Survivor Season-Finale Recap: Balls

by

Honestly, the season finale was pretty disappointing, and the final immunity challenge was the worst part. It was the usual obstacle course – crawling under something, walking a beam, grabbing paddles, and then building a puzzle that also functioned as a game. The only good thing about it? Lots and lots of balls! I always enjoy it when Jeff Probst gets to make silly comments about players and their ‘balls,’ whether it’s ‘Rizo has both his balls’ or describing someone ‘whipping through her ball track.’ It just makes me laugh!

The final episode focused on small wins, as there wasn’t much strategic depth or complicated gameplay. The players were kept occupied with tasks – searching for bags, piecing together a map – mostly to keep them busy. Ultimately, Soph found a hidden advantage after a climb up a tree. However, the advantage itself was minimal: she was allowed to take just two steps closer to the finish line, a gesture Jeff acknowledged was unlikely to make a significant difference.

The competition featured a really difficult obstacle course that finished with a puzzle, but began with everyone having to crawl through a muddy net – guaranteeing they’d be covered in dirt. If I were Soph, I would have asked Jeff if I could use my advantage to skip the net, because I really didn’t want to be cleaning mud off for days. I dislike that the producers put the contestants through that, and they didn’t even let the winner, Savannah (spoiler alert!), or her teammate, Sage, clean up afterwards. They were stuck in the Schmanctuary, enjoying steak with dirty faces. The mud was so dark that, on screen, all you could see were their mouths – it looked like a scene from the beginning of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Savannah continued her winning streak by taking the immunity challenge, making her one of only a few players to win four times this season. She chose to bring Sage to enjoy a steak dinner, explaining she wants her closest allies with her at the final four, and subtly began trying to convince Sage to vote Kristina out. Meanwhile, back at camp, Kristina recognized she was seen as the underdog and believed the jury wouldn’t vote for her. She told Rizo and Soph she wanted to reach the final three with them and eliminate Savannah, who she felt was dominating the game and playing too well.

Savannah came back from the Sanctuary to find Rizo and Soph explaining their plan to eliminate Sage, but she immediately refused to go along with it. Meanwhile, Sage was working on Soph, constantly repeating that Kristina was responsible for starting the fire and that she’d easily win the fire-making challenge, therefore Kristina should be the one to go home. Honestly, I really dislike the final fire-making challenge. It’s ridiculous that someone could be seen as a threat simply because they’re good at everyday tasks. One person even said they were voting out Rizo because he’s so good at cleaning and taking out the trash, fearing he’d be too tough to beat.

Sage and Kristina spent the entire day knowing one of them would be voted out, leading to a strained conversation at Tribal Council. Kristina repeatedly praised Sage, while Sage downplayed her own game, describing herself as an outsider. They both seemed to be trying to convince each other – and the jury – of how poorly they were playing. It was a strange dynamic where they were essentially trying to tear themselves down. I was surprised when Sage’s arguments convinced the others and Kristina was eliminated. I agreed with Rizo and Soph’s reasoning – they believed they all had a better chance of winning against Kristina in the final three – over Savannah’s concern that she’d be excluded from the final three because she’s a strong competitor.

That final immunity challenge was packed with balls – honestly, it felt over the top! While I’m relieved they didn’t repeat the Simmotion challenge, the final challenge should be truly impressive and unique. This one just felt like more of the same. Earlier in the episode, we saw a complicated obstacle course, and this felt like a simpler, backup plan they used when the original challenge was cancelled. Why not something that really tests endurance, like a six-hour challenge? Or a brand new, inventive device? They could even have the contestants write a rap verse, learn a dance, perform in heels, and create their own outfits – after all, they do that on RuPaul’s Drag Race!

The challenge wasn’t very difficult, but Jeff enjoyed getting to criticize a contestant’s performance. He loudly announced, “Soph, you’re in last place again!” But good for Soph! Despite a rough start, she managed to quickly build her ball track and successfully get both balls into the target, while Rizo, who was initially ahead, really struggled. It was an impressive turnaround, and Soph was thrilled to finally win something this season. Her victory also meant Savannah wouldn’t be the only woman to reach the Five Winner’s Club. Better luck next time, Savannah!

Back at camp, Soph made it clear she didn’t want anyone trying to influence her decision – she’d announce it at Tribal Council. She just wanted a peaceful day with yoga and didn’t want to discuss strategy with anyone she considered opponents. She also requested a spicy margarita, no salt. Meanwhile, the group attempted to build a fire, with Sage and Savannah admitting they had no experience. Rizo felt slightly more secure, but still vulnerable. Despite not asking for advice, Rizo confided in Soph that if he had to compete in a fire-making challenge, he’d rather face Savannah, as he felt he had no chance against her.

