And then there were five. Survivor 48 may not have featured the most strategic gameplay we’ve ever seen, but it is one of the more unique incarnations of the game yet.
Never have so many likeable players made it this far. The biggest villain—Sai Hughley—was voted out before the merge. As the years have gone by, the game has become more personal, as so many contestants have been fans. Many have grown up watching the game, and that has changed the game after 48 seasons.
While friendships have grown and relationships developed over the years on the show, no season has encapsulated the strong bonds built sometimes between people playing a game for a million dollars.
Those bonds are what have made this season so special. Yes, the strategic part of the game suffered, but the social aspect was highlighted as never before. Players like Sauhin Davari, Kyle Fraser, and Kamilla Karthigesu looked early to be strategic players. While they were, until the most recent episode, their bonds and alliances prevented the string of blindsides audiences have come to expect.
5. Mitch Guerra
Mitch has hung on longer in the game than he probably should have. He’s had opportunities to make big moves, but could never make himself do them. Still, it has worked out for him. He’s made it to the Final Five.
Mitch is an incredibly likable fellow, but he has little chance of winning because he’s been hesitant to make a big move. There is an avenue to victory because he hasn’t made any enemies. You never know how the jury will view the gameplay of the Final Three, but Mitch doesn’t deserve to win based on what he's done so far.
4. Joe Hunter
Joe has been one of my favorite players for a long time. He isn’t a great player, but he’s tried to play with loyalty, integrity, and a degree of naivete. Because he plays a straight game, he expects everyone else to do so, too.
Twice now, Kyle’s secret alliance with Kamilla has caused Joe to vote out a close ally. When David Kinne and Mary Zheng realized how close Kyle and Kamilla were, they created chaos within their alliance, and it was in Kyle’s interest to get them out. More recently, Kyle played on Joe’s paranoia and longing for integrity to orchestrate Shauhin’s departure.
If Joe makes it to the Final Three, his challenge prowess might not be enough to secure the win. His gameplay, other than sticking to his alliance for so long and his word with Eva Erickson, was subpar.
3. Eva Erickson
Unless something truly unforeseen happens, Eva will make it to the Final Four, due to the idol Star Toomey gave her early on in the season. From there, it is not hard to envision her in the Final Three.
How will the jury view her game? There is no question about her courage, strength, and competitiveness. Other than sticking with Joe and the alliance with Kyle and Shauhin, she has shown little strategic prowess. Still, she is one of the most interesting and admirable players ever.
It would not be disappointing at all if she were to win. The relationship between her and Joe has been an incredible storyline this season, but it will come down to the jury if she makes it to the Final Tribal Council.
2. Kamilla Karthigesu
What an underdog story! Kamilla has played from the shadows, secretly collecting and sharing information with Kyle. Their story about Shauhin showing her an idol was enough to convince Joe that Shauhin was being duplicitous. Their acting sealed the vote.
Kamilla has enough ammunition to convince the jury that she has been actively playing the game hard, that she and Kyle were equal partners, and the big moves were made together.
She has a decent chance of winning, especially if she’s sitting next to Mitch and Eva at the end. Kyle’s contributions will probably carry more weight because he was balancing two successful alliances and not just one, and that may be hard to overlook.
1. Kyle Fraser
Kyle and Kamilla have been able to pull off something no one else has - maintained a truly secret alliance over a long portion of the game. David sniffed it out, but that led to his dismissal from the game.
Kyle truly felt a connection with Joe, Eva, and Shauhin. There can be no doubt about that. Kyle knew deep down that eventually he would have to betray one alliance or the other. In the end, he knew he had to beat Shauhin to the punch and realized that Kamilla could be trusted.
Kyle hesitated a few times over making a move as his conscience held him back. Ultimately, his timing was perfect. His move to remove Shauhin will be fresh in the jury’s mind, and when he explains what he did, it may be enough to win Survivor 48.
Of course, don’t be surprised if Kamilla also comes to his realization and moves to take him out, if it is within her power. With Kyle on the jury, she can take the fact that she is in the Final Three and he isn’t as her biggest argument in her favor.
The season finale will be a blast, and fans can be happy no matter who wins Survivor 48.