Survivor 49: Jason Treul Reveals Shocking Unseen Alliances and Savannah's Masterful Deception

Talk about a blindside! The latest episode of Survivor 49, "I'm a Wolf, Baby," sent puzzle king Jason Treul home, and he's spilling all the tea on Savannah's sneaky game, his secret alliances, and why he never played his Shot in the Dark.

TL;DR: Quick Takes on the Latest Survivor 49 Drama

• Jason Treul, the "puzzle king" and former alternate, was unanimously voted off in Episode 5 after the new Hina tribe lost immunity.
• Jason felt completely blindsided, admitting Savannah masterfully convinced him she was on his side, preventing him from playing his Shot in the Dark.
• He revealed an unseen core alliance on the original Hina with MC, Steven, and Sophie, and shared that MC had shown him her idol.
• Fans are still divided on Survivor 49's gameplay, with many finding the pre-merge "underwhelming," despite a new three-tribe swap twist teased for later.

Well, fellow Survivor fanatics, if you thought the tribal swap would truly shake things up and make this season less... predictable, you might be feeling a bit of whiplash. Episode 5, "I'm a Wolf, Baby," which aired on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, delivered another unanimous vote, sending home the affable 32-year-old law clerk from Santa Ana, California, Jason Treul.

Jason, known for his expert puzzle skills, found himself in a tough spot after the tribe swap, outnumbered on the new Hina tribe by a majority of original Uli members plus Sophi from Kele. His fellow original Hina member, Matt Williams, had already been sent packing in the previous episode. Despite the writing seemingly being on the wall, Jason's post-elimination interviews reveal a shocking level of strategic maneuvering and unseen alliances that never made it to air, making his exit far more complex than it appeared.

From Alternate to Castaway: Jason Treul's Unexpected Journey to Fiji

It turns out Jason's journey to Fiji was a rollercoaster from the start! He initially joined the cast of Survivor 49 as an alternate, mentally preparing himself for the disappointment of not making it onto the show. Following his fiancée's advice to "fake it till you make it" and process the emotional fallout later, he committed fully to the experience.

But on the very last day, he got the incredible news: he was officially on the show! "Whiplash is the best word," Jason told TVLine, describing the insane heart rate and accelerated brain activity that kicked in. This last-minute entry gave him a unique perspective, sharing a bond with other alternates like MC Chukwujekwu and Sophie Segreti, a connection that he believes didn't get enough screen time.

Slayed by Savannah's Strategic Charm and Unseen Distaste for Jawan

One of the biggest bombshells from Jason's post-game chats is just how effectively Savannah Louie played him. While viewers saw Savannah's personal irritation with Jawan Pitts (who, let's be real, kept making annoying missteps like drinking from her canteen), Jason was oblivious to her deeper machinations against him.

"I was a little blindsided," Jason admitted about his elimination. He recounted how Savannah spent the entire day prior to Tribal Council sweet-talking him, proposing a Hina-Uli connection for the merge and emphasizing his importance. She made him feel secure, believing he was facilitating a risky play for her.

Jason wished he could have seen Savannah's confessionals, where she was clearly plotting against him. He confessed that the starvation and her convincing performance truly led him to believe she was on his side. "She kind of gave me that rope to be like, 'Jason, I can save you,' and I just hung myself with it, bro," he candidly shared.

"Savannah is working me all day, saying like, 'Oh yeah, we should make sure that we have a Hina connection and an Uli connection, and when we meet up at the merge, we can do X, Y or Z. Jason, you're so important. You're such a special little boy. We just need to make sure that you vote with us so [we] know your loyalty.' ...I was convinced that she was on my side."

— Jason Treul, TVLine Interview

The Strategic Choice: Why Jason Didn't Play His Shot in the Dark Advantage

Many fans wondered why Jason, clearly on the bottom, didn't use his Shot in the Dark. His explanation reveals a nuanced, albeit ultimately fatal, strategic decision. As the sole remaining original Hina male on his new tribe, he felt incredibly untrusted.

He saw his vote as his only power and a way to signal loyalty. Jason wanted to show the Uli majority that he was willing to vote with them, even though they didn't need his vote. This was a move to build trust, hoping to "move through this game together" and potentially get to the merge. Playing the Shot in the Dark would mean losing that opportunity to demonstrate allegiance.

"Clearly, I was drinking a lot of my own Kool-Aid because it's all like, 'Hey dude, let's roll, let's get to the merge,' and then [it was] like 'Screw you, see you later.' But I picked my lane and it was my own downfall," Jason reflected, acknowledging his misjudgment.

Revealing the Hidden Alliances and Untapped Potential of Original Hina

One of the most surprising revelations from Jason was about the dynamics of the original Hina tribe, which was barely shown in the edit. While the show hinted at a "core four" with Matt trying to pull in MC Chukwujekwu, Jason revealed a completely different, strong alliance.

He, MC, and Steven Ramm had their own core three, eventually bringing in Sophie Segreti as a fourth. What's more, MC, who was also an alternate, showed her idol to Jason and Steven, but notably not to Matt or Kristina Mills. This indicated a deeper trust and strategic bond between the alternates, who felt they had something to prove.

