On Survivor: Nicaragua, week five, the much-anticipated tribal merge occurred with the melding of the older and younger tribes, but unfortunately, Espada’s Tyrone didn’t make the cut, and Tyrone was voted off Survivor at tribal council. I’m a little surprised at this turn of events, despite Tyrone’s alpha-male behavior – Tyrone has been a strong competitor and I don’t think he’s a bad guy, even if he isn’t the brightest bulb on the tree. Nonetheless, Tyrone was voted off at the Espada tribal council after the Survivor: Nicaragua tribal merge.
In fact, on Survivor: Nicaragua – more than any other season, I think – alpha males (particularly older ones) have been on the chopping block. Jimmy Johnson, Jimmy T, Shannon (admittedly younger), and Tyrone have all been voted off Survivor. Naturally, I’m inclined to think that the already much-maligned Marty of La Flor will be the next alpha male to get voted off at tribal council – provided that the ultra-strong La Flor losses an immunity challenge.
Tyrone’s departure from Survivor: Nicaragua had two distinct parts: the first mistake Tyrone made was telling the newly-merged Espada tribe how things are conducted at the Espada camp. Step by step. It was an its-my-way-or-the-highway kind of things, and the easy-breezy youngsters didn’t respond well to what they perceived as parenting. Or a drill sergeant. I wouldn’t have, either.
Secondly, Tyrone made an ultimate Survivor mistake: he ate more than his share of food. When the Espada tribe overruled Tyrone’s objections to kill one of their newly-won chickens, Tyrone then proceeded not only to pout, but to eat far more than his fair share, leaving other tribe members hungry and angry – especially since Tyone gave them a warning not to engage in that hogging-the-food kind of behavior.
That is a big, big mistake on Survivor. And it cost Tyrone a shot at the million-dollar prize.
The only thing that gave Tyrone a run for his money was the flip-side of NaOnka’s personality, which on Survivor: Nicaragua has been brash, forceful, rude, and extremely competitive until the tribal merge. Suddenly, instead of physically removing people who presented themselves as obstacles to her goal (like the immunity idol), she turned into a wounded, sobbing wreck.
But here’s what saved NaOnka at tribal council, and I’m not sure if it was a genuine reaction, a well-timed speech, or some of both. But her brief discussion about her divorce at age 26 and that hardship certainly softened my heart, and I’m sure it softened those of her fellow Survivor: Nicaragua competitors.
NaOnka either had an extreme reaction to her physical suffering from the conditions at the Espada camp, or came up with a heartfelt get-to-know-me just at the right moment. It’s hard to say, but either way, it bought NaOnka some time – maybe a lot of time.
The upshot of Survivor: Nicaragua, week five: if Tyrone had been a little more tactful with his new young tribe members, and if Tyrone hadn’t slammed down all that chicken, NaOnka’s weakness since arriving at Espada would have assured that she’d be voted off at tribal council. But because Tyrone did do those things, Survivor: Nicaragua, week five, saw Tyrone nearly unanimously voted of at the Espada tribal council.
Hello, tribal merge and the havoc you wreak – you’re always my favorite part of the Survivor season.
