"Survivor Nicaragua," Week 5 Recap - Time for the Change Up

Marty returned from last week's tribal council feeling cocky. Last week on "Survivor Nicaragua," week 4, Jimmy T. was voted off. The beauty of the play for Marty was that it got rid of the last true leader on the Espada tribe. Marty returned to camp thinking "Survivor Nicaragua's" Espada camp was under his control.

He felt that there was little that could happen to reposition him to remain a strong player and leading contender on Espada. He couldn't have been more wrong.

Meanwhile NaOnka was feeling in control on the younger tribe, La Flor. I'm not sure she realizes no one on her tribe really likes her, but she felt as if she was on top of her game. She didn't see the twist that was coming in the game to change things up completely.

"Survivor Nicaragua" episode 5 - The Game Changing Change Up
Before the challenge on "Survivor Nicaragua" episode 5 host, Jeff Probst, made a major announcement. It was time to mix up the tribes. Both tribes couldn't have been more shocked or displeased.

In the draw for new tribe captains. Of all people Brenda and Holly drew the rocks that labeled them new tribe captains. Brenda has the know how to play the game to get ahead, but Holly plays the game on emotions. It was going to be interesting to see how these two new leaders re-formed La Flor and Espada on "Survivor Nicaragua," episode 5.

The old versus young game was over and The Medallion of Power was no longer in play. This was a good decision from a production point of view because week after week on "Survivor Nicaragua" we were watching the older team get destroyed in the competitions by the younger team.

NaOnka was disappointed to be moved to the older tribe, a decision which I'm sure Holly will come to regret, but Marty was pretty pumped to be moved to a team that had been winning.

"Survivor Nicaragua," week 5 - The Plinko Challenge
The challenge was set up like a game of plinko, but with a ball. Tribe members had to prevent the ball from hitting the ground. If a ball hit the ground, a point was given to the other team.

The prize for the winning team was two chickens and a rooster, a veritable feast for the contestants who had been stranded on the island with rice rations for so long.

Interestingly, Marty was thrilled to be on a new team, but he dropped the ball too many times, giving the win to Espada. Espada had been without a win for so long it was a huge moral booster, not to mention the makings of a meal.

"Survivor Nicaragua," episode 5 - The New Tribes
Tyrone immediately took the leadership role for Espada, explaining to the new tribe members how their camp worked. The younger players, especially NaOnka, did not like the way the older tribe did things and did not like the fact that the older tribe actually had rules of camp. Thing for the Espada tribe are going to get interesting.

NaOnka will not let anyone have peace for very long. The young tribe members hate the camp, the rules, and the lack of amenities they had established back at La Flor. Surprisingly, NaOnka started loosing her big, bad girl grip.

Back at tribe La Flor Marty wanted to make an impression and get off on the right foot with the tribe so he told them about the immunity idol that he had. The younger tribe felt that Marty was being cocky and trying to come in and take over their camp - which he was.

"Survivor Nicaragua," week 5 - The Second Challenge - Human Water Wheel
Each tribe had to strap three tribe members to a water wheel. The players on the water wheel had to grab a mouth full of water when they were put under water and spit it into a container as they rose on the water wheel. Once the container was full, it released a ball which was to be used on the second part of the challenge, breaking a series of tiles.

The best selections to play the water wheel would have been the people with the biggest mouths, but I don't think that is how they made their determination at all.

Espada had a great lead in the water wheel portion of the challenge, but La Flor gained on the when it came to breaking tiles. In an unbelievable come back Fabio (aka - Jud) won the challenge for La Flor.

For winning the challenge La Flor won immunity.

Espada was right back where they had been before on the losing side of the game and heading into tribal council.

"Survivor Nicaragua," episode 5 - Tribal Council
Tyrone alienated his tribe because he wanted to keep the chickens to lay eggs, but once the chicken was cooked he helped himself to a large portion. He also drew criticism from stepping up as a leader when the tribes were mixed. Tyrone was headed into tribal council with a target on his back.

His biggest benefit was that NaOnka wanted to go home, but she was being lobbied by her former tribe mates from La Flor to stay on board and not throw in the towel.

"Survivor Nicaragua," week 5 - Who was voted off "Survivor Nicaragua?"
Tyrone asserted himself too much with the younger members who joined Espada. Tyrone was voted off of "Survivor Nicaragua," episode 5.

Watch videos of "Survivor Nicaragua" including week 5 at CBS.com