The challenge beast reveals what really been happened on Nami in the first 11 days.
Its been a somewhat magical run for Hunter McKnight so far onSurvivor 46.
What were the real tribe dynamics?
Hunter McKnight on ‘Survivor 46’.Robert Voets/CBS
Who would have been voted out at a Tribal Council?
And was Venus Vafa really on the outside as much as it seemed?
Or was she evenmoreon the outs?
Randen Montalvo, Hunter McKnight, and Tevin Davis.Robert Voets/CBS
Read on for a heaping helping of insight and intel.
HUNTER McKNIGHT: It was exhilarating!
But, as a player, you are just ready to get this game moving!
Soda Thompson, Hunter McKnight, Tevin Davis, Liz Wilcox, Randen Montalvo, and Venus Vafa on ‘Survivor 46’.Robert Voets/CBS
For me, I was always ready to keep the game moving forward.
So, it was exciting to make it to another milestone!
Take us through what it was like on Nami in terms of the social dynamics at play.
Hunter McKnight, Q Burdette, and Tim Spicer on ‘Survivor 46’.Robert Voets/CBS
Let me see if I can lay it out for you!
(With my 100 percent objective, unbiased point of view.)
First off, Tevin and I were able to develop a good relationship early on.
Hunter McKnight on ‘Survivor 46’.Robert Voets/CBS
We both spent a lot of time building the shelter, and so naturally we developed a pair.
But she didnt seem to take it that way.
And I kept telling Tevin to let Soda know I like her if there is ever any doubt.
Hunter McKnight and Tevin Davis on ‘Survivor 46’.Robert Voets/CBS
Honestly, for Liz, I cant remember much from for the first few days.
Then, you had Randen and Venus, and boy, were they wild cards.
No one really knew where they stood.
Hunter McKnight of ‘Survivor 46’.Robert Voets/CBS
For a while, they were at odds with each other.
They spent so much time away from camp either strategizing or looking for idols.
I thought it was strange just how quickly she began to isolate herself.
And then watching it back, I didnt realize the impact the princess comment made on her.
She asked me what I suggested.
Venus and Tevin did butt heads.
Tevin picked up on this and didnt appreciate that attitude.
However, it didnt mean Tevin wanted to vote her out.
Tevin and I were still both very open to working with her.
Personality wise, they clashed.
But that didnt mean game-wise she had to go.
At first, we really werent sure.
I knew I was solid with Liz, Tevin, and, for the most part, Soda.
So, it felt stupid to start just giving out specific names that people could then twist on you.
That being said, there was actually some talk of Randen when he was gone so long idol hunting.
(And I dont mean to paint Venus in a negative light, we did have some fun times.
But it really did seem like Venus did not want to give much effort in terms of connecting.)
It wasnt so much anti-Venus as it was that we felt good with the four we had.
Then it became Soda.
Soda spent a lot of time going between Randen and Venus trying to do damage control with them.
(Soda was also my competition for closeness with Tevin.)
The Shelter Trio became Tevin, Liz, and I.
This alliance developed after Soda started going off a lot with Randen and Venus.
There was one day we caught 17 crabs!
It was so much fun.
You had to chase them down and stab them with these homemade spears Tevin and I made.
We also had another day that we caught a sting ray and tried to eat it.
To all futureSurvivorplayers, do NOT boil sting rays.
They just fall apart basically.)
I really wish they had more time to show us hunting for crab because it was a daily thing.
It was a pretty low energy activity that was just fun.
We would usually come back with enough crab for people to have two each.
Tevin and I did most of it first, but then Soda started joining us.
Liz was usually pretty worn out since she couldnt eat coconut, so we suggested she didnt overdo herself.
We would also verify Liz had the most crab to eat.
Venus just chose not to join in again, not sure why.
I vividly remember [on] day nine we were walking back from where we caught the crab.
Venus looked at us and said Oh, is that were yall catch the crabs?
(Again, watching the secret scenes, I guess it was to conserve her energy.
But we were happy to share.)
You dominated individually at pretty much every challenge.
I did not expect to do that well in challenges.
That just wasnt the case.
But in terms of just practicing them, I never did that.)
So, by no means did I know I was going to perform well in these challenges.
Anyways, back to the threat level.
I really didnt think I was developing a large target on my back until after the water basketball one.
Thats when I knew I had done a really bad job of hiding any challenge ability.
But for me, I LOVE the challenges.
They are a ton of fun and are really just childhood games for me.
So, it was hard for me to lay off (just because it was so fun.)
Oh, and one fun fact with the basketball one.
So that may have helped.
What was your favorite moment you experienced this season leading up to the merge?
Oh, we had a lot of fun times laughing.
But I think I would have to say, just watching the sunrises.
What was your lowest moment leading up to the merge?
Day 10 (before I found the Beware Advantage) was really tough.
It was a down day, and those days just wear you out.
Theres nothing really to do except watch the sun moving across the sky.
Dont get me wrong there was never any thought of quitting or leaving.
But on those days, you just arent having fun.
So that day was pretty rough.
I had already built a shelter, built a bed, made a broom, explored the island.
So, I was pretty low.
But then I found that Beware Advantage the same day, so it was a boost in morale.
Finally, you only got eight out of 20Survivorlogos in the correct chronological order.
Isnt that an impressive 40 percent?
Honestly, the moment I saw what the challenge was, I knew I was in trouble.
Like I mentioned in the episode, I did not watch the seasons in any order.
So, I had to use what I knew about when players returned on certain seasons.
The one I was most embarrassed about wasSurvivor: Caramoanand confusing it withSurvivor: Micronesia.
Talk about not a great moment.
PuttingCaramoanfurther up in the order shifted all my tiles, which made the number I had right drop drastically.
I did pretty [well] at getting them in generally the right places other thanCaramoan.
So, there is a world where you could say, I only got four wrong.
But thats a delusional world.
And even in that world, I lost my vote.
So, no need even thinking about that.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Survivorairs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
