The outcome of Survivor 50 came as no surprise to one of the finalists. Joe Hunter got the final three for a second time and once again failed to impress the jury along the way or at the final tribal council.
The firefighter based his gameplay on honor and integrity to get to the end, a strategy which in got him no votes from the jury. The Season 48 contestant wound up in third place for a second time.
According to Joe, he saw it coming before the final votes were revealed.
Joe Hunter says he knew “right away” he wasn’t winning Survivor 50
There’s at least one thing Joe recognized during his time on Survivor. In an interview with Parade, he says that before all the questions and statements from the Season 50 jury began, he knew his shot at $2 million was over. The moment he sat on the stool for the final tribal, Joe says, “I could tell right away” that he wasn’t going to win. He says that, “It didn’t matter what I said,” at the final tribal.
Joe entered this season as a beloved castaway from Season 48, with a special bond with runner-up Eva Erickson. That season, Kyle Fraser wound up winning in part due to his social game and his undercover alliance with Kamilla Karthigesu. Joe admitted to feeling a little paranoid this season after being duped by them and failing to recognize their secret alliance.
In Season 50, contestants cringed at Joe’s paranoia while expressing frustration about how the littlest things seem to set him off. This became known as the “Joe-tation,” a phrase coined by Season 50’s Cirie Fields, who said they had to constantly babysit Joe.
Outside the game, it feels as though he doesn’t appreciate some of his former castmates and others who’ve played the game. He blocked many players on social media, including Savannah Louie, Kelley Wentworth and Tiffany Ervin.
In the end, Aubry Bracco won the game, defeating Jonathan Young by an 8-3 vote, and claiming the $2 million prize.
Survivor is available to stream on Paramount+.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK JOE’S GAME WAS ANY DIFFERENT IN SEASON 50 WHEN COMPARED TO SEASON 48?
