‘Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing’ Season 2: [Spoiler] Wins in Dramatic Finale Showdown
Who will win Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing Season 2?
In the Sept. 15 finale to the Discovery Channel reality series, the six remaining survivalists fight to earn the coveted “last one standing title,” plus the $100,000 grand prize. Everyone knows the last stages of the game will be tough, though some contestants seem to have a significant edge. But one player surprises everyone in the season-ending episode. Will the underdog be able to win it all? Keep reading to find out how the dramatic Last One Standing finale unfolded.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for the Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing Season 2 finale.]
The dreaded friction fire challenge returns in ‘Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing’ Season 2 finale
It’s day 39, and six survivalists remain in the game: Fernando Calderon, Patrick French, Ky Furneaux, Gary Golding, Dan Link, and Jeff Zausch. But by the time the sun sets on day 40, three players will have gone home. The super-sized elimination comes after a tough challenge that results in some of the episode’s most dramatic moments.
For this challenge, the survivalists must create a friction fire, which they’ll use to ignite a hanging rope. When the rope burns, it will release a scroll, and they’ll advance to the competition’s final stage. To add to the pressure, there’s an extra twist. Only the first three survivalists who complete the task will advance. The other three will be immediately eliminated.
In Last One Standing Season 1, a similar friction fire challenge knocked out some of the strongest competitors, including Jeff and Gary. Both are hoping for redemption this time around. Meanwhile, Dan (season 1’s second-place finisher) hopes he can replicate his season 1 success and beat both Jeff and Gary when it comes to coaxing a flame from dry wood and tinder.
Participants are allowed to prep in advance of the challenge, including crafting either a hand drill or a bow drill. Ky, the only woman still in the running, knows she’s at a physical disadvantage compared to the men. She opts to use a bow drill rather than a hand drill, which requires more energy. Most of the other cast members also go for the bow drill. But not Jeff. He decides to make a hand drill, which is easier to make and use, though the embers it produces aren’t very hot.
Fernando isn’t super confident heading into the challenge. He strikes a deal with Dan and Patrick to trade his salt for paracord, which he’ll use to make a bow drill. Patrick and Dan think giving him the cord is low risk and having the salt will be helpful later on. But could they be underestimating Fernando?
A surprising twist in the friction fire challenge
The challenge begins. Ky is the first to get her fire going. But the task isn’t over yet. She crafts a torch to light the rope and gets her scroll, making her the first to advance to the final three.
Meanwhile, Jeff – who was confident using a hand drill would save valuable time – is struggling. His hands are so tired he has to pause to make a bow drill, which slows him down.
Fernando, on the other hand, might not be as experienced a survivalist as some of the other competitors, but he’s a firefighter. That might give him an advantage.
Dan is next to start a fire and get his scroll. Now, the pressure is really on. Jeff thinks it’s a contest between him and Gary. But he’s underestimated Fernando, who starts a blaze and gets his scroll. He’s nearly as shocked as everyone else at his surprise victory.
Jeff, Gary, and Patrick are eliminated. They’re disappointed but also seem genuinely happy for Fernando.
“This is really, really surprising … I didn’t think I had a chance. But I never gave up,” he says.
In season 1, it took days to complete the friction fire challenge. This time, it’s over in an hour. Jeff is kicking himself for trying to use a hand drill. He thinks he would have finished first if he’d used a different technique.
“But I just have to admit to myself that I wasn’t the best out here,” he says.
In his exit interview, Jeff says he lives for the competition, not the win. After more than 250 days survived on multiple challenges, this was his final Naked and Afraid experience.
“This journey is complete for me,” he declares.
A fight to the finish
Ky, Dan, and Fernando are thrilled with their victory. But the contest isn’t over yet, and it’s still anyone’s game. Ky has strong bushcraft skills. Fernando is an underdog, but he’s smart and strong. Dan has tons of experience and skills. Any of the three could take home the $100,000. But first, there’s a grueling migration ahead in the final days of the competition.
And it’s not just the challenges this trio needs to be worried about. There are also the normal risks that come with being in the African bush. That’s evident when Ky is stung on her thumb by a scorpion while sleeping. A medic arrives to check on her. Ky is in “immense pain” but not in immediate danger. She’s allowed to remain in the competition. However, the injury could affect her ability to complete the game’s final challenges.
On day 43, the remaining contestants begin a 10-mile, 1000-foot elevation gain trek to their final camp. The weather will be worse in their new location. And they must keep their fire going.
They arrive at camp and establish a boma, just before a big storm rolls in. After an unpleasant night, they embark on the next stage of the competition. Each has to craft a retrieval tool – a boom stick noose – to collect a satchel hanging on a cliff face. The first person to finish will get a head start when it comes to reaching the site of the final challenge. The second-place finisher starts a quarter-mile behind the first-place finisher, while the third-place finisher will start a half-mile behind the first-place finisher.
After some struggle, Dan gets his satchel, securing himself a valuable advantage. Ky finishes second, leaving Fernando in third place.
A flaming arrow challenge determines the ‘Last One Standing’ winner
For the final Last One Standing challenge, Ky, Fernando, and Dan have to use a coal to make a fire. Then, they’ll shoot a flaming arrow into a pyre on a lake. The first person to light the pyre wins.
But before the last task, they’ll have to survive one more rainy night in the wild. The downpour threatens to extinguish their fires. All three make it through, but the wet conditions will make it that much harder to get a fire going.
“All the wood out here is soaked,” Dan says. “The true player out here is Mother Nature.”
Ky is the first to start her fire. But will her injured thumb throw off her aim? Her first shot goes wide. Meanwhile, Dan and Fernando have lit their fires. Their first shots miss as well. But the more shots they take, the better everyone’s aim gets. The tension is thick, and it really seems like anyone could win.
Finally, Dan hits his mark. His pyre goes up in flames and he wins the challenge, and the game.
“This is huge,” he says. “For a gay man to win the world’s toughest survival challenge. That means a lot.”
Ky calls Dan’s victory “bittersweet”.
“I’m so happy for Dan,” she says, “But I’m really disappointed because it was so close for me.”
Fernando’s just happy he made it this far.
“I can honestly say that I wouldn’t do anything differently,” he says. “I left everything on the table in this last challenge, but Dan is an amazing bow hunter. He’s good. He’s so good … I’m so happy for him and not ever surprised. He deserved it.”
Dan started out on a Naked and Afraid fan challenge and eventually became one of the show’s strongest survivalists. For him, this victory is especially sweet given his second-place finish in season 1.
“This is redemption for me … last time I lost by seconds. It feels amazing,” he says.
“I went from a [Naked and Afraid] fan to No. 1,” he adds. “I can’t believe this.”
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