Diva down x2: Survivor 47 Finale Part One Recap and Power Ranking
I think I’m in mourning. Not because part one of the Survivor 47 finale wasn’t good — it was — but I lost my two favorites on the season and worry we are careening to a predictably boring final episode due to Rachel’s dominant game. Nevertheless, my divas were voted out in fitting fashion for each of them, and even with a lackluster final finale (blame CBS for the wording, not me) this was a strong season in both gameplay and entertainment.
The spy who loathed me
After tribal council, Sam, Genevieve, Andy, and Teeny are on the beach discussing the events of tribal and the flip. Rachel, in the dark, sneaks behind a bush and hears 90% of the conversation, including Teeny voluntarily flipping. At this point, Rachel and Teeny both think Genevieve’s idol is real, but Rachel knows where her only loyalties stand.
It was Tony Vlachos-esque, but with a tad more tact and a heap less crazy. With this move, Rachel knew not to share any information — including her idol — with Teeny. Though, to be fair, Teeny’s reputation of being a loose-lipped castaway would probably have prevented that regardless.
Rachel tells Sue the next morning about the idol, and loyal Sue keeps that to herself as well. Sue does not tell Rachel about her idol, but the two of them are locked into a very trusting two-person alliance.
Dive right in
The first immunity challenge (which included a reward) was only, I believe, the third water challenge of the entire season. It was pretty standard. They jumped off structures and pushed a ball on a rope through obstacles and solved a Survivor 3D logo puzzle at the end. Unsurprisingly, Rachel and Genevieve were the two vying for the immunity necklace. Genevieve came up with the win, beating Rachel at her own puzzle strength.
This, seemingly, left Rachel vulnerable. Genevieve takes Teeny and Sue on reward, leaving Sam, Andy, and Rachel — the three remaining Gata tribe members — back at camp.
Loose lips sink ships
Maybe it’s the starvation. Maybe it’s the sleep deprivation. Maybe it’s the red wine… actually in Teeny’s case (and only Teeny’s case), it’s definitely the red wine. Regardless, people just started saying things they shouldn't in this episode.
Starting with Teeny. Teeny let’s it slip to Sue than Genevieve has an idol. This was supposed to be a secret, and Teeny immediately recognized the mistake. Genevieve, of course, doesn’t mind because the idol is actually fake and this illusion of a real idol only helps her game.
Back at the beach, the Gata group have a heart to heart. Sam opens up and is honest to Rachel, and Rachel asks Andy and Sam about why they’re “handing” the game to Genevieve, playing up the farce of her imminent demise. Then, Rachel turns her strategy game up another notch. She begins to lean into Andy, calling his game a “nothing burger,” that he’s careless, and hammering into him the jury doesn’t respect him. This keys in on Andy’s insecurities and his very self-aware gameplay that is telling him what she is saying is true. After a refusal of Rachel’s proposition to Andy that they should vote out Sam, Andy makes a play of his own.
After telling Rachel he’s sending her home because it would be better for his game due to her powerful gameplay thus far, Andy tries to turn Rachel into an inside man on the jury. Andy needs respect, the jury respects Rachel, and by revealing all his strategies and gameplay thus far to Rachel, Andy feels he can garner the winning votes by the end. It’s a gambit, and it doesn’t pay off. We, the audience, knows about Rachel’s idol and that she will not be going home, and all we are meant to do is watch Andy unravel his game in front of our eyes.
You know, Jeff…
At tribal, after Rachel calls “bullshit” on how everyone was characterizing Andy’s flip, it is clear everyone besides Sue and Rachel think Rachel is going home. They all told it right to her face, and it seems to the alliance of four it is a foregone conclusion.
Then, just before the votes are read, Rachel says “You know, Jeff, the only thing better than being at your own funeral is knowing you’re going to wake up alive the next day,” and plays her idol.
We get a flurry of “Rachel, does not count”s and two votes on Andy. Diva No. 1 down. A strong reaction from the jury affirms the goodwill Rachel gained with that play, and Andy is sent down the path with his torch snuffed.
Mother off
With Genevieve and Rachel the clear top two players, we get a western-style showdown shot and a literal quote saying the island isn’t big enough for the both of ‘em. They know it’s one against the other. They acknowledge it publicly, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of Sue, Teeny, and Sam.
While I do believe this season came down to Rachel or Genevieve, the editors did give us a Heroes vs Villains Sandra “I don’t know about thatttt”-style confessional for Sam. Maybe it’s misdirection, but don’t count him out.
In the immunity challenge, it’s Genevieve and Rachel still competing neck and neck to stack balls while on a wobbly beam. There’s a clear high difficulty level on this challenge that looks infuriating from beginning to end.
(Sidebar: Rarely do I think I would be good at challenges that are this level of difficulty, but oddly the balancing while stacking balls using a stick lends itself very well to my background playing hockey. It’s almost the same skillset, so I actually think I would crush this challenge — not that I would make it far enough to try).
Eventually Rachel, with intense concentration and a tension-building musical score, succeeds and nearly collapses into tears. When she needed it most she was able to come away with a critical immunity win, now ensuring herself at worst a shot at making fire.
The ghost of Kishan past
While the editors try to build tension on a potential move to avoid taking on the believed-to-be-real idol, it becomes fairly clear who is going home. The misdirection is necessary, but never fully believable.
Sam tells them all it’s fake ahead of time and that he’s voting for Genevieve. Genevieve tells Teeny the idol is fake, which almost makes them feel it is even more real. Then at tribal council, there’s some back and forth, but the vote inevitably lands on the biggest threat in Genevieve.
Sue also played her idol, which everyone recognized to be the red paint idol, but it isn’t really edited to be some triumphant moment and was honestly a bit underwhelming.
Power Rankings
Rachel
Sam (+1)
Sue (+2)
Teeny (+2)
X - Andy (Previous: 2)
X - Genevieve (Previous: 4)
I’m not going to do a winners or losers section. There are just too few people left. But to keep it brief, this is Rachel’s game to lose. Sam has a shot if Rachel is eliminated in fire. I expect Sue to get some votes if she makes it to the end because what she’s done at her age is impressive, and she was loyal. Teeny has no shot.
Prediction
Here’s how I see the finale playing out. Sam wins final immunity, but knowing he needs to take out Rachel, he puts himself in fire against her. This is essentially for all the marbles. It’s close, but Rachel beats him in fire, solidifying the final three as Rachel, Sue, and Teeny — making it the third all-women final three in Survivor history.
Rachel wins over Sue and Teeny, 7-1-0, respectively.
Votes go as follows:
Sierra: Rachel
Sol: Rachel
Gabe: Rachel
Kyle: Rachel
Caroline: Sue
Andy: Rachel
Genevieve: Rachel
Sam: Rachel