An already chaotic season of Survivor got even crazier this week. Two different players went home in episode five, capped off by one of the more memorable Tribal Councils in the show’s recent history. At this point, it’s anyone’s guess as to which of the remaining 14 players will win one million dollars.
After this week’s fifth episode, titled “Not Here to Get a Pedicure”, which names should fans be keeping an eye on going forward? Let’s take a look at who helped, or hurt, their chances at winning Survivor 51.
Survivor Power Rankings
- 1. Sharonda
- 2. Kristin
- 3. Thien An
- 4. Lewis
- 5. Jelly
- 6. Ori
- 7. Carter
- 8. Maggie
- 9. Kilby
- 10. Brady
- 11. Mike
- 12. Devin
- 13. Cristian
- 14. Eric
- Linnea – Elminated
- Alexis – Eliminated
- Jenna – Eliminated
- Patt – Eliminated
- Rob – Quit
- Ana – Eliminated
- Aaliyah – Eliminated
Biggest Risers
Lewis (+4) and Kilby (+3)
You can’t talk about one without the other, so let’s break down the newest dynamic duo in Fiji. Lewis has been a sitting duck for the past two episodes. The former Toka member was one of two players on his old tribe, along with Kilby, to get placed on Dina after the swap. The rest of this group was made up of former Savu members, creating a clear four-person majority. To make matters worse, the Irishman was sidelined for a bit due to illness. Lewis’ last-ditch effort this week was conjuring up a fake advantage, which he referred to as the Blood Ring. However, his piece of jewelry was snuffed out as a fake by Cristian.
Fortunately for Lewis, help arrived in the form of Maggie. Thanks to another twist, she was now in possession of a second extra vote. Maggie decided to go all in, handing the two advantages to her former tribe mates. For Lewis, it was an easy choice to go for broke and force a potential rock draw. It was a more difficult decision for Kilby, who had made inroads with Dina. If he wanted, the Canadian could have written down Lewis’ name and held onto the advantage. Fortunately, that’s not what happened. Kilby held strong during tribal council, earning safety by encouraging the Savus to send Linnea home. It was a masterful piece of gameplay that required plenty of guts and foresight.
There is a risk one of Lewis or Kilby goes home in episode six, since we probably aren’t getting a merge just yet. However, if they survive one more vote, the duo should reunite with the rest of old Toka (sans Devin and Jelly). The risk is real, but this move gives both players true winner upside.
Maggie (+3)
While most of the praise went towards Kilby this week, it was an ideal episode for Maggie. As previously mentioned, she took quite the risk in handing off her advantages to the guys. However, it appears to have paid off. The farmer’s only demand was who to vote out: Linnea. On paper, it’s not the worst person to get rid of. She was a clear decision maker on Savu, the kind of player that could easily make a Final Tribal Council appearance. Linnea’s shocking exit dismantles a key threat towards Toka supremacy, along with giving Maggie a significant notch on her belt. Still, due to the nature of this week’s vote, most of the heat will be directed towards Kilby.
Granted, Maggie’s power play comes with its own set of potential pitfalls. Keep in mind, she was given her first extra vote in part because of Brady. There seemed to be an understanding that the two would use it together for the good of the tribe. Still, Maggie didn’t even bother consulting with the former wrestler. That could turn this uneasy alliance into a rivalry going forward. To boot, the Savus are savvy enough to suss out that Kilby and Lewis got some outside help. Maggie will be a name they consider targeting post-merge.
Biggest Fallers
Devin (-3)
A popular player at the bottom of this year’s power rankings, overconfident Devin continues to shoot himself in the foot on Survivor 51. An advantageous tribe swap likely saved the actor from certain doom on old Toka. Now, he and close ally Jelly have dictated the last two votes on new Savu. The thing is, this pair could be headed for a breakup sooner rather than later. Jelly was seriously considering Alexis’ pitch to stay woman strong this week. Devin, despite his reputation as a social butterfly, doesn’t have many connections outside of the Helicopter Alliance. Other than maybe Brady, he’s not someone that other castaways are going to rally around.
It’s only fair to wonder if Jelly can keep working with one of the more divisive names on this season’s cast. After all, Devin’s knack for brutal honesty can’t be viewed as anything other than a liability going forward. It’s the kind of hubris that rubs others (most notably viewers) the wrong way. Most of old Toka is against him, and he just took out a Savu-strong player in Alexis. His game is completely tied to the Helicopter Alliance at this point. It’s not the worst place to be, especially considering Sharonda has shown herself to be quite competent. Still, I’m not sure what the other three are getting out of this pairing on a strategic level. Adding to the danger, new Savu will be a three-person tribe competing in the next immunity challenge. Lacking manpower, would it be surprising to see them go to tribal for a third straight week? If that occurs, it would behoove Jelly to stay with Ori and eliminate her former number one.
Eric
Other than Linnea, no player was hurt more by Kilby’s big move than Eric. Keep in mind, these two looked to be forming a bromance back in Episode Four. Now, the future of the “Lover Boys” is uncertain at best. By siding with Lewis, Kilby has drawn a line in the sand between Toka and Savu. Eric, despite some disdain from his old tribe mates, falls into the latter camp. Still, it’s not as if he has anything close to a true number one. As an added blow, it was clear that he advocated for Kilby to his current allies. It’s never a good look when a plan to bring someone into the fold blows up in your face.
Eric, whether he likes it or not, should make an effort to mend fences with Kilby. If these two tribes go to war against one another during merge, you want to be the swing vote. However, I’m skeptical that he possesses enough game awareness to swallow his pride and ease relations. If this week’s tribal council was any indicator, Eric is going to feel betrayed by Linnea’s elimination. Still, there doesn’t seem to be anyone on that tribe willing to back him up outside of maybe Sharonda. For those reasons, he’s back at the bottom of this list.
Survivor 51 FAQ
When does Survivor 51 Episode 6 Come Out?
The sixth episode of Survivor 51 comes out on Wednesday, October 28th, at 8 p.m. ET. Episodes will air every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET for the remainder of the season.
Where can I watch Survivor 51 Episode 6?
Survivor 51 Episode 6 will air live on CBS. It will then be available to stream on Paramount+.
