After the first truly unanimous Tribal Council of the season, Sophi Balerdi declares that she would like to be called Sophi instead of Soph from here on out in Survivor 49 episode 12. The last Sophi standing—and the last Kele—standing!
For the first time, all players are debriefing collectively, voicing their thoughts on the vote and how they felt at Tribal Council openly for all to hear. Sage Ahrens-Nichols shares she was concerned about Savannah Louie turning on her once the concept of "revenge" came into the conversation, while Savannah declares that getting rid of Sophie was pre-revenge. But Savannah knows that this is the first and last time everyone voted together and moving forward things are going to be tight with the numbers being so limited.
Rizo Velovic is teased about how he always talks about his idol at Tribal Council—he quips it's because host Jeff Probst always asks him about it—and is asked if this next Tribal Council (Final 6) is the last time he can play it.
During his confessional, he admits that he told everyone the idol expires at six, but in actuality, it expires at five. So if he plays his cards right and makes his tribe mates feel like it'd be a null vote to put his name down, he has potential to get through another vote with his idol and guarantee himself a spot in the Final 4.
But Sophi is concerned about both Savannah and Rizo and their power in the game despite being their number three. She doesn't want to come in third to them, she would prefer to make a move and take home the title of Sole Survivor next to someone else at the end, and turns to Kristina Mills to whisper the beginning of a plan to split them up at the next Tribal Council.
The ultimate reward in the penultimate episode
Before the challenge, Jeff asks Savannah how things are going, and she gets a little emotional talking about how much she's really struggling. And while Jeff doesn't offer and words of encouragement, he does offer up a reward featuring a night at the sanctuary, a Mexican feast, and their letters from home. At the mention of their letters, everyone's faces shift to show a soft need for that comfort.
With an obstacle challenge in front of them, everyone keeps pretty even pacing, but Steven Ramm is a clear frontrunner, with Sophi and Savannah slightly behind him. Everyone catches up at the final stage of the challenge, tossing a sand bag to balance at the top of a tall pole. Finally, Savannah lands it and earns reward for herself, opting to bring Rizo—who immediately breaks down in tears at her selection—and Sophi who mentions the elephant in the room: by choosing her, Savannah is leaving Sage, Kristina, and Steven open to return to camp and strategize against them.
Margaritas and machinations
While the winning three laugh over food and drinks at the sanctuary, back at camp, Sage feels like losing this reward is her karma for not getting Savannah out when she could have. Kristina lets her know that Sophi is ready to make a move, which prompts Steven to officially reveal to them that he has a block-a-vote.
Keeping consistent with the secret advantages being revealed, Sophi finally tells her two allies that she has knowledge is power and could take Steven's advantage if they know for sure it's a steal-a-vote. Rizo is surprised to learn Sophi's kept this from them, but it solidifies her as an ally for him because he knows she could have used it against him at many points and she hasn't.
While Savannah originally only cared about getting the food at this reward, wanting the energy to beat Steven in the next challenge, now that she has her letters from home, she realizes that this is the fuel she really needs to make it to the end and win Survivor 49. All 3 castaways are feeling lighter and more driven to get to push their way to the end with the inspiration from their loved ones.
Sophi is feeling much more connected to Rizo and Savannah in the game now, confirming in her confessional that she plans to move all the way to Final 3 with them.
Returning from reward and new challenges
The next morning, everyone is reunited at camp. Rizo and Steven walk off and cryptically chat about the conversations that took place while they were separated. Rizo says they spent the night just trying to figure out what Steven's advantage is while Steven shares that the name being considered by the three left behind will all be dependent on how the next challenge goes.
Our castaways arrive at the challenge arena to discover they're facing an endurance challenge where they stand with one foot on a plank, balancing a ball. Jeff announces that this challenges has only been done one other time, in Survivor 45 when it was won by Dee Valladares who went on to win the season. Rizo is the first out followed by Sophi, Kristina, and Steven. It's Sage vs. Savannah, neither of whom have moved the entire challenge.
After 24 minutes (Dee's record time), Sage starts bartering with Savannah, letting her know that she'll make sure she's safe she just has to trust her. Savannah apologizes, but says she can't after Sage wrote her name down once already. Savannah tries to comfort her, letting her know she's not the one going home, and she'll be okay, but Sage keeps pushing, wanting to win. After 35 minutes, Sage falls and Savannah wins her third individual immunity.
Getting ready for the biggest Tribal Council yet
Rizo approaches Steven asking him directly if he's planning to go after Sophi, which Steven straight up says yes. With Savannah immune and Rizo's idol, Sophi is the next best move for them. But Rizo then turns to Sage and plants the idea voting out Steven and how he's a bigger threat to her than Sophi is. Sage raises the idea to Kristina who reminds her that they need Steven as their best bet at a challenge down the road.
Kristina and Steven and chatting about the vote and Kristina lets it slip that she and Sage were debating him or Sophi, which causes Steven to hesitate. He declares that Kristina is a sloppy player, always talking without thinking things through, and now, he isn't sure if she's someone he can trust as much as he thought he could.
Sophi is worried about herself and asks Rizo if he knows for sure that Steven has a steal-a-vote. He says he doesn't, but that if it doesn't work out, they'll figure it out. Sophi doesn't like the idea that she wastes her knowledge is power only to end up going home. So she starts to consider the fat that her best move is actually to steal Rizo's idol, especially now that she knows it's valuable through the next vote and would guarantee her a spot in the Final 4.
When our players arrive at Tribal Council, Jeff immediately brings up the fact that Savannah took Rizo and Sophi on her reward, which the jury laughs at. As the conversation continues, it's clear there's a line drawn in this six between Kristina, Sage, Steven, and Rizo, Savannah, Sophi. Both sides have advantages, and this feels like the first vote where it's unclear just how it's going to go.
But right before they go to vote, Sophi reveals her Knowledge is Power advantage and plays it on Steven, asking if he has an advantage, which he replies, "nope." She voices that he must have given it to someone else, and he replies again, "nope."
As everyone goes to vote, Savannah discovers her vote has been blocked, and Rizo worries that he's going to have to play his idol. When the time comes, he asks Sophi if her vote was stolen or blocked, she says neither and Savannah says her vote was blocked. Rizo says he's sorry if it doesn't work out, but he has to protect himself and instead of playing his idol on Sophi, he keeps it for himself for the next vote.
Steven Ramm is the 13th player voted out of Survivor 49
Despite using his advantage to block Savannah, and despite their allegiance throughout the game, Kristina and Sage decided the best move for their game would be to vote out Steven over Sophi, making him the 6th member of the jury.
With our Final 5 finally in place, next week's finale feels ripe with possibility. Savannah, Rizo, and Sophi are undoubtedly the 3 underdogs of the season and will have a straight shot into the Final 3 if they don't turn on each other and Savannah continues to dominate immunity challenges.
This could be the most thunderous—and closest—Final Tribal Council we've seen in the new era. Tune in next Wednesday, December 17th at 8pm ET on CBS or Paramount+ to see who will win Survivor 49!