Fans are mourning the end of Matt and Frannie's Survivor showmance

Matt and Frannie, Survivor. Pictured (L-R): Carson Garrett, Frannie Marin, Danny Massa, and Matt Blankinship
(Image credit: Robert Voets/CBS)

Matt and Frannie were "highkey the best showmance we've had since Rob and Amber," fans say, which is why viewers are in mourning after one-half of the sweet twosome proved to be the casualty of a crazy twist during this week's episode of Survivor season 44

For weeks, Matt and Frannie's close "friendship" has delighted fans but worried the rest of the Survivor season 44 cast, so much so that the pair actively downplayed their connection and alliance while living in the Soka camp so as not to be targeted by their tribemates. 

All of that changed, however, after the three tribes disbanded and the remaining players merged and would be competing as individuals from there on out. In this week's challenge, though the players were split up into two groups, the player from each group who lasted the longest balancing on a beam would win immunity, with the individual who lasted longest overall winning immunity for their entire group. 

Frannie ended up holding out the longest on her team, giving her immunity and a feast of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but rather than dropping off the balance beam early to give Matt, who was on the other team, his own shot at immunity, she held out and won the challenge overall, saving her whole team from the Tribal Council. 

That left her BFF Matt, however, vulnerable to elimination, especially since he left his bag containing his Shot in the Dark advantage and idol back at camp, meaning he couldn't use them during Tribal Council. In the end, the votes were between Yam Yam and Matt, with the latter ultimately and sadly being sent home. Matt is also officially the first member of the jury. 

"I am so proud of you for winning, and I don't want you to blame yourself for what happened," Matt told Frannie, who was in tears upon his elimination. 

Fans react to the end of Matt and Frannie's showmance:

Naturally, fans were sad to see the end of the burgeoning relationship between Matt and Frannie and frustrated with the latter for not playing more strategically this week to save her "island boyfriend." Here's what viewers are saying on social media:

New episodes of Survivor air Wednesdays on CBS and are streaming on Paramount Plus. You can also keep up with who's been eliminated with our Survivor season 44 cast piece.

Christina Izzo

Christina Izzo is the Deputy Editor of My Imperfect Life. More generally, she is a writer-editor covering food and drink, travel, lifestyle and culture in New York City. She was previously the Features Editor at Rachael Ray In Season and Reveal, as well as the Food & Drink Editor and chief restaurant critic at Time Out New York. 

When she’s not doing all that, she can probably be found eating cheese somewhere.