Survivor 45 Scoop – Week 12 Recap: Winners, Losers, Top Moments

Posted By: John Powell

December 13, 2023

Survivor 45 Scoop – Week 12 Recap: Winners, Losers, Top Moments

Drew Basile, Julie Alley, Austin Li Coon, and Katurah Topps. Photo: CBS.

John Powell – GlobalTV.com

Survivor 45 has its finalists:

Austin Li Coon, the grad student from California.
Dee Valladares, the entrepreneur from Florida.
Jake O’Kane, the lawyer from Boston.
Julie Alley, the estate attorney from Tennessee.
Katurah Topps, the civil rights attorney from New York.

Three lawyers in the top five? Not a surprise as that some professions like lawyers, marketing and advertising, police officers and sales people tend to do well at Survivor. One has to think that is based on their communication skills, ability to read people and “the room” as well as adapting quickly to changing situations and environments.

Drew Basile, Jake O’Kane, Dee Valladares, Julie Alley, Austin Li Coon and Katurah Topps. Photo: CBS.

Why did Dee turn against Drew? As I wrote last week, Dee lost complete control of the game with the Julie vote. Drew managed to convince everyone to turn on Julie. Any player who had their finger on the pulse of the game would realize what such a massive threat that is and that is exactly what Dee said this episode. Austin was safe with his idol. Katurah and Jake are seen as goats. Dee is very loyal to and saved Julie. Dee has said that Austin and Julie are BOTH her ride-or-dies. That leaves Drew.

Dee Valladares and Austin Li Coon. Photo: CBS.

Of the final five, Katurah and Jake are the perfect goats if anyone wants a better chance at the final tribal council. When it comes to challenges, strategy or social game Katurah doesn’t seem to be any kind of a threat to the others. As Bruce told me, she wasn’t on anyone’s radar throughout the entire game. Meanwhile, Jake has an idol and didn’t play it tonight. He could be the fly in the ointment that really spoils the best laid plans of the other finalists. It might be the ticket that propels him into the finals but to be honest he would be an ideal candidate to drag along as like Katurah his Survivor resume is quite short if not completely blank at this point. They both haven’t even won immunity.

One gets the sense that while Dee and Austin are involved in some kind of showmance that Dee puts the game first while Austin clearly does not based on how he warned Dee about the vote against Julie. With the focus on their relationship during the last few episodes you would have to believe that perhaps the producers are leading up to Dee at some point being forced to choose between what is best for her game and her budding relationship with Austin. Austin would be the loser in that situation if we were to believe Dee’s confessionals. With the finale looming next week will Dee play with her heart or with her head moving forward?

Stay tuned, folks.

News

Moment # 5: Julie is awkward after the vote.

News

Moment # 4: Jake finds an idol.

News

Moment # 3: Dee mitigates her lie.

News

Moment # 2: Dee and Austin chat.

Drew Basile and Dee Valladares. Photo: CBS.

News

Moment # 1: Dee debates warning Austin.

Drew Basile

Drew Basile. Photo: CBS.

Drew was the Tasmanian devil of Survivor 45. He wasn’t afraid of swiping at any available target that crossed his path and he wasn’t very discrete about his gameplay. He was caught searching for idols. He publicly rejected any alliance with Brando. He led the charge against Kellie. He publicly dumped all over Jake. He convinced everyone to make a move against Julie. Drew didn’t play a subtle game and that is why he is sitting on the jury.

Strategic Gameplay

Drew Basile. Photo: CBS.

Drew hatched some great schemes. For example, Kellie is gone because of him and Julie had to play the idol Austin gave her because Drew managed to get everyone onboard with a vote against her. Drew has a decent strategic mind.

Rating: 4 / 5

Social Gameplay

Drew Basile. Photo: CBS.

Drew had his allies but outside of that he didn’t appear to have much social game.

Rating: 3 / 5

Entertainment Value

Drew Basile. Photo: Robert Voets/CBS.

Whether you loved him or hated him Drew wasn’t afraid to play the Survivor game like Katurah and others who are happy to glide by under the radar. He was at the centre of a lot of drama especially after the merge.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Final Rating: 10.5 / 15

Who played it cool and who proved themselves to be a fool? Every week John Powell makes his picks for the worst and best players of the week.

Julie didn’t really do enough to resurrect her relationships with everyone. She could still be a target.

The editing points to Austin trusting Dee too much and he did so again this episode.

Drew took his shot and he missed.

Jake refusing to give up, refusing to throw in the towel has led him to an idol and a chance that he could make it to the final phase if he plays his cards right.

Austin has bolstered his alliances and played that idol.