The Survivor 50 tribe has spoken—a historic three times in one night.
And no, it wasn’t an April Fool’s Day joke. Despite the episode airing on April 1, Jeff Probst wasn’t messing around when he told the newly merged, 17-member tribe that three people would be getting their torches snuffed that evening.
"Ancient civilizations feared a blood moon,” Jeff told the players. “They saw it as a warning. A sign of upheaval, even impending death. And that's how you should see it as well. Because tonight, Survivor will have its own version of a blood moon. And just like in nature, it will cast a shadow over the entire Survivor game. And it will never be the same again."
When the tribe arrived at the challenge (minus players Rizo Velovic and Ozzy Lusth, after the latter found a twist in the forest that sent him and a player of his choice to Exile Island), Jeff told the remaining 15 players they’d be randomly divided into three groups to compete. The winner from each 5-person group would win individual immunity—plus a feast for whichever group had the player that lasted the longest overall.
The three groups would then each head to Tribal Council that evening, where one member from all three groups would be voted out of the competition.
The groups—selected by random rock draw—saw the players divided as such: Orange featured Jonathan Young, Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Chrissy Hofbeck, Tiffany Ervin and Kamilla Karthigesu, the Pink team included Genevieve Mushaluk, Aubry Bracco, Christian Hubicki, Rick Devens and Joe Hunter, while Teal put together Cirie Fields, Benjamin “Coach” Wade, Emily Flippen, Dee Valladares and Colby Donaldson.
The three individual winners of immunity were Stephenie for Orange (who also won her team the feast), Christian for Pink and Dee for Teal.
From there—while Rizo and Ozzy, safe from elimination, cemented their alliance on Exile Island—the three groups worked quickly to try and decide who to vote out from each fivesome.
While it seemed like the consensus was to vote out Chrissy for Orange, a flipped vote from Jonathan sent new era player Kamilla home—a betrayal that stung. As her name was called out, she announced, "Drag that man through the mud.”
Meanwhile, Genevieve could sense the writing on the wall after her game-long tension with Aubry, who for her part had an immunity idol. Despite playing her Shot in the Dark (which sacrifices her vote for a 1-in-6 chance a safety, which she lost), Genevieve got her torch snuffed for the Pink team.
After her name was called, Genevieve offered an olive branch to Aubry in the form of her red pea coat: “Treasure it. It’s a beautiful coat.”
And finally, on Teal, Colby feared himself a “sitting duck” due to a foot injury and the fact he doesn’t have a vote after losing it on a journey earlier in the game. And while Coach uses that angle as a pitch to keep Colby in the game, he’s ultimately voted out.
But for the now four-time player, even just being back at Tribal Council brought a smile to Colby’s face.
"I came into it with a completely different attitude and a set of goals for me,” he said of his fourth season. “There are certainly days that suck, especially when you're injured and don't have a vote, but I chose to find the joy in it. Half of my life has transpired since the first time I played.”
As he put it, “I just appreciate the opportunity to come back one more time."
To learn more about the players on Survivor 50, read on.
Seasons 12 (PANAMA-EXILE ISLAND), 16 (MICRONESIA – FANS VS. FAVORITES), 20 (HEROES VS. VILLAINS), 34 (GAME CHANGERS)
Seasons 13 (COOK ISLANDS), 16 (MICRONESIA – FANS VS. FAVORITES), 23 (SOUTH PACIFIC), 34 (GAME CHANGERS)
Seasons 18 (TOCANTINS – THE BRAZILIAN HIGHLANDS), 20 (HEROES VS. VILLAINS), 23 (SOUTH PACIFIC)
Seasons 10 (PALAU), 11 (GUATEMALA), 20 (HEROES VS. VILLAINS)
Seasons 2 (THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK), 8 (ALL-STARS), 20 (HEROES VS. VILLAINS)
Seasons 32 (KAÔH RONG – BRAINS VS. BRAWN VS. BEAUTY), 34 (GAME CHANGERS), 38 (EDGE OF EXTINCTION)