Alabama’s Jonathan Young lives to flex another day on the CBS reality competition show “Survivor,” and he got to stuff his face in the process.
“Survivor” aired Wednesday night, with the Gulf Shores native avoiding elimination with the tribe setting their sights on three other contestants, ultimately sending home a player who never found a break during season 42.
Last week, Young saw his immunity evaporate as the tribes merged, creating a worst-case scenario heading into this week’s episode.
As AL.com’s Lawrence Specker wrote last week, from the beginning of this season, Young firmly established himself as a challenge beast thanks to his strength and fitness, making him a big asset to his Taku tribe. But he was quickly labeled him as a likely “merge boot,” despite having an edge in the weekly challenges that grant immunity to the winner.
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Last week’s two-hour edition saw the end of the Taku, Ika and Vati tribes after Jonathan muscled his tribe through portions of the challenge and helped them win and secure immunity (and a fancy dinner) for the group.
But when a new twist allowed Rocksroy Bailey to reverse the outcome of the challenge, Jonathan and his pals were once again vulnerable. Thanks to some nifty politicking from his buddy Omar Zaheer, Jonathan survived the vote (while getting two his way), at the expense of Lydia Meredith.
Jonathan remained a big target heading into Wednesday night’s one-hour episode, titled, “You Better Be Wearing a Seatbelt,” though he had time to shore up alliances and battle for immunity with others desperately seeking allies.
Jonathan’s former Taku tribemates like Omar, Maryanne Oketch and Lindsay Dolashewich seemingly had little to worry about to start Wednesday’s episode, while others outside their group (prior to the merger) like Rocksroy, Tori Meehan and Chanelle Howell might find targets on their backs. And would Romeo Escobar work to remove Jonathan just as he did a week ago before his plans got thwarted?
Jonathan is one of the “cool kids,” apparently, as one contestant surmised when doubting her future in the game. Does that mean his place is secure for the foreseeable future now that he’s forged bonds with powerful players?
In the Reward Challenge, the castaways were divided randomly into two groups of five (with one castaway having no chance at reward), as team members took turns jumping off a platform into the water before guiding a buoy on a rope through various obstacles and onto a platform. When all buoys were collected groups attempted to land all five into a floating basket target. The first team to finish would win peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and potato chips. Despite Omar leading his team to an early lead, Jonathan channeled his inner Steph Curry and absolutely crushed this portion.
So the team of Jonathan, Chanelle, Mike, Rocksroy, and Tori won reward, while Drea Wheeler found the “Knowledge is Power” advantage, allowing her to ask any castaway if they had an idol or advantage, and if they did, they would have to give it to her.
When they walked into camp, they found individually packaged PB&J sandwiches. “It was just like your mom made it for you,” a satisfied Jonathan said about their delectable reward. “I’m normally 250 pounds, and I work out all the time. I probably eat 4,000 to 5,000 calories a day. And on an average, I probably have 400 calories a day out here. So any food I can get is gonna help me think more clear, do better in the challenges, even if it’s one sandwich.”
As the castaways arrived for their next challenge, Probst noted they were all “getting leaner” and that their clothes were hanging, even adding “Jonathan almost looks human,” which tickled the other players.
In the Immunity Challenge, castaways held a buoy by supporting it with two rods on a narrow platform. If the buoy fell or the castaway stepped off the perch, they would be eliminated from the challenge. The last standing castaway would win immunity. But before the challenge, host Jeff Probst negotiated with the tribe for four days worth of rice in exchange for some castaways sitting out of the challenge. They eventually agreed on four castaways (Drea, Lindsay, Maryanne and Omar). While Jonathan gave a valiant effort, he eventually lost his balance, as Tori won her second individual immunity.
But even as voting began, Jonathan seemed safe from the jump thanks to his new post-merge alliances.
“I already feel better, Mr. Jeff,” Young told Probst. “I feel like I got some life back into me.”
While Romeo and Hai received votes, Chanelle caught seven and became the eighth person voted out of “Survivor 42.” She had a feeling going into this week, too, noting she was on the right side of the numbers, which is exactly where you don’t want to be post-merge.
Next episode: The promos shows Jonathan sharing a heated moment with Lindsay when she says, “He feels like a top dog, and he’s not listening to me!” Probst reveals a surprise twist for next week: Two people will be voted off of the island.
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