"Me and MC were alternates, bro. We're looking out for each other," Jason explained, recalling MC's sentiment: "Jason, we deserve to play this game as much as anybody else, even though we're the alternates." This emotional and strategic connection was central to Jason's game, and he believes it could have been a powerful force had the original tribes gone to Tribal Council more often.

The Puzzle King's Unexpected Advice for Aspiring Survivor Players

Beyond the social game, Jason Treul proved himself a puzzle beast during challenges. When asked about his preparation, his answer was delightfully unconventional: "Play 'Super Smash Brothers,' you know what I mean?"

He gave a shout-out to other "Smash" players like Kenny Hoang from Survivor: Gabon and Kamilla from Season 48, suggesting that video games might be a secret weapon for future contestants. His tongue-in-cheek advice: "Just get good at puzzles, just play video games. Just stay inside and play video games. Apply for 'Survivor!'"

Fan Frustration: A Season Plagued by Predictability and "Mid" Gameplay

Jason's candidness extends to fan sentiment about Survivor 49, which has been widely criticized on social media for being "boring" and "uneventful" during its pre-merge phase. Many viewers, including some critics, have called it one of the most "mid" pre-merges ever, noting predictable boots and a lack of compelling drama.

The sentiment largely stems from the lopsided tribe divisions after the initial three-tribe setup, which quickly morphed into a two-tribe format in Episode 4. This led to dominant majorities easily picking off the minorities, making Tribal Councils less suspenseful. Jason himself isn't "social media brained," but he defends the show, arguing that "Survivor" is about compelling character journeys, not just big blindsides.

Adding another layer to the discussion, producers seem to have listened to some feedback. After Jason's elimination, a "second swap" to three tribes was teased, a format tweak that many hope will inject some much-needed unpredictability into the game, moving away from the "Earn the Merge nonsense" that has become a staple of the "New Era."

Where Do We Stand? The Remaining Players and Future Tribal Dynamics

Following Jason's exit, the game continues with 12 remaining castaways. The new Hina tribe, now reduced to five, consists of the original Uli majority: Rizo Velovic, Jawan Pitts, Nate Moore, Savanah Louie, and Sophi Balderdi. They've successfully eliminated the original Hina members from their new tribe.

The Kele tribe, which won immunity, remains intact with seven members: Steven Ramm, Kristina Mills, MC Chukwujekwu, Sophie Segreti, Shannon Fairweather, Sage Ahrens-Nichols, and Alex Moore. Dynamics on Kele have also been heating up, with Sage cleverly exposing Shannon's overplaying and Rizo's idol, proving she's far from the "peepee poopoo girl" some perceived her to be.

With another tribe swap looming, the game is far from settled. Will the Uli-dominated Hina majority truly control the game post-merge, or will the new three-tribe twist shatter their plans? Only time, and many more challenges, will tell!

Frequently Asked Questions About Survivor 49 When did Survivor 49 Episode 5 air, and what was its title? Survivor 49 Episode 5, titled "I'm a Wolf, Baby," aired on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET. Who was voted off Survivor 49 in Episode 5? Jason Treul, a 32-year-old law clerk and "puzzle king," was unanimously voted off the island in Episode 5. How can I watch Survivor 49 live or stream it? You can watch new episodes of Survivor 49 live on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. For streaming, subscribers with a Paramount+ with Showtime plan can watch it live. All Paramount+ subscribers can stream episodes the next day on demand. Who are the remaining castaways on Survivor 49 after Episode 5? After Jason's elimination, there are 12 contestants remaining:

• New Hina: Rizo Velovic, Jawan Pitts, Nate Moore, Savanah Louie, Sophi Balerdi.
• New Kele: Steven Ramm, Kristina Mills, MC Chukwujekwu, Sophie Segreti, Shannon Fairweather, Sage Ahrens-Nichols, Alex Moore.

Sources

• Survivor 49's Jason Treul Talks Getting Gamed By Savannah, An Unseen Alliance That Didn't Make The Edit - TVLine.com
• 'Survivor 49' Castoff Addresses Alliance 'Declaring War' — Was It a Mistake? - Page Six
• Survivor 49 Episode 5 Recap - I Am A Wolf, Baby - Inside Survivor
• Who was voted off 'Survivor'? Who's left? Season 49, episode 5 recap - Cincinnati Enquirer
• Survivor 49's Kele Failing Actually Solved An Ongoing Issue I Have With The Show - CinemaBlend
• Survivor 49 Episode 5: "I'm A Wolf, Baby" - Canyon News
• ‘Survivor 49’ episode 5 live stream, TV channel: How to watch for free - NJ.com
• 'Survivor 49' Episode 5 With Sol! - Podbay.fm
• 'Survivor 49': Top 13 Contestants Revealed for Fall 2025 Season - Just Jared
• ‘Survivor 49’ Castoff Addresses Alliance ‘Declaring War’ — Was It a Mistake? - TV Insider