The 47th season of Survivor, created by Charlie Parsons, has been one of the most intense and surprising in the show’s long history. The competition for the $1,000,000 prize has brought out the best and worst in the cast, pushing them to their limits both mentally and emotionally.
Known for its intense gameplay and strategic backstabbing, this CBS program has once again showcased why it remains at the forefront of reality television. The latest season has brought shocking alliances, ruthless betrayals, and jaw-dropping moments that even the most seasoned viewers didn’t see coming.
Just last week, Aysha Welch, one of the most promising players, was sent packing in a shocking elimination. Her departure came as a surprise not only to the viewers but also to the players themselves, setting a tone for the unpredictability that lies ahead.
What makes this season even more fascinating is how quickly the players have immersed themselves in the game, making daring moves that even veteran contestants would hesitate to make. This season is unlike any other, and the fierce gameplay started right from the moment they stepped on the island.
Bold Moves and Questionable Decisions
The intensity of Survivor has always been a central part of its appeal, and this season takes that to new heights. From bold declarations to puzzling refusals to form alliances, the contestants are making choices that leave both viewers and their fellow players in shock.
It’s been a constant rollercoaster of drama, and the questionable decisions are not only entertaining but also set the stage for what could be the most explosive season yet.
This episode, in particular, showcases some of the most daring and harsh moves in recent seasons. Hints of upcoming confrontations are already brewing, and the tension is palpable. As the show progresses, it’s clear that the stakes have never been higher, and every decision, no matter how small, could have lasting consequences.
Still from Survivor 47 (Credit: Paramount+)
The players understand this, and many are willing to risk it all from the very beginning, making for a riveting hour and a half of television that promises significant repercussions for the remainder of the season.
Teeny’s Dilemma and Cooney’s Relentless Pursuit
The episode begins on an emotional note as Teeny Chirichillo, from the red Lavo tribe, grapples with her decision to throw a vote against her ally Solomon “Sol” Yi during the previous tribal council. It’s clear that this decision weighed heavily on Teeny, and she feels the need to explain her actions to Sol.
She tells him that her intention was never to betray him but rather to avoid blindsiding her close friend, Aysha Welch. Sol tries to console her, explaining that it’s just the nature of Survivor and that players should not take things too personally.
However, keeping emotions in check becomes more challenging as Rome Cooney, a fellow Lavo tribe member, begins to tail Sol everywhere he goes. Rome’s confidence is at an all-time high after successfully voting out his biggest rival and securing a Steal a Vote advantage.
His paranoia about Sol finding a hidden immunity idol drives him to follow Sol closely, invading his privacy at every turn. Sol, naturally, finds this behavior frustrating and repeatedly asks Rome for some space. Rome, however, insists that he can do whatever he wants, as it’s part of the game.
This behavior doesn’t go unnoticed by the other members of the tribe. Kishan Patel, one of the more chaotic players, is thrilled by Rome’s actions, enjoying the tension and drama it brings. However, Genevieve Mushaluk, Rome’s closest ally, finds his actions unsettling.
She starts to question whether her association with Rome might hurt her in the long run. Her growing discomfort leads her to reach out to Sol in one of his rare moments of solitude, suggesting that they work together moving forward. Genevieve realizes that while Rome may be a strong ally for now, his reckless behavior could eventually lead to her downfall.
The Brewing Tension in Other Tribes
While the Lavo tribe’s drama takes center stage, the other tribes aren’t exactly living in harmony either. The yellow tribe, Gata, is also experiencing significant tension. Sam Phalen, one of the tribe’s stronger players, has been working closely with Sierra Wright to eventually blindside their allies, Anika Dhar and Rachel LaMont.
Still from Survivor 47 (Credit: Paramount+)
Their plan is to target Anika and keep Andy Rueda, a somewhat bumbling player, as an ally. However, things take an unexpected turn when Andy reveals a secret to Sam that shifts her perspective.
Andy informs Sam that the women in the tribe have been discussing naming their fragile alliance “the Breadwinners,” which puts Sam in a difficult position. This revelation makes Sam question whether keeping Andy around is actually in her best interest.
