Sunday, 9 November 2025

Survivor 49 - Week 7 Update


First, a scoring change.

Last week, I incorrectly attributed Blue Sophi’s (now “Soph” on the show) finding the Knowledge Is Power advantage to Yellow Sophie.  The only person affected was Kristyn, who had Yellow Sophie (Soph was undrafted).  She drops from 69 points to 62 points. She drops from 4th to 5th, swapping spots with Brian who moves from 5th to 4th. Sorry about that!

Second, a look at this week’s rosters

Scott

Alex

MC

Jay

MC

Sage

Carol

MC

Rizo

Roberta

MC

Nate

Iyasah

MC

Rizo

Dalphyne

Rizo

Sage

Ricky

Alex

Sage

Marissa

MC

Rizo

Brian

Sage

Savannah

Kristyn

MC

Steven

Gloria

MC

Rizo

 Following our recent trend, powerhouse MC is the most widely drafted player again with 8 of us choosing her.  She’s followed again by Rizo with 5 choices.  No one chose Sophie, Sophi, Jawan or Kristina (again).

Third, 5 bonus points each to Carol and Jay for knowing the lyric “I’d rather clean all the bathrooms in Grand Central Station with my tongue…” is from the Weird Al song “One More Minute”. Give it a listen!.  Also, 5 bonus points to me for knowing the lyric “Some say I got a bad attitude but that don’t change the way I feel about you…”  is from Ugly Kid Joe’s “Everything About You”. Check it out! Both songs aptly describe Sage’s feelings about Shannon.

On to the update!

Following her decisive victory in the war against Shannon, Sage feels solidified with Jawan and Steven (1 point for “Mention ‘in this game’” [Sage] to Jay, Dalphyne, Ricky and Brian!). Knowing he has true allies leaves Steven in heaven, and Jawan champing at the bit to flip the script on the Uli/Hina war.

A boat arrives at Uli and it’s time to drop their buffs! The merge is here, which gives Nate a sense of relief  - he knew he was in danger but now he can reunite with his former Uli tribemates (1 point for “Mention ‘in this game’” [Nate] to Roberta!)

At Hina, MC is excited for the merge because it means she can finally work on her idol, while Sophi looks forward to stealing someone’s idol with her Knowledge Is Power advantage.

At Kele, Jawan, Steven and Sage take the news that everyone is coming to their beach lying down. Literally.  Now a three-person alliance named “Bottom’s Up”, they talk about how to sell the flip on Sage to Uli, overthinking every last detail.

When the other boats arrive none of them rush to greet their fellow castaways. “I can feel the fakeness from here”, Sage says. She’s the most quotable player in years, and it’s not close.

She's not wrong

Finally, they make their way to the beach after their absence becomes too awkward and they sell the story that Shannon started spiraling, that she wanted Jawan out, was out idol hunting etc.  They lay it on too thick for my taste, but with their stories consistent and Shannon at the Ponderosa, who’s to contradict them?

The first person to flip of the three, that’s who.  It’s only a matter of time before one of the three comes clean to gain trust with someone else.

Yes, he really said it

Savannah buys the story, telling Sage she wants to work with her. Sage wholeheartedly agrees to her face but doesn’t buy it for a second. She remembers Savannah well enough from Uli.

Another boat arrives carrying a chest.  There’s a challenge tomorrow and the key to unlock the advantage in the chest are hidden in the forest. First person with the right key wins the advantage. Go! Everyone searches, finding key after key to no avail until Sage comes back with the winner! (7 points for “Obtain secret advantage” [Sage] to Jay, Dalphyne, Ricky and Brian!)

The next morning, Rizo wants to get to work, and Yellow Sophie is his target. He sees OG Uli + Soph as a majority. That’s an interesting take, since it looks like Sage and Jawan are truly ready to break the game open.

Rizo

Soph reconnects with Alex, and as they talk it becomes obvious that despite the trust they built on Kele’s ashes, this pair is headed in opposite directions. (1 point for “Mention ‘in this game’” [Soph] to no one!).

Savannah continues building her villain resume by naming the chickens Kentucky Fried, Teriyaki and General Tso.  What, no Parmigiana? Sage tells Sophie she’s being targeted by old Uli, proving her flip is real as each potentially gains the other as an ally.

At the immunity challenge, they are officially merged! From now on, each person voted out will build the jury. 

The 11 Survivors are broken into two groups of five. The groups have to dig out a huge, heavy boulder from the sand and maneuver it through an obstacle course.  At the end, they have to scale the boulder to reach a platform with a puzzle. First team to finish the puzzle wins the merge meal (Note:  This part of the challenge is scored as “Win Tribe Reward”).  The winning “tribe” will then compete for individual immunity.  Sage’s advantage means she gets to sit out the first part, eat the merge meal and can compete for individual immunity. Since she’s not part of a tribe, she will not receive “Win Tribe Reward” points.

