The Most Deserving

The Most Deserving
Episode Information
Version	United States
Season	The Australian Outback
Episode Number	15/16 (029)
Original Release	May 3, 2001
Viewership (in Millions)	36.35
Ratings/Share (18-49)	15.9/39
Episode Chronology
Previous	"The Final Four"
Next	"Reunion"
Subpages

The Most Deserving is the season finale episode of Survivor: The Australian Outback.

Story

Day 40

It's Day 40 in the Outback, or as Keith explains, "the home stretch." One of these three remaining castaways will be $1 million richer in two days. Privately, Tina and Colby each talk about how they've been playing the game strategically instead of trying to please everyone. Keith says that it's been a "hell of a ride."

Day 41

The final three are asked to carve and paint their own idols as a remembrance of their experience. They toss their idols into the water. As the final three head to their Final Immunity Challenge, they partake in the Rites of Passage ceremony. As they pass the torches of the castaways who have left the game before them: Debb, Kel, Maralyn, Mitchell, Kimmi, Michael, Jeff, Alicia, Jerri, Nick, Amber, Rodger, and Elisabeth they reflect on the game and how each person has played a part in them being there now. The "Fallen Comrades" challenge takes place at Tribal Council in front of the jury, as Jeff asks questions about the other castaways. It all comes down to the final question, which Colby answers correctly over Tina. Colby wins his fifth straight Immunity Challenge. Colby immediately goes to cast the only vote that will decide the final two. The decision is in: Keith is booted.

Day 42

On Day 42, Colby and Tina break down camp and burn most of it. Then they go to the Final Tribal Council, where the jury awaits to award one of them a million dollars.

In her opening statement, Tina says that she hopes the jury votes based on strategy and not whether "you got your feelings hurt." Colby states that he's not necessarily better than Tina, but that he did pretty well for himself.

Rodger is the first juror to speak, and asks the final two to name a time when they were unethical. Tina says that she was always ethical within the context of the game. Colby says that he had to lie to Jerri and Amber at certain times. Amber asks what three things got Tina and Colby to the final two. Colby says endurance, water, and relaxation. Tina says strategy, Colby, and heart. Amber also asks what they'll do with the money if they win. Colby: buy a Harley and take care of his parents financially; Tina: pay off her house and start a charity. Elisabeth asks them to name two jury members who least deserve to win the million. Tina says Jerri and Rodger; Colby picks Jerri and Keith. Keith asks about a time when manipulation came into play. Both Tina and Colby name their blindside of Jerri's alliance, in which they booted Mitchell to save Keith. Alicia wants to know Tina's and Colby's proudest and least proud moments of the game. Tina says she's proud of helping others, such as letting Keith win the first Individual Immunity, but she's not proud of voting people off. Colby is most proud of winning the fire-making challenge by coming from behind, and least proud of not showing enough respect to the land. Nick notes that Mike's accident changed the course of the entire game. He asks who would've made the final two if not for Mike's evacuation. Colby picks Nick and Mike; Tina says Mike but can't name another. Jerri is last and wants to know if Tina and Colby would like to apologize to anyone. Tina says she would apologize to Kel, because she was the one who rifled through his backpack looking for the beef jerky. Colby apologizes to Elisabeth, Rodger, and Alicia for voting them out. Jerri seems unsatisfied, but sits down.

Finally, it's time to vote. Rodger, Nick, and Amber vote for Colby. Jerri and Alicia vote for Tina. Elisabeth's and Keith's votes aren't shown. Jeff collects the votes and tells the castaways that the winner won't be revealed until they return to the U.S.

Live in Los Angeles, the castaways are gathered for the big reveal. It's a 3-3 tie as Jeff pulls out the final vote. The name: "TINA." The audience cheers for Tina Wesson, the winner of Survivor: The Australian Outback.

Challenges

Immunity Challenge: Fallen Comrades
Each remaining Survivor is asked several personal questions about their fellow tribe members who have been voted out before them. The person who answers the most questions correctly wins.
Winner: Colby Donaldson

Tribal Council

Day 41

Tribal Council 13: Barramundi
Voted Against	Voter
Keith (1 vote)	Colby
VOTED OUT: Keith Famie

Voting Confessionals

Colby's confessional is only available on DVD.