Her initial plan to use Andy to gain more power now seems less appealing, as it becomes clear that her position in the tribe is far more precarious than she previously thought. The uncertainty in Gata mirrors the growing tension in the blue tribe, Tuku.
Over in Tuku, Sue Smey, who has been lying about her age to her fellow tribe members (telling them she is 45 when she is actually 58), finds herself in a powerful position. Sue stumbles upon a Beware Advantage, leading her to a hidden Immunity Idol.
The idol is hidden inside a pot, and when Sue smashes it open, she is doused in red paint. In her panic to clean up the mess, Sue forgets to wipe the red paint from her face, causing her fellow tribe members Tiyana Hallums and Caroline Vidmar to worry that she might be injured when they discover her.
Sue quickly lies, saying she was simply playing with the machete, and walks away. Though she is content with her new advantage, Tiyana remains suspicious, wondering what Sue might be hiding. The tension between the players continues to build, and it’s clear that trust is a rare commodity in this season of Survivor.
Immunity Challenge: A Familiar Twist with High Stakes
The immunity challenge in this episode brings back a fan-favorite Survivor element that hasn’t been seen in years: chickens. Egg-laying hens are up for grabs as the prize for the winning tribe, while the second-place tribe gets a portion of eggs as their reward.
The challenge itself is a grueling obstacle course, where players must roll a giant cube, toss bean bags through a frame, and eventually solve a puzzle.
The competition is fierce, but it’s the puzzle portion of the challenge that proves to be the most difficult. Rome Cooney takes on the role of puzzle solver for the Lavo tribe, while his ally, Genevieve, is reduced to handing him puzzle pieces.
Despite his best efforts, Rome struggles to find any matches, literally trying every single piece without success. Meanwhile, the other two tribes successfully complete their puzzles, securing the chickens and eggs.
Back at camp, the Lavo tribe grapples with their defeat while Gata celebrates their hard-fought victory. Teeny Chirichillo is sent on a journey with Vidmar and Rueda, where they are presented with a difficult choice.
They must decide whether one of them will voluntarily lose their vote at the next tribal council in exchange for an advantage, or if no one takes the risk, they all lose their votes and any chance at gaining an advantage. Feeling secure in her alliances, Teeny volunteers to lose her vote, and the trio is rewarded with three-way amulets that will grant them powers at the merge.
Rome’s Aggressive Strategy and Genevieve’s Betrayal
Back at the Lavo camp, Rome Cooney takes his gameplay to a whole new level by threatening Sol Yi. Rome demands that Sol hand over his Shot In The Dark advantage, warning him that if he refuses, Rome will use his Steal a Vote advantage to take Sol’s vote regardless.
Still from Survivor 47 (Credit: Paramount+)
Kishan Patel watches this confrontation unfold with glee, eager to stir up even more chaos in the tribe. Kishan sees an opportunity to blindside Rome and begins plotting with Genevieve Mushaluk to orchestrate his downfall.
Kishan’s plan is simple: tell Rome and Sol that they’re targeting Genevieve, making Sol feel comfortable while secretly planning to vote Rome out instead. Everyone, including Teeny, agrees to this plan, and it seems that Rome’s fate is sealed.
However, when Genevieve learns that Kishan threw her name out as part of the plan, she panics. Desperate to save herself, she betrays Kishan by revealing the entire plan to Rome, hoping to convince him and Sol to reconcile and work together to take out Kishan instead.
Despite a halfhearted apology from Rome, Sol remains determined to vote him out. As they head to tribal council, Genevieve is left wondering whether her confession was the right move. The uncertainty is high, and the tension is even higher.
Tribal Council: A Shocking Blindside
At tribal council, tensions are at an all-time high. While Sol and Rome continue their tense discussions, Kishan sits back, smugly watching the chaos he helped create. But Kishan’s confidence is shattered when Rome plays his Steal a Vote on him.
With Kishan unable to vote, the remaining players cast their votes, and Kishan is blindsided. Genevieve’s betrayal pays off, and Kishan is sent packing in one of the most shocking eliminations of the season. He looks at Genevieve in disbelief as his torch is snuffed out, realizing too late that being too comfortable in Survivor can be a fatal mistake.
