Fiction Becomes Reality

"Fiction Becomes Reality"	"Fiction Becomes Reality"
 	
Season 	Survivor: Thailand
Episode Number 	13/13 (065)
First Broadcast 	January 6, 2018
Episode Chronology 	Episode Chronology
Previous 	Convince
Next 	Boys vs Girls(next season)
Fiction Becomes Reality is the season finale of Survivor: Thailand.
==Story==
===Day 36 (Night)===
The final four return to camp having just ousted the final ex-Sook Jai member from the game, being the first tribe in Survivor history to consecutively take out the other tribe after the merge.
Julius proposes a toast for the tribe, congratulating all four of them for making it this far, and wishing them luck in the days to come. The group all begin heading to sleep, wanting to get enough rest for the upcoming immunity challenge, knowing that with only four people left and no more expendable Sook Jai members, that there is nowhere left to hide other than behind an immunity necklace.
===Day 37===
The final four awaken to watch the sunrise, taking in the beauty of the landscape that has been their home for thirty-seven days, knowing that by tonight one more of them will have been sent to the jury.
Vince and Aaron find a flower kit by the tribes cave, with instructions laid out informing them that they must make krathongs in the style of the Loi Krathong celebrations that take place in Southeast Asia. The four look through the instructions, taking different arrays of flowers for themselves to begin building their krathongs.
Eventually the group finish their krathongs, placing them all together by the cave before gathering their things to head off to the next individual immunity challenge, all eager to win their way into the final three.
Upon reaching the immunity challenge, Jeff informs the final four that they will undertake a 'second chance' themed challenge, taking on elements from previous challenges. The challenge would begin with a balance beam, followed by pushing a wicker ball through a fishnet. The next stage consisted of the slide puzzle from the first immunity challenge, releasing a knife that they'd use to retrieve a bag of materials in order to obtain a key to release the contestant from a jail cell door. The final stage would involve eating a boiled tarantula, previously seen in the loved ones reward challenge, with the first individual to do so winning themselves a spot in the final three, and the right to compete in the last immunity challenge of the season.
On Jeff's go, the four race their way to the balance beam, all struggling on their first few goes, trying to get the hang of balancing across the bamboo. Aaron and Salma eventually get across first, shortly followed by Vince, leaving Julius behind struggling on the beam. Aaron quickly negotiates his ball through the fishnet, just as Julius manages to reach the second stage of the challenge. Julius makes quick work of the fishnet, with Vince finishing around the same time, as Salma continues to struggle with it. As the two men reach the puzzle, Aaron manages to release his knife, moving on to the penultimate stage of the challenge. As another few minutes pass, Salma finds herself starting on the slide puzzle, whilst both Vince and Julius finish and move onto the jail cell segment, seeing Aaron struggling to find his way out. As time passes, Aaron and Julius both manage to unlock their jail cells only seconds apart, racing towards the final section of the challenge. As they unveil their baked tarantulas, Aaron somewhat hesitates, whilst Julius quickly tips the spider into his mouth, chewing frantically to try and get it down. Despite Aaron's efforts to do the same, Julius quickly shows Jeff an empty mouth, granting him immunity and a spot in the final three.
Challenge: Try Again
The Survivors would compete in an obstacle course that used elements of past Challenges. First, they would have to dig deep into the sand to retrieve a wicker ball and race over a bamboo balance beam. Next, they would have to push the wicker ball through a fishnet and place the ball on a pedestal. The next stage consisted of solving a puzzle, which would release a knife. They were then to take the knife and cut a rope that released a bag of material that would help them negotiate their next task of retrieving a key from inside a jail cell. The final stage was a surprise Thai delicacy, and the first person to consume it would win Immunity, thus ensuring themselves a spot in the Final Three.
