Recap 'Survivor Nicaragua' Episode 15 - the Finale

Five contestants remained at the beginning of "Survivor: Nicaragua," episode 15. The finale episode, which aired Sunday, Dec 19, opened with the swift and sure elimination of two contestants leaving the final three to vie for their one million dollar prize.

The players in the final episode of "Survivor: Nicaragua" were Holly, Chase, Sash, Fabio, and Dan.

Sash plotted for ownership of the game since the beginning episodes. Coming into the finale he is in a three way alliance with Chase and Holly, but Sash has not been loyal to anyone but himself throughout the entire game.

Holly was in a good position if her alliance held. She had a break down early in the game, but was pulled back together by Coach Jimmy Johnson. She has become a mother figure to many of the younger players and had complete control of that role once Jane was voted off in the previous episode.

Chase appeared to be strong in his alliance, but he is like a leaf blowing in the wind. If the right winds of change come along he is prone to give up alliances. There was a time viewers would have never expected for Chase to cast a vote against Jane, but he did.

Fabio remained a strong player, but without an alliance he felt doomed. He got farther than I ever would have imagined. He calls himself "playing dumb," but I'm not sure how much role play is involved. He is probably the most genuine, honest player left on "Survivor: Nicaragua."

Dan was a sitting duck, especially with no alliances. He did not have the physical stamina to be competitive for immunity. The reason he has remained in the game as long as he has is because he is not a threat.

At Camp "Survivor: Nicaragua" Finale Recap
Fabio knew his head was on the chopping block. He confronted Holly, who was nothing but evasive. Fabio knew his best hope was to win immunity.

When Sash and Fabio got together Holly was bashed. Sash told Fabio, along with everyone else, that he wanted to go to the end with him. He had no compunction about making and breaking promises to everyone in his tribe.

"Survivor: Nicaragua" - Immunity Challenge 1 Recap, episode 15 - The Finale
Players raced to a question about "Survivor: Nicaragua" and selected a bag containing puzzle pieces that corresponded with their answer. Once all of the questions were answered correctly players had to complete the puzzle.

Holly, Chase, and Sash took the lead in the challenge.

Fabio worked hard and caught up to Sash and won immunity, foiling the alliance's plans.

Back at camp - "Survivor: Nicaragua" Recap, episode 15 - The Finale
Winning immunity was a coup for Fabio. It guaranteed him a spot in the final four and foiled the plans to knock him off of "Survivor: Nicaragua."

One of two things had to happen. A new alliance could have been formed including Fabio, but Chase and Sash are afraid of Fabio's ability to win challenges. Alternately, the three-way alliance between Sash, Chase, and Holly had to gun down Dan during the first tribal council.

Dan saw his job as to paint Holly as a threat and exploit that to remain in the game. Fabio and Dan lobbied hard to vote Holly off. Sash was swayed by Fabio's arguments.

Tribal Council - 1 - "Survivor: Nicaragua" Recap - The Finale
Dan was voted off by three votes at the tribal council.

Back at camp - "Survivor: Nicaragua" Recap, episode 15 - The Finale
The final four were Sash, Chase, Fabio, and Holly.

Fabio felt that he had to win immunity again in order to be safe.

Sash was the one confident player who had a promise from everyone to take him to the end of "Survivor: Nicaragua."

Chase and Holly were still tight and went into the last challenge gunning, once again, for Fabio.

Fabio kept lobbying for Chase and Sash to go to the end. He lied to Chase telling him that he would vote off Holly, which he has said he would never do.

"Survivor: Nicaragua" - The final immunity challenge - recap
The final immunity challenge was a balancing act. They had 5 seconds to stack and balance coins on the end of a sword. When the stack became too high and the coins fell the competitors were out of the game.

Holly was the first to drop a coin and was out of the immunity challenge. Chase fell immediately behind her.

It looked like Fabio was going to lose his stack ahead of Sash. His stack was leaning more severely.

Fabio won immunity for the third time in a row and secured his place in the final three.

Back at Camp - "Survival: Nicaragua"
Fabio was clearly in control when the final four got back to camp. He enjoyed the moment.

Sash, Chase, and Holly were all nervous and desperate.

Sash lied to Fabio to try to keep him close.

Chase and Holly were open and honest about the alliance and what they had planned for Fabio.

Fabio had a huge decision to make because the final three would plead their case before the jury for one million dollars. His best bet would have been to eliminate Holly, because Chase and Sash betrayed almost everyone on the jury at one time or other, but Fabio never did.

I never would have expected to see him in the final three, and there he sat within grasp of a million dollars.

Final Tribal Council 1 - 'Survivor: Nicaragua' episode 15 Recap - The Finale
There were four votes to be cast at the final tribal council. No one could vote for Fabio.

Holly was voted out, which put Fabio in a very good position to win a million dollars.

The winner of "Survivor: Nicaragua" - Finale Recap
The sole survivor of "Survivor: Nicaragua" and the winner of one million dollars was Fabio.