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 A thinking man's 'Survivor' player, Yul Kwon won the million dollars and title of Sole Survivor on the finale of the Cook Islands edition. (Photo Courtesy of: CBS.) |
Even though it was a lacklustre season in many respects, 'Survivor' purists must be happy with the final outcome as brains beat brawn..but just barely.
Yul Kwon, the management consultant and lawyer from California, was awarded the title of 'Sole Survivor' and a cheque for a million dollars by the Cook Islands jury on last night's season finale. Much like 'Thailand' winner Brian Heidik, Yul thoroughly dominated the strategic portion of the game and was no slouch when it came to the challenges. Having possession of the Hidden Immunity Idol didn't hurt either as Yul acknowledged on the live reunion show.
"It was huge. There is a lot of luck in playing this game. I got sent to Exile Island at the right time. I think the key to winning this game is maximizing the good luck and mitigaiting the bad luck," said Yul. "I really played it (the Hidden Immunity Idol) the way I wanted to play it which was not to save my own butt one time but to really change the game up."
In one of the closest final jury votes ever, Ozzy 'Jungle Boy' Lusth, lost by a single vote although the waiter from California will be remembered for his off the chart survival skills and his out-and-out supremacy when it came to the challenges. Ozzy didn't walk away empty-handed though. Through a CBS poll, fans rewarded him with a brand-new car.
Although she found herself in front of the jury with Yul and Ozzy due to a twist that saw three finalists make it to the end, Becky Lee, the lawyer from Washington, came away from the Final Tribal Council without a single vote in her favour. Becky, who helped Yul devise strategy all through the game, was seen as riding Yul's and Ozzy's coat-tails but what really doomed her was her utterly abysmal performance at a tie-breaker challenge to determine whether she or Sundra would join Yul and Ozzy as a finalist. With jurors yawning and dozing off, Probst finally gave Sundra and Becky matches during the fire-building challenge after an hour of watching the pair fumble and fail. Thirty minutes later, Sundra ran out of matches and Becky built a successful fire to win her place in the finals.
The controversial twist that had the tribes divided by race at the beginning of the season was defended by the players during the finale. Yul commented that the Aitu Alliance's accomplishments proved that skin colour wasn't a factor at all in the game. People judged others on their character and not their background.
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In previewing the next instalment, 'Survivor: Fiji', Probst announced that there will be 19 players, one tribe will live the rich life at a luxury camp while the other will have virtually nothing, there will be two Hidden Immunity Idols (a twist will surround one of them) and Probst predicts that one decision by a Survivor will cause heated controversy. 'Survivor: Fiji' is slated to debut in early February.
The Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:
Aitutonga Tribe
1. Becky Lee.
2. Yul Kwon.
3. Oscar Lusth .
4. Sundra Oakley .
5. Adam Gentry.
Aitutonga Tribal Happenings
Adam sits all alone in the hovel. Ozzy believes he has given up
Sundra: We really haven't talked about what to do in the Final Four. I am sure there will be some hurt feelings.
Becky is afraid Ozzy will beat them if they don't get rid of him. They have to kick him the first chance they get.
Ozzy: It feels poetic that we are going to be the Final Four. Things could change though. Winning Immunity is key to my survival.
Adam: I have to win to stay in the game.
Immunity Challenge
Running through an obstacle-rope course, the Survivors have to collect bags of puzzle pieces and bring them back to their station. First Survivor to solve the puzzle wins. Probst says the puzzle is the most difficult they have ever had on the series.
Reward
Result
Aitutonga Pre-Tribal Council Happenings
The Aitu Alliances celebrates. They are in the Final Four. Sundra is proud that even though they are different races, Aitu pulled together.
Adam would like nothing better than to get the Hidden Immunity Idol out of Yul's hands. He speaks to Ozzy and Sundra about voting for Yul and making him use it. Ozzy: Adam definitely sewed some seeds of doubt. This could go many ways. Adam wonders if his last ditch effort will save him.
Aitutonga Tribal Council Happenings
As the jury walks in, Nate is limping and has a crutch. Ozzy states right up front that nothing that transpired at camp will alter Adam's fate. Adam: I am done. None of them are budging. Becky admits that Ozzy's Immunity wins have propelled the alliance along. Adam comments that Becky and Sundra have just been riding along with Yul and Ozzy. Ozzy: I just wanna win on my own. Adam: These are boring people. They don't take risks. Becky: It is not the right time to ask for or use the Hidden Immunity Idol. Adam says that Yul is protecting Becky. Yul: Our alliance is tight. There never have been any cracks.
Final Voting
1. Becky Lee: Adam.
2. Yul Kwon: Adam.
3. Oscar Lusth: Adam.
4. Sundra Oakley: Adam.
5. Adam Gentry: Yul.
Tribal Council Victim: Adam Gentry.
Final Words: "Ozzy, Yul, Becky, Sundra, you guys got us good. You knocked us all out. You beat us fair and square. I played the game as best I could. I came up a little short. All I can say is congratulations and good luck to all of you." - Adam Gentry.
Aitutonga Tribal Happenings
Aitu parties back at camp. Sundra: It is amazing we made it this far. We booted eight Rara members. Yul thinks the plight of Aitu is a great morality tale.
