All week long,Survivorhas been teasing us about an emotional first.
After last week’s Tribe Swap, the trajectory of everyone’s game has shifted.
New alliances are being formed.
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AndSurvivor 48is already becoming one of the best, if not the best, of the New Era.
The beauty of the New Era ofSurvivoris that strategy and social prowess have become a major factor in success.
More so than it ever had in the past.
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Everyone is still blindsided.
AsShauhin Davarimentions, the California Girls couldn’t even last one Tribal.
Are they really a good alliance?
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Can you be a good alliance if you flop from the start?
He was being genuine in his conversation with Kyle.
Kyle was saving his own butt.
Image via CBS
Jumping straight to our Reward Challenge, Lagi and Civa see the new Vula tribe, sansThomas Krottinger.
The only reaction we see isBianca Rosesshaking her head.
In this challenge, let’s just say it’s all about balls.
Bouncing a ball on a trampoline and rolling the ball into targets.
They are going to win pastries, donuts, and ham and cheese croissants.
Second place doesn’t get that trip, but they will get those snacks.
It just exposes her colorful personality.
Not a great thing to expose.
The challenge really is about the funny ball bounce.
Lagi wins another challenge, sending them for some sweets.
Vula finally wins something, earning them pastries.
Now, back to Sai.
‘Survivor’ Continues To Tell Important Stories
Civa is foodless and Bianca is in shock about Thomas.
Her game has completely changed as her goal was to reunite at the merge with him.
But now, she feels like he’s way less of a threat.
Sai claims that she’s “tired and deserved a break.”
That’s not howSurvivorworks!
What she’s doing is getting on Chrissy’s nerves, especially grabbing fruit at camp before anyone else.
Mitch pitches to Bianca to target Sai, so now she’s no longer on the bottom.
Thomas being voted out actually has given her more life in the game.
Hoping thatCedrek McFaddenwill be a sympathetic ear, Sai whines about Chrissy to him.
She’s clearly not in touch with reality.Her hope is to sway Cedrek and Bianca to knock Chrissy out.
With Bianca not having a vote, it’s going to be possible.
Lagi gets their first trip to the Sanctuary, and they’re in heaven.
I would try one of everything.
It might give me a tummy ache, but it’s worth it!
Previously, we learned thatDavid Kinneloves milk.
TheSurvivorgods gave him milk, and he’s on a high.
The underscoring accompanying his consumption is hilarious.
The angels are singing.
It’s not the “2% crap.”
With some full bellies, guess who they’re all talking about Sai.
Sigh.Mary Zhengis still shocked about her reaction.
Rather than downplaying her new ally’s actions, she feeds into the displeasure of her actions.
Sai is bringing the tribe together.
In doing so, we learn Erickson.
She reveals that she’s not great at social cues, but she’s learning and growing.
But she’s learning that she findsCharity Nelmsto be fake.
Charity is overjoyed at being a “sore winner,” but Eva doesn’t feel it’s genuine.
She tells us that she doesn’t trust her.
Put a pin on that.
There’s more to come.
Even though they were not in the original Vula tribe, Vula Beach finally experiences castaways that are victorious.
Shauhin draws inspiration from his parents.
He is the proud son of two refugees of the Iranian Revolution.
He says that when they were dating, they took a photo in front of a segregated water fountain.
He relates to Shauhin and Kamilla through the struggles their parents went through.
What do you do when the game melts into that personal gray area?
The only way is to win.
Their spiritual connection is what they hope will bring them to the merge and to the end game.
The stakes are high; no one wants to go to Tribal Council.
While the maze will be the equalizer, the log really resets the challenge.
She’s rattled as her tribe tries to encourage her.
Joe is itching to help her because of their human connection.
He doesn’t care about the game.
But he doesn’t need to, as she succeeds, giving her tribe safety.
Civa will be heading to Tribal Council.
After her victory, Eva breaks down, overstimulated at the moment.
Joe, unsure of what to do, watches, reeling.
And then Jeff does the unthinkable.
He tells him to go give Eva a hug.
And the game, at that moment, melted away.
This moment went beyond the game.
People matter more than a silly game.
Jeff allowed the tribes to intertwine because it was necessary.
He says it was about his kids watching him be the man he wants them to be.
He says thathe would want someone to treat his daughter that way if she was in need.
It’s Eva’s turn to explain the situation.
She tells her story that she has autism.
She asks everyone to understand that it was a beyond-game moment for Joe to step in to comfort her.
“It’s a triumphant moment that moves everyone on the beach.
Yes, an alliance has been exposed, but truthfully, is anyone going to hold that against them?
That’s an entirely different social conversation.
This is why we loveSurvivor.
I need more tissues.
She is beaming, not only to have shared her story but to have received immense support.
Eva had a weight lifted off of her.
She can play full out without a barrier.
What’s quite interesting about one of her tribal discussions is that it’s happening without Charity present.
The same Charity she felt she couldn’t connect with at the Sanctuary.
But back to the game.
Terrible, terrible move.
Star, you in danger, girl!
So, the puzzle is opened and Star gives Eva the idol.
What are you thinking?
!Eva is walking out of this episode as one of the most powerful castaways left.
There’s no way that these two end up working as allies.
Especially when she gets back with Joe at the merge.
Cedrek’s In Charge Now!
The shift is back onto the game.
Civa must reconcile the emotions and determine who the right target is at Tribal Council.
Bianca dreads having to reveal that she has no vote.
She knows that she is needed in multiple plans, but she has no voting leverage.
Her only option is to pit everyone against one another.
It’s a risky move, but it’s a strong move.
Cedrek, who saved Sai in the major blindside at Tribal Council, still feels trust in her.
She is just worrying about damage control, so she tells Cedrek that she has no vote.
Loose lips sink ships.
With three new people to Tribal Council, it’s become old hat for Cedrek and Sai.
They lead the conversation.
To her credit, Sai is quite smart when she speaks strategically.
Her downfall is her emotions.
Bianca is in the middle, but the vote is more complex.
Little does she know she’s referring to Bianca.
Chrissy thinks she might have Bianca, but she is paranoid.
Sai tells her to trust her gut, just be sure you have all the information you need.
It’s a heartbreaking moment for Bianca, but she did it to herself.
Here’s what we know.
At some point, Cedrek revealed the truth to Chrissy, who joined him in voting for Bianca.
With the merge coming next, it’s another chaotic reset!
Keep an eye out for those reuniting with the original tribemates.The Tribe Swap may have little bearingon new alliances.
Survivorairs Wednesdays at 8:00pm on CBS.
All episodes are available to stream on Paramount+.
