making Challenge or having his idol stolen by Soph.
Steven
It was a strong episode for Steven. He wins an advantage and immunity. People think his advantage is more powerful than it actually is. With his advantage, Steven, Sage and Kristina are in a powerful position at the Final Six if they all vote together. Ultimately, I do see Steven falling short, but I like his chances more to reach the end now that one of his biggest competitors in the challenges, Sophie, is out of the game.
Sage
Sage bounces back and votes out Sophie here unanimously with the group. She is still unable to take out Savannah, and I do see her game losing steam with Jawan leaving. There are only six players left in the game, and it will be tough for Sage to win. However, I like her chances significantly more than Kristina’s, so she takes the final spot in the top five.
Thanks for reading my “Survivor 49″ Episode 11 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 on Twitter/X @robbrereton for more “Survivor” content.
