Survivor 45 Recap: Christmas Comes Early, and the Gift is Deceit

Just like every other episode this season of Survivor 45, it feels like everybody wants to get Bruce and Jake out of the game. It's become such a frequent chorus that it's actually kind of starting to get old. But will they finally get what they want this episode, the tenth of the season (titled "How Am I the Mobster?")? Perhaps, but they have to work around a few idols, turkey legs and Kenny Loggins songs before they can get there. (You'll understand those references after you read this recap, trust.)

Also, spoilers ahead, obvi.

But before we get to any of those spoilers, let's get caught up a little. So last week, Bruce won individual immunity (again), so he wasn't going home, despite everyone wanting him to. But instead of sending home their second fave person to keep on the chopping block, Jake, they decided to go for Kendra instead. You can read my full recap of last week to get yourself caught up. While you're tapping on links, sign up for my newsletter For the Culture for everything Survivor delivered to your inbox and check out The Parting Shot with H. Alan Scott podcast for loads of fun celebrity interviews.

Things start with Julie aka "Mama J" feeling the weight of the lies she's been forced to tell for the last votes. She has a heart to heart with Drew, and even he cries. (I didn't know he was capable of that.) It's a tender moment, because it's gotta be hard to be that deceitful. I mean, for other people, not me, I'd be great at it. (Isn't that what everyone says and then you get out there and it's just like you become Mister Softee?)

Emily, on the other hand, is feeling a little lost. She's on the lower end of an alliance with Austin and Drew, and she doesn't really know what's going on with her game. She knows now is the moment to start working her way around some of these challenges.

Meanwhile, Bruce knows he's on the bottom and needs to do something about it. So he decides to test out his acting skills on Katurah, lying to her that he gave Kellie (who got voted out a while back) his idol and she took it with her. But Bruce does the one thing you're not supposed to do with a good lie and confesses to Katurah that it was all just a lie. He just wanted to see if she believed him—she didn't. And nobody else does either except Jake. (Ugh, Jake, your heart is too pure. Which is crazy because he's from Boston.)

REWARD CHALLENGE

The first of two challenges in this episode is for reward. Basically, they have to make their way through a net obstacle course and then force a little ball through this maze thingy that makes them look like they're putting on a puppet show. Like I only could see *NSYNC in that "Bye Bye Bye" video.

Anyway, Emily wins, which we so needed because she's had a "hellscape" of a season. (Her words, not mine.)

What's her reward? She gets to go to Sanctuary for a turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and apple pie and wine. (Possibly gravy? There better gravy.) Oh, and one more thing: a letter from home. (Cue everyone crying.) And it's not just Emily going. She gets to bring three other people with her. Will she choose her alliance? Nope. Instead, she decides to make it a girls night and invites all the women left: Katurah, Dee and Julie. She even says, "Let's make it a ladies night." I love this. I much prefer a ladies night to a guys night. (More on that in a second.)

SANCTUARY

So, the women are sitting pretty at Sanctuary, filling up on yummy food and juicy gossip. And the gossip on the table is who is going to go home next? Let's all say it together now: BRUCE! But then Katurah decides to bring the gossip to the next level and reveal that Bruce plans on lying to everybody about sending his idol home with Kellie. Subtle LOL's abound. They all decide that if Bruce does play his idol, then Jake is gone. Cool. Done. Great plan! Or is it?

But before they can hash out this plan, they gotta read their letters from home. Honestly, this moment in Survivor always makes me feel uncomfortable, because it's just so emotional. I get it's good TV and all, but here I am watching these people lie and backstab each other, and then they go and make me feel for them. Honestly, it's evil.

Host Jeff Probst actually speaks to this a little in his official Survivor podcast On Fire. In the latest episode, he talks about the work the players put in to emotionally and physically tackle a game like Survivor. Have a listen.

BOYS NIGHT

While the girls drink their wine at Sanctuary, the boys are back at camp doing what boys do best: a lot of nothing. For the next five minutes we see (and hear) them fart, burp, talk about action movies, bacon, flex and get in their underwear. Oh, and for a good portion of this moment Kenny Loggins' "Playing With the Boys" from the Top Gun soundtrack can be heard. (Can you feel my eye roll? I feel like you can.)

