Monty Brinton/CBSThe 18th season of outwitting, outlasting and outplaying came to a rousing end Sunday, showcasing the charm—and luck!—of everyone's favorite bright-eyed cowboy.
Alabama cattle-rancher James "J.T." Thomas Jr. came out on top of the Survivor: Tocantins finale, chosen the unanimous winner at the final tribal council. The million-dollar prize came on the heels of a nailbiting finale that repeatedly played out in J.T.'s favor.
As if a million bucks wasn't enough, Jeff Probst named the 24-year-old champ the fan-favorite and recipient of an extra $100,000. On top of all of his winnings, J.T. was seemingly untouchable throughout the entire finale, winning the immunity idol twice tonight and earning all seven votes in the final tribal council.
So how did J.T. acquire all of the bragging rights? Here's what went down during the final days in Tocantins:
The first immunity challenge had the final four battling to put together a 3-D puzzle. It didn't look like much of a competition as Erinn Lobdell took the lead, but in the last minute J.T. pieced it all together and won the immunity idol.
Erinn seemed to be the odd person out because of the Jalapao tribe alliance between the other remaining finalists, Stephen Fishbach and Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George. To the shock of everyone—especially Taj who just minutes before had said, "I know these guys have my back"—Stephen and J.T. chose to keep Erinn around for the final challenge.
"I got blindsided," Taj confessed. "If Erinn finds a way to weasel her way into the end she's got my vote."
Unfortunately for the last lady standing, there would be no final arguments. The threesome were tested on coordination and concentration in the last immunity challenge, rolling multiple balls down a strange contraption and catching them at the bottom—with one hand tied behind their backs. Erinn was dealt out quickly, and once again J.T. was triumphant.
Lots of thought went in to J.T.'s choice of who to take along to the final tribal council: BFF and loyal ally, Stephen or annoying Erinn. Ultimately J.T. went with his heart and decided to stay true to his word, snuffing Erinn's torch.
The bromance briefly went sour when Debbie Beebe, one of the seven former tribe members turned jurors, asked Stephen if he would have stayed true to his word and brought J.T. along to the finale. He confessed that he probably would have gone with the safer choice, Erinn.
Back in New York for the winner's announcement, things were back to good between the two—and they looked pretty great, too. All cleaned up and spiffy, Probst read the final seven votes one-by-one, each time garnering a huge smile from J.T. as he heard his name called over and over again.
The rancher welled up as he was announced the unanimous winner.
"I can't help it," he said during the live reunion show in New York. "I'm happy — it's probably the happiest I've ever been in my life, obviously."
What else did the reunion reveal? Benjamin "Coach" Wade did take a lie detector test...and passed! While Probst couldn't believe his eyes, it appears that Coach really was captured by natives. To that Probst responded, "I believed you all along." Coach was also accompanied by his "lady friend," who had her own classic one-liners. "Actually, I slay the dragon," being our favorite. Priceless. Sydney Wheeler is also still modeling and Sierra Reed was a surprise nominee for fan fave alongside J.T. and Taj.
J.T. only has two plans for the future: to take the money he won and make more of it, and to somehow work with Stephen again because he feels obligated and grateful that they made it so far together.
Samoa will be the site of the 19th season, which heads back to CBS this fall.