Back at camp, the fallout from Kishan’s elimination is immediate. Teeny feels betrayed by Genevieve, Rome realizes his game is far from perfect, and Sol is relieved to have survived another day. It’s clear that this season of Survivor is one of the messiest yet, and with so many unresolved conflicts and shifting alliances, the drama is far from over.
If you thought last week’s episode was filled with trauma for Alice (Ali Ahn) and issues with her mother, get ready — Episode 5 takes these themes to a whole new level!
I knew I was in for an intense and emotionally draining experience the moment a flashback from WandaVision showed Agatha (Kathryn Hahn) facing her mother, Evanora (Kate Forbes), and her coven, who tried to burn her at the stake. Seeing that flashback before the “previously on Agatha All Along” titles appeared on screen? As Chappell Roan said, “Good luck, babe!”
Why Are the Salem Seven After Agatha in ‘Agatha All Along’ Episode 5?
You can run, but you can’t hide from the Salem Seven — not even on the Witches’ Road. They are back and angrier than ever, this time in their animal form, lurking around the dark forest and whispering Agatha’s name in a scary way.
The coven is asleep, which is not cool since it is a slumber party episode. Everyone knows you should not sleep during a sleepover.
Suddenly, Lilia (Patti LuPone) wakes up with a gasp and tells the group that they need to leave. They left the door open after doing a summoning spell, allowing the Salem Seven to enter the Road behind them. Oops!
That was kind of her! Unfortunately, those children have now turned into wild revenge seekers. Not so sweet! Agatha tells them that the lesson is to finish what you started and that mercy is not valued.
As usual, the coven gets into a fight. Jen (Sasheer Zamata) believes Agatha is terrible for killing her coven, but Rio defends her. After all, her own mother tried to have her killed. She feels that some murder is okay given that trauma.
They do not have much time to argue because the Salem Seven quickly surround them. Teen (Joe Locke) suggests that they try to escape using brooms.
However, the group turns their noses up at the idea. They think brooms are too basic and are a symbol of female domesticity, especially since they are often associated with holiday decorations.
But they do not have a choice. They all grab a broom and pass them around ceremonially (because they have to fly together or not at all) while the Salem Seven gets closer, and then they are on their way.
Still from Agatha All Along (Credit: Disney+)
There is a beautiful scene of them flying against the glowing moon and having a great time, laughing and feeling free. Agatha seems to feel a sense of peace but cannot stop glancing at Rio. Teen wants to know why they have not been doing this all along.
They quickly learn the answer as they start falling, the Road pulling them down. They all panic except for Rio, who laughs maniacally. I love her personality! One of the Salem Seven tries to block their path by releasing a swarm of bees from her mouth, but they continue on.
What Is Agatha’s Trial in ‘Agatha All Along’ Episode 5?
The group makes it into a cabin that has a fantastic ‘80s slumber party theme. Another win for the production designers! Jen is still anxious about the entire Halloween aisle being outside, but Agatha tries to stay positive — it seems they cannot get in. Teen panics because he cannot find his spell book, but Agatha tells him it is time to stop relying on it so much.
Rio immediately understands that this is Agatha’s trial because of the blood moon decorations. This is when the barrier between the living and the dead is very thin. Teen wonders if this should be Lilia’s trial instead. That is a great question, Teen.
Lilia explains that she can read time and people, but talking to the dead is just a trick. Rio keeps pushing Agatha, saying she is perfect for this trial because she has put many people in the grave. Remember when Alice said the trials were not subtle in the last episode?
Yes. A Ouija board suddenly falls to the floor. Teen reads the rules: no using it alone, no talking over each other, no taunting the spirits, no asking about death, always end a session with goodbye, and do not take your hand off the board. If you do, a spirit will be freed.
Agatha is not too excited to discover who is waiting for her, though she tries to act calm. They all place their hands on the board, and the spirit of Mrs. Hart (Debra Jo Rupp) begins to communicate with them through Agatha. Just kidding!
