But it didn’t turn out that way.
So hostJeff Probsteventually got them out of the water.
For the first time inSurvivorhistory, Probst and producers stepped in and called a temporary halt to the challenge.
The cast of ‘Survivor 42’.Robert Voets/CBS
It was a super dramatic scene, but left many unanswered questions.
Was the challenge that difficult when it tested out in the days beforehand?
How long were the players actually in the water before production stepped in?
Jonathan and Maryanne on ‘Survivor 42’.Robert Voets/CBS
And was anyone ever in serious danger of drowning?
And we also got the host’s take on that wild Tribal Council tie.
(Also double-check tocheck out our full episode recapandexit interview with Jenny Kim.)
Jeff Probst on ‘Survivor 42’.Robert Voets/CBS
It reminded me of being a kid in Wichita, KS when a tornado was brewing.
That’s what it felt like out there.
What was the challenge like during rehearsals with the Dream Team?
Hai, Chanelle, and Daniel from ‘Survivor 42’.Robert Voets/CBS
But we knew today would be much more difficult for the players.
And just like a tornado, the wind and the swells were gathering steam by the minute.
you might even see it in the trees andSurvivorflags blowing as the players are walking in.
But there was also a sense of urgency, especially from our challenge team and our marine department.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that every five minutes it was gaining in intensity.
Even getting the players out to their starting pontoons took some effort.
From that point forward, the ocean continued to increase in ferocity.
It just kept pounding, wave after wave.
You’re trying to keep your head above water, but the swells consume you.
Your fight or flight reflex kicks in and it can feel overwhelming.
In other words, for the players struggling, there was nothing fun about it.
That was real effort, real exhaustion, real fear.
It’s important for our viewers to know that the players are always safe.
We have safety swimmers at every challenge.
So from a safety point of view, the players aren’t ever in real danger.
I’m sure a safety swimmer will be here any second.
“I’ve been in a similar situation, and I can still remember the feeling.
The two struggling tribes were in the water for 22 minutes.
That is an incredibly long time in those conditions.
At times, the ocean pulled them so far off the course they were running into our camera platforms.
But to their credit, not a single player ever called for help.
Nobody asked us to stop the challenge and rescue them.
They kept working together.
They kept trying to finish the challenge.
I was truly impressed.
The swells were getting bigger, the waves more intense.
In 42 seasons ofSurvivor, we have never had to stop a challenge.
How much time did the tribes get to regroup before you started them up again on land?
The entire process of stopping and restarting the challenge didn’t take very long.
THAT’S how you do it onSurvivor!
Jonathan in this challenge.
I can’t think of another more dominating individual performance in any challenge inSurvivorhistory.
And then he finished out the challenge with the bean bag toss!
One quick one about Tribal Council.
What did you think was going to happen and what do you make of what did?
Going into this tribal council, Mike and Chanelle cannot vote.
So only four of the six can cast votes.
Daniel casts his vote for Lydia and Hai casts his vote for Jenny.
This results in another tie and now we’re deadlocked.
So drawing rocks is obviously a very risky move.
You’re better to just agree and send Lydia or Jenny home.
And let me say this I really like Daniel.
Here’s what Daniel said to Hai:I want to start with the following premise.
I really do not want to draw rocks.Done.
By telling Hai he was afraid to draw rocks, he lost all his bargaining power.
“And that was that.
This game can get you in so many ways.
Hai won the battle, but the war is far from over.
