Why the Tuku alliance might be in trouble in Survivor 47 episode 8

Survivor 47 episode 7 featured a major twist when a member of the winning team of the immunity challenge was able to send a secret life preserver to a person on the losing team at tribal council.

When Sol Yi found the advantage at the reward and chose to send it to Rachel LaMont, it was the perfect play. You can now watch Rachel receive the advantage in an unaired clip from the episode. It sent a confident Tuku Five into a spiral in front of everyone at tribal council, and they had to vote out Tiyana Hallums, one of their own.

Now, the lines have been drawn in the sand. Of the 11 players still in the game, there are four former Tuku members, four former Gata, and three Lavo members. If the latter two can team up, they could pick off the Tuku members.

A line in the sand was drawn in episode 7, but will it be crossed in episode 8?

Three former Tuku tribemates have aligned themselves since the early days of season 47. Since day one, Gabe Ortis, Sue Smey, and Caroline Vidmar have worked well together. Breaking these three up should be a major goal for the other seven players. The other remaining Tuku member, Kyle Ostwald, has his own problems. He's won immunity during both challenges since everyone started competing individually. That in itself will place a target firmly on his back.

But, this is Survivor. Nothing is that cut and dry. While it should be easy enough to vote off the Tuku members, that would require trust and loyalty for at least four votes between two rival tribes. Plenty of threats within their ranks need to be eliminated, and if they can take out Gabe, the kingpin of the Tuku alliance, the others will scatter to defend themselves.

Kyle hasn't been part of that alliance outside of Tuku, and if he can survive the next vote or two, he could be a loyal alliance member for someone else and a deflecting shield. Caroline has been annoyingly loyal, but she has been working her own game and might be able to find a way to save herself.

There are plenty of divisions among the other players. Former Gata Sierra has tired of Sam Phelan's protection of Andy Rueda, and Andy is now wary that Sam used Andy as the backup vote when Rome Cooney was voted out. Trust might be thin; Rachel doesn't seem to be tight with that group either.

As far as Lavo goes, none of those three remaining players are that close, but neither are they enemies. Sol Yi, who saved Rachel with the advantage, might be able to pull her into an alliance. Teeny Chirichillo has been trying to play hard, but circumstances (mainly Rome) have stifled her game thus far. Genevieve was quiet early, but she's been ramping up her game lately.

Tuku dissolving is not a foregone conclusion. Yes, it could be easy, but everyone has their own agendas. If they can use the Tuku folks to further their game, no one will hesitate.

It will be interesting to see how those former Tuku members navigate the game after having their alliance laid bare. It should keep this entertaining season on track to being one of the better seasons of the new era of Survivor!

Watch Survivor 47 episode 8 on Wednesday, Nov. 6, on CBS!