The next comprises spoilers from Wednesday’s episode of Survivor.
In a recreation as savage as Survivor, not everybody can “earn the merge.”
In Wednesday’s merge(-ish) episode, the tribes united on one seaside, as stress among the many Tika tribe hit an all-time excessive. Shedding the immunity problem left solely Kane, Danny, Josh, Yam Yam, Lauren and Heidi weak to the vote. After hoping he may depend on his former Soka tribe and failing to fix his relationship with Yam Yam (plus, spinning an online of lies surrounding his faux idol), Josh was left on an island of his personal and promptly despatched to Ponderosa. (Read a full recap here.)
So what does he should say about his many idol bluffs and what was his greatest mistake on the market? TVLine spoke with Josh about all this and extra.
TVLINE | Let’s begin together with your time on Tika. You three have been a motley crew over there. You known as Carolyn and Yam Yam “ridiculous and chaotic,” however how else would you describe your time dwelling with these two?
JOSH WILDER | Oh my gosh. It was a loopy journey watching it. It’s hilarious, proper? Being on the market not figuring out what’s going to occur with solely three individuals was very, very loopy, very chaotic. Every thing was up within the air on a regular basis. It was wild.
So much. I used to be making an attempt to make use of it to my benefit to trigger chaos and confusion so that individuals would say, “It’s high-quality. Let’s simply transfer on to anyone else,” or I might carry out those that do have idols to work with me. So I used to be making an attempt to make use of it the easiest way I may as a result of I knew Carolyn was on the opposite aspect and she or he was telling them that it was faux. So I’m like, “Effectively, if she tells them that, I’ve bought to maintain enjoying up on that and simply inform sure individuals sure issues.” I needed to work with Brandon, however I figured he would inform me extra data if I instructed him I had an idol and naturally, that didn’t occur. However I used to be making an attempt to make use of it to my benefit.
TVLINE | You appeared excited to be reunited together with your former Soka members, however they’d been making an attempt to do away with you all alongside. What was your response if you lastly realized that?
I assumed I used to be nearer to Matt than I used to be. For Frannie, I knew she was strategic and I didn’t know if she was gunning for me, however I didn’t know if we may work collectively sooner or later. However my entire factor was preserve your pals shut and your enemies nearer. I felt like I used to be extra aligned with them than I used to be. I used to be making an attempt to remain Soka robust after which slowly get out Ratu and produce Tika on board, nevertheless it wasn’t jamming like that.
TVLINE | Who did you belief essentially the most, and did you’re feeling like anybody was in your nook?
No, I didn’t really feel like anybody was in my nook. Trying again at it, Lauren and I, after I bought to that “merge-atory” seaside, we had actually good conversations and she or he was the one which got here to me and stated, “I feel they’re coming for you,” however I couldn’t belief her at that time as a result of I’m like, “I simply met you. You might be saying something proper now,” so I instantly discounted it. However she was the one one who actually instructed me the reality and stated that to me. I needed to belief and work with Carolyn. I actually needed to work with Yam, nevertheless it simply didn’t pan out that means. At first, Claire and I have been really actually shut, however when it got here right down to it, it didn’t make sense to maintain her at the moment, however we talked loads.
TVLINE | When you may level to your greatest mistake on the market, what wouldn’t it be?
I might attempt to be extra genuine due to course, mendacity and being wishy-washy, it’s lots of pink flags in individuals’s ears. However I used to be making an attempt to remain as small as attainable as a result of I knew I used to be going to be a risk coming in. Being a Black homosexual man, you’re at all times checked out as both a risk or being cagey. Being a surgeon, I’m used to being in management and being a pacesetter. So I used to be making an attempt to not be that as a result of I feel that may be taken as being aggressive. Possibly my character doesn’t mesh so nicely with individuals. I attempted to make myself look as small as attainable and simply win challenges in order that my tribe may see me as an asset and never suppose I’m a risk, however even then, it didn’t matter. I used to be at all times checked out as cagey, a risk, a liar. So [if I play again], I’ll attempt to be extra genuine, I feel.
TVLINE | That immunity problem seemed brutal. Simply how heavy was that boulder and what was the toughest a part of that problem?
That boulder was so heavy being on the market for 13 days, not consuming, not sleeping, at all times pondering recreation. It’s draining. Particularly with the situation I’ve. I had a kidney transplant. I don’t have a abdomen. It was a battle. I used to be passing out like I used to be taking my treatment, nevertheless it was actually laborious and I used to be so weak. So watching it, I bear in mind how I felt. My abdomen was hurting more often than not and that’s what my grimace was all about. I used to be simply at all times struggling. That problem was laborious. My gosh, it was laborious.
TVLINE | As soon as once more, we noticed a repeated puzzle that we’ve seen tons of occasions earlier than, one which Carson practiced a bunch occasions and flew via. What’s your opinion on the present’s repetition and the truth that individuals like Carson and Matthew are coming in that ready?
To be trustworthy, I feel they should redo some puzzles. I imply, it’s been 22 years, you bought to do one thing totally different, change it up, as a result of when you have individuals out right here learning this, making 3D printings… in fact, they’re going to do it. In fact, they’re going to have a bonus getting in. I adore it however I don’t, so I’m 50-50. Like, “OK, that’s cool that you’ve got that benefit and you probably did it. Good for you. That’s superior.” However within the different sense, like, OK, change it up. It’s form of an unfair benefit. However I get it. It’s a recreation.
TVLINE | Was there something dramatic or strategic that didn’t make the present that you simply want did?
I simply want they’d’ve talked extra about my situation. I needed to speak extra about my persistent sickness and advocate for individuals who have prune stomach syndrome, had a kidney transplant, who had abdomen most cancers and simply allow them to notice that you are able to do this too and even higher than everyone else as a result of it makes you somebody who can persevere via all of this. I want that was highlighted a bit extra. I didn’t need to inform my tribe about all that as a result of I used to be making an attempt to take it with me to the tip for last Tribal Counsel so I can carry it out and say, “Look, I did all this with this and it was a battle.”
TVLINE | Are you able to inform me a bit bit extra about your situation?
Prune stomach syndrome is principally when your urinary tract system isn’t developed. So [doctors] knew I used to be going to want a kidney transplant or I wasn’t going to make it. I had the transplant in ’97, then due to being on immunosuppressant medicines for therefore lengthy, I developed abdomen most cancers, which I bought eliminated my first 12 months of medical college.
TVLINE | Wow.
Yeah. It’s loads, however I’m right here and this has been a dream come true. I by no means thought I may ever do that in my lifetime. I’m pleased with myself and I’m so glad that I’m giving others with my situation who appear like me, who sound like me and who’ve the identical situation hope… and being an advocate for them and displaying them that you are able to do this too. Don’t let your situation or your sickness cease you.
TVLINE | Do you’ve gotten any regrets out of your time on the island?
Gosh, no. No regrets. It was a tremendous expertise. I miss the sunsets, the sunrises, the air, not having a telephone and being disconnected and having the ability to discuss to individuals. However, no regrets simply… doing extra for my social recreation, possibly speaking extra to individuals. However apart from that, no.
