"Survivor 47" Episode 7 Recap - Split Decision
A last-second advantage has BIG consequences...
Every Wednesday after the “Survivor” episode airs you’ll 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.
So, don’t miss a thing. Follow me here, follow me on YouTube, on X, etc…
Last Week: Genevieve fiddled while Rome burned.
39 26 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog…
Alright, let’s check out the tribe as it currently stands…
The Beka Tribe (wearing purple)
Andy, 31 - AI Research Assistant
Caroline, 27 - Strategy Consultant
Gabe, 26 - Radio Show Host
Genevieve, 33 - Corporate Lawyer
Kyle, 31 - Construction Worker
Rachel, 34 - Graphic Designer
Sam, 24 - Sports Reporter
Sierra, 27 - Nurse
Sol, 43 - Medical Device Sales
Sue, 59 - Flight School Owner
Teeny, 24 - Freelance Writer
Tiyana, 27 - Flight Attendant
Post-Tribal Discussion
High fives all around as everyone has officially made it to the merge, and nobody seems too upset that Rome has gone home. I mean, they have Sam for all their rapping needs, so they’re good.
Sol immediately goes into damage control for voting for Andy, saying that he was sure that Rome had an idol. Andy does the math and realizes that if he was sure Rome had an idol, then Sol was sure whoever he voted for would go home.
Got ‘em. But also, tell people you’re letting them off the hook, then target them later.
When Andy presses to find out who put his name up, Sol says it was Sam. Which…doesn’t make a ton of sense. Sam spent the first half of the game protecting Andy.
Andy tells Sol that he wants to have a solid alliance, and he’ll trust Sol if he goes with his next few votes. And his main target is going to be the former Gata tribe.
Later, Genevieve takes Andy under her wing as with Rome gone, she’s looking for a new number one who makes questionable decisions.
Later, Teeny is trying to put together an all-female alliance. She gives us a quick history lesson, including the famous Black Widow Brigade from the original “Fans vs. Favorites.” And as the group starts throwing names around, Tiyana tries once again to get rid of Gabe.
Reward Challenge: Players will stand on a beam while balancing a ball on a platform…that’s attached to a pole…that they’re holding over their heads! So, like a boom mic operator. At regular intervals, they’ll have to move down to narrower sections of the beam.
Twist: The tribe will be split into two teams randomly. The person who lasts the longest will win immunity for their entire team. Also, the people on the winning team will not cast votes. The person who lasts the longest on the losing team will win individual immunity. AND the person voted out will not make the jury.
DOUBLE AND: The winning team will get ribs, potato salad, corn on the cob, and drinks.
Teams: The blue team is Genevieve, Sierra, Teeny, Sol, Andy, and Sam. And, the yellow team is Rachel, Caroline, Sue, Tiyana, Gabe, and Kyle. So, it’s basically Tuku and Rachel.
Result: Kyle is the last blue team member standing, but he drops before Teeny and Genevieve. Kyle wins immunity, and the yellow team will not participate in Tribal Council. The blue team will go to the old Lavo camp and won’t get to interact with the yellow team before Tribal.
Reward Banter
Everyone is pretty sure that Rachel is in big trouble over at Lavo beach.
Sam takes this as an opportunity to say that if Tuku does stick together and gets rid of Rachel, that everyone on the yellow team should work together going forward.
Also, the editors not so subtly hint that there’s an advantage hidden at the reward feast.
After eating, everyone takes a nap. Andy does some searching for an advantage and he totally gets busted.
Later on, Sol finds the scroll and is able to pocket it without anyone seeing.
When he gets a moment alone, we learn that he can send an advantage to someone on the losing team. The recipient can enjoy either a Block-a-Vote or Safety-Without Power.
Pre-Tribal Politicking
Gabe thinks that Rachel is a big threat seeing as she’s very smart and personable. The early plan is to throw every vote against her, and if she wins the Shot in the Dark, they can figure it out during a revote.
Tiyana smartly realizes how it’ll look to the others if Tuku gets rid of Rachel. She talks to Kyle about potentially targeting Gabe instead. He’s on board, and not surprisingly, Rachel is cool with it as well.
Caroline makes the point that if everyone turns on Tuku, they won’t turn on Tiyana and Caroline first. They’re more likely to target Kyle. She also thinks Rachel is a huge threat and is the glue of the Gata tribe.
OK, the first half of that? Perfect. No notes. The second half…needs some work.
Meanwhile, Gabe is trying to convince Rachel to not play her Shot-in-the-Dark, and he pitches Caroline as a decoy vote.
Uh oh…
Tribal Time
Vague vague vague…
And just as they’re about to vote, Rachel pulls out an advantage that she received 20 minutes before they left for Tribal. She chooses Safety Without Power and leaves.
OK, now it’s getting good.
Also, Sol seemingly didn’t tell anyone what he was doing.
A lot of whispering is going on between the Tuku folks, and Tiyana would be heartbroken if she doesn’t make the jury.
Tiyana kicks off a full-on live Tribal. It seems like Caroline is going to be the swing vote with Gabe and Tiyana being the targets.
Voting Time: Tiyana votes for Gabe, Gabe votes for Tiyana, and the rest of the ballots are lost to the magic of editing.
JPro tallies and returns. He asks if anyone wants to play an idol or an advantage and…nobody does.
We’ve got one vote for Gabe, two votes for Tiyana, and the seventh person voted out of “Survivor 47” is…Tiyana.
Verdict: Probst said he doesn’t like it when too many people are up for elimination.
Then merge later, dude.
Anyway, I much prefer what we had last week to the tiny tribe we had this week. Can we just let “Survivor” be “Survivor”?
A: Caroline - What a smart, savvy player. Big fan.
A: Genevieve - Same as Caroline really. I’m not sure I love the idea of teaming with wild card Andy, but she’s shown she has no problem cutting problem partners loose.
A: Gabe and Sue - They had each other’s back like they’ve planned early in the game. That Tribal could have gotten messy, but they stuck to their guns.
B: Sol - I think Sol did exactly what production hoped he would do with that advantage. I’m not sure how it helps him though. If Rachel had gone home, he’d be in a dominant six-person alliance.
B: Rachel - I don’t know how to grade someone who was probably on her way out of the game before she was gifted a “Get Out of Jail Free” card.
B: Teeny - I think everyone loves you, but starting a big alliance after the merge is tough. The reason these things tend to not get off the ground is because everybody isn’t coming from the same place. Some are in good positions already.
B-: Andy - Are you one of those players who believes the last thing you heard? Also, you’re as subtle as a punch in the face.
B-: Kyle - You lost your ally and you’re a challenge threat.
C+: Sam - Good on Sam for pitching the reward alliance, but if Rome is to believed, everyone sees him as a threat.
Incomplete: Sierra - I can’t grade you if you don’t show your work.
Welp, that’s it! Check out my exit interview with Tiyana on YouTube tomorrow.
Follow me here on Substack, as well as YouTube, and X.
And, be sure to check out the official “Survivor” podcast - “On Fire with Jeff Probst”