Survivor Nicaragua Season 21 Premier Recap

Twenty castaways in Nicaragua made their debut on the season premier of Survivor: Nicaragua. This season the castaways are divided into tribes by age. Espada (the spear) is made of members over 40. La Flor (the flower) members are under the age of 30.

For more about season 21 castaways and changes read The Cast of Survivor Nicaragua.

Before the tribes were even formed the young castaways were talking smack about the older players. They had no idea they would be competing young versus old.

The show began with an immediate change - The Medallion of Power. The Medallion of Power can be used during a challenge for a leg-up in the challenge. The competitors didn't know it's power, but were scattered in a lagoon in search of the Medallion of Power to claim it for their team - only they weren't on their teams yet.

Once the medallion was found Jeff Probst announced the competition - the Battle of the Age - 40 and over versus the under 40 crowd.

The Medallion of Power could be held for power play later in the game or could be traded for fishing gear and flint to make fire. The youngsters had a hard time giving up power, but made a good decision to take the fishing gear and flint

The Medallion of Power was given to Espada, while La Flor got a quick start to get their camp set up.

Score one for the children.

La Flor wasted no time getting camp set up on Survivor: Nicaragua...

The "alpha" males, as they called themselves, Shannon and Chase, formed a male only alliance right away. Brenda turned Chase's head so he also formed an alliance with her.

Jud alienated himself by living up to his surfer-dude persona. He swears that he is only perceived as an air-head, but believes he has the wits to win Survivor Nicaragua. His actions show he is an air-head. On the first day his teammates began calling him Fabio. He was bitten by a sand crab, and he got a splinter. He will go home early.

Meanwhile back at Espada camp Survivor: Nicaragua...

Holly jumped the gun. She pulled niave Wendy aside and formed an alliance right away. They don't even know each other yet. Holly revealed just how edgey she is. Her alliance would come back to bite her, but she proved loyal to the end.

Jane, the woman who doesn't mind getting a little dirt under her fingernails, pulled her camp quickly to its feet by starting a fire with reading glasses. Experience gave Espada fire.

Jimmy Johnson, former NFL super bowl winning coach, got sick after a hard days work. He woke up whining after the first 24 hours. He was not prepared for this challenge, but he put an offer on the table that should be hard for anyone to refuse. Jimmy J. knows no jury will award him a million dollars, so he offered to work with someone to help get them to the end. Oddly enough, his tribe members don't seem to believe him.

The Survivor: Nicaragua immunity challenge

The Medallion of power can be a huge leg-up on the competition at a challenge, but Espada chose not to use the Medallion on this challenge. They felt they could be competitive without it. It was a bad decision.

The young tribe won immunity.

Jimmy T., the stout fisherman, turned out to be a nervous wreck. He complained from the minute he saw Jimmy Johnson. When he found out that someone was going home he became very agitated. He acted like he was geeked out.

Wendy knew she was on the chopping block. She had made a conscious effort to keep her chattering to a minimum, but that flew out the window when it came time for the tribal council. If she wasn't the chosen one before she spoke up she talked herself into being voted off - and she was.

I thought the older team was going to have an advantage on Survivor: Nicaragua. After the first show, I think both of the teams have challenges to overcome.

La Flora is a little over confident. They may be too cocky for their own good.

On the other hand, Espada is going to have to kick it up a notch if they are ever going to win a challenge. There are a lot of strong leaders on Espada, they are going to have to find a way to trust each other and pool their knowledge to get ahead at Survivor: Nicaragua.

Tune in to CBS next Wednesday, 8 pm ET for the next episode of Survivor: Nicaragua.