Survivor 48 ended when Kyle Fraser, who had played out a near-perfect season, won the title of Sole Survivor. This season may be the most unique of all 48. It certainly is one of my favorites.
It won’t be known as a grand strategic entry into the Survivor pantheon, but there were plenty of subtle strategies that were carried out beautifully. It won’t be known as a season with a grand villain, but Sai Hughley did her best. Even in the villain role, Sai wasn’t mean or evil, but rather she was someone who played extremely hard and without apology.
The jury got this one right, even though a strong case could have been made for any of the Final Four. In fact, all three of the finalists received at least one vote for the first time in new era history. Kyle made the best moves at the best times and deserved the win.
What made Survivor 48 so unique and so special?
The cast was fantastic, one of the best ever. There were plenty of great personalities. Some players were probably good strategists who maybe didn’t get a chance to show off that part of the game as much.
The game has changed so much since the pre-COVID-19 version of Survivor, not just the rules but also how players approach each season. The social aspect of the game plays a more significant part than it did during the first 40 seasons, and strategy sometimes takes a backseat.
No season has epitomized this change more than this one. Empathy, character, loyalty, integrity, and friendship took precedence over backstabbing and big moves. We saw two solid alliances stay intact to the top six, and even into the top four and beyond.
Kyle and Kamilla stayed steadfast to the end, agreeing that each of them couldn’t go to the Final Three. Kyle was also part of the Meat Shield alliance, a group of four that included Kyle, Joe Hunter, Eva Erickson, and Shauhin Davari. David Kinne was also part of this alliance but was voted out for stirring up suspicions (rightfully) within the coalition. Those four were steady until Shauhin was blindsided at the Final Six.
Of course, there were Joe and Eva. When Eva told Joe about her autism during the first week in the game, he promised her and he promised himself he would look after her like a father would take care of their child in the game. And, he was faithful to the very end. He crossed tribal lines after a challenge to comfort her, and in the final episode, when Eva struggled to make fire while practicing for the challenge, he calmed her and helped her make fire.
Even at the Final Tribal Council, he refused to take shots at her, only saying that he was there because he deserved it.
Kyle also showed his true colors during the final episode. He didn't think about switching her out with Joe when he heard Eva crying in the jungle as she struggled to make fire. He considered taking on the fire challenge himself. He didn’t want to put her in a position that would cause her stress or pain. In the end, Eva proved her strength by competing in the fire challenge and winning. Kamilla, who Eva was competing against, even encouraged her when Eva was stressed during the challenge, Meanwhile, Kamilla couldn’t even get her fire started.
Empathy. Character. Loyalty. Integrity. Friendship. These things are often abandoned in Survivor. Yet, those were the things that defined season 48 and made it so special.
There have been seasons where the lack of sound strategic play was frustrating and disappointing. This one was not one of them. There was enough, mainly from Kyle and Kamilla, but watching this season play out was a joy.
It’s unlikely we'll see another season like this one. Strong strategic play, big moves, and huge blindsides will return. It’s inevitable. They are things that make this show so great and so popular. Still, it was awesome to see a different game unfold, with a cast that allowed it to play out the way it did. It was a nice change and added yet another way the game can be played.