Aitutonga Tribal Happenings
Ozzy is up first and enjoying the sunrise. He is taking in the moment and focusing his energy to win today. Yul brings Tree Mail that informs everyone that the Final Immunity Challenge is coming up. There will be three finalists not two this time around. They are to paddle out to an island, collect torches of the ousted players and burn them. Becky: It is special for the four of us to experience this together.
Immunity Challenge
After fond words and a torch barbecue at the top of a hill, the Final Four head off to their challenge. They must all stand on a raised platform in the water. Every so often, they will be required to pull a wire that will cause a piece of the platform to drop off. During the last stage, the platform will be about half the size of a postcard.
Reward
Result
Aitutonga Pre-Tribal Council Happenings
At camp, Ozzy congratulates Sundra. Ozzy: You did an amazing job! Sundra: I thought I had it. Yul and Ozzy discuss the options. Since Yul has the Hidden Immunity Idol and Ozzy won Immunity, Ozzy thinks the only fair thing is to force a tie vote and allow Sundra, Becky to slug it out. Yul talks to Becky about giving her the Hidden Immunity Idol to save her. Becky thinks it would really look bad in front of the jury. Sundra asks Yul if there will be any "surprises" at Tribal Council. Yul: No. Yul: I hope to God things work out.
Aitutonga Tribal Council Happenings
Ozzy tells Probst their decision about the tiebreaker and how everyone agreed it was only fair. Yul says he won't play the Idol. Sundra: If Yul is lying, she got played. Becky explains how accepting the Idol from Yul would look very bad to the jury. Yul: He was naïve about playing a clean game. He has to stay true and respect loyalty.
Final Voting
1. Becky Lee: Sundra.
2. Yul Kwon: Sundra.
3. Oscar Lusth: Becky.
4. Sundra Oakley: Becky.
Since the vote is tied, Probst calls for a fire-building, tiebreaker challenge. After one hour and 30 minutes of sitting around and twiddling his thumbs as Becky and Sundra flub it up, Probst gives them both matches. Sundra runs out and Becky is able to construct a fire good enough to burn through her rope.
Tribal Council Victim: Sundra Oakley.
Final Words: "The fact that I made it this far has ignited so many things in me and I am so proud. I gave it my all like I did everything else. Yul and Ozzy, one of you is winning a million dollars and you are taking me out to dinner." - Sundra Oakley.
Aitutonga Pre-Tribal Council Happenings
As they all sit and enjoy the sunrise, Yul says that after today, he will get to feel human again. Ozzy: I have to keep pinching myself. Becky knows she blew the tiebreaker challenge. The jury is going to come after her but she is proud of the social game she played. A boat arrives with a feast. Becky is nowhere in sight. Ozzy: It is symbolic that only Yul and I were here when it arrived. That is how the jury votes will play out. Becky won't get any votes for her embarrassing fire skills. Yul and Ozzy finally locate Becky. The feast begins. Yul says his friendship with Becky is worth more than the million dollars. Ozzy is proud that he acted as a good role model for Mexicans. Ozzy: I am up against two lawyers. I hope I can keep it together.
Aitutonga Final Tribal Council Highlights
In answering Nate's question, Ozzy says he did control things and got Billy voted off because he thought he was hurting the tribe. When his tribe was wiped out, Ozzy says he had to rely on himself. Yul admits to Jenny that he allowed Ozzy to put himself out there and be targeted. Both Yul and Ozzy tell Rebecca they will work hard to change the stereotypical images some might have of their respective races. Adam asks Ozzy to rip into Becky and Yul. Ozzy says Yul didn't work as hard as he could and Becky rode coat tails. He points out her cruddy performance at the tiebreaker challenge. Candice demands that Yul give a Yes or No answer to her question: Did he try to shameless work the jury? Yul: Yes. Brad asks Ozzy what was the most challenging event in his life. Ozzy tearfully describes the fact that his birth father wants nothing to do with him. Jonathan says Yul told half-truths and gets Yul to state his case. Jonathan comments that Ozzy is arrogant and feels he is entitled to the money. Jonathan wants to know what Ozzy will do with the money. Ozzy says he would go back to school. Jonathan says Yul outplayed everyone.
Parvati votes for Ozzy. She says he is the Ultimate Survivor and played his heart out.
Sole Survivor: By a vote of 5 to 4: Yul Kwon.
Powell's Thoughts:
In the annals of 'Survivor', it seems 13 was an unlucky number for the series. This was not anything close to being a great season. Because of the racial twist, the series was dead on arrival. Since the producers were looking to fulfill the racial element, the casting process suffered and so did the game with so many 'Survivor' novices making elementary and embarrassing mistakes. The drama certainly picked up when the Mutiny occurred and Aitu's storyline was fascinating to watch. It was too little, too late by that point though. The producers hung their hats on a deliberately controversial twist and the casting of the series suffered greatly because of it.
It is time to limit the power of the Hidden Immunity Idol and go back to employing the location's theme as a backdrop for everything that transpires like in the Pearl Islands chapter. The Hell/Heaven twist was first used on Big Brother U.K. and it provided a lot of drama. It could do the same for 'Survivor' if handled well. As has been proven in the past, the producers are quite capable of bouncing back from a dud so I expect the next season will deliver on all fronts.