I'm The Bandit: (S44: Episode 12)

There are five players left in the game:

Carolyn, Carson, Heidi, Lauren and YamYam.

Some league members need a miracle in order to stay in the game, some may just want to play it safe.... Do you have what it takes to be Survivor Vukelulu Season 44's Champ? YOU GOTTA DIG DEEP because your Tribemasters are giving you one final bonus...

Below are three potential options to scoring your Finale Bonus. You may only select one option. Your bonus wager must be submitted to survivorvukelulu@gmail.com by 7:59:59 PM EST. If you do not submit an emailed prediction or choose not to play the Finale Bonus, you will earn the points you would have earned with no penalties. Late email predictions, however, will not be considered.

• OPTION #1: Make a prediction who you think is going to win it all and become the winner of Season 44! If you guess correctly, you will earn a bonus +15 points. (You do not need to choose your Sole Survivor if you think someone else is going to win).

• OPTION #2: HOWEVER, if you want to double down on your Sole Survivor draft pick, and your Sole Survivor ends up winning, you will earn a bonus +30 points (on TOP of your guaranteed +40 points for any of your picks coming in 1st place AND the +75 points if your Sole Survivor wins).

• OPTION #3: OR do you want to risk it ALL? In order to play this option, you will need to risk all of your standard points during the final episode. If you are able to correctly guess the boot order of the final 5: Jury Member #7, Jury Member #8, 3rd Place, 2nd Place, Winner, you will earn a bonus +250 points!

  • Your email must clearly indicate who you think will be Jury Member #7, Jury Member #8, 3rd Place, 2nd Place, Winner (in that order).

  • NOTE: If even one player is not in the correct boot order, you will lose all points for Episode 13 and earn 0 points for the entire episode. (Don't have any contestants left on your tribe? This option is for you! What's there to lose!?)

Episode 12 recap:

There was a lot of really intense moments this episode, and some of the most raw-emotions we've seen all season. Anyone else get a bitt emotional watching YamYam struggle over voting head or heart?

• With Carolyn's idol being played on Carson at last tribal, her endgame is starting to unfold in front of the other players and they seem shocked! She essentially began spewing 23-days-worth of secrets/strategies/birdcage dilemma to all of the contestants who were still in the game, (and jumping ahead) was then able to eloquently state her gameplay to the jury in owning, yes she's played an emotional game but that doesn't mean that it wasn't strategic. Carolyn's threat level is at an all time high!

• I love that there was a reward this late in the game!! I feel like the 40's have been skimpy on the reward challenges so I'm happy to see there was a big spa day in store for the winners.

• PS. Carolyn not even helping and getting lost on the course while blindfolded has to be an all time classic Survivor challenge moment. I was bent over laughing.

• The immunity challenge on the other hand, did not have the fun/excitement that the reward challenge had. (Didn't it feel like the challenge was over in under 4 minutes?) But I don't want to take away from Lauren's win. Good for you, girl! A reward AND immunity win in one episode!!

• There was certainly a real emotional back-and-forth from YamYam if he should vote out Carolyn, his best friend since day one. It really seemed like he wanted to do it, but I just don't think he had the support. So even though the flashier/cooler move would have been to knock Carolyn out this round, I think this was ultimately the best move for his game. I don't think Carson felt safe voting Carolyn out especially after she played her idol for him because I think he recognized it would then be tough to earn her vote in Final Tribal. And Heidi, who I had high hopes for early on, has been such a disappointment. She's been playing it way too safe. And because of that lack of risk-taking (evidenced also by her lame idol play), she was never going to go with the potential "island of misfit toys" and vote out Carolyn.

Now for the League!

Jaime didn't do her tribes any favors, and left the game with a whopping zero points earned for Episode 12. The most exciting aspect to Jaime's departure is regardless of which contestant wins Survivor 44, the Vukelulu Sole Survivor Curse has been lifted!! Someone is guaranteed to win the Sole Survivor Pot!

If Carolyn wins: Joe's charity will take the pot!

If Carson wins: Amy, Olivia F., and Paul will split

If Heidi wins: Angela, Cousin Lori, Emily, and Maggie L. will split

If Lauren wins: Cristina, Elissa, and Marietta will split

If Yam Yam wins: Amanda P., Amelia, Anthony, Fo, Grace, Kath, Peach, Sam, and Tribemaster Brian will split

Maggie L. is coming in HOT right at the end. She will enter the finale episode with FOUR contestants. She was also this week's top points earner with 69! Next highest was Anna with 59 followed by Grace with 57.

Emmy lost her last draft pick this week and now has a tribe of zero. Sorry for you...the tribe has spoken!

ENJOY the finale! We're both very excited to see how this Finale Bonus plays out. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. Good luck to all!

-Tribemasters Liv + Brian