The 2025 season of Australian Survivor is officially underway, and it’s sure to be nothing short of explosive. In its twelfth season, the much-loved reality show is embarking on another epic iteration of Brains vs Brawn. This year’s Australian Survivor theme poses the age-old question: “what gets you further in the world’s toughest game, brute strength or intelligence?” As the season progresses, the contestants’ numbers will dwindle as only one can be named Sole Survivor.
After returning from tribal council, Myles was ecstatic to still be in the game, even if it meant being at the bottom of the barrel. Meanwhile, Karin was fed up and exhausted by Myles and AJ, whom she referred to as “Tweedlee and Tweedleedips**t,” and was determined to eliminate them once and for all. The following day, Kaelan felt grateful to have three allies in the buddy system that had prevailed during the season: AJ, Myles, and Kristin. He discussed with AJ the possibility of getting rid of Karin, who had been targeting AJ and his allies, Kate and Morgan.
Karin, on the other hand, saw her next target as Kate, aiming to dismantle the Kate/Morgan/AJ voting bloc. In a confessional, she revealed her boot list: Kate, followed by AJ, and then Myles, mistakenly believing she had Kaelan on her side. However, Zara confided in AJ that she wanted Kate out, thinking the Graduates alliance held more sway for AJ than his bond with Kate and Morgan. AJ quickly informed Kate of her precarious position, assuring her that they had enough votes to protect her while plotting to eliminate Karin.
At the reward challenge, JLP announced that the contestants must compete in pairs, drawing rocks to determine the teams. The pairs ended up being Morgan/Kaelan, Karin/Myles, Kristin/AJ, and Kate/Zara, with Logan sitting out due to drawing the unlucky odd rock. Surprisingly, during the challenge, Logan helped AJ from the sidelines, and AJ and Kristin emerged victorious, winning a reward of a spit roast with all the fixings. They invited Kaelan and Logan to join them.
As the reward group bonded over their meal, Karin expressed her lack of concern about the group, believing that Kaelan and Kristin were on her side and that Logan and AJ couldn't stand each other. However, her words would soon prove prophetic. Logan proposed voting out Karin, disclosing that she was the one who advised him to play his idol when he was in danger, confirming AJ's suspicions about Karin's betrayal of the Graduates alliance. The reward group decided to split their votes between Karin and Zara, with Karin being the primary target, and chose not to inform Myles due to his unpredictability.
Back at camp, AJ shared the plan with Morgan and Kate, and the original Brawn women agreed to follow through. During the immunity challenge, Kaelan, prompted by AJ, gave it his all and emerged as the winner, securing the coveted immunity necklace. Throughout the challenge, Kaelan maintained a significant lead, even asking JLP not to reveal how far ahead he was, as he wanted to keep up the façade of being less capable than he truly was.
Meanwhile, Karin remained convinced that the Graduates were still on her side to vote out Kate, while the Berries alliance solidified their plan to eliminate her. Myles, sensing he was being left out of conversations, began plotting his own strategy, expressing a desire to target Zara. Logan agreed to placate him, while the Berries decided to split their votes, four on Karin, three on Zara, and two on Kate, excluding Kristin from the discussions.
As tribal council approached, Kristin warned Karin that everyone wanted her out, mainly due to AJ's machinations. Karin, feeling cornered, planned to set tribal council ablaze with her revelations. Upon arriving at tribal, chaos ensued. Karin first told Morgan and Kate that AJ was using them as shields and urged them to draw a line in the sand. She then requested a sidebar chat with Zara, Kristin, Kaelan, and Logan, revealing their split vote strategy.
In a surprising twist, Karin suggested they vote Myles out instead. The jury looked on in disbelief as she pushed her proposal, stating she was willing to take the risk if an idol was played. AJ reassured Kate and Morgan to stick with the original plan, while Myles had a separate conversation with JLP. Karin's public proclamation of her plan left the Berries alliance questioning who had betrayed them.
As the tension mounted, Kristin confessed to Karin that she had shared the plan with her, leading to a dramatic confrontation. Karin, undeterred, stated she would rather fall on her sword than betray anyone. When the votes were cast, Karin voted for Zara, saying she wanted to see what happened next. Ultimately, Karin's gamble did not pay off, as she was voted out in a 5-3-1 vote, marking a significant turning point in the game.
As JLP snuffed Karin’s torch, Logan took the opportunity to signal to the jury that this was her plan all along. With Karin's departure, the dynamics of the game shifted dramatically, leaving the remaining contestants to navigate a new landscape of alliances and rivalries. The preview for next week hinted at a groundbreaking twist, as rocks would be drawn at tribal council, promising more excitement in the episodes to come.
The 2025 season of Australian Survivor is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable yet, with alliances constantly shifting and players strategizing at every turn. Viewers are eagerly anticipating how the remaining castaways will maneuver as they inch closer to the coveted title of Sole Survivor. Bring on the feast, JLP!
