The Survivor 49 finale is here! After the incredible blindside in episode 12, we are down to the Final 5 of this season. It's a huge achievement for these players, but there's still more game left to play.
The Final 5 consists of Rizo Velovic, Sage Ahrens-Nichols, Savannah Louie, Sophi Balerdi, and Kristina Mills. One of those players has already booked their spot in the Final 4.
In the finale, we'll see an immunity challenge and Tribal Council and vote to decide the Final 4. Thanks to the help of an idol, one player is already safe from that vote.
Unless he absolutely misplays his idol, Rizo will be in the Final 4
Rizo will be in the Final 4 of Survivor 49. He finally has to play his hidden immunity idol, and unless he gives it away without protecting himself first, there's no way he can't make the Final 4.
We've watched Rizo play chicken all season with this idol, to his detriment, I think, but it's been the talk of many Tribal Councils to date. There's no doubt in my mind, even with all the posturing we've seen from Rizo, that he won't play the idol if he doesn't win immunity. If he wins immunity, which I want to discuss more shortly, he could make some things happen, but I don't know how likely that is.
The top and bottom of it is that Rizo, who has had an immunity idol since the beginning, should play his idol in the finale and make the Final 4. From there, it's his game to go and win, but he'll have to make a lot of things happen first.
Rizo could potentially protect another player at Tribal Council
If Rizo somehow wins immunity and chooses not to keep his hidden immunity idol as a souvenir, he could potentially play that idol for another person. That would be a huge move at his point in the game, and it could be the difference between losing and $1 million if he makes that decision.
Imagine Rizo wins immunity and Sophi, Sage, and Kristina want to team up and vote out Savannah, who is largely considered to be the favorite at this point, based on how she's played the game and won challenges. That could be a good or a bad decision for Rizo. He could basically guarantee himself a 50/50 spot in the Final Tribal Council if he and Savannah make it to the end.
If they have a promise to bring the other one along, it might actually be bigger than that because I don't think any of the players left besides Savannah have won an individual immunity challenge.
And, if that's what happens, it could cost Rizo $1 million because he probably isn't beating Savannah at Final Tribal Council. He's been very persuasive, and he's well-liked, but the idol antics seem old. Like I said in a post before episode 12, I don't think the jury or other players respect how Rizo is playing. I think he's made it this far, regardless of the edit, because Sophie Segreti and Steven Ramm were perceived as much bigger threats to win than him. Even Alex Moore's elimination, which Rizo basically orchestrated, resonated so well because Alex was perceived as a bigger threat. And, that's no knock on Rizo or his game. It's just how things have played out.
The Survivor 49 finale airs on Wednesday, Dec. 17, on CBS and Paramount+. All will be revealed then.