But Agatha pretends that Mrs. Hart has taken control of her body in one of the funniest moments ever. Hahn perfectly mimics Rupp’s speech and mannerisms in an exaggerated way. Rio finds it funny at first but quickly calls Agatha out, saying she is just scared.
After that hilarious moment, Hahn switches to a more serious tone and sits back at the board to try to contact a spirit for real. The board indicates that death is coming for Agatha and wants to punish her.
The board starts moving quickly, repeating Agatha’s name and scaring her. She takes her hands off the board, and chaos breaks out. The lights flicker, and screams echo in the room.
Jen believes that the way to pass the trial is to kill Agatha, and soon Lilia and Alice agree. Rio suggests they should just slit her throat, while Teen is the only one against this plan. Unfortunately, familiars do not get a vote! Agatha disappears, and the lights go out completely.
When they come back on, Agatha is crawling on the ceiling, looking dead. She seems possessed. Jen thinks she is pretending, but when horrifying sounds come from her mouth and her body starts contorting unnaturally, she gives up that idea. Agatha terrifies Teen and tries to strangle Jen until Lilia manages to turn the lights back on.
The not-so-friendly ghost of Evanora appears (Rio hates ghosts, especially this one), and Agatha — now back to her normal self — has a conversation with her. Agatha jokes that it was nice having Evanora in her body since she had never felt so close to her before.
Still from Agatha All Along (Credit: Disney+)
Evanora tells the coven they are foolish for joining Agatha after her coven risked everything to kill her. Lilia explains that emotions tie ghosts to this world because they have unfinished business, and Evanora’s has to do with Agatha. Evanora tells them they must finish the Witches’ Road — without Agatha.
Rio jumps to protect Agatha, refusing to give her up to Evanora. Just a moment ago, she was ready to slit Agatha’s throat, but now she cannot let her mother have her. Agatha asks Evanora why she still hates her, and Evanora claims Agatha was evil the moment she was born.
She should have killed Agatha when she left her body. Hearing this makes the coven feel some sympathy, but it is not enough to save her. Agatha begs them not to leave without her, pleading that she can be good, creating a heartbreaking parallel to that flashback!
Who Dies in ‘Agatha All Along’ Episode 5?
Alice saves Agatha by blasting her with magic and forcing Evanora out. Agatha starts to absorb Alice’s power, as she has always done, but Teen notices that the Ouija board is spelling out the name Nicholas Scratch. A boy’s voice tells Agatha to stop, and she does — but not before Alice’s life fades away.
A staircase descends as the final alarm of the trial sounds, but no one is eager to leave this time. Teen panics over Alice’s lifeless body, begging someone to help her, but they all gently inform him that it is too late. Teen is furious with Agatha, claiming Alice was trying to protect her, even though she did not deserve it.
Agatha, filled with shame, walks away. But when she realizes she now has Alice’s powers, a glimmer of excitement appears on her face. Her moment alone to reflect is interrupted when Teen storms out behind her, angrily confronting her.
Agatha tells him she could not control it, but Teen accuses her of lying. He believes this is all about power for her, right? Jen agrees angrily, stating that this is all about power for any of them. Lilia adds that death comes for everyone.
Who Is Teen in ‘Agatha All Along’ Episode 5?
Teen asserts that being a witch should not involve killing people for a purpose — not for him. This is when the story takes a significant turn, hinting that the dynamics of this coven might change forever.
Agatha laughs in his face, and they share a chilling stare. “Are you sure?” she whispers, touching his chin. “You’re so much like your mother,” she says with a wicked grin, inviting him to follow her.
Teen becomes angry, and blue magic starts crackling in his hands. He commands Lilia and Jen, whose eyes now flash blue, to push Agatha off the Road into the goo that devoured Sharon’s purse while she struggles and protests. She begs for help as she sinks, but they ignore her.
Moments later, they become part of the mud stew too, thanks to Teen. A crown appears on Teen’s head, Billie Eilish’s music plays, and I feel chills. Wiccan, aka Billy Maximoff, has arrived!
How Does ‘Agatha All Along’ Episode 5 Stack Up?
