After another amazing season, Survivor 48 came to a close with an action-packed three-hour finale event, which brought about the crowning of a new sole survivor.
Heading into the finale, it was nearly impossible to predict which of the remaining players would walk away victorious, as there were arguments for why each of the Final Five contestants could and should win the game. Each of the players in the finale earned their place in the Final Five, but there is no denying that Joe entered the finale as a clear frontrunner.
All season long, everyone was talking about how Joe was the biggest threat, and his name was floated often as a target for elimination every week he didn’t hold immunity. He had an amazing social game and an even more impressive physical game, taking home four solo immunity challenges and helping his tribe pick up a string of wins before the merge. Yet, when the time came to vote, the same players who feared him as an opponent didn’t feel he was worthy of winning the game.
Cedrek was the only member of the Survivor 48 jury who chose to vote for Joe to win the game, with Eva taking second place and Kyle being crowned the winner of the season. It was honestly a bit shocking that Joe only received one vote from the jury. Here was someone everyone saw as a threat, who won the most individual immunity competitions of the season, and somehow that wasn’t enough to sway jurors into voting for him when it came time to crown the winner. As a competitor, that loss was one that hit Joe hard, and rightfully so.
“I'll be honest with you. I'm just so competitive. Here’s the real deal. You almost feel like you can't say that it hurts because on one hand, you're top three. And I mean this, what an honor because of how great every player out there was. Everybody in my cast, I was impressed with everybody. Literally everybody. And so it's difficult to then, well, how do you complain at three? But yeah, it kind of slipped through your fingers, and I'm just so competitive that it's brutal. It's brutal,” Joe told Entertainment Weekly following the season finale.
Honestly, we have to agree with Joe. It was brutal watching him come so close to the finish line and fall short in the end. That’s not to discount Eva and Kyle, who also played amazing games, but for a strong physical threat like Joe to make it to the Final 3 after playing such a strong game, it was indeed brutal watching him get just one vote from the jury.
Love him or hate him, Joe was one of the standout players this season. He managed to not only rack up a series of impressive victories but also bring about some of the most emotional moments of the season. Joe’s vulnerability and willingness to open up about his feelings gave us some beautiful moments, including the way he supported Eva and his touching tribute to his late sister while on the island. It’s rare—and refreshing—to see someone who fits the traditional 'alpha male' mold be so emotionally transparent in a reality show such as Survivor.
He might not have won the $1 million grand prize, but he certainly won the hearts of countless fans.