Winner: Julius
Immunity Challenge: Try Again	Immunity Challenge: Try Again	Immunity Challenge: Try Again	Immunity Challenge: Try Again	Immunity Challenge: Try Again	Immunity Challenge: Try Again	Immunity Challenge: Try Again	Immunity Challenge: Try Again	Immunity Challenge: Try Again	Immunity Challenge: Try Again	Immunity Challenge: Try Again
Placement 	Winner 	Competitors 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Castaway 	Julius 	Aaron, Salma, Vince 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
The final four return to camp with Julius wearing the immunity necklace, meaning either Aaron, Vince or Salma will become the sixth member of the jury, and the first Chuay Gahn member to be eliminated from the game in almost twenty days.
Once the standard congratulations have been given to Julius, the group begin to walk around the beach, all trying to have their one on one conversations to sway votes in their desired direction. Vince approaches Salma who is washing one of her shirts in the water, wanting to confirm that the vote is still on Aaron as previously planned.
Aaron sits alone by the fire, watching Salma and Vince talking down by the water, then looking over at Julius who is hanging his immunity necklace from the rock wall of the cave. He begins to feel concerned that things may not be going his way, and that Salma may take the easier route and join up with Vince and Julius to vote him out of the game.
With thirty minutes left before tribal council, Aaron is forced to ask for time alone with Salma, as both Julius and Vince have made an effort to keep the pair apart, wanting to prevent them from having any chance to force a tie and instead to get Salma to join their final three. However, they eventually concede and accept Aaron's request, leaving the caves so that Aaron has a chance to plea his case to Salma.
At tribal council, the final four discuss the emotions they felt making the krathongs earlier that day, particularly in remembering the bonds they've made over the past thirty-seven days. Vince admits that despite the hardship in voting others out of the game, nothing will compare to the vote that awaits them tonight, highlighting how close the four of them have become during their time in Thailand. Aaron talks about his nervousness in coming to the vote, feeling that lots of doors were closed for him after Phillip targeted him at the previous tribal council. Salma mentions both Julius/Vince and Aaron coming to her to gain her vote, and goes on to joke about Vince and Julius' attempts to prevent her from speaking with Aaron during the day. Julius and Vince both deny doing this, apologising to Salma for feeling that this was the case. Once the vote is complete, the four sit together and seem in good spirits, knowing that they've only turned on one another when no other options were left, preparing to see who will be the sixth member of the jury.
Vince and Julius both seem in shock, looking over at Salma for an explanation at causing a tie. Aaron immediately thanks Salma, looking over at the jury, who seem somewhat excited at the result. 
Ricardo and Kanda are both seen smiling on the jury, with Ricardo restraining himself from clapping Salma after her short speech. Aaron tells Salma she's making the right decision, to which the group ask Jeff what will happen if a decision can't be reached. Jeff explains that if a tie remains, that everyone but Julius (who has immunity) will be forced to draw a rock. Julius smiles at this, telling Salma that she needs to protect her own game rather than to draw a rock for no reason, telling her that rather than second or third she could end up in fourth place. 
One by one, Salma, Aaron and Vince take a rock, all hiding their fear at going out of the game due to a lottery draw. The jury sit in awe watching the events unfold, eager to see who will be the first person ever eliminated from the game of Survivor due to a rock draw. On Jeff's command, the three drawers open their fists, revealing what colour rock they hold in their possession. Salma lets out a sigh of relief upon seeing the yellow rock in her hand, but is saddened to see it is Aaron who is holding the purple rock, eliminating him from the game. Aaron drops his head for a few seconds, letting out a laugh before hugging the final three, wishing them luck. 
Vince looks over at Salma, giving her a half smile before mouthing "you're tough", causing her to laugh and give him a slight hug. Jeff informs the final three that they will now return to camp, preparing for their final immunity challenge, which will grant one of them a spot at the final tribal council, and the right to decide who it is that comes with them.
Tribal Council 13:Chuay Jai	Tribal Council 13:Chuay Jai	Tribal Council 13:Chuay Jai 	Tribal Council 13:Chuay Jai
First Vote (Tie) 	First Vote (Tie) 	Rock Draw Tiebreaker(Julius exempt from draw)	Rock Draw Tiebreaker(Julius exempt from draw)
VotedAgainst 	Voter 	Participant 	Result
Aaron (2 votes) 	Julius & Vince 	Salma 	Safe
Vince (2 votes) 	Aaron & Salma 	Vince 	Safe
none 	none 	Aaron 	Out
ELIMINATED:Aaron 	ELIMINATED:Aaron 	ELIMINATED:Aaron 	ELIMINATED:Aaron
===Day 38===
The group arrive back at camp in the early hours of the morning, putting their things away in order to get to sleep so that they're rested for the final immunity challenge. Due to the intense nature of the tribal council, the group can't help but speak over the events that just took place.
