It all comes down to this. After spending 26 days living in Fiji in grueling conditions and minimal to no supplies, a winner of “Survivor” Season 48 has been crowned and given the $1 million prize.
The finale episode, titled “Only One of Yous Can Win,” started with five players and was slowly whittled down to three before a jury of previously voted-out players cast their votes for the winning player.
It’s been a season where physical strength and unwavering loyalty have held more weight than the deception and betrayal commonly found in previous seasons of the long-running reality competition show.
Even as five players became four and a fire challenge resulted in four players becoming three, there was still only one “sole survivor.”
Here’s what happened on the season finale of “Survivor” Season 48.
Who’s left on ‘Survivor’ Season 48?
Here are the five remaining contestants at the start of the “Survivor” Season 48 finale:
- Eva Erickson, a 24-year-old PhD candidate living in Providence, Rhode Island
- Kyle Fraser, a 31-year-old attorney residing in Brooklyn, New York
- Mitch Guerra, a 34-year-old P.E. coach living in Waco, Texas
- Joe Hunter, a 45-year-old fire captain living in West Sacramento, California
- Kamilla Karthigesu, a 31-year-old software engineer living in Foster City, California
Who was voted out in the final five in ‘Survivor’?
An advantage was hidden around camp with the prize hidden in a puzzle lock. After realizing that the dots on signs nearby corresponded to letters of the alphabet, Eva Erickson won the advantage in a complicated obstacle course that challenged players both physically and mentally: at the halfway point, she was given the number to advance her to the next obstacle instead of having to shoot a ball into a basket.
Kamilla Karthigesu won the immunity challenge, guaranteeing her a spot in the final four. She also won a reward of pasta and chocolate cake in the “Survivor” sanctuary that she shared with Eva.
Working with her longtime secret ally Kyle Fraser, the pair moved to vote out Mitch Guerra, fearing that if he made it to the end, he would win the game. Allies Joe and Eva also agreed to vote Mitch.
The plan was a success, with the 34-year-old P.E. coach living in Waco, Texas, becoming the second to last member of the jury.
Who made fire in the final four in ‘Survivor’?
After winning the last immunity challenge of the season, Kyle faced with a difficult decision: Who to bring with him to the final three and which pair to choose to face off and make fire for the final spot.
Kyle picked Joe Hunter to join him in the final three, setting up a showdown between Kamilla and Eva. Eva had an early lead in the challenge, as Kamilla struggled to get a spark to light, but Eva’s flame began to die and move with the wind. The setback wasn’t enough to let Kamilla catch up, however, as Eva’s fire soon grew again and burned the rope, raising the flag and making her the winner and last member of the final three.
Kamilla became the final member of the eight-member jury who voted to decide the $1 million winner of Season 48.
Who won ‘Survivor’ Season 48?
The jury finally had a chance to question Kyle, Joe and Eva after watching tribal councils all season before casting their vote for the winner.
Questions from jurors centered on loyalty, a big theme of the season, as well as secret moves. Eva revealed she was a PhD student and had a secret “safety without power” advantage she found, but never played. Kyle revealed he was a lawyer and had a season-long close secret ally of Kamilla, and together, the duo were responsible for some of the biggest moves during the season.
In a 5-2-1 vote, Kyle was crowned the winner of “Survivor” Season 48 and received the $1 million prize. Eva came in second with two votes, and Joe came in third.
Who is Kyle Fraser, the winner of ‘Survivor’ Season 48?
Kyle is a 31-year-old attorney living in Brooklyn, New York. He spoke openly on the show about his previous incarceration but kept the fact that he was an attorney a secret from other players.
Throughout the season, Kyle was in the majority alliance with Joe and Eva but had a secret working relationship with Kamilla, in which the duo managed to pull off some of the biggest moves of the season, including the Shauhin vote-out.
