In a game of numbers, the majority will always rule. But in that same game, knowledge is power, and knowledge can upend those numbers. Following the Tribe Swap on Survivor 48, Kamilla Karthigesu knew that by the numbers, she and Kyle Fraser were in the minority and would likely be out next — that is, if they were powerless. However, their secret alliance had power, not only because no one knew they were tight, but they had a Hidden Immunity Idol and an Extra Vote. They downplayed their connection, bonding as Guyanese individuals. The recipe for success was brewing.
Playing on others’ sense of comfort and safety, Kamilla and Kyle, a truly unlikely duo, upended the numbers established by the three original Lagi members. All it took was some manipulation and secrets that Kamilla was holding close to her chest. Add in an exceptional Tribal Council performance, making the California Girls alliance feel their Survivor journey was over, and Kamilla and Kyle pulled off an exceptional blindside that established them as a dynamic duo of diabolical proportions.
Kyle and Kamilla Acted Themselves out of Danger on ‘Survivor 48’
When the Tribe Swap went down, Kyle and Kamilla found themselves as two original Civa members alongside Shauhin Davari, Joe Hunter, and Thomas Krottinger, also known as the California girls. On paper, Kamilla was perceived as the bottom dweller. To help her claw her way to the top, she dropped some seeds to Joe and Shauhin that Thomas had lied to them previously about the journey he previously went on. He in fact did not walk away from it, as Star Toomey shared with her during the second Immunity Challenge. It was not an option because Mitch Guerra, from Kamilla’s original tribe, said that was not possible. As much as Thomas attempted to downplay this, he was still lying to the faces of his allies, a potentially damaging approach should he have stayed.
When Vula lost again, it seemed like a scramble where numbers would dictate whether it was Kyle or Kamilla to leave, but Kamilla put on her acting hat and continued to pull the wool over the California Girls’ eyes. With Kyle playing up the lie that he and Kamilla were not united, it allowed them both to learn crucial information to carry them through. Everyone had one-on-one meetings to come to a consensus, allowing Kyle and Kamilla to learn the truth about each other. This allowed the other three to come to an agreement that a nice, clean vote was all they needed at Tribal Council. All the votes were placed on Kyle, who used the idol on himself, blindsiding Thomas in the process.
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‘Survivor’ Displays the Importance of Connection
The beauty of Kamilla and Kyle’s diabolical plan is that it had a true hero’s arc. They were the underdogs in both Survivor and in life, and yet, their bond is what brought them together and allowed them to manipulate the situation to their advantage. There’s a deeper conversation about how we, as individuals, find the people we trust. It’s a conversation that’s been explored over the 25 years of Survivor. Sometimes, you connect best with people who look like you or have a similar story. For years, fans were infuriated when minority or POC castaways were eliminated early. But, looking at how these two individuals came together, we have a positive story to share. The California Girls became an alliance because the three men were literally from California, and had a connection. Kyle and Kamilla have shared experiences as Guyanese individuals. The social experiment of Survivor continues to be beautifully fascinating all these years later.
Kamilla and Kyle may have been given an extra day to play, but it also means they have exposed their alliance. However, the gravity of their alliance does not have to be fully revealed. They can keep their ride-or-die status to a minimum while playing off a new narrative of survival. All they need to do now is create a specific narrative. With Thomas gone, Kamilla has more opportunities to earn Joe and Shauhin’s trust because of Thomas’ lie. As we know from his alliance with Eva Erickson, trust is the most important thing for Joe. He may have been outwitted in this moment, but Kamilla exposed Thomas, preventing Joe from being blindsided later. Kyle is still a subtle threat. He hasn’t played as hard as Kamilla, but his strength lies in his charm, which can certainly get him places. Kyle and Kamilla pulled off an incredible task impeccably, and this tribal council was a masterclass of deception. Now, they are the dynamic duo to watch out for.
Survivor airs Wednesdays at 8:00 pm on CBS. All episodes are available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
Survivor
- Release Date
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May 31, 2000
- Network
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CBS
- Showrunner
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Jeff Probst
