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Enter Jonathan Young Survivor 50 With one of the biggest goals in the game. Known primarily as a beast of a challenge, he returns to the island determined to prove that there is more to his game than just brute strength. So he spent the special season showing a more strategic side of himself, and along the way, he formed an unlikely friendship with… White lotus creator Mike White – and found himself battling one of the game’s most influential social players – in Cirie Fields, who he now believes played a major role in his downfall in the live finale.
Although he finished second, which was Jonathan’s second place Survivor His journey looked very different from his first. Hollywood Reporter He spoke with Young about his evolving strategy, the move he wishes he’d made, and why he still feels there’s unfinished business in the game.
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A lot of players said during the pregame that they would play differently than they had before, but you actually did, as viewers saw your more strategic side. What do you consider your best move this season?
I think I started off strong with Camila and Dee coming out. Those were very good. I would say these two.
When we spoke in Fiji, you mentioned how you spoke with Boston Rob before you exited for Season 50. What advice did he give you that you used this time around?
Man, all the message he gave me about how I need to smile more…there’s no one there to help you win. Keeping that in mind was very important. Things like that. The fact that you cannot control the clan exchange or who is on the jury is very important to remember, so that you are not completely destroyed in these moments by losing $2 million. You can’t control what you can’t control, and that’s a big problem.
After you won individual immunity in the fifth round, were there any talks about taking out Aubrey instead of Tiffany?
There was. I didn’t think she had Tiffany’s respect because I knew how everyone liked Tiffany and Aubrey was a close second, but I always leaned towards Tiffany.
What is your mentality before the final pre-match?
Once the ball dropped on Simmotion, I had a pretty good idea the votes would go towards Aubry. I actually told the producers that and they said, “No, you can fight anyway.” But I could have told you who would likely vote for me and who would vote for her before the final tribal election.
Tribal councils are long. They don’t have time to show everything. Did you ever have a thought like, “Okay, I’ve got some momentum here. Or is it fading?” How did you feel while this was happening?
I kinda knew. But at the same time, when I heard Siri and Ozzy say, “Okay, I let the girl in the middle pass and now you’re all screwed.” “Well, I know how Ozzy would try to draw this and how Siri would be too,” I started by saying. Then when Stephenie said what she said, I knew I had her in my corner. So you start to know for sure what will happen when you hear how the questions are phrased.
Was there a move you wanted to make that never came together?
I really wanted to take Cirie out early, and if I would have taken her out before the merge, it would have helped my game tremendously because she was one of the people who rallied the troops to not vote me out in the Ponderosa. This was something I wish I could have done. I mean, Dee was thinking about voting Ciri out with me when we were in a tribe together, but I was never able to make that move. I fell in love with Siri. It was hypnotic.
Players knew your reputation before day one. How did you convince people that there was more to your game than just being a physical player?
I didn’t want to buy them the whole game until the final moments. Then you wonder if they think the moves you made were actually real. Has he really changed or is he just saying he did these things? This is something they don’t want to give you more credit than you deserve in Final Tribal either. I was pretending to be Jonathan himself, at least for the most part, to most of the jury. But the people who knew the moves I was making, like Stephanie, Coach, Joe, Chrissy, they kind of knew that I had changed and that’s why they called me the “total package.” That’s a good name, isn’t it?
Who have you connected with the most here that viewers might not expect?
Mike White. It was really cool. I didn’t know we would do it like we did. Mike was great. It was very cool and I liked it very much.
What kind of things did you talk about?
Anything and everything. He’s very funny. He can talk to you about… I mean some things I can’t say, but he’ll just talk about being in Hollywood. He was joking about having money and everything. Mike will tell you everything
How do you feel overall about the experience this time compared to when you played 42 years ago?
It was a world of difference. My game has completely changed while retaining some of the positives of my last game. But obviously it hasn’t changed enough and that’s why I have to go and study the game now for another four years and come back a little stronger for the third time because you know that’s the magic.
If this is ultimately your final Survivor Chapter, what do you hope people say Jonathan Young brings to the game?
I would really like people to realize how much of a different game I played. I think the majority, about 95% of people, say they want to play a different game and they have to go back to their old ways. I’ve seen that a lot this season. I love Ozzy to death, but he’s back to the same game and that’s what I want – for people to realize I played a different game.
If they call you back, are you disappointed? Or do you feel complete?
If Mr. Jeff [Probst] He makes the call, I don’t think I can tell him no.
Follow along with THR‘s Survivor 50 Final coverage here.