Placing Agatha’s trial in the middle of the season feels like a daring choice, similar to when Succession killed Logan Roy early in its final season. That decision ultimately paid off, and I have a good feeling it will in this case too. As someone who has long wanted more background on Agatha, this episode was a satisfying treat.
I am glad they did not shy away from how messed up Evanora’s story is and showed Rio as the soft and protective one. This makes me even more excited to see the Salem scenes teased in the trailers.
Still from Agatha All Along (Credit: Disney+)
I am sad to see Alice go. She brought some heart to the story, but I feel she never really connected with the other characters or got enough chances to shine, even after her trial in the previous episode.
I’ve mentioned it before, and I’ll say it again — the short episode runtimes are not helping things. Episode 5 was the shortest we’ve had so far, and it shows. Alice deserved a more fitting farewell than what she received.
Hahn continues to impress each week, showcasing a wide range of emotions required for her character — not to mention the speed at which the show demands her to switch between them. It is a masterclass that feels consistent yet surprising every single week.
Additionally, seeing another side of Locke in this episode’s final moments truly excites me. I can’t wait to see him show this new direction. As entertaining as it has been to see Teen as a loyal fanboy, I suspect that witnessing him confront Agatha will be even more thrilling.
Themes of Trauma and Redemption
Episode 5 goes deep into the themes of trauma and redemption. Agatha’s struggle against her mother’s ghost symbolizes a battle against her past and the pain that comes with it.
She is caught between the desire to be accepted and the darkness that her mother represents. This conflict becomes a central point in the episode, showcasing how trauma can shape an individual’s identity and choices.
Alice’s sacrifice is another poignant moment that highlights the idea of redemption. By giving her life to save Agatha, Alice demonstrates that even in the darkest circumstances, there is a possibility for selflessness and love.
This act not only changes Agatha’s character arc but also redefines the dynamics within the coven. The emotional weight of Alice’s loss is felt deeply by the characters and the audience, making her departure a significant turning point in the story.
Character Development and Relationships
The relationships between the characters are shown in greater depth in this episode. Agatha’s bond with her coven becomes more complex, particularly her connection with Rio.
Their friendship is tested as they see their loyalties and moral dilemmas. Rio’s fierce protectiveness of Agatha adds layers to her character, showcasing the internal struggle between loyalty and the need for justice.
Teen’s transformation into a more powerful figure also shifts the group’s dynamics. His journey from being a supportive friend to a potential antagonist creates tension and excitement for future episodes. The way he confronts Agatha signifies a breaking point, not only for their relationship but for his character’s evolution as well.
The emotional stakes are raised even higher as the characters grapple with their actions and the consequences that follow. The episode does an excellent job of highlighting how trauma can manifest in various ways and how characters cope with their pain.
Visual and Auditory Elements
The visual and auditory elements of Episode 5 play a crucial role in enhancing the full atmosphere. The dark forest and eerie settings create a foreboding backdrop, emphasizing the themes of fear and uncertainty. The use of color, especially the blood moon, adds to the tension, representing the thin veil between life and death.
Additionally, the soundtrack complements the emotional weight of the episode. Billie Eilish’s music adds a haunting quality to Teen’s transformation, reinforcing the idea that change can come with both power and peril. The blend of visuals and sound elevates the storytelling, immersing the audience in the characters’ experiences.
Conclusion: A Turning Point in the Series
Episode 5 of Agatha All Along is undoubtedly a turning point in the series. It not only shows deep themes of trauma, redemption, and character dynamics but also sets the stage for exciting developments in future episodes. The episode masterfully blends humor, horror, and emotional depth, showcasing the talents of its cast and crew.
Still from Agatha All Along (Credit: Disney+)
As the coven see their new reality, fans can expect intense confrontations, surprising alliances, and continued scheme of Agatha’s character. The impact of Alice’s sacrifice will resonate throughout the season, prompting characters to reevaluate their choices and relationships.
With new episodes dropping every Wednesday at 9 PM ET on Disney+, viewers are left eagerly anticipating what will happen next. The emotional rollercoaster of Episode 5 ensures that the journey ahead will be just as thrilling, and I can’t wait to see how these characters continue to grow and change.