It’s typical for Sophie to act this way when making a choice, but first, Jeff always feels the need to dwell on what he considers the worst aspect of Survivor – aside from a few specific seasons. He often brings up how a strong competitor chose Ben Driebergen for a fire-making challenge, only to lose to him, implying that Jeff preferred Ben – someone who found many hidden immunity idols despite being disliked – to win over a deserving female player. Honestly, this fire-making challenge has always been a frustrating part of the show, and I’ll probably complain about it every season.

I’m absolutely furious this season, and it all comes down to Rizo. He truly deserved to win! I teased him relentlessly, but honestly, he was the one consistently pulling the weight. He got more votes than anyone, was a brilliant strategist, and managed to keep his alliance safe against all odds. Plus, he held onto that Beware idol longer than anyone else! To see him eliminated for something completely unrelated to the game itself – chores, seriously? – is just infuriating. And then, even as he left, he asked Jeff not to use his name, requesting they call him ‘Rizgod’ as the tribe spoke. Forget everything nice I ever said about him. I officially retract it all. Keep him far away from my TV!

Rizo left the show with a very emotional speech, expressing pride in what he’d accomplished and happiness about reaching his goal, even though he didn’t win. I was surprised that he didn’t ask any questions at the final tribal council; he simply gave the women their flowers and quietly stepped back. It wasn’t the behavior we’d come to expect – or even reluctantly accept – from him.

The final three contestants – Sage, Soph, and Savannah – all share the same initial, and I’m excited to see them compete. I usually find myself supporting the women on Survivor, especially after the male gay contestants are eliminated. I’m thrilled to have an all-female finale, which hasn’t happened since season 29 back in 2014. It’s generally tougher for women to succeed, and that’s true on this show too. Interestingly, while this is only the third all-female finale, there was only one finale with three male contestants – and it was way back in 2010. I always enjoy seeing a woman win, and I especially love an all-female final three. What I appreciate most about a final three, compared to a final two, is the potential for diversity – it’s similar to the Oscars expanding the Best Picture nominations to include ten films, giving more people a chance to be recognized. And we definitely appreciate diversity!

The final tribal council wasn’t very exciting, but two key moments revealed the jury wasn’t fully convinced either Savannah or Sage deserved to win. Kristina challenged Savannah, pointing out she only seemed interested in being close to her core alliance. She then asked Savannah to name each juror’s partner or family member – a tough question Savannah couldn’t easily answer, which was surprisingly honest. Kristina pressed her to try anyway, and Savannah stumbled through it, forgetting most people’s names. Meanwhile, Soph was silently reciting names of everyone connected to the jurors. That’s a major mistake when a million dollars is on the line. Savannah was generally articulate, as you’d expect from a news anchor, arguing she consistently overcame being a target and built a strong alliance that carried her to the end. However, she didn’t shed her somewhat unlikeable persona, especially when Jawan asked why she deserved the prize. Savannah’s answer focused entirely on herself and her own accomplishments. While honesty is good, it might not have been the smartest strategy.

I think Sage’s trouble began when she revealed her background – that she’d spent ten years in combat in Afghanistan and then worked as an intelligence analyst. It bothers me that she waited so long to share this. They’d already spent weeks getting to know each other, sharing personal details, but she couldn’t be upfront about her job? Then, she tried to portray herself as a brilliant strategist while also claiming she was emotionally vulnerable, which felt disingenuous at this point. It was too late to change her story. The jury also seemed skeptical, especially when Steven questioned how she secured a seven-person majority at the merge only to vote them all out, ultimately allowing a smaller group to control the endgame.

Soph presented herself as a resilient player who consistently overcame challenges, especially after her tribe was repeatedly weakened by the game’s format. She emphasized her strong social skills, explaining how she navigated a precarious position by building relationships with everyone. While she worked with players like Rizo and Savannah, she also knew she needed to keep her options open to survive. Soph shared a personal story about prioritizing family, including caring for her grandmother and her parents’ immigrant background, and expressed her lifelong love for the show – all qualities the show’s producers seem to value in new players. She also charmed everyone with a funny story about how she impressed Alex by sharing information she’d overheard while hiding in a tree.

While Soph’s humor and inspiring story resonated with some, it wasn’t enough to sway the jury – Savannah was ultimately seen as the more deserving winner. From the beginning, Savannah was a strong physical player and a target, but she consistently managed to avoid elimination, often with Rizo’s assistance. She rightly pointed out that she needed those wins because she was constantly facing challenges from other players. Although she could be perceived as unkind and didn’t always get along with everyone, the show is called Survivor, and Savannah proved she could survive using her physical strength and strategic thinking, even if her social game wasn’t as strong.

Read More

2025-12-18 06:56