Both Vince and Julius quickly go to sleep, leaving Salma sitting awake looking up at the moon, thinking over her decision to draw rocks at the previous tribal council.
As the sun rises over Chuay Jai's camp, the final three wake up and make their way over to the side of the cave, where they find a new krathong to be put together to represent Aaron, with all thirteen of the krathongs to be taken out into the water during a rites of passage.
Jeff arrives on the tribes camp, informing them to gather up the krathongs they have made, and to take a gold canoe down a small river where they'll release the krathongs, eventually leading them to the location of the final immunity challenge. After Jeff departs, the group follow suit in their golden canoe, laying the krathongs out onto the water one by one as they do so, occasionally saying a few words for each of their fallen competitors.
Once all thirteen krathongs have been set adrift, the group continue following the direction of the river, eventually reaching the mouth of a cave. The three walk inside, finding Jeff stood by three small wooden structures, informing the group that they will now take part in their final immunity challenge. The challenge requires each member to stand in a specific Thai pose, holding three coins between their fingers in each hand. Over time, as the pose becomes more painful, the contestants will let the coins slip through their fingers, with the last person with a coin remaining between their fingers winning immunity and a spot at the final tribal council. The group each stand in their structures and take their stances, holding the six coins between their fingers. After five minutes, Jeff notes the sweat already pouring off each member.
After ten minutes, Salma tries to stretch her back, clearly finding herself in a lot of pain. Suddenly, Salma winces in pain due to the movement, causing all six coins to drop from between her fingers, signalling that she is out of the challenge.
A few minutes later, Vince continues to struggle, looking over at a static Julius. Feeling he has no shot to win, Vince seems to willingly drop his coins, congratulating Julius on his win.
Julius walks over to Jeff, wearing the immunity necklace for the second time in a row, this time granting himself a spot at the final tribal council, as well as earning the power in deciding who will sit next to him to face the jury.
Challenge: Slip Through Your Fingers
Castaways must hold a Thai pose while holding coins between their fingers. If they run out of coins, they are out of the challenge. Last person standing wins immunity.
Winner: Julius
Immunity Challenge: Slip Through Your Fingers	Immunity Challenge: Slip Through Your Fingers	Immunity Challenge: Slip Through Your Fingers	Immunity Challenge: Slip Through Your Fingers	Immunity Challenge: Slip Through Your Fingers	Immunity Challenge: Slip Through Your Fingers	Immunity Challenge: Slip Through Your Fingers	Immunity Challenge: Slip Through Your Fingers	Immunity Challenge: Slip Through Your Fingers	Immunity Challenge: Slip Through Your Fingers	Immunity Challenge: Slip Through Your Fingers
Placement 	Winner 	2nd 	3rd 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Time Elapsed 	13 mins 	13 mins 	10 mins 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Castaway 	Julius 	Vince 	Salma 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
The final three return to camp, once again with Julius wearing the immunity necklace, but this time knowing he alone will decide who will become the final member of the jury. Vince and Salma both congratulate Julius, looking at the already setting sun, knowing that there is little time before tribal council.
Salma laughs and hugs Vince, who is clearly getting emotional at the prospect of seeing Salma voted out. Julius watches on, saying very little, thinking hard about the vote he is about to make.
The final three reach tribal council, with the jury of six giving mixed emotions to seeing Julius with immunity, suggesting that Salma is the easy final boot before the final two. Julius speaks about his admiration for his competitors, particularly in how tough it has been to reach the final tribal council, feeling as though he now needs to make a decision that will increase his odds of winning. 