When Jeff starts talking about how this is the point where you become one of the great players, Kristina thinks it’s “time to play the game”

5 points if you can name him
Message me directly
Tell no one else
No Google, Yahoo, ChatGPT or other technological assistance
You know it or you don’t!

 The Yellow tribe: Nate, Steven Sophie, Soph, and Rizo

The Blue tribe: Jawan, Alex, Kristina, Savannah and MC

In Stage 1, they are even digging the boulder out, both navigating the obstacle course well. Blue arrives at the platform first, getting three people up the boulder before Yellow even starts. With a running leap, Alex scales the boulder without help, finishing Blue’s ascent to the platform (10 points for “Jeff said ‘That’s how you do it on Survivor” [Alex] to Scott and Ricky!).

Kristina and Jawan are on Blue’s puzzle and make some progress, but Nate and Sophie catch up and take a small lead. Sometimes puzzles turn into blowouts as one team falters. This is not one of those times. This time it’s a race on the last couple of pieces and it’s Nate and Sophie that win it! Yellow wins tribal reward!

Kristina failed in a challenge? No way!

(3 points for “Win tribal reward” [Nate] to Roberta!)

(3 points for “Win tribal reward” [Steven] to Kristyn!)

(3 points for “Win tribal reward” [Sophie] to no one!)

(3 points for “Win tribal reward” [Soph] to no one!)

(3 points for “Win tribal reward” [Rizo] to Carol, Iyasah, Dalphyne, Marissa and Gloria!)

Sage joins them for Stage 2 with a droll “Wow, that looked exhausting” observation.  Indeed.

In this stage they have to stand on a beam while balancing a ball on a disc sitting atop a long pole.  Periodically, they move down to narrower beams, and their hand down the length of the pole until only one person remains.

Forget about completing the challenge – I’m not sure I could even get started. “And this challenge is on…Scott is out immediately. No shot at immunity.”, I can hear Jeff saying. Well, at least I’d get to check the loser bench for an advantage so there’s that.

Rizo is the first person to drop (3 points for “First out in an individual challenge” [Rizo] to Carol, Iyasah, Dalphyne, Marissa and Gloria!).  Despite being well rested, Sage drops soon after the move to a narrower beam. She’s followed by Nate which leaves Steven to face off with the Soph(ie)’s. Soph drops and it’s a showdown as they move to the narrowest part of the beam and the longest part of the pole. They both struggle, but it’s Steven who loses control first meaning (5 points for “Win Individual Immunity” [Sophie] to no one!). Looks like she won’t be a target tonight after all.  MC knows that it’s time to get her idol.

With 2 former Hina (Steven, Sophie), 2 former Uli (Nate, Rizo) and one former Kele (Soph), it’s too mixed a group to talk game at the Merge Meal, but that doesn’t stop Nate from opining that Savannah is probably angry back at camp. I hope she is. She’s got “villain” written all over her. Sage thinks the Uli tribe considers her easy to manipulate and they are in for a rude awakening when she flips on them. 

Me, to Sage

Back at camp, MC “takes some alone time” to find her idol. She’s searching when Savannah runs into her in the forest. Side note: While watching Lost, I always joked that people ran into each other in this big, wide jungle far too often but…here we are.

Anyway, MC tells Savannah what she’s doing, deciding the best course of action is honesty. When they both spot the key at the same time, Savannah dives for it like it’s hers to find!  Heroic MC is faster, however, and snatches the key before the villain can steal it from her.  Oh yeah, she’s easy to root against.

Not content to let MC find the idol, Savannah follows her to the chest and sticks around long enough to make it awkward, trying to convince MC she wants to work with her. MC doesn’t buy it and I’m wondering aloud “If MC opens the chest and Savannah grabs the Idol…who gets the Idol?”. 

Thankfully, we don’t have to find out what would happen as Savannah decides “to let MC have her moment”. This is bullshit speak for “I’m gonna go back to camp and tell everyone MC has an Idol, so they’ll trust me more”, which is exactly what she does. MC opens the chest, taking possession of her idol (5 points for “Found A Hidden Immunity Idol” [MC] to Scott, Jay, Carol, Roberta, Iyasah, Marissa, Kristyn and Gloria!).

The merge meal winners return to camp. Rizo begins whispering with Savannah, and Sophie is already tired of them. While she’d love to see one of them go home, she fears Rizo’s idol and talks with Kristina about going for Nate instead. 

