I Trust You but I Trust Me More

I Trust You but I Trust Me More
Episode Information
Version	United States
Season	Tocantins
Episode Number	14/15 (273)
Original Release	May 17, 2009
Viewership (in Millions)	12.94
Ratings/Share (18-49)	4.2/11
Episode Chronology
Previous	"The Martyr Approach"
Next	"Reunion"
Subpages

I Trust You but I Trust Me More is the finale of Survivor: Tocantins.

Story

Night 36

The final four congratulate each other, having gone from outnumbered Jalapao, and in Erinn Lobdell's case, perennial Timbira outsider, to outlasting everyone else. However, the celebrations are short-lived as Stephen Fishbach worries about his betrayal of Coach Wade and potentially losing his and other jury votes. Stephen and J.T. Thomas contemplate the reasons they voted the way they did that night, and Erinn contemplates how to move forward past the seemingly solid Jalapao Three.

Day 37

J.T. takes an early lead in the Immunity Challenge, but Stephen and Erinn catch up at the puzzle portion. Erinn gives J.T. a close finish, but J.T. narrowly wins his second Immunity Challenge in a row. The tribe congratulates J.T., but Erinn is a bit crushed because she now knows she's likely the next to go. Taj Johnson-George is confident J.T. and Stephen will protect her and fulfil their final 3 deal. Erinn makes a pitch to the pair of former Jalapao men that Taj has played a strong game and is viewed very highly by the jury. J.T. and Stephen go back and forth between the two because the jury values loyalty a lot. J.T. is worried Taj might be tougher in the next challenge than Erinn, while Stephen is also worried that if Taj does win the next challenge she may take J.T. instead of Stephen. At Tribal Council, Taj remains faithful in her Jalapao alliance and Erinn says she wouldn't be shocked if she survived the vote, but rather surprised. The votes are read and the jury and Taj are stunned at the latter's blindside by a 3-1 vote. In her final words, Taj is processing the situation but vows to vote for Erinn if she finds her way to the end. Later that night, the final 3 congratulate their achievement but Erinn's constant talking annoys J.T. and Stephen who still feel bad about having to vote for Taj.

Day 38

Erinn and Stephen both agree that it would be suicide to go to the end with J.T. so they promise to take each other to the end if either of them wins immunity. Stephen then says the title phrase of the episode when confirming to Erinn that he still wants to win immunity for himself despite this deal, to which Erinn understands and agrees. J.T. knows for sure he will take Stephen to the end to fulfil his final 2 deal with his best friend in the game, but in the back of his mind he's not quite sure Stephen would do the same. Better to be safe than sorry, J.T. knows he's got to give it his all in this final challenge. The final 3 participate in the Rites of Passage in good, somewhat humorous spirits as Erinn says she's glad she's doing this with J.T. and Stephen, to which Stephen replies "I'm glad it's me and two other people". In a confessional, Stephen stresses the importance of this ritual as showing respect to the other 13 castaways as players and as people, fitting in a reference to a certain "Dragon Slayer".

The Final Immunity Challenge, a slight departure from most endurance challenges at the end of the game, centered around concentration. Erinn, J.T., and Stephen did not struggle until the challenge progressed and they were using three balls at once. Erinn was unable to make a save eliminating her from the challenge and creating a showdown between Stephen and J.T. The difficulty ramped up by adding a fourth ball. Stephen made a series of great saves before finally losing the challenge, confirming J.T.'s 3rd consecutive win and his spot at Final Tribal Council.

