'Survivor' Season 47, Episode 12: A trio established a top-secret mission. Did it work?

There was a top-secret mission taking place under the noses of the majority alliances on the latest episode of "Survivor."

Season 47 Episode 12, titled "Operation: Italy," featured a high-stakes reward challenge with a coveted prize: An Italian feast and letters from home for the winner of the remaining seven contestants. It was clear during the challenge, which had the contestants moving through an obstacle course and throwing balls to balance onto a high wooden beam, that everyone wanted to win, but it was Sam Phalen who finished first and won the coveted prize.

Events at the reward set up a fragile yet crucial plan that led to a blindside of one of the players feeling the most safe in a game where nearly no one is.

Season 47 of the long-running reality competition show, which first aired on CBS in 2000, has players stranded on an island and living on meager food, clothing and shelter, as well as competing in challenges and forming alliances to vote out fellow members. The last player standing wins the title of "sole survivor," and the $1 million prize that comes with it.

Here's who went home this episode.

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Who went home on 'Survivor' Season 47, Episode 12?

After Sam Phalen won the reward challenge, host Jeff Probst allowed him to choose two others to accompany him to the feast and overnight stay at the "Survivor" sanctuary. He chose fellow outcast Genevieve Mushaluk and former tribemate Andy Rueda.

Away from the others, the trio conducted a multi-layered plan deemed "Operation: Italy" after the feast they had just eaten. The most crucial step was for Rueda to flip on the "underdog" alliance consisting of Sue Smey, Caroline Vidmar, Rachel LaMont and Teeny Chirichillo while still convincing them he was on their side.

Back at camp, Rueda's job was to convince his alliance that Mushaluk had a hidden immunity idol in order to split the vote between her and Phalen, and the trio would then ultimately vote out LaMont, who they considered to be the biggest threat in the game.

But LaMont pulled through a second immunity win in a row at the immunity challenge, sending the "Operation: Italy" members to consider a second option: Vidmar.

At tribal council, they played it cool, never alluding to their ultimate motives and Vidmar, a 27-year-old strategy consultant from Chicago, was none the wiser. As her name was read for the third and majority vote, the rest of the underdog alliance was shocked when she received a majority of votes to go home.

Who went home last week on 'Survivor'?

Last week, the remaining players deemed four-time immunity challenge winner Kyle Ostwald a physical threat. Many players saw their chance at immunity dashed during a frustrating and delicate challenge, which involved balancing blocks spelling "immunity" on a wooden board with a rope.

Eventually, Rachel LaMont was the closest to balancing the spelled "immunity." With Ostwald right on her heels, she pulled through, leaving the challenge beast vulnerable to being voted out.

And vulnerable he was, even as he tried to stir the pot at camp and place pressure on other players. But, he eventually became the fourth player to join the jury that will vote for the $1 million winning player.

How to watch 'Survivor' Season 47

You can watch new episodes of "Survivor" Season 47 live on CBS and Paramount+. The premiere episode was two hours long, and subsequent episodes run for 90 minutes.

Episodes are available to stream on Paramount+, live and on demand for Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs.

When is the 'Survivor' Season 47 finale?

Instead of a three-hour finale episode, the Season 47 finale will air in two, two-hour episodes over two weeks, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Part one will air Dec. 11 from 8-10 p.m. ET, and part two will air Dec. 18, also from 8-10 p.m. ET.

As with other seasons in the new era of "Survivor," an aftershow hosted by Jeff Probst will be filmed with the winner, other finalists and jury directly after the winning player is crowned in Fiji.

Where is 'Survivor' filmed?

While "Survivor" previously took contestants to remote locations around the world, from the Pearl Islands to the Philippines and Guatemala, the show has been filmed in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji for the past 15 seasons.

Who is the host of 'Survivor?'

Jeff Probst has hosted all 47 seasons of the show, which has been on the air since 2000. He also serves as an executive producer.

Who won 'Survivor' Season 46?

In the season finale of "Survivor" Season 46, Kenzie Veurink, a 29-year-old hair salon owner from Michigan, won the title of "sole survivor" by a 5-3-0 vote over runner-up Charlie Davis and third-place finisher Ben Katzman.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who was voted out of Episode 12 from 'Survivor' Season 47?