Coming into episode four of Survivor 50, we knew country music star Zac Brown was going to have a role in this episode. We didn’t know he would get approximately a third of the airtime and have more confessionals than some of the players have had all season long.

But before we get to the country music, we see that Stephanie feels blindsided by Vatu’s BIG MISTAKE to vote out Q last episode, and now feels she’s the next target if they go to Tribal Council again. Meanwhile, Ozzy is targeting Angelina because he wants Mike White to be his No. 1. 

Over on the Kalo Tribe, we see Genevieve and Aubry’s rivalry heat up, as Aubry goes idol hunting. Genevieve calls her back to the group, frustrating Aubry, but that move by Genevieve pays off, as she found another Billie Eilish Boomerang Idol. In a confessional, she says that this time, she wants to keep to herself and not tell her alliance. Her plan is to send it to Rizo on the Cila Tribe, as she expects Rizo to be voted out so then the idol can go back to her. 

Speaking of Rizo, over at Cila, Rizo, Charlie, Rick, and Jonathan conduct a talent show. Rick juggles, Rizo does a perfect Mickey Mouse impersonation, and Jonathan beats up Charlie. Once the fun dies down, we once again see Charlie say Rizo is his No. 1 target, and that he can’t stop thinking about what he said to him about not voting for his No. 1 at the Final Tribal of Survivor 49. It is clear the rivalry between the Survivor 46 and Survivor 49 castaways is coming to ahead soon.

For the immunity challenge this week, players had to go in the water, grab a boat, pull up sandbags that contain puzzle pieces, get that boat with the pieces in it through a sand net, then build an arch puzzle. The prize for the winner? A private concert with Zac Brown himself. Kalo wins the concert while Cilia wins immunity, and Vatu can’t even get to the puzzle, forcing them to go to Tribal Council again.

During the next course of events, we see Zac Brown spearfish, feed the Kalo Tribe, and give the Tribe a preview of his new song. At Cila, we see Dee upset for not getting the reward, as she is a fan of Zac Brown and says his music has gotten her through tough times. We also see Rizo’s reaction to getting Billie Eilish Boomerang Idol.

As for who’s going home, the original plan of Stephanie is still in motion, at least according to Ozzy, but what Ozzy doesn’t know is that Mike White is devising a plan to get out Emily. He tells Christian Emily is like was Gabby Pascuzzi 2.0.

Christian see’s this as an opportunity to get out Mr. White, so he goes to Emily with this information. The plan then is a 3-2-1 vote, with Ozzy being left out of the vote because he will vote for Angelina. However, Emily immediately tells Ozzy Mike is gunning for her, and Ozzy says he’s not moving off Angelina, causing the whole plan to be in doubt because Christian is essentially deciding between Emily and Mike White.

Emily thinks it’s her because at Tribal, she says something is off with the vibes, but Christian sticks to the original plan of voting with Emily and Stephanie to take out the creator of The White Lotus. As they head back to camp, Christian tells Ozzy he’ll explain the vote, and Ozzy says, “Too late.”

Based off the previews of next week’s episode, two Tribes will head to Tribal, and based off the edit, some clashes between Rizo and Charlie, Genevieve and Aubry, and Christian and Ozzy may be decided.

Regardless of what you thought of Zac Brown’s involvement, this is one of the best gameplay seasons of Survivor I can recall. The blindsides are constant, and the dynamics between the Old Era and the New Era have made for a fun season. Right now, the game is being told essentially through Christian’s eyes since he’s been to every Tribal. We’ll see if that changes next week.

Grade: B+