In confessional, Stephen says J.T. winning immunity was a weight off his shoulder because he didn't want to be the one to have to decide between Erinn and J.T. Erinn tells J.T. that Stephen felt it would've been tough to go up against J.T. on Day 39 and would have taken Erinn had he won, which upsets J.T. who was certain to take Stephen to the end. That certainty diminishes a bit knowing that Stephen had doubts. Before letting J.T. talk to Stephen, Erinn also adds that she doesn't think any of the Timbira jury members would vote for her to win, possibly only getting Taj's vote. Stephen notices something is wrong and implores J.T. to talk to him about it, but J.T. reassures Stephen that Erinn is going home. J.T. has some time to think about his decision and it boils down to does he go with the easier option (Erinn) or does he stay loyal to his number one ally (Stephen). This dilemma is brought to the forefront of Tribal Council, and Erinn and Stephen continue to plead their case. Stephen does fumble a bit and Probst points out the hypocrisy in expecting J.T. to be blindly loyal when the final 3 have not shown the same loyalty to the rest of the jury. The camera pans to the jury where Debbie points at Taj, referring to J.T. and Stephen's decision to betray her last night. Stephen apologizes for his nervousness, thinking that everyone is nervous besides J.T. since he has immunity. J.T. replies, "I'm pretty damn nervous" and Erinn thinks J.T. may be the most nervous one of the three. It is time to vote, and J.T. votes Erinn out of the game sending her to the jury. Mission accomplished for this unlikely duo of tight allies and friends. Only that friendship will now be put to Survivor's ultimate test.

Day 39

J.T. and Stephen wake up in good spirits on Day 39 and are elated to see the tree mail consisting of a huge Day 39 breakfast. They take time to reflect on their journey including their first impressions of each other, remembering how they did not think they would work well together. Despite their different personalities, strengths, and backgrounds, they ended up working well together and thinking the same way throughout the game. After a pleasant day, attention shifts to Final Tribal Council. J.T. is ready to put his friendship aside for tonight because he still plans on winning, while Stephen is not prepared to let the jury just give J.T. "a round of applause and the check" as he has a story to tell and he won't go down without a fight.

Stephen and J.T. have somewhat different jury statements in which Stephen feels he deserves credit for his growth and strategic play while J.T. thinks he would be a worthy winner because he played well despite being predictable and honest to everyone. Brendan is up first, and he questions Stephen's opening words by saying there's no sport or game where you win for being most improved. Stephen feels that Survivor is different, while J.T. adds that learning to do something doesn't make you better than someone who already knew how to do it.

Erinn asked J.T. why Stephen was the better player to take and Stephen about his multiple alliances. J.T. justified Stephen by saying he saw the strength in him early on, and Stephen felt that navigating through several alliances is a valid strategy and he hopes the jury can respect that.

Debbie was hard on J.T. for claiming to be honest and using that facade to betray others. J.T. explains to Debbie that he went into this game prepared to play hard when it was necessary, just like Debbie did when she threw Coach under the bus. Debbie asks Stephen if he would've taken J.T. if he had won final immunity last night. Stephen initially waffles with a non-answer but Debbie demands a solid answer. Stephen says he would've taken Erinn, to which J.T. appears visibly shocked and disappointed.

Coach asks J.T. and Stephen, who he had dubbed "The Warrior" and "The Wizard" in the early days of Forza, for examples of honesty in the late stages of the game. J.T. said he kept his promises by voting for Erinn the night Coach went out as well as taking Stephen to the end over Erinn. Stephen said he felt he was being honest by writing every person's name down when he targeted them, taking on whatever burden that vote carried.

Sierra said Stephen already answered the question she had for him with his earlier statements. She blasts J.T. for being at the final 3 with two of the weakest players in the game Erinn and Stephen. J.T. once again explains that Stephen is not a weak player, because not only did he perform well in tribal challenges for the most part but he won individual immunity and nearly won the Final Immunity Challenge.

Tyson addresses how J.T. and Stephen felt they shared a brain and asks if they felt they were an asset to each other. Both agree to that, however, J.T. feels that even if he did not have Stephen he could have made it to the final 2 without him. Stephen felt hurt by that statement given how well they worked together.

An emotional Taj closes the jury statements expressing how hurt she was by J.T. and Stephen. J.T. explained that it was not effortless to vote for Taj, even though he did not write Coach's name down, and said his relationship to Taj was like that of brother and sister. Stephen rationalized the decision to vote out Taj claiming that voting her out gave him better odds of making it to the final 2, and also claimed that he protected Taj several times when J.T. wanted to vote her out earlier in the game (most likely referring to the decision to vote out Sydney over Taj before the merge), which J.T. denies. Taj says she has heard enough to make her mind up. J.T. and Stephen briefly argue over that last statement. Stephen says his friendship is more important than the game, but J.T. reminds Stephen that he would've taken Erinn. Stephen claims he never made that decision in his heart, while J.T. expresses to the jury that he now feels like a fool for trusting Stephen.

