A new episode of Survivor airs tonight on CBS. Read a live recap here.
The tribe returns to camp after voting out Kyle. Sue says she’s on top of the world because he’s gone. She thought he was too annoying. Sam wanted to keep Kyle as a shield, but he was powerless tonight. He notes there’s a group of five in the game that excludes him and Genevieve. Nonetheless, he says the game is not over yet.
The next morning, Caroline notes how she and Sue are the closest pair remaining in the game. She believes they’re running the game too, and they have all the tools to make it to the end of the game. Meanwhile, Genevieve apologizes to Andy for talking poorly about his game. She doesn’t want it to be uncomfortable between them. In her confessional, Genevieve explains that she believes she needs to play possum in order to remain in the game.
Genevieve talks to Teeny later. Genevieve says that Rachel is the biggest threat remaining in the game. Teeny is bothered that Genevieve is saying that Teeny would have no chance to win the game against Rachel. Teeny goes back to camp and talks to Andy and Rachel. Teeny is adamant that Sam and Genevieve need to be the next two out. She says they are wallowing and making it uncomfortable. She also lets Rachel know that Sam and Genevieve are targeting her. In her confessional, Rachel says she’s not too worried since she has some tools to keep herself safe (a hidden immunity idol and a Block-a-Vote advantage).
It’s time for the reward challenge. They must go through a series of obstacles to retrieve balls and then land both balls on two perches. The winner will enjoy an afternoon of Italian food at the sanctuary. The challenge begins. Sam and Rachel are the first two to attempt landing their balls. After a back-and-forth, it’s Sam who lands his balls first. Sam wins reward! Jeff also lets him know there will be letters from home waiting for him. Jeff tells him to bring one person with him. Sam picks Andy. He explains he promised Andy earlier in the game he would take him. Jeff tells him to pick one more person. He chooses Genevieve. Everyone else looks really disappointed. They wanted to read their letters from home. After Sam, Andy, and Genevieve walk away, Jeff asks the remaining castaways for their thoughts. Teeny says Sam and Genevieve already made themselves targets before this. Teeny says it was a foolish decision to pick Genevieve. She sarcastically says she hopes they enjoy their last supper.
Sam, Andy, and Genevieve arrive at the sanctuary. It’s an overnight reward, so they won’t return to camp until the next morning. Sam apologizes to Andy for taking him for granted earlier in the game. While eating, Sam asks Genevieve about her cold approach to the game. Genevieve explains that she chose to play without emotion after she voted out Kishan. Kishan was one of her first friends in the game. After he was voted out, Kishan whispered to Genevieve that he trusted her. That really affected Genevieve, so she chose to keep people at an arm’s length after that. However, she missed out on making connections. After they eat, they privately read letters from home. Genevieve reads letters from her father and husband. Sam reads a letter from his brother. Andy reads a letter from his mom.
Teeny, Rachel, Caroline, and Sue return to camp. Teeny is fuming. She says Sam’s decision was so stupid that he essentially quit the game. She says Sam should’ve invited Teeny and tried to sway her (even though it doesn’t seem like Teeny would’ve considered keeping Sam anyway). Teeny vents about Sam, and she says guys like him are not her cup of tea. She claims he was probably the popular, athletic, and funny guy in high school, and she doesn’t like men like that. She says Sam’s demise is imminent. Caroline says it will be glorious when they vote Sam out. She names Sam, Genevieve, and Andy as their next three targets. In her confessional, Caroline says she can see herself winning the game, and she calls it intoxicating.
Back at the sanctuary, Andy tells Sam and Genevieve that he’s come up with a plan. He tells Sam and Genevieve about the “underdog alliance.” He wants them to make the other five suspicious about Sam or Genevieve having an idol so they believe they must split the votes between Sam and Genevieve. Andy will then join Genevieve and Sam as the necessary third vote to blindside Rachel. He also tells them about Rachel’s Block-a-Vote advantage. They call their plan to build suspicion “Operation Italy.”
Sam, Andy, and Genevieve return to camp. Operation Italy is in motion. Sam begs for safety, saying that he’s a free agent to Caroline and Teeny. At the sanctuary, Sam gave Genevieve his expired hidden immunity idol. While Genevieve is alone, she strings together some beads from tree mail to build a fake idol. Meanwhile, Andy’s role in Operation Italy is to make everyone believe he is still against Sam and Genevieve. He tells everyone that Sam and Genevieve tried to “wine and dine” him, but he has no interest playing with them. He also claims he’s afraid Genevieve has an idol. He also pitches a split vote, and Caroline agrees that they should split the vote. In his confessional, Andy is excited that the plan to blindside Rachel is coming along perfectly.
