The highly anticipated finale of “Survivor 49” – set to air on Wednesday, December 17 – is quickly approaching. With six castaways left still vying for the title of “Sole Survivor,” and the $1 million grand prize that comes with it, just one episode remains until longtime host Jeff Probst announces who among them has put in the work to outwit, outplay and outlast the competition.
On Wednesday, December 10, the season’s penultimate episode will air, featuring a “jaw-dropping” Tribal Council ceremony that will send one of the Final Six castaways – which currently includes Rizo Velovic, Savannah Louie, Sage Ahrens-Nichols, Kristina Mills, Steven Ramm and Sophi Balerdi – to the Jury just short of the “explosive” three-hour finale.
‘Survivor 49’ Episode 12 Synopsis
According to CBS, the season’s 12th episode – titled “The Die is Cast” – will see the remaining castaways face off in a challenge to win “the biggest reward of the season” to “earn the extra sustenance to propel themselves further in the game.”
More interestingly, the synopsis teases that “one alliance member must decide if they should flip against one of their own at a jaw-dropping tribal council.”
Will Sophi Finally Flip on Her Alliance with Rizo and Savannah?
The latter half of the synopsis almost certainly refers to castaway Sophi Balerdi, who, for the majority of the post-Merge portion of the game, has been riding the coattails of her allies – Rizo Velovic and Savannah Louie.
CBS/GettyDespite attending nearly every single Tribal Council this season thanks to her original Kele “disaster” tribe, Balerdi has managed to make it the endgame this season thanks, in part, to her social savvy, though many have predicted that she will finish the competition as a zero-vote finalist if she’s unable to turn on her alliance members who, presently, pose a much larger threat to win.
Savannah, who has had a target on her back since the Merge, has managed to hang onto her spot in the competition by the skin of her teeth. After celebrating a string of Individual Immunity challenge wins and an extra vote advantage that not only saved her from elimination, but helped her pull off some of the season’s biggest blindsides to date, Louie has established herself as one of the new era’s first “villains” – a feat that could, in two weeks time, earn her the title of “Sole Survivor,” even if she’s sitting next to Balerdi at Final Tribal Council.
Rizo, alternatively, has used social strategy to manipulate the majority of post-Merge votes in his favor, allowing him to hold onto his very public Immunity Idol for an impressive six consecutive Tribal Councils.
With outstanding resumes in her alliance, fans have speculated that Balerdi stands little chance of winning the “Sole Survivor” title if she sits next to Rizo and Savannah at the end. But can she turn things around in this week’s penultimate episode?
Sophi’s Final Chance to Use ‘Knowledge is Power’ Advantage
Balerdi has tossed around the idea of flipping on her allies in past installments, admitting to castaway Sage Ahrens-Nichols that she too would like to see Rizo and Savannah join the jury.
Thankfully for Sophi, she still possesses the notoriously difficult-to-play Knowledge is Power advantage, which allows her to steal another player’s Idol or advantage ahead at Tribal Council. As Episode 12 approaches, the only advantage left in the game is Rizo’s idol. This week’s episode will similarly mark the final time Balerdi can utilize the advantage.
If the teased “jaw-dropping” move does end up seeing Balerdi steal her closest ally’s Immunity Idol to secure her spot in the finale, it will not only go down as one of the biggest strategic moves of the season, Balerdi will also be remembered as the first and only “Survivor” castaway to ever correctly play the Knowledge is Power advantage.
Steven and Rizo Go Head-to-Head in an ‘All-Out War’
In the “Next Time on Survivor” first-look teaser for Episode 12, castaway Steven Ramm can be heard saying that “lines are drawn, it’s an all-out war,” as Rizo lingers in the background.
Later in the teaser, Rizo can be dancing with Savannah as they celebrate their continued control over the game before saying, “I’m going to crush his dream” – obviously talking about Steven.
As the supposed “heads” of their respective alliances, the forthcoming episode will likely see Steven – allied with Kristina and Sage – finally take aim at Rizo, either to flush his Idol, or to blindside the over-confident castaway out of the game.
Steven can later be seen discussing his Block-a-Vote advantage with Sage, telling his ally that Rizo’s dominant alliance could potentially be celebrating their “last supper” before heading to Tribal Council, adding that whatever he’s got “up his sleeve” is going to change the game.
Find out what happens, and which castaways secure their spot in the finale, when “Survivor 49” returns for its penultimate episode on Wednesday, December 10 at 8:00pm ET