A moment while I dust off my Soapbox: I will never understand this line of thinking. Let’s say they decide to go for Nate because they’re worried about Rizo’s idol. You know what happens next time? He still has the Idol, and they are having the same conversation! MAKE HIM PLAY IT OR MAKE HIM GO HOME WITH IT IN HIS POCKET! Never play from fear! Ok, putting away my Soapbox

The scheming takes full flight back at camp.

Sage wants Savannah out before Uli realizes she and Jawan have flipped.  MC has her Idol, but Savannah told everyone about it so Soph could steal it with her Knowledge Is Power advantage. With Sophie Immune, Uli switches its sights to Steven.  Uli Traitor Jawan debates Rizo, Savannah or Nate with Steven, and as we head to Tribal Council, Kristina still wants to go for Nate.

We are 14 days into the game and it’s Kristina, MC and Sophie’s first time at Tribal Council. Dip those torches in the flame, ladies. When the fire’s gone, so are you.

Normally, the merge is a time for people to learn about other Survivors they haven’t met yet. This season’s already seen several tribe swaps, and Steven sees a lot of cross-pollination.  Jawan sees the merge as a horror film, finding any way he can to keep his name off the kill list. Sage is diplomatic, saying they’re just trying to figure out where the lines truly are.

Rizo agrees with her. He and his Idol were the talk of today’s town. He shows it to everyone, saying he plans to play it (1 point for “Mention ‘in this game’” [Rizo] to Carol, Iyasah, Dalphyne, Marissa and Gloria!) and despite the new tribe colors, he’s still wearing red to signify the blood that will be drawn tonight (5 points for “Say The Title Of The Episode” [Rizo] to Carol, Iyasah, Dalphyne, Marissa and Gloria!).

Nate’s thought that this is where uncertainty becomes certainty is echoed by MC who will know who she can trust going forward. Announcing her lurch toward “greatness” with all the subtlety of Jason Vorhees, Savannah tells us “People you were with on Day One or Two may become targets”. Way to advertise that you can’t be trusted, lady.

At the vote, Soph is chosen to go first (again) (3 points for “First Person Chosen To Vote” [Soph] to no one!) and before the votes are read, MC’s Idol burns a hole through her pocket, and she plays it on herself (2 points for “Play Hidden Immunity Idol On Yourself” [MC] to Scott, Jay, Carol, Roberta, Iyasah, Marissa, Kristyn and Gloria!). Despite announcing his plans to play it, Rizo keeps his Idol in his pocket.

THIS IS WHY YOU MAKE HIM PLAY IT OR MAKE HIM GO HOME WITH IT!

The votes come in, and Rizo was wise to hold.  Steven receives four votes from former Uli + Soph, but Nate receives the other 7 becoming the first member of the jury

(4 points for “Received Vote Against” [Steven] to Kristyn!)

(7 points for “Received Vote Against” [Nate] to Roberta!)

(-2 points for “The Tribe Has Spoken” [Nate] against Roberta!)

(2 points for “Jury Member” [Nate] to Roberta!)

Farewell, old man

So, what does this mean for our scores?

Reward winning episode-titler Rizo led all scorers with 12 points. He’s followed by immunity winner Sophie with 11 and “That’s how you do it on Survivor” recipient Alex who had 10. Savannah, Jawan and Kristina (of course) put up zeroes this week. No one had both high, both low scorers or the high/low combination.

In our game, Carol was the highest scorer this week and has opened up a 7-point lead on 2nd place Iyasah.  Marissa remains in 3rd and like Alex leaping over the boulder, I leaped into 4th. Dalphyne jumps into the lead of a tightly packed 5th – 9th place, with just 5 points separating her from 6th place Kristyn, 7th place Jay, 8th place Brian and 9th place Ricky. 6 points behind that pack, Roberta leads Gloria who unfortunately continues to inhabit this year’s basement.

Overall Player Scores

Name

Scores

Carol

112

Iyasah

105

Marissa

95

Scott

84

Dalphyne

79

Kristyn

78

Jay

77

Brian

76

Ricky

74

Roberta

68

Gloria

63

 

Weekly Player Scores

Carol

26

Scott

24

Jay

22

Gloria

21

Iyasah

21

Marissa

21

Dalphyne

20

Ricky

18

Roberta

14

Kristyn

9

Brian

8

Weekly Survivor Scores

Rizo

12

Sophie

11

Alex

10

MC

9

Sage

8

Steven

7

Sophi

7

Nate

5

Jason

0

Kristina

0

Matt

0

Annie

0

Jake

0

Jeremiah

0

Nicole

0

Savannah

0

Shannon

0

Jawan

0

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