The Survivor 50 finale just delivered a record no one wanted to see — and it puts Rizo Velovic in a spot the game has never seen before.
It’s difficult to make Survivor history, but Survivor 50 has seemed determined to do it in nearly every episode. And once again, the finale delivered another unforgettable moment.
For the first time in the show’s history, a contestant has now lost the fire-making challenge twice. Rizo Velovic — the man, the myth, the legend, R-I-Z-G-O-D, RIZGOD, baby — has now fallen in fire twice, with the latest setback coming in the Survivor 50 finale.
Even more striking, Rizo’s two fire-making losses came in back-to-back seasons. Fans will remember he previously lost to Savannah Louie in Survivor 49. That kind of record feels like one that may stand for a very long time, because it is hard to imagine anyone matching it, let alone surpassing it.
After Aubry Bracco won the season’s final immunity challenge, she chose Rizo and Jonathan to face off in the fire-making showdown. She then selected Joe Hunter to join her at Final Tribal Council.
The fire-making battle was a clear blowout. Rizo never really had a realistic path to victory against Jonathan. Joe even gave him an assist, much like he did with Eva Erickson on Survivor 48. Rizo did appear to have improved, but in the end, it still wasn’t enough.
Then came the moment that had everyone talking. Jeff Probst accidentally spoiled the result of the fire-making challenge during the Survivor 50 finale and live reunion. Rizo was brought out on stage, Jeff revealed that he had lost, and then Cirie Fields quickly corrected the moment by pointing out that viewers had not yet seen the challenge.
It was an awkward but funny blunder. Jeff handled it professionally, but it also took some of the suspense out of a challenge that is usually one of the season’s biggest highlights.
