Survivor: Tocantins’ Finale and Reunion – How Could You Go Wrong?

Usually, the Survivor finale consists of one or more people who aren’t particularly likeable, sometimes because of the things they had to do to get to the finals to begin with. But this time, the jury was faced with a can’t-lose situation, due to two of the most likeable finalists in history. In other words, no matter whom you voted for, you couldn’t go wrong.

Unlike many, I don’t necessarily root for one person to win. More often, I decide who I would rather NOT take home the dough, and root for that person to get ousted. This season was no different. If you asked me who I wanted to win, at some point I would’ve said, “Anybody who doesn’t call himself Coach.” And when he finally got ousted, nobody cheered louder than I did. Along those lines, I’m thankful my ninety-something neighbor is a bit hard of hearing, or I might have gotten a visit from the police.

Yet, as the finale started with the game down to four, did it seem like something was missing? The very things that made Ben so easy to root against were the same things that made him fun to watch, in a “love to hate” kind of way, and with his departure, it seemed like the game just wasn’t the same.

On one hand, I liked all four finalists and would not have minded any of them winning. But on the other, you knew there would be a noticeable lack of drama. This is great if you’re in the game, not so much if you’re watching at home. It reminded me of a local sports talk show host saying a certain NFL coach was “as miserable and as sorry as they come, and boy do I miss him.” Yes, I hate to admit it, but I found myself missing Ben, egotistical as he could be. There was a weird mix of relief he was gone, and half-wishing he were still around, if only for the fireworks.

Okay, now that that’s out of the way. Let’s get to the finale and our first question: When Jeff Probst announced the final four immunity challenge, did you honestly see anyone besides J.T. winning? With all due respect to Erinn, Taj, and Stephen, I just had a feeling this challenge was his to lose. Erinn certainly made it closer than I had expected, but in the end, J.T. prevailed.

Then it came time for Tribal Council, and here’s where J.T. and Stephen showed exactly why they deserved to be where they were. The easy decision would’ve been to pick Taj over Erinn due to their longer history with her. But, paying heed to the admonition not to play with your emotions, they made the strategic decision, not the emotional one, knowing Taj might beat either of them in a final two.

To be honest, I was surprised, due to the previously mentioned longer history. And while Taj was a bit hurt, the guys made the right decision. With Taj’s ouster came a rhetorical question: How ironic was it that she made the final four despite her famous husband, and when she was finally ousted, that didn’t even factor into it?

Now let’s address the final three challenge with this question: Can there be a greater example of why the show has lasted as long as it has? No matter how long it’s been on, the producers always seem to be able to come up with a fresh challenge. And the best part is, this one was more mental than physical, so in theory at least, Erinn and Stephen were finally on an even par with J.T. But again, J.T. might as well have stood for “Just Terrific.” When you’re on, you’re on, and that he was, physically, and apparently mentally as well.

Now, as to J.T.’s vote, I want to address the “Morals vs. Millions” issue I’ve seen discussed. Didn’t Colby choose morals over millions in season two? And didn’t that earn him a Reality TV Hall of Shame Moment? To be honest, after watching Taj get ousted over Erinn, I realized anything could happen, and I would’ve sworn J.T. was making at best a risky decision by not keeping Erinn. In fact, it went through my mind that if J.T. lost to Stephen, he might get a Hall of Shame moment similar to Colby’s. We now know he need not have worried.

Let’s ask this question about Final Tribal council: Did J.T. win, or did Stephen lose it? I have to agree with Stephen’s assessment in his RNO interview that there was no way J.T. was losing. The jury didn’t hate Stephen, they simply loved J.T.; it could’ve been a threesome with J.T., Nelson Mandela, and Mother Theresa, and J.T. still might have made it a clean sweep.

As to Stephen’s under-the-radar strategy of not letting the others know how much he was involved in the plotting and scheming, that’s not a bad strategy. But there is one hitch: It only works if the person sitting next to you is detestable and loathsome to the jury – obviously, J.T. was anything but.

Another issue that should be discussed is the tension that developed between Stephen and J.T. during the jury questioning phase. Is anybody really surprised at this? I don’t care how good of friends they were, the fact is that only one of them could win, so of course there was bound to be some tension. Granted, J.T. later said he acted hurt at some of Stephen’s comments to sway the jury, but still, you can’t be partners and buddy-buddy forever.

Let’s address some of the comments and questions from the jury. First, there's Debbie’s questioning of Stephen as to what he would’ve done if he’d won the final immunity. Frankly, I think she’d already made up her mind as to her vote, even if she claimed otherwise. I mean, she asked him a very pointed question, pressed him when he didn’t answer to her satisfaction, and he even gave the hard answer, yet Debbie STILL voted for J.T. What exactly did she want?