Now that Mary is gone, there are only six players left on Survivor 48 in episode 12, "Icarus Time.". This leaves us with just Joe Hunter, Kyle Fraser, Eva Erickson, Mitch Guerra, Shauhin Davari, and Kamilla Karthigesu vying for that Final Tribal Council spot and the $1 million grand prize.
After evicting Mary, the final six of Survivor 48 celebrated back at camp before a night of rest. But in the early morning hours, we see Kyle, Shauhin, Joe, and Eva doing their usual chat about the game, where they seemingly reconnect on what comes next. As the day starts, the players get treemail with hints for their next challenge and reward.
Mitch wants to make a move now. And he is not the only one, as Kyle and Kamilla are talking about getting Joe out of the game as well. But Kyle doesn't seem sold on getting Joe out "this early" in the game.
Will anyone make a big move in this episode?
Shauhin Davari is the 13th person voted out of Survivor 48
With different plans being discussed, the vote came down to Shauhin and Mitch. Sadly, Shauhin was the victim of Kyle and Kamilla's plan, and he ended up with four votes against him, leaving him as the 13th player voted out.
How did we get here?
The reward challenge features a chance at the ultimate prize: Letters from home
As the reward challenge begins, we see that the players are going to be dealing with a storm and pouring rain.
For the reward challenge, the players will win a night at Sanctuary with burgers and fries, and even cheesecake. This is also the challenge where the reward includes letters from home. And in order to get this reward, the players must hold themselves up on a slide over the water. The handholds get smaller as they move down the slide, adding to the challenge of holding themselves on the inclined platform.
Everyone is able to transition down to the second handhold. And, it seems like everyone is really fighting for this reward. While we do see some struggles, everyone is able to lower themselves to the next handhold down.
Kamilla is the first player out as they transition from being able to use their legs to help hold themselves up on the slide. Mitch drops right after Kamilla. And he is followed by Eva, who used her feet to get leverage, although Joe drops as she gets eliminated from the challenge.
In the end, it is Shauhin who wins the reward, even fighting a bad wrist. It's also his first challenge win of the season.
Shauhin chooses Joe for the reward, as well as Kyle. And his reasoning for both just made sense. He chose Joe because of his children and Kyle because he is getting married in about a month after the game ends, so Shauhin wants them to get those letters from home.
As the men enjoy their reward, they all get emotional as they get to read the letters.
Back at the camp, Kamilla and Mitch are frustrated over Joe getting the reward and being fed. Kamilla even says that if Joe wins immunity, she feels like that means that Shauhin needs to go next.
At the Sanctuary, Shauhin and Joe are talking about who goes next. Joe thinks it needs to be Mitch and then Kamilla, but Shauhin is questioning whether or not Kyle needs to go. When Shauhin talks to Kyle, he points out that Eva and Joe are a duo with an idol. That being said, Kyle doesn't really trust Shauhin because he knows the other man went through his bag. Shauhin proposes voting out Eva.
After making his pitch to Kyle, we see Kyle talk about using this proposal against Shauhin.
When the players from the reward get back to camp, Kyle and Kamilla get back together, and he shares what went down with Shauhin at the Sanctuary. And they come up with a plan to frame Shauhin in order to get him out of the game. They are going to go to Joe to tell him that Shauhin wants to get Eva out and that he has a hidden idol.
Immunity challenge guarantees a spot in the finale of Survivor 48
The players have to toss a sandbag to release a rope that they need to use for balance as they walk over barrels. After they get their barrels down the sand track, they then have to crawl under a net. Once through, they release balls to use in a snake trap challenge.
Shauhin is in the lead, making it to the snake trap first, but Joe is right behind him. And Kyle and Mitch also make it to the snake trap. While Joe might have been second to the snake trap table, he is the first one to land a ball. Kyle is next to land a ball, but Eva is right behind him.
While Eva and Kyle are in the hunt for that immunity, Joe is clearly locked and loaded. And he is making this challenge look easy. So it likely comes as no surprise when he lands his second ball.
Joe wins immunity, which is his fourth individual immunity. And that means Joe is safe and will not only be in the Final Five, but also in the finale.
Back at the camp, Kyle wants to talk to Joe to throw Shauhin under the bus. So, Kyle goes to Joe and tells him that Shauhin has flipped. Joe goes to Eva and tells him what he has been told by Kyle. Eva says that she believes Kyle over Shauhin. And then Joe pulls Kamilla aside to corroborate the story.
Joe even talks to Shauhin, but the conversation doesn't go well, because Joe doesn't straight up ask him if is trying to vote out Eva. And it ends up upsetting Shauhin, who doesn't understand what's going on with the guy he considered to be his number one.
Tribal Council
This tribal council sees the Survivors talking about trust. And while they all admit that being in the final six makes things harder, they also want to trust the people they are working with.
And it is clear that as people are talking, Joe and Eva are truly paying attention to what is being said. This is especially true for Joe, who seems focused on what is being said by both Shauhin and Kyle.
It seems that Kyle and Kamilla were able to pull off the flip and get Shauhin out of the game. And while there were two votes against Mitch, he was once again saved from getting voted out.
Will Joe figure out that he was played? It will be interesting to see what happens next, now that there are only two immunity challenges and fire making left to go.