It’s time for the immunity challenge. They must go through three series of obstacles. The first is to navigate a balance beam while transporting a ball with a pole. The second stage requires them to roll two skulls with a double-sided staff. Lastly, they must roll three balls onto a target. The first to complete the challenge will win immunity. The challenge starts, and Sam and Rachel take the early lead. They are also the first to attempt rolling their balls, and Andy soon joins them. Rachel is the first to land her ball. Rachel lands her second ball too. No one else has landed anything. Rachel lands her third ball. Rachel wins immunity!
The castaways returns to camp. Sam tells Genevieve that she has his vote to win if he gets voted out tonight. Since they can’t blindside Rachel, Sam suggests voting out Caroline instead. Genevieve shows Sam her fake idol. Back at camp, Andy pushes for the split vote. Teeny would rather have more votes on Sam. Teeny doesn’t think Genevieve has the idol. Later, Teeny walks up to Sam and Genevieve talking. Genevieve hints she has an idol, and she quickly flashes it to Teeny before she can look at it too closely. Teeny is glad this means Sam will be voted out.
Andy tells Sam they should vote out Caroline, and Sam says he was thinking the same thing. Andy calls Caroline the brain of the Caroline & Sue duo. Sam goes back to camp and pretends he’s desperate to stay safe. He says Genevieve will probably vote for Caroline. Caroline is flattered she’s seen as a threat, but it’s still concerning to have her name out there. Caroline looks through Genevieve’s bag, but she couldn’t find anything. Sue offers Caroline her hidden immunity idol. Sue doesn’t want Caroline to go, and she will play her idol on Caroline if she needs to. Sam and Genevieve are hopeful for tonight, but Genevieve notes so many things could go wrong. They might not even do an even split vote, Rachel could play her Block-a-Vote advantage, Caroline could play an idol herself, or Andy could get cold feet. Genevieve says the stars would have to align for Operation Italy to be a success.
It’s time for tribal council. Jeff asks about the reward challenge first. Sam says it was everything one would want from a reward, but he also feels guilty taking that experience away from four other people. Jeff asks about Genevieve’s experience. Genevieve lets him know how the letters from home gave her the perspective she needed. She knows she’s better off having connections with people instead of having walls up. Andy says he resonates with Genevieve’s words. Everyone is playing the game, but they all have their own personal journeys. Teeny says she can only be open; she can’t work with walls up. Teeny says not being chosen allowed her to think strategically to advance herself forward in the game. Caroline said they had time to talk amongst themselves while the other three were on their reward. Sue says it was painful not having her letters from home, but she’s okay. She said it didn’t kill her; it made her stronger. Jeff asks if it’s safe to assume Sam, Genevieve, and Andy are on the chopping block. Teeny says that’s a safe assumption to make, but everyone is still thinking about getting to the Final Tribal Council with people they can beat. Teeny says perception is reality in this game. Rachel agrees. The only thing they can do is think about their endgame. Jeff asks about the vibe after the immunity challenge. Sue says it was a relaxed vibe. People weren’t scurrying like one would expect. Caroline says a plan is being acted out that doesn’t need much conversation. Teeny says there’s a solid group that has already agreed on the next targets. Andy wonders if the calmness could be masking something else. Sam says he’s at the end of his rope. He feels powerless tonight. Genevieve says she’s fine and confident “in a weird way.” Genevieve says she’s swinging for the fences tonight. Afterwards, it’s time for the vote.
Before Jeff reads the votes, he asks if anyone wants to play an advantage. Sam whispers to Genevieve to play the idol, but she tells him she’ll be okay with whatever the outcome is. They’re staging a conversation for everyone else, and it seems to convince them. Nobody plays an advantage.
The first vote is for…
Sam
Genevieve
Caroline
Sam
Genevieve
Caroline
Caroline
Caroline is the twelfth person voted out and the fifth member of the jury. Caroline is visibly stunned, but she gives them props on a good game move. Teeny, Rachel, and Sue are shocked while Genevieve, Sam, and Andy look pleased.
And that wraps up tonight’s episode of Survivor. Thanks for reading, and come back next week for another live recap.