This testosterone-filled segment ends with a long montage of Austin swimming and fishing in his underwear, coming out of the ocean like a Bond girl. We see what you're doing Survivor, and guess what? It's working, because I was very distracted.

Well, the men get dressed for the women's arrival back at camp, and they don't waste any time spilling what each other learned while they were apart.

It's this moment in the episode that I'm most excited about, because it's here that Emily really steps into her own light and takes control of the game. I love these kind of moments on Survivor, because it really shows you how this person is going to play in the homestretch of the game. She first goes to Drew to reveal none of the women are targeting him or Austin, and that Bruce is lying about not having an idol. They know they need to flush Bruce's idol or take Jake out.

But that's not enough for Emily, because she doesn't think taking Jake out is the right move right now. She goes to him and tells him he's on the chopping block. She does this because she wants to be in his good graces should he get on the jury. But you can tell she has another idea in mind.

However, Jake is pissed at being used in the game and lied to, and he decides to try and do something about it. He goes to Julie to plant the seed of voting out Drew, which Julie isn't having. She tells Drew, and then Drew decides to confront Jake about it.

The two of them fight on the beach like little boys fighting over a toy in the sand box. Jake is acting tough because he knows Drew isn't helping him at all, and Drew is trying to act like he could help Jake (he can't and won't). Because they can't actually talk it out, they just start throwing insults at each other. (It was this moment in the episode I realized I was binge-eating popcorn.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE

OK, so now they've got to fight it out for immunity. They're forced to lay on this board hovering over the water while holding on to little hand holdy thingys. The last one holding on wins immunity.

In the end, it comes down to a showdown between Jake, Austin and Bruce. If Bruce wins, it'll be three in a row for him. Jake desperately needs the win because he's got nothing going for him. And Austin, well, he's fine, he's got an idol and they just did an underwear montage of him, he's not going anywhere.

First Jake falls, and then Bruce. Austin wins! More underwear montages to come. (You're welcome.)

TRIBAL COUNCIL

So just before Tribal, Emily sets in motion a plan that will make her one of the best players this season. You see, all season people have wanted Bruce out, but nobody has been able to do it. Emily is now going to take her shot.

Bruce is clear, he's going to play his idol. The alternative option is Jake. But Katurah thinks a vote for Jake is a wasted vote. She throws out Julie, because everyone loves her. She's a huge threat. Emily agrees. But the kicker is how do you get Bruce not to play his idol?

Emily goes to Bruce and tells him that Julie is not in alliance with him like he thinks she is. She's just being nice to him for a jury vote. This little bomb kickstarts Emily's campaign to get Bruce out. If he goes after Julie, then Emily, Katurah, Julie and Jake will all vote Bruce in the off chance Bruce doesn't play his idol. The others will vote for Jake.

Emily gets Bruce into a headspace that he might not need to play his idol right before they leave for Tribal. And if you think you have a chance at staying, why risk playing your idol, right? (Which is exactly what Emily wants Bruce to think.)

So they're at Tribal, and Emily starts things off by saying the energy is different because Bruce doesn't have that immunity necklace around his neck like he has the past two Tribals. And Bruce knows all eyes are on him. (He secretly likes it, it's clear.) Then they start talking about an idol being played, and Drew is like, Bruce has an idol. But it's what Emily says that's just golden. She's like, she'd be surprised if Bruce doesn't play his idol, almost tempting him not to.

Well, guess what happens? Bruce doesn't play his idol. I bet you already know what happens next.

Bruce gets voted out.

As Bruce leaves, Drew says what everybody is thinking, "Christmas came early today."

Honestly, I never really had a problem with Bruce. He was a great player, but his ego did get in the way, right up until the end. Like, why wouldn't you play your idol? Just dumb. But it was his bad game play that showed just how great Emily is at this game.

And in the preview for next week, it looks like Julie might be on the chopping block. Considering we're in the Top 7 space, things are about to get really good. Stay tuned.

Who Needs to Get Snuffed?

You know what? I'm with Katurah and Emily, Julie needs to go if anybody wants a shot at winning.

Who Should be the Sole Survivor?

I'm fully in camp Katurah and Emily at this point. I'd be very happy with either of them winning. They're both proving to be genius players.

Watch Survivor every Wednesday on CBS or anytime on Paramount+ to follow along as I react to every episode this season.