This week's episode of Survivor 47, episode 12, was one of the most exciting in recent memory. There were so many memorable moments: the Operation: Italy setup while eating Italian food from the reward challenge, letters from home and subsequently pulling off Operation: Italy.
Survivor fans have reacted favorably to the episode, and it is now the highest-ranked episode in history on IMDb, garnering an impressive 9.6/10. The ratings on IMDb are community-generated, demonstrating that the majority of viewers have a very high opinion of this week's episode.
With its mixture of emotional highs, strategic brilliance, and unforgettable gameplay, Operation: Italy has cemented its place in Survivor lore.
Why fans loved Operation: Italy
This episode hit on many elements that made Survivor successful over the years and a cult favorite. Now in its 47th season, it sent viewers on an emotional rollercoaster.
1. Emotionally charged moments
This reward challenge may be the most consequential of the entire season. The fallout from the "letters from home" reward is often more impactful than other reward challenges, and this one was no exception. We witnessed a different, more human side of Genevieve Mushaluk, while Christine "Teeny" Chirichillo was visibly distraught over missing out.
2. Camp gameplay
With no hidden immunity idols to search for and no journeys to go on, this episode featured traditional Survivor gameplay. Deception was the name of the game, mainly by Andy Rueda who was the mastermind behind Operation: Italy.
Each individual conversation in-camp set up the crescendo of the blindside, but they were all crucial in their respective ways. The different private conversations Andy had with each member of what was previously deemed the 'underdog alliance', the conversations between Sue Smey and Caroline Vidmar about potentially playing the immunity idol, and the fake immunity idol concocted by Genevieve and revealing it to Teeny. It helped set up an epic tribal council.
3. One of the biggest tribal council upsets ever
The titular “Operation: Italy” saw Andy, Sam Phalen, and Genevieve Mushaluk execute a brilliant vote-splitting strategy using only their wits and a fake idol. Their cunning play turned the tide, leaving viewers in awe of their strategic prowess.
Despite not having the numbers, immunity idol or an advantage on their side, the three tribe members previously on the bottom managed to pull one over on the majority, eliiminating Caroline with a 3-2-2 vote.
The move has to go down as one of the bravest and most masterful in the history of Survivor.
Other favorite Survivor episodes on IMDb
#2: "Like Selling Your Soul to the Devil/My Wheels Are Spinning" (Survivor: Cambodia, Season 31, Episode 10)
IMDb Rating: 9.3/10
Airdate: November 25, 2015
This was a double-length episode and is most remembered for Stephen Fishbach, first using his hidden immunity idol to save himself and eliminate three-time Survivor player, Ciera Eastin, then Stephen using his vote steal advantage but still not being able to save himself and was eliminated.
#3: "Head of the Snake" (Survivor: Cagayan, Season 28, Episode 6)
IMDb Rating: 9.1/10
Airdate: April 2, 2014
This was the merger episode and featured Survivor legends like Tony Vlachos and Spencer Bledsoe. It was also the episode where another three-time Survivor legend, Sarah Lacina was voted out. Two hidden immunity idols were used, one by Tony and one by Leon Joseph "LJ" McKanas.
The historic importance of Operation: Italy
The overwhelmingly positive ratings for "Operation: Italy" on IMDb may reflect some degree of recency bias, but they also underscore just how favorably this episode is regarded by viewers. Its success can be attributed to several compelling elements, yet it was the strategic masterpiece at its core—the brilliantly executed plan known as "Operation: Italy"—that truly captured the audience's imagination and propelled the episode to the top of Survivor’s rankings.