Baldwin County's Jonathan Young makes the final 5 on 'Survivor' season 42

By Melanie LeCroy
Lifestyle Editor
melanie@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 5/25/22

The previews and teasers for the last couple of episodes lead the viewer to believe that Baldwin County's Jonathan Young would be headed home, but he was safe at the end of episode 11, which aired …

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Baldwin County's Jonathan Young makes the final 5 on 'Survivor' season 42

Posted

The previews and teasers for the last couple of episodes lead the viewer to believe that Baldwin County's Jonathan Young would be headed home, but he was safe at the end of episode 11, which aired May 11. With only six contestants remaining, the question going around camp was do they eliminate Young now or is there a bigger threat? With a cash prize of $1 million on the line, every little move counts.

Episode 12 opens on Day 22 of "Survivor" season 42. Everyone is still trying to digest the last tribal council and figure out the dynamics that remain. There are only six contestants remaining and some advantages and idols are still in play. The alliances and strategies increase with each passing moment.

The contestants have a chance for a tasty reward if they win the reward challenge early in the episode. Host Jeff Probst explains the obstacle course laid out before them. Each player must spin to unspool a coil of rope and then move through a series of obstacles to get a key. The key unlocks a puzzle and the first to finish wins the reward. The winner can choose between two options: sustenance consisting of grilled chicken and veggies or decadence which consists of chocolate cake and cookies.

As the race starts, Young takes an early lead and gets to the puzzle first, but Lindsay is close behind. Maryann was last to the puzzle but quickly pulls ahead before Omar takes the lead and wins the challenge. It is the first individual challenge that Omar has won all season.

Omar can choose two people to share the sustenance reward with or three to share the decadence reward. Omar chooses the decadence reward and chooses Romeo, Maryann and Mike. Young and Lindsay head back to camp while the others gorge themselves on sweets.

Omar uses the reward as a chance to build Mike's trust despite trying to work the group to vote Mike out at the next tribal council.

Meanwhile, Mike is trying to get votes to take Omar out of the game. Maryann and Mike agree that if Omar isn't taken out, he could win due to his stealthy play. Lindsay is still trying to get enough votes to get her biggest competition, Young, out of the game.

The immunity challenge is another obstacle course combining physical and mental challenges. The winner gets immunity and a spot in the final five. The contestants must race over obstacles, cross a bridge containing puzzle steps that they must use to build a staircase. Next, the contestants must maneuver a bag of balls to the top of a tall tower where a table maze awaits them. The first player to land both their balls in the maze wins immunity.

Young is the first over the obstacles and first to get the puzzle boards up, but the puzzle slows him down. Omar's puzzle skills put him in the lead as he is first to finish the steps. Omar, Lindsay, Young and Mike all reach the table maze and struggle to master it. Young and Lindsay battle it out head-to-head yet again and Lindsay lands her second ball before Young can. Lindsay wins immunity again.

Going into tribal council there are several scenarios being talked about among the six contestants. Lindsay is pushing for Young to go home. Maryann works to get Mike and Young on board with sending the influential Omar home. Maryann has an extra vote that must be played, and it is just enough to send Omar packing.

The final five going into the season finale are Maryann, Romeo, Lindsay, Mike and Baldwin County's Young. The "Survivor" season 42 three-hour finale will air Wednesday, May 25 at 7 p.m. CST on CBS. Watch to see if Young can stay in the game and come home to Baldwin County with $1 million.