"Not even a valid challenge" — Survivor season 47 fans react to Teeny losing the fire-making contest to Sam in the finale

Season 47 of Survivor aired the second part of the finale on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. The episode saw the four finalists, Sue, Teeny, Sam, and Rachel, compete for the winner's title. However, one castaway fell short of making the top three and removed themselves from the race. Teeny lost the fire-making challenge to Sam, eliminating herself from the competition.

Rachel, the immunity winner, nominated Teeny and Sam to compete against one another in the fire-making challenge while she took Sue, her closest ally, to the final three with her. Whoever won the challenge would automatically earn their spot among the finalists.

Although Teeny was displeased to be competing against Sam, she wanted to put her best foot forward and eliminate her opponent. However, she found herself holding the shorter end of the stick. Both players had to make a fire big enough to burn the rope above it. Despite making fire before Sam, Teeny was defeated since the wind blew the flames away from the rope.

Survivor season 47 fans were displeased by the outcome. They took to X to comment on the format of the challenge. While some sympathized with Tenny, others reacted to how close the competition was.

"i really feel like we might need to retire fire, because wdym teeny lost because the wind chose to blow in a different direction it's not even a valid challenge atp," a fan wrote.

"Teeny joins Heather from 41 as glaring examples as to why fire making is impossible to make truly 100% fair. The wind," another fan commented.

"TEENY WAS SCREWED TAKE FIRE OUT OF FINAL 4," a netizen posted.

Many Survivor fans were unhappy with Teeny's loss, deeming it unfair.

"Ain’t no way…they must’ve made teeny’s rope out of wire bc how did that NOT burn through??" a user reacted.

"Seeing Teeny get out by fire absolutely struck my heart and killed it Ever since 42, my winner pick has been getting out by fire," a person commented.

"WHAT?! That is the most unfair fire making challenge ever! If Teeny was sitting where Sam was, she would have won!" another fan wrote.

"Am I the only one feeling like that fire challenge is a little off like how did teeny rope not break it was burning the entire time," one user posted.

Other Survivor season 47 fans expressed a similar sentiment.

"At what point do we stop calling this a Fire-making challenge? Congrats to Sam but Teeny objectively had fire before him lol like there was an inferno. That was a fire. A million dollars should not come down to literally which way the wind blows," a person reacted.

"That firemaking was insane! Teenys real beef this season was rope. First in the immunity challenge and now in fire making. Neither wanted to snap," another netizen commented.

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"One-sided rivalry" — Survivor contestant Teeny comments on her relationship with Sam

After Rachel chose the fire-making competitors, Teeny opened up about her "complicated" relationship with Sam. However, she clarified that it was more troubled from her end rather than Sam's.

"I would say that I've had a bit of a one-sided rivalry with Sam," Teeny said.

The Survivor castaway explained that she saw Sam as a "handsome, smart, athletic, strong guy," someone who had a comfortable childhood as the center of everyone's attention. Teeny added that Sam probably did things she could not do because of her "identity" and gender.

Although Sam did nothing to downplay Teeny's game, the latter admitted she projected her insecurities onto him and tried to get him eliminated. As a result, it was a huge opportunity for the Survivor star to beat her opponent in the fire-making challenge.

However, after a close competition, Teeny lost since the flames blew in the opposite direction of the rope that had to be burned. Meanwhile, Sam, who was lagging, made a comeback and took the victory.

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Survivor season 47 can be streamed on Paramount+ and Hulu.