Playing the middle isn’t always a terrific strategy, and Survivor 49 is proving that true. In episode 9 and 10, people who tried to play both sides paid the price.
First, Alex Moore went home because he wouldn’t pick a side, and then Jawan Pitts was voted out because he was trying to play every side. The latter was a bigger surprise because Jawan had been maneuvering others into target range during tribal councils.
In the end, Jawan, who was listed first in these power rankings, tried to play both sides one time too many, causing mistrust with just about everyone but his chief ally, Sage Ahrens-Nichols.
In the meantime, Kristina Mills unnecessarily played her idol, and Rizo Velovic played a fake one. It’s going to be a fun home stretch.
7. Sage Ahrens-Nichols
Like her partner Jawan, Sage looked to be in a position of power last week. With Jawan's ouster, Sage is most likely on the outs, but she continues to be underestimated by most as a strategic player. Rizo, Savannah Louie, Steven Ramm, and Sophie Segreti all may seem like they have a better chance to win if they make the final three, leaving Sage rein to stir things up.
6. Kristina Mills
Kristina gave up her only ounce of power when she played her idol for Steven. Neither was in danger, but Kristina thought she was protecting her alliance. She is likable, but she is no threat in challenges and hasn’t been very good strategically. She is very much a candidate for the final three because she doesn’t have much of a shot to win.
5. Steven Ramm
Steven has been playing from the wrong end since the early tribe swaps. He’s survived because others have made missteps, but it is going to be harder for him unless he can align himself with some of the power players still in the game. Most players won’t want to go to the end with him because he has no enemies on the jury and has played well despite being an underdog.
4. Sophie Segreti
Sophie is a savvy player, but circumstances haven’t made it necessary for her to play too hard until recently. She made a good decision to distance herself from Kristina and Steven and to align herself with Savannah, Rizo, and Soph in a timely fashion.
If anyone will gain an advantage if the power trio in the game now falls apart, it will be Sophie. She’s in the game now, and she’s dangerous.
3. Savannah Louie
Savannah finally got her lime time wish granted when Jawan was voted out, and Sage is the next on her list. Her alliance with Rizo and Soph has played well, working their way from the bottom to the top, but how long can it last?
Unless she wins immunity, she will be in danger. There are a few people left who no one wants to take to the Final Tribal Council, and she’s one of them. With her extra vote advantage gone, she will be a target if she doesn’t win immunity.
2. Sophi (Soph) Balerdi
At first glance, it looks like Soph hasn't done much so far, but that is selling her short. She survived the early bloodbath with Kele tribe, aligned herself with other underdogs during the tribe swaps, and remained loyal to her alliance. She’s played a solid, deft game, but she has no move to call her own. She does still have one big weapon: the Knowledge is Power advantage.
No one knows she has this, and she could flip the game upside down if she were to steal Rizo’s idol. It was unclear if she and Savannah knew he played a fake idol at the last tribal, or if they thought it was the real one. If Soph knows (or finds out) that Rizo still has his, her big move could be to steal his idol with her advantage, and lead a vote to remove Rizo from the game.
1. Rizo Velovic
No one in recent memory has played as brazenly or as bravely as Rizo has. Opponents have been trying to flush his idol and take him and Savannah out for several episodes. Yet, he has stubbornly and successfully held onto it while maintaining his alliance. It’s been brilliant.
He is vulnerable, though. Soph has smartly kept her Knowledge is Power advantage under wraps. If she decided to blow the game apart and earn herself massive gameplay points with the jury, she could orchestrate Rizo’s departure. No one would suspect it, especially Rizo, who is pretty confident right now. If his alliance holds, Rizo is in a great position to win, but things don’t work out like that very often on Survivor.
Survivor 49 has been extremely entertaining since the tribe switches and merge. There are plenty of deserving players left, and very few who won’t be deserving to win.