"Survivor 45" Episode 12 Recap - Shot Through Dee Heart
Will she choose love or money?
Every Wednesday after the “Survivor” episode airs you’ll be able to find a full recap along with individual player grades right here. The next day I’ll have an exit interview with the latest castaway on my YouTube Channel. And…get this…every Monday I’ll be squaring off against “Survivor 44” challenge beast Frannie Marin in the “Survivor” Power Rankings! That too is available on my YouTube Channel.
So, don’t miss a thing. Follow me here, follow me on YouTube, on X, etc…
Last Week: Austin had to choose between upsetting Dee and keeping Drew’s plan to eliminate Julie a secret. He chose poorly.
39 26 Days, 18 Players, 1 “Survivor” Blog
Let's take a look at the tribe as it currently stands...
The Dakuwaqa Tribe (wearing orange)
Austin, 26 - Grad Student
Dee, 26 - Entrepreneur
Drew, 23 - Grad Student
Jake, 26 - Attorney
Julie, 49 - Estate Attorney
Katurah, 35 - Civil Right Attorney
Quick Aside: I wrote and illustrated a graphic novel! It’s about professional wrestling (but it’s really about marriage), if you’ve ever enjoyed any of my writing or my “Survivor” press, I’d really love it if you’d check it out. ORDER YOUR COPY HERE!
Post-Tribal Shenanigans
We meet up with the group after Tribal and Dee and Julie are pretending to be upset with each other. And, major kudos to them for just being quiet and not faking a dramatic display like Ozzy Lusth did in South Pacific.
Austin reminds us that his amulet is good for one more Tribal, so he’s going to play it next time no matter what.
When Dee and Austin finally get a chance to talk strategy, Dee says that she knows Julie is coming after her now. So, with all this lying, this is less Rob and Amber and more like Maury Povich.
Yes, I’m old.
Drew eventually joins them, and I’m not sure he buys Dee’s story. But, Austin is pushing them as the final three.
And finally, Julie humorously tackles Drew and says, “Remember the good old days?” Drew isn’t as amused and seriously says, “Do you remember the good old days?”
The next morning, Katurah goes on a little idol hunt. The only thing she’s successful in doing is putting a target on her back.
Meanwhile, Julie and Drew are pretending like they want to get the Reba Four back together, but neither one of them seems to be fully invested.
Dee and Julie finally get some alone time, and Dee does her best to protect Austin by saying the decision to vote for Julie was driven by Drew.
Reward Challenge Time: The players will stand on a barrel and use ropes to navigate a course while retrieving keys. From there, the first person to complete a slide puzzle will win a picnic lunch on a beautiful sand-spit in the center of the ocean. (Hmm… I wonder if it’s the same place where they did the “Winners at War” marooning.)
Result: Everybody eventually gets to the puzzle with Austin picking up the win. He’s allowed to choose two people to join him and he picks Dee and Katurah. However, before picking Katurah, Austin admits that he’s leaving someone behind who can protect his name around the others.
Drew is pretty bummed out because the only time he’s been on a reward is when he won it. He feels like he’s back in junior high getting picked last for the team.
Quick Aside: Taking Dee has to be a mistake, right?
Reward Envy
The helicopter that is taking Austin and Co. to the sand-spit buzzes the tribe camp. Drew seems to take this very personally.
The trio eats their meal in the shadow of a helicopter. And Katurah admits that she knew Austin was going to choose Dee. Uh oh…
We then get Austin’s story where he explains that he was very awkward from his childhood up through high school. Finally, a story I can relate to.
Back at camp, Jake is frustrated that he’s stuck at camp with his two targets. He appreciates that he needs to do something big in front of the jury. He goes on an idol hunt and finds a clue to the hidden immunity idol. Apparently it’s in the tribe raft.
He strips down to his underwear, because why would you suspect someone searching in their underwear? He even admits to doing a play in college where he was in his underwear. Finally, a story I can relate to.
All of this pays off as he finds an idol that is good until final five.
Immunity Challenge Time: The players will put one foot on one end of a hinged beam. On the other end is a ball. The person who keeps their ball on the platform the longest will win immunity.
Result: It comes down to Dee and Austin who are up there for 21 minutes. Probst informs them that the Dream Team record (The Dream Team are production assistants who test the challenges) is 21 minutes. Dee eventually picks up the win.
Pre-Tribal Politicking
It seems like we’re getting a rerun of last week with everyone targeting Julie. But, Jake doesn’t think that helps his game at all. So, he pitches to Julie getting Katurah on board and blindsiding Drew. As you’d imagine, Julie is totally down with this.
However, Julie knows she can get Dee to vote for Drew as well. However, she doesn’t want Jake to know that.
Katurah also thinks she can get Dee on their side, but Jake doesn’t want to risk it. He believes if he can get a tie vote, then he can get Dee or Austin to flip. And when it’s all said and done, this will be a great move for him in front of the jury.
Buuut…Katurah tells Dee anyway. Wah wahhh…
Dee is super into this plan, but she’s very worried about betraying Austin.
Drew is feeling pretty comfortable, but he’s worried that Julie might start throwing his name around. Maybe a little…
Dee debates telling Austin about the plan which is fascinating because Austin was in this exact same spot last week and told Dee what was up. We don’t get an answer as to whether or not she spills the beans.
Tribal Time
We actually get a little bit of strategy as Dee says that alliances aren’t really a thing anymore, whereas Drew says he has people on his side.
Drew also says he thinks he has a clear path to the end. Famous last words?
Voting Time: Drew votes for Julie, Julie votes for Drew, and the rest of the votes are lost to the magic of editing.
JPro tallies and returns. He asks if anyone wants to play an idol or an advantage and…Austin plays his amulet for…himself!
OK, we’ve got two votes for Julie, three votes for Drew, and the thirteenth person eliminated from “Survivor 45” is…Drew.
Drew is not pleased. Understandably.
Probst tells them that they’ll be going to a new beach to prepare for the endgame.
Verdict: What a perfect parallel! Austin cares so much about his relationship with Dee that he tells her about Julie and wrecks his side’s move. Dee cares more about the game and Drew goes home.
Power Rankings Results: Frannie Marin had Drew in spot six while I had him in spot two. So, the current score is Team Marin 109, Team Holmes 95.
It’s mathematically impossible for me to catch her at this point, so…congratulations to Frannie Marin, the “Survivor 45” Power Rankings Challenge Champion!
A-: Julie - It could have so easily been you, Julie. But the crew that was pulled together managed to keep their mouths shut. I’m not sure you’re the favorite to win this whole thing, but you’re getting hot at the right time.
B+: Jake - Kudos on finding the idol and driving the Drew vote. Problem is; I’m not sure everyone is ready to give you credit for that move.
B+: Katurah - Jake and Katurah are on somewhat equal ground. I might give Jake a slight edge for finding an idol, but I’d bet Katurah is more liked. And, Jake had that awkward period where he seemed desperate.
B: Dee - Did Dee make the right move? Probably. And, she can still definitely win this. But, gamewise, she should have lost Austin’s trust.
C-: Austin - Everyone comes into this game prepared to lie to everyone. But then real relationships happen. This one is gonna cost you, buddy.
Welp, that’s it! Check out my exit interview with Drew on YouTube this Thursday. And, also don’t miss the final round of the “Survivor” Power Rankings as I square off against Frannie Marin!