Julius sighs and stands, heading over to the parchment where he writes down the last vote he'll cast in the game, looking at it for a few seconds before agreeing with his own decision.
Julius returns to his chair, placing his hand on both Vince and Salma's shoulders. After the urn is eventually brought over for reading, Vince and Salma look on, waiting to see which of them is about to be ousted from the game.
Jeff snuffs Vince torch, accepting a hug off the final jury member who seems to be in mixed emotions after being betrayed by his closest ally at the final hurdle. Vince opts not to look at either of the final two as he leaves, instead heading straight out of the tribal council area with tears flowing down his face. Salma turns around and hugs Julius, thanking him for taking her to the end. Jeff congratulates both Julius and Salma, telling them to get some rest on their final night, as all that awaits them now is to face the jury of seven, who will decide which of them will be the fifth recipient of the million dollar prize.
Tribal Council 14:Chuay Jai	Tribal Council 14:Chuay Jai	 	
VotedAgainst 	Voter 	 	
Vince (1 vote) 	Julius 	 	
VOTED OFF:Vince 	VOTED OFF:Vince 	VOTED OFF:Vince	VOTED OFF:Vince
===Day 39===
Before the sun rises on Day 39, Salma and Julius begin dismantling their camp, throwing left over clothes and old containers into a pile to burn.
The pair begin burning the contents of the camp, before heading down to the canoe, burning the boat that has been of use to them since they arrived in Thailand.
Julius places the lit torch down on the boat, leaving it to burn as the pair go off to grab the remainder of their things, preparing to leave the camp in several hours so that they may take part in the final tribal council.
As sunset begins, the final two grab their things and head off to tribal council, taking one last glimpse of the Chuay Gahn caves that housed them for thirty-nine days, both seeming emotional to leave their beach behind. They continue their journey towards tribal council, knowing that ahead of them lays perhaps the toughest night of their games, in which they must convince the jury that they are the one worthy of the title of Sole Survivor.
===Final Tribal Council===
Julius and Salma take their spots at tribal council, looking over as the seven members of the jury enter and take their spots opposite them. The final two note some of the friendlier faces, also seeing others with cold glares. Jeff gives the nine members present a rundown of the evenings events, which will begin with an opening statement given by the final two, followed by questions or statements by the seven jury members. Once every jury member has spoken, they will cast their votes for who they want to win the game, deciding who out of Salma and Julius will become the fifth Sole Survivor.
===Aaron's question===
===Karen's question===
===Kanda's question===
===Estan's question===
===Phillip's question===
===Ricardo's question===
===Vince's question===
Jeff thanks the jury and the final two for an interesting final tribal council, understanding that it is always a tough thing to be confronted by those who you have crossed paths with in a game full of deceit. After giving the jury a moment to gather their thoughts and reflect on all that was said, Ricardo is selected to commence the final vote.
Once Phillip sits down, Jeff goes off to collect the votes, telling the group they will be read once the group has returned to the United States. Jeff leaves the tribal council area with the urn in hand, leaving the nine contestants sat together in silence, knowing it will be a long wait until the results are revealed.
===Reunion===
Jeff enters the studio to an excited audience, heading up to the final two, both of whom are dressed up for the big night. The jury sit across from them, equally dressed up for the evening despite having no shot at claiming the grand prize. After a small introduction to the final two, the lid of the urn is lifted, leaving both Julius and Salma to wish one another luck, ready to see the game wrapped up by the seven jury votes. 
Salma's mouth drops, she stands shaking in shock at seeing she has overcome the odds and won the game. A disappointed Julius hugs her, congratulating her on the win. Salma rushes down to the audience, hugging her husband, daughter, son and grandchild, who was born two days after the final tribal council. Jeff formally announces her as the fifth Sole Survivor, and oldest winner yet in the five seasons of the show.
