We Can Do Hard Things is the season premiere of Survivor 45.
Contents
- 1 Story
- 1.1 Day 1
- 1.2 Day 2
- 1.3 Day 3
- 2 Challenges
- 3 Tribal Council
- 3.1 Final Words
- 3.2 Still in the Running
- 4 Trivia
- 4.1 Secret Scenes
- 4.2 Behind the Scenes
- 4.3 On Fire with Jeff Probst
- 4.4 Other
- 5 References
Story[]
Day 1[]
Eighteen castaways, all from different walks of life, are introduced as they are heading toward the marooning barge via three different boats representing each tribe.
Drew | “ | I'm one of the smartest people you've ever had on Survivor. Now, I don't say that to brag; I say it factually. But the show is very different than the Ivy League: there's a level of sophistication and finesse that's required here that you don't learn in the classroom. | ” |
Katurah | “ | I studied this game, and I already know that, if you come off really intelligent or strategic, you're getting voted out early. And so, I can't tell that I'm a lawyer, I can't tell that I'm strategic, until I can, like, show my true colors and start slicing throats. (laughs) | ” |
Emily | “ | There's a lot of people out here who are just happy to be here, happy to have the experience—I don't really care. I'm a goal-driven person: if I'm not gonna win the game, I would rather be the first person voted off. It's a complete waste of time if you're not the Sole Survivor. Excuse me for being honest! | ” |
Jake | “ | I live in Boston, Massachusetts, with my 85-year-old grandmother. I sleep on a bed straight out of the '60s that's painted bright pink, so, yeah! If I make the million, I'm paying off loans, I'm getting a place, I'm moving out of grandma's house! | ” |
Sifu | “ | I'm Sifu, which is S-I-F-U; it means 'master' or 'instructor'. I've been doing tai chi for 24 years, and I'm also a traveling musician, so I'm always doing those really cool licks. And I do that when I'm doing tai chi too—I listen to super heavy metal, so I can kinda contrast the yin and yang. I… am… surviving… on an island! Yeah—! (laughs) | ” |
Host Jeff Probst welcomes everyone on the barge. An emotional Brandon Donlon is unable to hold back his tears, expressing that this has been his dream since being 11 years old. Jeff also welcomes back Bruce Perreault, who participated in the previous season but was evacuated on the first day due to medical reasons after getting hurt during the first challenge. When Jeff asks him what his advantage is having been here before, Bruce says that there is none, as he had only been on the beach for twelve hours. Emily Flippen pushes back by saying Bruce is more physically and mentally prepared, as he has experienced the game before. Before the castaways compete in their first Reward Challenge, Jeff announces the names of the tribes: Belo, Lulu, and Reba.
During the challenge, Bruce (for Belo) and Sean Edwards (for Lulu) were the first to row their boat back to the barge. However, Brandon struggled to climb the ladder back to the barge, allowing Belo and Reba to gain momentum, eventually leading to Reba winning the reward of pot, machete and a flint. After the challenge, Jeff revealed that Belo and Lulu would have another chance to win supplies for their tribes in another challenge: Sweat vs Savvy. Brando Meyer and Jake O'Kane from Belo, and Kaleb Gebrewold and Sabiyah Broderick from Lulu volunteered to compete, as Brandon was checked on by medical.
Day 2[]
Day 3[]
Challenges[]
Reward (Challenge 1)
Reward (Challenge 2)
Reward/Immunity
Challenge: Barge Simpson
Each tribe is divided into three pairs. The first pair must race to empty out a crate filled with heavy bags and rope, allowing them to retrieve a key. The second pair must then leap off the barge and swim to a boat containing a second key, then paddle around a buoy and back to the barge. The last pair will take those two keys to unlock two poles, which they must use to push a bag containing a flint off a metal spring. The first tribe to release their bag and get their hands on their flint wins.
Reward: Pot, machete, and flint.
Additional Stipulation: The two losing tribes will have to earn their supplies in a penalty challenge.
Winner: Reba
Challenge: Sweat vs Savvy
Two representatives from each of the tribes that lost the opening Reward Challenge will compete head-to-head in a penalty challenge. Each pair must first transfer 40 logs across the beach before solving a brain teaser puzzle. The first pair to complete the puzzle within the time limit wins.
Reward: Pot, machete, and flint.
Additional Stipulation: If neither pair completes the challenge before time runs out, neither pair will receive the reward.
Winner: None
Challenge: Mud Crutch
One tribe member at a time must race up and over a ramp into a mud pit before crawling under an obstacle to the mat. Once everyone is through, the tribe will carry a heavy bag of coconuts to a hanging basket, where two players will race to shoot the coconuts into the basket until it becomes heavy enough to release a set of keys. The tribe will then work together to get everybody to the top of a tower, where two players will use the keys to unlock and solve a vertical jigsaw puzzle depicting the season logo. The first two tribes to complete their puzzle win.
Reward: The tribe that finishes first will nominate one member to visit the losing tribe and attend their Tribal Council.[1]
Additional Stipulation: The losing tribe must forfeit their flint, though they can win it back if they win the next Immunity Challenge.
Winners (in order of finish): Belo and Reba (Belo sent Kendra McQuarrie to observe Lulu)
Tribal Council[]
| Tribal Council 1: Lulu |
|---|
| No vote |
| QUIT: Hannah Rose |
Final Words[]
Hannah | “ | I feel fear in anticipation that, like, the world is going to hate me. Here I am in front of millions of people being like, 'I have to bow out'. I read so many articles and books, and I researched this, and nothing can prepare you for what it's like to be completely at zero. I have nothing in the tank. I have so much more respect for every single Survivor player that has ever played. | ” |
Still in the Running[]
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Trivia[]
Secret Scenes[]
- (Untitled): The Reba tribe attempts to make fire.[2]
- Bruce's Crab Hunt: The Belo tribe is feeling pretty positive with a decent shelter and with Bruce catching a crab.[3]
- Lulu Treemail: The Lulu tribe picks up their first treemail for the upcoming challenge.[4]
Behind the Scenes[]
- As part of a twist, Kendra was sent to strategize with the Lulu tribe before their Tribal Council. She was also given the power to cast a secret vote against one of the Lulu members; she voted against Brandon, but this was negated with Hannah quitting the game.[1]
On Fire with Jeff Probst[]
- The Game Is On[5]
Other[]
- After this episode, Bruce has improved on his previous finish of 18th place.
- The name of the first Reward Challenge, Barge Simpson, is a reference to Marge Simpson, a character from The Simpsons.
- The Sweat vs Savvy challenge marks the second time in Survivor history a challenge has ended without an official winner, following the Immunity Challenge in "This Is the Man Test".
- This episode marks the earliest time a contestant has quit the game.
References[]
| Survivor 45 Episodes |
|---|
| "We Can Do Hard Things" · "Brought a Bazooka to a Tea Party" · "No Man Left Behind" · "Music to My Ears" · "I Don't Want to Be the Worm" · "I'm Not Batman, I'm the Canadian" · "The Thorn in My Thumb" · "Following a Dead Horse to Water" · "Sword of Damocles" · "How Am I the Mobster?" · "This Game Rips Your Heart Out" · "The Ex-Girlfriend at the Wedding" · "Living the Survivor Dream" · "Aftershow" |
