Turf Wars

Turf Wars is the fifth episode of Survivor: Nicaragua.

Challenges
Reward Challenge: Don't Let Your Balls Drop Two members of each tribe will throw a ball that will roll down a wall bouncing and changing direction along the way. Two members of the other tribe must work together to catch those balls as they come down the wall. If a ball hits the ground then the other tribe scores a point, that round is over and the next pairs compete. The first tribe to score three points wins reward.

Reward: Two hens and a rooster

Winner: Espada

Immunity Challenge: Spit it Out

Three members from each tribe would be strapped to a large wheel. Three other tribe members would spin the wheel, which would cause one strapped in castaway at a time to be dunked head first into water. While under water, the castaway would take water in the mouth, which they would then spit into a tube. Once the tube was filled, a ball would be released. The ball would be used by two other tribe members to break five tiles. The first tribe to break all five tiles would win.  Winner: La Flor

Night of Day 11
Shocked by Jimmy T.'s elimination, Holly worriedly said: “I had no idea that Jimmy T. was going tonight at Tribal Council. I was shocked.” Despite liking the guy, the Espada females felt remorse by eliminating a strong player like Jimmy T. and Dan should have gone home. Holly added: “I’m on the outs and I know that something has to change.”

Day 12
At Espada, Marty celebrated Jimmy T.'s ouster. Marty reveled: “So, you can’t get cocky in this game, but I’m in control finally. I’m in control of this tribe.” Assuring alliance partner Dan that Jane and Holly (who voted Dan last Tribal Council) will be going next. Marty bragged: “It would take something extraordinary, off the charts, completely whacked out to disturb my plans now.”

Over at the younger La Flor tribe, NaOnka boasted her good position in the game. Having La Flor's Hidden Immunity Idol and aligned with the majority alliance with Sash, Brenda, Chase and Kelly S., she said: “I have it all planned in my head. I already see the win. We got the tarp. I have the hidden immunity idol.” NaOnka added, “If I look good, I feel good, I’m going to do good.”

The tribes convened for what they was their next challenge, until host Jeff Probst surprised the castaways by announcing: "Drop your buffs, you are switching tribes." The tribes were to draw rocks and the two people with colored rocks (yellow representing La Flor while blue is for Espada) will be "captains." Brenda and Holly picked their respective colored rocks, thus giving them power of which members of the opposing tribe will join them. Brenda picked Jane, Jill and Marty to join the new La Flor tribe. Holly chose Benry, Alina, NaOnka and Chase to join the new Espada tribe, thus retaining the unmentioned castaways to their original tribes. After the tribe switch, Jeff then announced that the Medallion of Power no longer be used for future challenges. After being shocked by the game-changing events, the new tribes are to compete for their next challenge. After a series of closely fought match-ups, Marty dropped La Flor's last ball, winning reward for the new Espada tribe, earning them three chickens.

Upon reaching camp, the new Espada tribe (consisted of Chase, Alina, NaOnka Benry, Yve, Tyrone, Dan and Holly) made their introductions. Disappointed of the tribe switch, Tyrone mumbled: “If I had it my way, I would have loved to stay with the old tribe, because I think we had a good little machine going.” Later, Tyrone laid down the tribes' camp rules, irking the new members. Alina reacted: “Tyrone is definitely the leader of this tribe and as soon as we came in here he started telling us. This goes here and this goes here and you got to do this and you got to do that. And it’s very older tribe.” NaOnka also commented that she doesn't like being told what to do.

Feared that she might be next had the original tribe affiliations were still intact, Holly was persistent of getting to know 'the kids.' During a conversation, Holly confessed that they remember her kids back home. A more jovial Holly revealed: “This switch has been phenomenal for me. I feel like I relate to the kids well. I mean coming back, the kids were very receptive to me.” Feeling more close more to them, Holly was encouraged to join forces with the new members should they go to Tribal Council. Holly said: “I think I have a better chance at this point with the kids than I do with Dan, Yve and TD. So strategically, if the kids come to me with an idea, one hundred percent I’m on board.” Holly's flipping sides somewhat caused former La Flor rivals NaOnka and Alina to settle their differences, and the two somewhat reconciled.

Over at the new La Flor tribe, Marty felt appreciated for picking him to join their tribe. Fabio (an outsider to NaOnka's former alliance) revealed: “I was dreading the switch because I felt comfortable in the original La Flor tribe, but the way it worked out was pretty right on. We picked up Marty, Jill and Jane, who are all super cool. And numbers wise, the La Flor tribe we’re five and three. Looks good.” While got used to have rules back at the old Espada, Marty, Jill and Jane were informed by Brenda that La Flor's work ethic was more laid back with no real leader, yet still organized. “I like these kids. I mean they’re kind of think like me. They seem to be more relaxed, where as my tribe was more about schedule, schedule, schedule.” Jane then approached Kelly S. and Brenda and told told them not to trust Jill and Marty and must vote them out immediately.