Tribal Council 15:Jury Vote	Tribal Council 15:Jury Vote 	 	
VotedAgainst 	Voter 	 	
Salma (4 votes) 	Aaron, Phillip, Ricardo & Vince	 	
Julius (3 votes) 	Estan, Kanda & Karen 	 	
RUNNER-UP:Julius 	RUNNER-UP:Julius 	RUNNER-UP:Julius 	RUNNER-UP:Julius
SOLE SURVIVOR:Salma 	SOLE SURVIVOR:Salma 	SOLE SURVIVOR:Salma	SOLE SURVIVOR:Salma
===Reunion Notes===
* Salma mentions her gratitude towards those that voted her to win the game, as well as the show itself for giving her the chance to compete and prove to people that women over a certain age can still "pack a punch". The jury members that voted for Salma compliment her gameplay, feeling she was underrated compared to Julius, who didn't have the same personal connections that Salma did (although it is noted that these personal connections ultimately lost Salma certain votes).
* Julius mentions his sadness in losing the game, feeling as though he didn't come across how he intended to, feeling as though he is being regarded as a disloyal individual due to "one case of breaking my word". Vince agrees that Julius is getting an unnecessarily hard time, claiming that his final move was a game move, and that over time he learned to forgive him. He facetiously admits to being pleased that his vote ended up costing Julius the game, but insists that he would've voted for Salma in most cases due to her "impressive" final tribal council performance.
* Aaron talks about being the first person ever eliminated due to a rock drawer, admitting that it didn't upset him too much due to having already received votes at that tribal council, meaning that the rocks were his "last shot" at staying in the game. Rick and Gypsy are then heard joking that they too wish rocks came out at their final tribal councils, as they would've saved their games.
* When discussing the main "villains" of the season, Phillip and Estan claim to be nice individuals at heart, with Estan feeling that a lot of what was shown was "clever editing", but accepts that he entered the game to be ruthless. When asked about the feuds on Sook Jai, several members admit to having buried the hatchet, including Ricardo and Phillip, who have since met up and exchanged emails. Melissa mentions that she has yet to speak with Estan, Phillip or Rick since the game finished, feeling that they're just not meant to be friends, but supports Ricardo's claims that no one in the game is a "truly bad person". 
* West and Gypsy are also shown to have moved on from their in game feud, claiming to have gotten on well during the pre-merge vacation, with West stating that he and Gypsy educated one another on their backgrounds in order to better understand one another.
* Jeff then checks in on Karen and Kanda, two of the more under the radar players after the merge. The pair admit that they wish they had pushed harder in the game, feeling that they allowed others to break away and cost them the game. However, Karen claims that she wasn't cut out for the game, admitting that lying and living in the outdoors didn't work as a good combination for her.
* The final few members of the cast are then spoken to. Rick talks about returning to his normal life, feeling as though he would've been more successful had his alliance not turned on him. Estan admits that they should've drawn rocks that tribal council, but Jeff points out that is an easy thing to say in hindsight. Joan talks about staying friendly with Ricardo, claiming she cant regret signing up for the game where she made "a friend for life". Harper talks about getting engaged to her boyfriend, as well as planning to do more travelling, feeling that she loves the landscape of Survivor, but despised having to "play the social and strategic game". Finally, Rachel is named one of the more popular players who got cut early, receiving a large cheer from the audience. She states that even though she didn't make the jury, she feels satisfied with her time in the game, and that she was extremely happy to see her tribe members go on to become the final four.
* To end the reunion, Jeff gathers the results of the "Player of the Season" poll, in which the winner will receive $100,000. The top three are revealed to be Ricardo, Salma and Vince. Ricardo is announced to have finished in third place, with Vince coming in second. Salma seems shocked once again, earning a total of $1.1 million in a single evening, being the first winner in five seasons to do so. 
===Still In The Running===
Chuay Gahn	Chuay Gahn	Chuay Gahn	Chuay Gahn	Chuay Gahn	Chuay Gahn	Chuay Gahn	Chuay Gahn
Aaron 	Gypsy 	Harper 	Julius 	Rachel 	Salma 	Vince 	West
Sook Jai 	Sook Jai 	Sook Jai 	Sook Jai 	Sook Jai 	Sook Jai 	Sook Jai 	Sook Jai
Estan 	Joan 	Kanda 	Karen 	Melissa 	Phillip 	Ricardo 	Rick