Breaking down Survivor 48 with Survivor 47 runner-up Sam Phalen
Survivor 48 has come to an end, with castaway Kyle Fraser being named the Sole Survivor after yet another memorable run of the greatest game of all time.
As we look back on this latest season, we've asked Survivor 47 runner-up Sam Phalen to help us break down all the big questions from what we just watched.
Why Survivor 48's Joe Hunter still leaves the game as a huge winner
Sam, a sports journalist for FanSided, got close to being named Sole Survivor last fall but fell just short of that honor to Survivor 47 winner Rachel LaMont.
However, his tenacity, social game and strategy plays more than cemented his place in the season's second spot and got him close to winning outright.
Sam also one of the architects behind "Operation: Italy," one of the great strategy moves in the show's history. You may also remember his thrilling comeback in the fire-making competition to make the final three.
Sam's Survivor expertise gives us great perspective on Survivor 48 from somebody who played and succeeded at the game, so let's run through some of his big takeaways.
FTW: Kyle is our latest Survivor winner after a pretty terrific finale. What do you think set him apart by the time the jury's vote rolled around?
Sam: Kyle was the only person in the game playing both sides from start to finish. As he said himself, he rode the middle. Not only was a part of the dominant alliance that chose who went home every week, he also had a side relationship with Kamilla [Karthigesu] and was able to manipulate information to get his way.
A Survivor jury loves to be surprised. They want to hear something that wows them. Something they didn't know before sitting down at Final Tribal Council. Kyle being able to sit there and reveal the secrets he kept from everyone in the game not only impressed the jury, but made him look more credible than Joe [Hunter] and Eva [Erickson].
FTW: As one of the architects of all-time Survivor move 'Operation: Italy,' what was your favorite moment of strategy this season?
Sam: Probably the plan from Kyle and Kamilla to blindside Shauhin. It reminded me of "Operation: Italy" a little bit.
The best Survivor moves take detailed planning, acting and layers upon layers of details that further validate the scheme. People talk and fact-check information constantly, so you have to be thorough. Kyle referred to the move as a 'heist,' which is exactly how we described "Operation: Italy" in real time.
FTW: Joe's game was the perfect example of how Survivor used to be played, before the era of cutthroat strategy took over for modern players. How do you size up his game and the way he approached his time in Fiji?
Sam: Joe's social game was really, really impressive. It seemed like everyone on the island thought they were working with him and didn't want to cross him. He's a good person that was invested in building real relationships. That worked out for him and got him some longevity in the game.
I think Joe ultimately struggled with jury management and sent a lot of scorned people to the jury. He probably could have been more cutthroat, too. Because he was playing such an honest game, it seemed like he assumed everyone else in his alliance would be, too. But Kyle and Kamilla had other plans and pulled one over on him one too many times to have the jury give him the victory.
FTW: Is there a castaway for this season you feel deserves more credit for the game they played before their elimination?
Sam: I think Shauhin [Davari] was a really savvy player that wasn't highlighted in the edit very much. A lot of people seemed to feel good about Shauhin. He's an eloquent speaker with a strategic mind that absolutely could have won the game had he not gone out at the final six.
Because he worked so closely with Kyle and Joe, I think Shauhin's story takes a bit of a backseat to theirs throughout the season. Credit to Kyle for outplaying him at the end, but I think Shauhin was closer to winning the game than we see on T.V.
FTW: When it comes to famous duos, where do Joe and Eva and Kyle and Kamilla stack up in the history of Survivor?
Sam: Joe and Eva are certainly going to be one of the most memorable duos ever. Their relationship is always going to define Survivor 48. It's going to be the thing people remember when they reflect on this season five years from now.
Kyle and Kamilla may go down as the greatest duo in Survivor history? Or at least on the top three? That sounds like hyperbole, but we've never seen a duo go 25 days without being discovered by the other players in the game. Everyone wants to do it, but nobody can. They're the new gold standard for what an alliance should look like.
FTW: How do you feel about Survivor 48 as a whole? What do you think this season will be most remembered for?
Sam: I think this will be remembered as Joe and Eva's season. The 'strength and loyalty' season. It's not beloved by the fans, and it definitely wasn't one of my favorites, but I think Kyle's dominant win gives it a pretty strong conclusion.
Ultimately, seasons that are built on emotional connections are never going to translate as well through the TV screen as seasons that are built on strategic maneuvers. 48 didn't have much strategy, so it can be stagnant for a viewer tuning in for the shifting gameplay. It will play better on a binge rewatch than it did in real time.
FTW: Fill us in on what you're up to after finishing as the runner-up for Survivor 47.
Sam: I've been staying active in the Survivor/Reality TV community while going through some pretty significant life changes. I got married in March of this year, had a dream honeymoon and recently started a new job.
I'm currently covering the Chicago White Sox, my hometown team, as a writer and Site Expert at FanSided.com. I've been doing a lot of traveling around the U.S. and the world and hope to continue with more big adventures soon!
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