"Survivor 48" Episode 12 Recap - Fight for the Finale

Six players battle it out for the last five spots...

“Survivor 48” (CBS)

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, on BlueSky, etc…

Last Week: Mary Mary, quite contrary, how does the rest of the tribe refuse to do anything that would upend the dominant alliance?

39 26 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog…

Alright, let’s check out the tribes as they currently stand…

The Niu Nia Tribe (wearing blue)

Eva, 23 - PhD Candidate

Joe, 45 - Fire Captain

Kamilla, 30 - Software Engineer

Kyle, 30 - Attorney

Mitch, 34 - P.E. Coach

Shauhin, 37 - Debate Professor

Post-Tribal Shenanigans

Oh wow, no “Previously on ‘Survivor’”? Let’s get into it.

Mitch is psyched to make final six, because this is when he wants to make his move. An even number? Bold strategy, Cotton. He approaches Shauhin with the idea of getting rid of Joe, but Shauhin is convinced that he’s played a better game than Joe.

Which BLOWS MY MIND! But, that’s what Mary said during last week’s exit press.

If that’s true; tell the story better, CBS!

Eva informs us that her Safety-Without-Power advantage has now expired. Very interesting, that speaks well for her resume that she never played it and most people didn’t know about it.

The early chatter amongst the majority alliance is that they’d rather get rid of Mitch next because he’d be tough to beat in front of the jury. However, Kyle wonders if it’s time to work with Kamilla and Mitch to switch things up. Well, no time like the present…or…any other previous episode.

Reward Challenge: The players will lie on a steep ramp. At different intervals, they’ll move down to lower handholds. The last person on his or her ramp will enjoy a sleepover at the Sanctuary with burgers and more. They’ll also receive their letters from home.

Quick Aside: Wow, it is pouring.

Result: It comes down to Shauhin vs. Kyle and I’m surprised they aren’t negotiating since it’s just for reward. Kyle eventually drops and Shauhin wins! Apparently Shauhin had some kind of issue with his wrist, so this win is doubly impressive.

Shauhin chooses Joe and Kyle to accompany him on the sleepover.

At the Sanctuary

Things get a bit dusty in the Holmes household as the guys read their letters from home. In particular, Joe’s inspiring note from his 10-year-old son.

Joe also opens up about how he lost his sister to domestic violence. He tells the guys about how he felt like it was his job to protect her, and they fought the last time they spoke on the phone.

Ima need a minute here, folks…

When Kyle is away, Joe and Shauhin discuss getting rid of Kyle next, but they agree that he’s not likely to be a threat in front of the jury.

Then when Joe is away, Kyle and Shauhin talk about their next move. They feel like they’re in the middle. But, they didn’t come this far to give the game to Joe. Shauhin eventually pitches getting rid of Eva for fear of Joe being on the jury and advocating for her to win. Kyle sees this as the opening he needs to target Shauhin.

Oh wow, after all that, if Mitch goes home tonight? Yawn…

Back at camp, Kamilla and Mitch are both annoyed that Joe is being fed and will get a good night’s sleep. This leads them to consider targeting Shauhin if Joe win immunity.

Meanwhile, Eva feels like her boys went out on the town and left her with her parents.

When the Sanctuary fellas return, Kyle pitches a plan to Kamilla where he tells Joe that Kamilla told him that Shauhin showed her an idol. This will get Joe and Eva to target Shauhin while making them indebted to Kyle.

Immunity Challenge Time: Players will toss a sandbag to release a rope. They’ll then use the rope to balance on a barrel that they will roll down a course. They’ll crawl under a net and retrieve a bag of balls. The first person to maneuver both of those balls through a winding path will win immunity.

Result: Joe wrecks the final portion, claiming his fourth immunity win.

Pre-Tribal Politicking

Kyle makes his move, telling Joe that Shauhin is ready to flip. He says that Shauhin floated the idea of getting rid of Joe or Eva at the Sanctuary. (Which he did.) And then when Kyle returned to the beach, Kamilla said that Shauhin showed her an idol. (Which he did not.)

Although, all of this is a tougher sell because Joe and Eva are both safe at the next Tribal and there’s less of a sense of urgency.

Joe goes to Kamilla to get her side of what happened and she backs up Kyle’s story.

Next up, Joe talks to Shauhin. Shauhin says that Mitch is next, and Joe keeps testing him to see if he’ll open up. But, since there’s no idol, Shauhin has nothing to open up about. Joe keeps pressing him and now Shauhin thinks something is wrong.

During this whole bit with Shauhin, Joe is as subtle as an advantage hidden in your french fries.

Eventually things come full circle and Joe questions whether Kyle and Kamilla could have fabricated the whole story.

Tribal Time

Kamilla says she’s been very honest and level-headed with the people she’s been working with, so they have no reason to doubt her.

Shauhin makes the point I’ve been making for years where people say they’re going to come out on the show and cut throats, but once you get out there it’s much different.

Editing gets a bit wonky while Shauhin and Kyle are talking about paranoia. It shows Joe looking at them like he’s trying to work things out and the audio blurs and gets hard to understand.

Um…I don’t know if I needed that. I’d rather focus on what the guys were saying.

Voting Time: No votes are shown.

JPro tallies and returns. He asks if anyone would like to play an idol or an advantage and…nobody does. We’ve got one vote for Shauhin, two votes for Mitch, two votes for Shauhin, and the thirteenth person voted out of “Survivor 48” and the sixth member of the jury is…Shauhin.

David does not stand up. But, Shauhin does claim to be the best player in the game.

Verdict: Well, that was something at least. I’m still blown away that Shauhin is convinced that he’s the best player in the game. And Mary would vote for him over Joe.

What aren’t we seeing?

That said, I think I’d be OK with any member of the final five winning.

B+: Kyle and Kamilla - They’ve been on top of this report card for a few weeks, but I’m actually going to bump them down a bit. WE appreciate that they made the moves to send Shauhin home. But the jury didn’t see it. Maybe they’ll believe them, maybe they won’t.

B+: Eva - I’m actually splitting them up this week. Eva is just so good natured and the fact that she had two mega-advantages and never had to play them is nothing to sneeze at.

B-: Joe - He’s a likable guy who got his alliance to the end and won a ton of challenges. Should be a slam dunk, right? But he’s so easily manipulated. Mary threw him off his game last week and Kyle and Kamilla were able to play him like a fiddle this week.

C: Mitch - They say you’re a threat, but outside of being very personable, I just don’t see it.

Welp, that’s it! Check out my exit interview with Shauhin 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”