The jury votes, and Probst thanks the final 9 for their contributions to the season. The scene shifts to the United States for the reading of the votes. 4 votes for J.T. confirms his victory in Survivor: Tocantins, becoming the second person after Earl Cole to receive a unanimous jury vote.

Challenges

• Immunity (Day 37)
• Immunity (Day 38)

Challenge: Tarantula
The castaways would have to race through a series of rope tunnels in the shape of a tarantula to three different stations to retrieve three bags of puzzle pieces. The puzzle pieces would then be assembled into a web-shaped puzzle. The first castaway to finish their puzzle would win.
Winner: J.T. Thomas

Challenge: Simmotion
The castaways would drop a ball into a metal chute. The ball would travel down a spiraling metal track and exit out of one of two points. The castaway would have to catch the ball and drop the ball back into the chute at the top. Every few minutes, an additional ball would be added to the track until eight balls were simultaneously going around the track. A turnstile gate in the middle of the track would rotate, causing the balls to alternate exiting out of the two exits. If a ball exits the track and is not caught, the castaway would be eliminated from the challenge. To make the challenge more difficult, each castaway would have one hand tied behind their backs.
Winner: J.T. Thomas

Tribal Council

Day 37

Tribal Council 12: Forza
Voted Against	Voter
Taj (3 votes)	Erinn, J.T., Stephen
Erinn (1 vote)	Taj
VOTED OUT: Taj Johnson-George

Voting Confessionals

Erinn's and Taj's confessionals were shown in the episode.

	Erinn	“	(voting against Taj) You've played a great game. Hope to see you on the other side.	”

	Stephen	“	(voting against Taj) You're a great friend and a great ally. But ultimately, I think eliminating you gives me safer passage to the final.	”

	J.T.	“	(voting against Taj) Sorry, Taj. Love you, but, uh, Erinn would be a lot easier to beat, babe.	”

	Taj	“	(voting against Erinn) It had to be you or me.	”

Final Words

	Taj	“	Um, it's Day 37. I've got blindsided by my Jalapao members that have been looking out for me from Day 1 and for them to blindside me, it blew my mind. So it's gonna be really hard to choose who's worthy of a million dollars. But either way, if Erinn finds a way to win for herself into the end, she got my vote.	”

Day 38

Tribal Council 13: Forza
Voted Against	Voter
Erinn (1 vote)	J.T.
VOTED OUT: Erinn Lobdell

Voting Confessionals

J.T.'s confessional was not shown in the episode.

	J.T.	“	(voting against Erinn) This may cost me a million dollars, but it won't cost me for what I stand for.	”

Final Words

	Erinn	“	I was a little bit surprised but I think like deep down I definitely knew that that was the decision that J.T. was gonna make and I'm really proud of myself for as far as I've come. It's really been life changing and I'm glad I was able to stick around as long as I did.	”

Final Tribal Council

Tribal Council 14: Jury Vote
Voted for Winner	Voter
J.T. (7 votes)	Brendan, Coach, Debbie, Erinn, Sierra, Taj, Tyson
Stephen (0 votes)	None
RUNNER-UP: Stephen Fishbach
SOLE SURVIVOR: J.T. Thomas

Voting Confessionals

Sierra's and Taj's votes were not shown during their confessionals.

	Sierra	“	(voting for J.T.) Nice job.	”

	Taj	“	(voting for J.T.) I am a woman of my word; you should try to be a man the same way.	”

Final Results

Carolina 16th	Candace 15th	Jerry 14th	Sandy 13th	Spencer 12th	Sydney 11th	Joe 10th	Brendan 9th
Tyson 8th	Sierra 7th	Debbie 6th	Coach 5th	Taj 4th	Erinn 3rd	Stephen 2nd	J.T. Winner

Trivia

Other

• J.T. becomes the first winner to receive all jury votes and not have a vote cast against him, therefore playing the first "Perfect Game". He would be followed by Survivor: Caramoan winner John Cochran.