After being targeted heavily since Survivor: Edge of Extinction Day 28, Rick Devens couldn’t make a fire and became the final member of the jury.
After winning his way back from the Edge of Extinction on Day 17, Rick Devens had it all going for him. He had won 4 individual immunity challenge. He found and played three hidden immunity idols. He also seemed to be the favorite among the jury to win it all. Now all he needed was one more immunity win or to win the fire-making challenge to secure himself a spot in the finals.
However, this is when things all came crashing down for Rick. He lost the Immunity Challenge on Day 38 to Chris, who had returned from the Edge of Extinction two days prior. With the fire making challenge looming, Chris informed Rick he would be participating in the fire-making challenge.
Chris also helped Gavin and Julie practice making a fire. After watching Gavin and Julie, practice Chris considered a bold move in which he would give up his immunity to take on Rick in the fire making challenge himself.
Ultimately, Chris decided to give up his immunity to Julie and take on Rick in the fire-making challenge. Chris was able to get his fire to burn the rope first, cementing his spot in the final three alongside Gavin and Julie. Rick became the thirteenth and final member of the jury.
There are a couple of reasons why Rick was the last person eliminated. The obvious reason is he lost to Chris in the fire-making challenge. If he had simply won that challenge, he would have been in the Final Three and likely the Sole Survivor.
The other reason Rick was the last person eliminated is the eliminated was the Edge of Extinction twist. If Chris did not come back into the game, it seems likely Rick would have at least won the fire making tiebreaker.
It is very poetic that the same twist that brought Rick back into the game was ultimately one of the main reasons he was taken back out of it. It really speaks volumes to just how bad this season was a whole that someone who was voted out on Day 11 and would come back on Day 17, became this season’s biggest breakout star, only to lose the Final Four fire-making challenge on Day 38 to a guy who got voted out on Day 8 and returned on Day 35.
Hopefully, Jeff Probst and production realize what a horrible mistake the Edge of Extinction was and never use this twist again.