Survivor 46 episode 12 preview, date, time: "Mamma Bear"

The most important episode of Survivor 46 is here! "Mamma Bear," Survivor 46 episode 12, is set to be the biggest episode of the season so far. After blindside after blindside, will we see the tribe unite against the favorite? It sure looks like that in the Next Time on Survivor preview!

With Venus going home in episode 11 with a hidden immunity idol in her pocket, there isn't a clear alliance outside of Charlie and Maria. There are six people left in the game. If they were smart, the four people on the outside should be making a move to break up that alliance heading into the three-hour season finale on Wednesday, May 22.

Episode 12 time and date

Survivor 46 episode 12 airs on Wednesday, May 15, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+. This is the last 90-minute episode of the season. As mentioned, the three-hour finale will be next week.

It's so wild that we're at the end of the season already! It's a bummer, but I can't wait to see what's next in the penultimate episode of season 46.

Preview

In the Next Time on Survivor preview for episode 12, tension is at an all-time high! Q kicks things off by yelling, "Q Skirt! Q Skirt!" which is a reference to his iconic fashion this season. He immediately follows up in a confessional by saying, "I've been calm, but I need the storm." Yes, more chaos is on the way!

Then, things shift to Charlie and Maria. The episode is teasing a major showdown between the two allies. "I got a good friend," Maria says. Off camera, Charlie says, "I love her to death, but I have to vote her out." It seems like he's referencing Maria, but it's not immediately clear.

Then, it's rapid-fire! Kenzie, who just announced she's pregnant, holds up a "Q" with her hands to someone. Maybe, it's Ben? It seems like it's a more pointed shot at voting out Q, which has been in the works after every tribal council since the merge, basically.

Ben tells Charlie, "This is going to be my favorite blindside of the season." Is he talking about Q? Is he talking about Maria? Both could be on the table. We've heard from several castaways reference tension between Ben and Q throughout the season in their exit interviews.

Then, we get to Maria, who I believe is the "Mamma Bear," that the episode title is referencing. She's crying at camp, like actually sobbing. She says, "Something died in me today. It's going to light a fire under me."

I have no idea what she could be referring to, but it seems like they are making it seem like Charlie is going to target Maria before the final five. I don't actually think that's going to happen! I think Charlie and Maria will vote together with Ben to take out Liz, Kenzie, or Q. Then, they'll head to the final five and duke it out for $1 million. That's the thing that makes the most sense.

If Charlie and Maria flip on each other, there's still too many people in the game to guarantee that one of them makes it to the end. They are the two strongest players, and they know that. If they pick each other off, well, then it's four-on-one at the final five. They need to keep their numbers to have at least a two-on-three vote at the final five.

That's what I would do if I was Charlie or Maria. They each take a risk, but they at least keep the one person they can trust in the game.

We also think you should watch the new sneak peek from Survivor 46 episode 12 of Ben and Kenzie!

Watch Survivor 46 episode 12 on Wednesday, May 15, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.