	Colby	“	(voting for Keith) Keith, you did good, my man. You surprised everyone, uh, including yourself. So, congratulations.	”

Final Words

	Keith	“	It was an absolute honor to play this game with these participants. My time here spent in the Outback really gave me an opportunity to look at life from the past, present and the future. It was a great, great opportunity, and I've learned so much about myself because of it.	”

Final Tribal Council

Tribal Council 14: Jury Vote
Voted for Winner	Voter
Tina (4 votes)	Alicia, Elisabeth, Jerri, Keith
Colby (3 votes)	Amber, Nick, Rodger
RUNNER-UP: Colby Donaldson
SOLE SURVIVOR: Tina Wesson

Voting Confessionals

Elisabeth's, Keith's, and Nick's confessionals are only available on DVD. Rodger “ (voting for Colby) This was a very, very, very tough decision for me. Uh, I think I like both people. I think they both have played the game extremely well, or they wouldn't be the last two Survivors. I do, however, think that Colby probably played the game a little harder. Uh, I was very much impressed with the way he's handled himself in all the athletic events, and also the games which require mental strategy, and, uh, I just think he has turned out to be the ultimate Survivor in this, in this game. ” Elisabeth “ (voting for Tina) Both of you played an incredible, incredible game, and, Colby, I have no doubt in my mind that you'll get your haul. Your potential is phenomenal. Tina, however, has my vote tonight. Keep that fun going and keep me posted. ” Alicia “ (voting for Tina) Let me just say that in the game of life, Colby would be the one I would probably most likely gravitate to because of his realism, because of his strength, and I really, really admire the way he answered questions, but this is the game of Survivor, and I think Tina is more deserving of the honor, because she has really played this game. It wasn't winning seven or eight challenges that got her here, it was strategy and using her head, and I really admire the way she played this game. She's a smart woman, and I think she deserves it. ” Keith “ (voting for Tina) Tina, I'm voting for you. You came in as a really tough competitor. You tried really hard. You never gave up, and, uh, you tried so hard to win some of those challenges, and in my mind, I kind of thought you'd win this whole thing, and I always wanted to say to you "Don't worry about the little ones, 'cause you're probably gonna get the big one," so hopefully, this goes your way. ” Amber “ (voting for Colby) Tina, you've come 42 days. You haven't received a vote yet. I don't know if Rodger voted for you or not, but you won't be receiving your first vote from me. Uh, Colby gets my vote tonight. Um, it's been a really, really hard decision. Um, Colby, I think you have been more straightforward with me than Tina has. I mean, there have been times where both of you lied and -- and, uh, things that hurt, but I feel that Colby's been more straightforward with me and, uh, I guess played the game better. So Colby, if you win this, congratulations, buddy. ” Nick “ (voting for Colby) I came here tonight undecided about who I was gonna vote for. My question was important, and I think Colby was honest and direct. Um, Tina didn't answer it. She kind of dodged around it, and, uh, she shouldn't have. Best of luck -- luck to the both of them. ” Jerri “ (voting for Tina) It's been very clear to me from the very beginning of the breakup of our original alliance that, Tina, you have been the mastermind behind all of the strategies that have taken place, and I also notice that your greatest strategy of all was getting Colby to pick you over Keith to be sitting where you're sitting right now, so I can't help but have a great sense of respect for that. ”

Final Results

Debb 16th	Kel 15th	Maralyn 14th	Mitchell 13th	Kimmi 12th	Michael 11th	Jeff 10th	Alicia 9th
Jerri 8th	Nick 7th	Amber 6th	Rodger 5th	Elisabeth 4th	Keith 3rd	Colby 2nd	Tina Winner

Trivia

• This is the only episode of the U.S. version of Survivor to start with three castaways remaining in the game.
  • By extension, as the first finale episode to start with an odd number, it is the first to start with an uneven number of men and women.
• This is the first time a Survivor season has run over 39 days.
• The Final Tribal Council vote is the only time Elisabeth Filarski and Rodger Bingham do not vote for the same person over the course of the season.
• Tina Wesson became the second Sole Survivor.
  • This was the first time the winner was announced on front of a live audience, as opposed to the previous season, Borneo, where Richard Hatch was proclaimed the winner right after the jury voted. The revealing of the winner in front a live audience would be in effect until Winners at War.
  • She is the first female winner of the U.S. Survivor franchise.
• Colby and Tina agreed that whoever won the game would also take the Barramundi tribe flag as an extra prize to commemorate the winner's time in the Outback. Tina still has the tribe flag, mounted on her wall. She claims that it still smells the same as it did during the game.