An "Insider" Look at Survivor: Cook Islands, Episode 12 - No Place Like Home

Jonathan's Final Words
Jonathan starts by saying that he saw it coming. It was a large possibility in his mind and as the day wore on it seemed clear that he would be voted out. It's too bad. It seemed to come down to a personality issue that they never told him about. So, he couldn't fix it. He's not making excuses – he obviously rubbed them the wrong way and Adam and Parvati obviously helped them get rubbed wrong too. He doesn't hold any grudges. He had a wonderful time. He got farther than he thought he would. He loves his wife and children and thanks them for the opportunity they let him have. He notes that four of the people left in the game will join him on the jury. He hopes the Aitu make the final two, particularly Yul and Ozzie. He says it would be a tough vote between those two. He hopes Adam and Parvati don't make the final two, but if they do make it – then good for them!

Jonathan's sorry if he stepped on some toes, but it's a million dollar game they're playing on national TV and who wouldn't want to have some fun? Jonathan notes that “these people are terrible liars!” They couldn't hide what was coming. He wished they had told him to his face, but he acknowledges that he would have talked and talked and talked to try to change things if they had done so. He says he got played, but he saw it coming. Jonathan's looking forward to the jury and then getting back home.

Jonathan says that when it came to the mutiny he took a leap of faith. It didn't work out well, but not that terribly either. He may have been able to go further if he didn't jump. His personality just rubbed folks wrong. He wouldn't do things differently. Just one thing going differently could have changed the whole game. The one regret he has is that he couldn't throw water to his wife just a bit faster he would have won, sent Adam to exile, spent some time with his wife, and probably wouldn't have gone home. But things didn't quite work that way and here he is now. Not a big deal.

Jonathan, the Day After
Jonathan starts by saying that his experience has been very positive. His only real question for himself, as a person, is “was it too much fun?” He's not sure he took it seriously enough – the emotions of the other people. He thinks that people may not have seen him as trustworthy is because it's hard for him to trust. He didn't really want to trust. When he mutinied, he found people much less like-minded than the people on Aitu. So, when he was given the opportunity to join back with them, he saw it as an opportunity to make amends for a possible mistake. He stepped out to “have an adventure,” but he was more comfortable with the Aitu. It was a friendlier, happier, more comfortable position there. When he could come back, he laid his heart out there for them, saying he was relinquishing all hope of winning so that he could come back as the guy who had betrayed everyone. He actually believed they would let him back in – even though he had violated their trust before.

The one message Jonathan can come away with from the game, is that you can be more trusting with people, initially. Even though it's a game, not everyone is out trying to kill everyone else. In his home life, Jonathan doesn't go out seeking adventure – except for this. So, the game was a small microcosm of his life. He stepped off the mat and realized he was truly most happy at home. He stepped out of his life and learned he's really happy in his life. This was a happy, safe way to find this truth out. It's a good lesson to learn.

Jonathan says that he did want to learn how to spear fish, climb trees, and all that. He didn't worry about lying and cheating. That's part of the game. His attitude was “better me first.” He moved too hard and fast and it blew up in his face. He doesn't have regrets because it seemed like the right thing at the time. You learn something. You have fun. You don't have regrets and you just have a hell of a time. That's it.

It does seem like Jonathan is pretty grounded on his thoughts about being in the game. He did, indeed, treat it like a game and although he says he wouldn't change anything, he also acknowledges that he made some mistakes. I like his “no place like home” analogy as well.

Reward Challenge: Pass the Bucket
In this clip we get to see the Survivors and their loved ones struggling to throw and catch enough water to win the challenge and time with each other. The clip doesn't show anything new, but Parvati's win may well have sealed Jonathan's fate at Tribal Council this week. Oh, and I like it when the loved one participates in the challenge. Give those producers a cookie!

Loved Ones at Camp
This clip begins with the Survivors back at camp showing their loved ones some coconuts. Adam's dad, George, opines that they all seem like “such an intelligent group” to him. Well, I guess with Adam as a son, most people seem intelligent! George goes on to praise their diversity, spirit, and enthusiasm. He says that in his generation it would be a lot harder to deal with this much diversity. George says that he never prepared Adam for something like this and is amazed he can do so well. I think it's clear now that Adam takes after his father in more than just looks.

We then go to a clip of Yul telling Adam, Parvati, and Sundra to sleep with their loved ones in the shelter. He says that he, Ozzie, and Becky would put a lean to together for themselves and that the others should just “enjoy their time with their families.” He comes across as very gentlemanly and sweet, and probably earns himself some points with the others too. Parvati says that everyone was nice to the loved ones. She says it made her respect Ozzie and Yul so much more that they went out of their way to let her, Adam and Sundra spend time with their families. Told you!

Islanders' Greeting
Here, we see the lucky Survivors and their loved ones walking through a cloud of dust to the Mitiaro Island celebration. The islanders sing and dance and Sundra says as soon as they heard the singing, she knew something good was about to happen. Parvati said it was “unbelievable!” They were celebrated and greeted by at least one hundred people. One of the tribe's leaders, a motherly woman in a blue dress decked in flowers, greets everyone and invites them to the holy waters of the cave. The whole experience looked like a lot of fun, and one I'm sure everyone who partook of it will remember fondly.