Later that day, Marty interrogated the original La Flors about the Hidden Immunity Idol hidden at camp. Not much had been revealed, but Fabio revealed about NaOnka tackling Kelly B. for the second clue. Marty then berated the younger members for letting NaOnka ran away with the clue that easily and then proceeded on revealing his own Hidden Immunity Idol to the others. Irked by Marty's arrogance, Brenda complained: “In our heads we’re like, are you stupid? He’s coming into our home and he’s already setting up like he’s the king.”

Day 13
Despite known for having swagger, Naonka became emotional while shivering in the rain. Without the tarp they used to have back at La Flor to protect them, the new members of Espada suffered badly during the torrential downpour. NaOnka confessed to Alina that she was reaching her breaking point, even contemplating on voluntarily leaving the competition. Though she tried to comfort NaOnka, Alina realized that if NaOnka did quit, she will have lesser competition for the million Dollars. Alina realized of her tribemate: “NaOnka seems like a high school girl. She’s irrational and crazy and she just seems like she’s on her period all the time.” The heavy rain went on until nighttime, which made NaOnka's condition even worse.

Day 14
The two new tribes convened for their next Immunity Challenge. Kelly B, Purple Kelly and Brenda are strapped on the wheel for La Flor, with Alina, Holly and Yve for Espada. While Sash, Jill and Marty spun the wheel for La Flor and Dan, NaOnka and Chase for Espada.

At the challenge proper, both tribes approached the challenge differently. La Flor kept spinning their wheel faster, leaving the girls almost consistently missing the chute. Espada on the other hand spun theirs slowly to give leeway for the girls to collect more water and to accurately hit the chute. Espada was first to drop their ball, thus creating a small lead. La Flor managed to catch up, with Fabio breaking their last tile. After a closely-contested match, La Flor won Immunity, sending Espada to Tribal Council. As Espada left the challenge area. NaOnka confessed: “I knew we were going to lose. I felt it. You know, I’m not a quitter and I don’t want my students to think I’m a quitter, but I’m getting skinnier and I’m losing fat. I think I’m done.”

Back at Espada camp, NaOnka protested: “I believe that Espada is cursed, because how are you going to get the pick of the litter and you still lose.” Hungry after the challenge, the tribe had a group meeting about eating one chicken before Tribal Council. Self-proclaimed leader Tyrone was against the proposition, for it cuts the chances of the chickens producing eggs in the future. Holly complained: “Sometime it is hard to go against Tyrone. Tyrone is a little intimidating, but I think we need to start standing up to Tyrone.” Though Tyrone was outvoted, the tribe was irked when Tyrone actually ate the brunt of the chicken. Benry fumed: “It was very blatantly obvious that he had gotten more chicken than the rest of the tribe. So, he is becoming more and more obnoxious by the day. Alina also got angry since she was still felt hunger pangs. Benry, Alina, Holly and Chase started to weigh their options of which between the ailing NaOnka or the inconsiderate Tyrone should go home.

At Tribal Council, the new members revealed their disappointments about Tyrone's harsh leadership, which Tyrone felt he was misunderstood. NaOnka on the other hand expressed being doubtful about her desire to continue on the game. Yve and Tyrone voted for NaOnka, while the rest voted for Tyrone. Ultimately, Tyrone's iron fist leadership made him the fifth person to be eliminated from Survivor: Nicaragua.

Voting Confessionals

 * Alina: "T.D., it would have been nice if you had spent more time trying to get to know me, rather than make it feel like I'm not worth your time."
 * Benry: "Big T.D., you're a cool-ass dude, but I'm here to play this game, and it's time to dethrone the king of Espada. Benry's here, baby."
 * Chase: "Absolutely nothing personal, man. This is just what everybody decided was the best. I wish you the best, man. Nothing personal."
 * Dan: "You shoulda let Benry throw the ball. The last time we had a challenge with throwing something, Jimmy Johnson pointed out that you threw 50 beanbags and we lost."
 * Holly: "You never wanted me on the tribe from the beginning."
 * NaOnka: "Firefighter, your fire has been put out."
 * Tyrone: "We're not in South Central anymore. This is a grown folk's game. Work on your game. Get your game tight. As you say, you're keeping it 100. I'm keeping it 100. Peace out."
 * Yve: "The mental aspect of this game I know is really hard, You just gotta stick with it. Sorry. You did it once. You're gonna break down again. I wish you the best."

Trivia

 * This episode marked the first Tribe Shuffle since Gabon.
 * This is the first time that Dan Lembo made a voting confessional.

Links

 * CBS Episode Summary