Survivor is back for its 48th season, and that means it’s time for a whole new group of players to outwit, outplay and outlast each other. This season, we started with video clips of our new players learning that they made it to Survivor 48 and the excitement is palpable. The emotions are so powerful that it just proves that this season is going to be fire.
Right away, we are meeting our 18 new Survivor 48 players, and they’ve already been divided into their tribes. We have three tribes once again: the green Vula tribe, the orange Civa tribe, and the purple Lagi tribe.
The very first challenge of season 48 is all about earning your supplies for the tribe. And, it is a messy one. We are talking, crawling through mud under a net, carrying a chest that weighs over 100 pounds, and climbing to get to a key to unlock the chest so they can get the sandbags that they need to toss. This is a quintessential Survivor challenge to kick things off.
Ultimately, the Lagi tribe won this first challenge, showing everyone that they might be the ones to watch. Everyone fought hard, and there are more challenges to take on, just in this premiere alone.
We all know that there is a lot of game to be played this season. But sadly for one player, their game is already over. So even after all of the hard work in this opening episode, who went home?
Stephanie Berger was voted out first in the Survivor 48 premiere
After a difficult loss by Vula at the challenge, especially after they nearly won the second immunity idol, it makes sense that the very first tribal council was going to be difficult. Sai Hughley has an idol, and there are multiple alliances formed, two people traversing the middle ground (or trying to) and at least one Survivor who definitely did not do their best at the first challenge.
With Stephanie and Sai going head to head, it was anyone's game. In fact, as Sai headed to cast her vote, she said she thinks Stephanie played her Shot in the dark. That is exactly what she did, but she was "Not Safe." Ultimately, it was Stephanie who didn't have the votes needed to keep playing the game.
But, how did we get here?
Survivor 48 begins with introductions and camp setups
Since Lagi won their supplies, they were all back at their beach first getting to know each other and setting up their camp. Civa and Vula are also doing the setup and getting to know each other, even with one player from each tribe missing to try and earn the supplies on a journey of their own.
At Vula, we already have an alliance that has formed, proving some players are planning to go hard immediately.
Kyle from Civa and Kevin from Vula had the opportunity to earn their tribe’s supplies. They each had to fight to get to their pot and machete. From there, they had to use their supplies to fill a jar to get to the flint. The first person to get the flint gets to take their supplies back to their tribe, the other person must leave it all behind.
Kyle ends up breaking the jug while trying to fill it and is out of the challenge, but instead of quitting and watching someone else struggle to get the water in their jug, he helps Kevin finish filling up the water to snag the flint in order to bring the supplies back to Vula. And, when Kevin gets back to his tribe, he ends up seemingly in the best position, as everyone wants to work with him.
When Kyle returns to Civa, he introduces himself and admits that he was unable to obtain the supplies. David then shares with the tribe that he found symbols and twine, and now the entire tribe is on the hunt. They have no idea what they are hunting for, but instead of putting together their tribe camp, they search for symbols and signs in the woods.
Back at Lagi, it is clear that this is a team of workhorses. They are working together to put their camp together and build a fire. They are working as a team to get things done.
Sai finds the Beware Advantage and find the first idol of the game
On day two, it seems that Sai from Vula has found the very first Beware Advantage of Survivor 48. But she has not been able to get to the idol just yet, as she needs to figure out the code. So for now, she doesn't have her vote. On the Lagi tribe, everyone realizes that Star is on the hunt for idols. We also have the California Girls Alliance which is actually all the guys on the Lagi tribe. But at this point, no one seems to have found anything on that tribe (or on the Civa tribe).
After a hunt that took her all day and with a lot of help from her alliance, Sai cracked the code and found a hidden immunity idol!
After all the camp setup and introductions, it is time for the very first challenge of Survivor 48. There is a reward for both winning teams.
The first tribal immunities were won by Lagi and Civa
In the first immunity challenge, the entire tribes have to get up and over a net ramp before crawling through a sand tunnel under a net. Then, they have to untie what they need to smash a mask to get the key they need. Then, they need to grab handles to move a sled across a table before getting the sled over stacked sandbags. Next, they have to remove the handles and pull their sled up to the top of the platform before they can start working on their logo puzzle.
Civa makes it to the top first along with Lagi. Vula might be last, but they were still in the game as they quickly started working on their puzzle. Lagi actually looked to be running away with the puzzle building.
In the end, the Lagi tribe wins the first immunity and the large reward of tools. For a while, it actually looked like Vula might win the second immunity, with only a few pieces needed, but then they struggled to get the final pieces in the puzzle. In an impressive comeback, Civa wins the second immunity and a smaller reward.
After the loss, Vula went back to camp, and Stephanie apologized for messing up the puzzle. And while it seemed like Stephanie might be on the chopping block, Mary started throwing out Sai's name to go home. She tells Justin and Stephanie that she doesn't trust Sai, and she wants her to go home. Then, Mary and Stephanie pitch Sai to Kevin.
Tribal council sees Sai saying it is about strength or loyalty when voting
There does not seem to be any clear direction heading into the first tribal council. Sai seemed to have her thoughts and what she believed would happen. It's clear that the Vula tribe is not as put together as they might think they are.
No matter what anyone said at this Tribal Council there is no denying that both Sai and Stephanie went hard. Sai made it really clear that she doesn't believe that Stephanie is playing the game the right way. She believed Stephanie had her head in the clouds. She wanted everyone to know that she believes that you have to choose between loyalty and strength when it comes to who you vote for.
No matter what discussions were held around camp, it really was all about that very first alliance formed at the Vula beach. And so Stephanie was the very first player voted out of the game.
Watch Survivor 48 episode 2 next week on Wednesday night!