Jonathan Young entered Survivor 50 with one of the biggest targets in the game. Known primarily as a challenge beast, he returned to the island determined to prove there was more to his game than brute force. So he spent the milestone season showing a more strategic side of himself and, along the way, he formed an unexpected friendship — with White Lotus creator Mike White — and found himself battling one of the game’s most influential social players — in Cirie Fields, whom he now believes played a major role in his downfall in the results of the live finale.
Despite coming up just short with a runner-up finish, Jonathan’s second Survivor journey looked very different from his first. The Hollywood Reporter spoke with Young about his evolving strategy, the move he wishes he’d made and why he still feels like there’s unfinished business left in the game.
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A lot of players during the pregame said they were going to play differently than they had before, but you actually did, with viewers seeing your more strategic side. What do you consider your best move of the season?
I think I started out really strong with the Kamilla and Dee out. Those were pretty good. I’d have to say those two.
When we talked in Fiji, you mentioned how you chatted with Boston Rob before you came out for season 50. What advice that he gave you did you use this time around?
Oh man, the whole letter that he gave me about how I need to smile more … nobody’s there to help you win. Keeping that in mind was very, very important. Stuff like that. And the fact that you can’t control a tribe swap or who’s in the jury is very important to remember so that, in these moments, you’re not completely destroyed by losing the $2 million. You can’t control what you can’t control, and that’s a big deal.
After you won individual immunity at final five, were there any conversations about taking Aubry out instead of Tiffany?
There were. I didn’t think she was as respected as Tiffany because I knew how everybody loved Tiffany and Aubry was a close second, but I was always leaning towards Tiffany.
What was your mindset right before the final tribal?
As soon as the ball dropped on Simmotion, I had a pretty good idea that the votes were going to go towards Aubry. I actually told the producers that and they said, “No, you can fight anyways.” But I could have told you who was going to vote for me and who was going to vote for her probably before the final tribal.
Tribal councils are long. They don’t have time to show the whole thing. Did you get a sense like, “All right, I have some momentum here. Or it’s slipping away?” How did it feel as it was happening?
I kind of knew. But at the same time, when I heard Cirie and Ozzy saying, “Well, you let the girl in the middle get through and now y’all are screwed.” I started going, “Okay, I know how Ozzy’s going to try to paint this and how Cirie is, too.” Then when Stephenie said what she said, I knew I had her in my corner. So you start figuring out for sure what’s going to happen when you hear how they phrase the questions.
Was there a move you wanted to make that just never came together?
I really wanted to get Cirie out earlier and if I would’ve gotten her out before the merge, that would’ve tremendously helped my game because she was one of the people who rallied the troops to not vote for me at Ponderosa. That was something I wish I could have done. I mean, Dee was thinking about voting out Cirie with me back when we were on a tribe together, but I could never make the move happen. She fell in love with Cirie. She was hypnotic.
Players knew your reputation before day one. How did you convince people there’s more to your game than being a physical player?
I didn’t want to convince them about the entire game until the final moments. And then you wonder if they believe the moves that you made were actually real. Did he actually change, or is he just saying that he did these things? That’s something they don’t want to give you more credit than you’re due on the Final Tribal, either. I had been playing that I was the same Jonathan, at least for the most part, to most of the jury. But the people who knew the moves I was making, like Stephenie, Coach, Joe, Chrissy, they kind of knew I changed and that’s why they would call me the “Total Package.” That’s a good name, isn’t it?
Who did you connect with most out here that viewers may not expect?
Mike White. He was really cool. I didn’t know we’d hit it off like we did. Mike was awesome. He was super cool and I liked him a lot.
What kind of things did you two talk about?
Anything and everything. He’s so funny. He could talk to you about … I mean some stuff I can’t say, but he would just talk about being in Hollywood. He would joke about having money and just everything. Mike would tell you everything.
How do you feel overall about the experience this time around compared to when you played in 42?
It was a world of difference. My game completely changed while keeping some of the pros of my last game. But obviously, it wasn’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 it’s the charm.
If this ends up being your final Survivor chapter, what do you hope people say Jonathan Young brought to the game?
I really would like for people to realize how much of a different game I played. I think the majority, about 95 percent of the people, say they want to play a different game and they have to fall back into their old ways. I saw it plenty this season. I love Ozzy to death, but he fell back into the same game and that’s what I’d like — is for people to realize I played a different game.
If they call you back, are you down? Or do you feel like you’re complete?
If Mr. Jeff [Probst] makes the call, I don’t think I could tell him no.
Follow along with THR‘s Survivor 50 finale coverage here.
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