Survivor 47 episode 5 preview, date, time, and what to expect: The Scales Be Tippin

Survivor 47 episode 5 is the biggest episode of the season! There's a big, new twist coming to Survivor, and it's all happening in episode 5, "The Scales Be Tippin."

We got our first inkling that something big was coming at the end of episode 4 during the "Next Time on Survivor" preview for episode 5. There was a twist hinted at, but we still don't know what exactly it means. Is it the merge? Is it the pre-merge? Is it something totally different and new? We'll see in episode 5!

First, there's a lot to discuss about what we've already seen in episode 5 via previews and sneak peeks. And, we have some thoughts on what to expect in the new episode.

What time is Survivor 47 episode 5 on CBS and Paramount+?

Survivor 47 episode 5, "The Scales Be Tippin," will air on CBS and Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. C on Wednesday, Oct. 16. The West Coast airing will be at 8 p.m. PT, just three hours after the new episode airs on the East Coast.

Of course, you can always watch the new episode of Survivor on Paramount+, as well, but you have to sign up for the Paramount+ with Showtime plan. That allows you to watch CBS live. Survivor airs on CBS, so there you go!

You can also watch new episodes of Survivor on Paramount+ with the regular plan, but you can't watch the episode live. It's only available to stream starting around 3 a.m. ET, usually. I've seen some episodes not hit Paramount+ until 8 a.m. ET, but that's pretty rare.

Survivor 47 episode 5 preview and sneak peek

There have been three previews and sneak peeks at Survivor 47 episode 5 so far!

At the end of episode 4, Jeff Probst teased a "brand new Survivor twist" in the Next Time on Survivor preview. Probst breaks the news to the players when they arrive for the next challenge, it appears.

Later, we see some possible feuding among Sam Phalen, Sierra Wright, and Andy Rueda of the Gata tribe. Sam says, "That's secret," but we have no idea what he's talking about in the short clip.

Then, we get a glimpse of the Tuku tribe where Sue Smey reveals to Gabe Ortis that Tiyana Hallums threw him under the bus. It looks like there's a heated exchange between Tiyana and Gabe, which is going to pretty interesting.

"I'm angry," Gabe tells the camera in his in-the-moment interview. "I want to crush her Survivor dreams, and I want to smile while it happens.

Okay, so that's the first preview!

Then, there's Access Hollywood's exclusive sneak peek at the new twist in Survivor 47 episode 5. In the sneak peek, which was shared on Facebook, we watch the Gata, Tuku, and Lavo tribes walk into the reward challenge. There, they realize that the challenge is only set up for two tribes to compete.

At first glance, it's unclear if the Lavo tribe (red) is not competing since the challenge is set up for the yellow (Gata) and blue (Tuku) tribes, but we've seen the production still released by CBS and there is definitely some sort of tribe swap happening. We just don't know if it's permanent, only for this challenge, or for a few challenges. We just don't know.

In the sneak peek for episode 5 shared by CBS via the Survivor YouTube Channel, we see Genevieve Mushaluk explaining why she decided to blindside Kishan Patel in episode 4.

"The idea to vote out Kishan was mine," Genevieve says. "And, I knew I had to vote him out. It was better for my game. He is the player who is the threat you don't see until it's too late, and I just couldn't take that chance."

We also see Genevieve comforting Teeny Chirichillo, who lost a vote in episode 4 that could have been used to blindside Kishan or save him. Teeny thinks she is on the bottom after being left out of the vote.

What to expect in episode 5

Let's start with the most important question: What is the new twist in e episode 5? Well, I have a hunch.

It looks like, based on the promos we've seen, that there's going to be some kind of reward challenge where the tribes are mixed and mashed together. Then, I fully expect the winning tribe to get to go on some kind of reward together where the players get to bond, converse, and stir it up a little bit.

Then, they'll all go back to their tribes and watch the drama ensue before the immunity challenge later in the episode. Maybe, the losers will get to go hang out somewhere without food? I don't know.

But, that likely sets up the drama that we see with the Gata tribe with Sam, Andy, and Sierra. Perhaps, one of those three spills a secret on the reward to some of the other players. I firmly believe that Tiyana lets something slip about Gabe and his game, which then gets back to Gabe somehow. That's the only explanation I have right now.

I don't think we're at the pre-merge yet. If Lavo loses the immunity challenge, that will likely happen in episode 6 or 7. There are too many players left in the game to head directly into the merge, but we'll likely see what happened in the last few seasons of Survivor with the players coming together but getting separated into different groups for challenges and tribal council.

There are definitely cracks forming on all the tribes, which we'll likely see exposed further in episode 5. At Gata, Sierra is very much in the middle. Sooner or later, she's going to have to choose a side: Sam and Andy or Anika Dhar and Rachel LaMonth.

At Lavo, Genevieve seems to be in control, but there are clear divisions between Rome and Sol. Teeny is the wild card. Her next move could put someone, including herself, into a power position.

At Tuku, it still looks like it's Caroline Vidmar, Gabe, and Sue and then Tiyana and Kyle Ostwald on the outside, but I'm not so sure, honestly. Caroline, Tiyana, and Kyle could make a big move together to take out Gabe and Sue after some of their antics in recent episodes.

We'll just have to wait and see in Survivor 47 episode 5. Watch the new episode at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.