Fact Kamikaze – CBS San Francisco
(CBS) – It’s day 22. In Season 41 of Survivor, there are only six castaways left. Who made it into the last five and go to the season finale next week? You missed that in the episode last night …
After an emotional tribal council last week, Deshawn is more vulnerable than ever. The entire tribe found his character admirable, and even praised him for speaking out on racial inequality and representing his culture in the game. At this point he feels a mixture of pride and defeat – knowing a close ally, Liana, with whom he shared a “cultural connection”, has just been voted out. This season is particularly unique because of its diverse cast – there is definitely something special to see each tribe member come together and make each other what they are!
Reward challengeFor this week’s reward, the remaining castaways were randomly split into two teams of three. The two teams would then have to compete against each other in a series of water hazards. One by one, the castaways had to bring their colored buoys 2.70 meters deep into the sea and then swim to a platform. The first team to shoot three baskets with their buoys wins a reward! The winners had a choice for their reward: either a high-protein meal of chicken and vegetables or a filling sugar craving for cookies, cakes and sweets. Before Deshawn even starts the challenge, Deshawn, who has been through a lot of emotion lately, snorts out of disappointment with host Jeff Probst when he explains that he wished he’d heard the reward was a letter from home. Unfortunately not this time …
Yellow: Deshawn, Erika and XanderBlue: Danny, Ricard and Heather
The challenge itself looked strenuous. After navigating the ocean, it was up to Deshawn, who circled the yellow team and Danny and Ricard circled the blue. Ultimately, Deshawn won it for her team and chose the chicken and vegetable menu as a reward.
Photo: Robert Voets / CBS Entertainment 2021 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved.
Deshawn’s confidence is now returning to him. He feels pretty safe knowing he just made a mark on the reward challenge. After taking part in Do or Die last week, Deshawn is ready to play the game harder than ever. During the reward, Deshawn suggested a plan to make it into the bottom three with this group of winners: Deshawn, Xander, and Erika. Of course, Xander and Erika say they’re on board – at least for now. Deshawn is still skeptical, of course, knowing that these two weren’t originally geared towards voting Ricard out last week. But as they say – anything can change in Survivor at any time.
But both Xander and Erika are indeed ready to vote Ricard out next, as it’s pretty clear he has one of – if not – the most impressive survivor résumés of the season. On the other hand, Xander mentioned to Deshawn and Danny that Ricard is his shield. If Ricard stays in the game, everyone will be focused on targeting him – not Xander. And because I’ve personally watched this game for 41 seasons, it’s actually not a bad move for Xander. The hard part, however, is timing when to put out Ricard’s torch. In the end, it might just be a little too late …
Back at the camp while Ricard and Heather are tending the fire, Danny appears to be missing. These two find it pretty suspicious – knowing that Danny is most likely looking for an idol. Well, he was – and I applaud him for that! Danny is well aware that he and Deshawn are at the very bottom now, so he is doing everything he can to stay in this game. At some point we even see him walking past a Hidden Immunity Idol, but unfortunately he didn’t find it. However, that didn’t stop him from fueling the suspicion. As he walked back to camp, Ricard and Heather thought that he looked like he had a bit more “pep in his crotch” as he was humming and appeared to be in a better mood. Was it part of his plan? We are not sure. But Ricard and his alliance are definitely on their toes now!Individual immunity challengeThis was a huge challenge. Only one of the remaining six castaways would soon earn its place in the top five. We can clearly see that Ricard is the first person on any list at this point. However, if he wins, Deshawn or Danny would be next.
The challenge itself was staggering. The castaways had to detach themselves from a spool, then immediately walk through a series of obstacles and collect a mixture of puzzle pieces along the way. After retrieving their pads, they used them to make a popular survivor phrase out of seven four-letter words.
We get dizzy while watching. #Survivor pic.twitter.com/lzTQP8e6lk
– SURVIVORS (@survivorcbs) December 9, 2021
In the final leg, it was between Ricard and Deshawn to win. And out of nowhere Ricard immediately solved his sentence:
“Don’t make this next vote your last.”
And Ricard won his 3rd individual immunity! Probst was so impressed with his time when he asked how he solved it so quickly, Ricard simply said, “He just thought of every four-letter word in this game throughout the challenge.” This is how you play Survivor now.Tribal councilNow that Plan A (Ricard’s choice) has failed, everyone now has to come up with a “Plan B” instead. It’s amazing how Ricard won another challenge and the other five castaways know how he could win it all. Now you have to think ahead even more strategically. Who has a better chance of beating Ricard in the next challenge: Danny or Deshawn? This goes through their minds – mostly for Erika, Xander and Heather.
Meanwhile, both Deshawn and Danny are doing everything they can to stay in the game. At some point Deshawn tries to convince Erika that she “needs” him. He even suggests how to begin to differentiate herself from Heather. Both she and Heather are on the same line as it has been since day 1. Deshawn is now doing everything possible to persuade Erika to finally break away from Heather and sit with him in the last three. However, will that belief work for him?
Photo: Robert Voets / CBS Entertainment 2021 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved.
At Tribal, when Probst called on the tribe and asked why they voted the way they did last week, there were some mixed reactions. As Heather pointed out, a “good move” or “bad move” is all very subjective. Playing your custom game in Survivor is like chess indeed. The reward can pay off, or it might end up being a brutal mistake. In addition, everyone also takes their “jury management” into account at this point. Ultimately, each player they voted out decides who will win the million dollars …
Before the polls, Deshawn and Danny make it clear they know it will be one of them since their original alliance is now on the jury. Probst asked the two of them if they had “one last word” if they happened to be out next. Danny went first and shared a positive perspective – he explained how he still fights hard in this game but is proud of everything he’s done. Deshawn took a different approach, however. Deshawn then said he was ready to drop a “truth bomb” as the last “Hail Mary” in the game. Probst was stunned along with the other castaways. Deshawn then shared how Erika plans to vote Heather out when it comes to the last three. Everyone was confused as to why he would drop the message – and essentially throw Erika under the bus. It wasn’t the best look for his game, and both Erika and Ricard reached out at that moment, informing Deshawn that this was possibly a terrible move on his part. I mean, Deshawn doesn’t even know if he’s out next, so he says that in front of the tribe – and the jury, he could bite him …
On suspicion that Danny has an idol, the votes were 3: 3 against Danny and Deshawn. After the second round of voting, the tribe kept Deshawn, meaning Danny, the former Dallas Cowboys NFL player, was the next person this season.
Photo: Robert Voets / CBS Entertainment 2021 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved.
Impressive! We’re with the last five castaways of the season! Deshawn, Erika, Heather, Xander, and Ricard. Who do you think will win everything? I want to hear your opinion – tweet me @mick_cloudy!
Don’t miss the Survivor 41 season finale next week, Wednesday December 15, on CBS, plus live and on-demand streaming with Paramount +!
