Entering his fourth time on Survivor, Tyson Apostol has already proven himself to be more than a supreme jokester and an immunity challenge beast. He also has one of the greatest strategic grasps on the game as anyone else, as evidenced by his most recent run on Blood vs. Water.
Tyson’s Survivor journey began on season 18, Tocantins, when he found himself competing against the unwavering adulation for eventual winner J.T. Thomas. Though Tyson made the merge, he was voted out after finally losing immunity, deemed too much of a physical threat to keep in the game. On Heroes vs. Villains, Tyson flamed out in a blaze of stupidity, flipping his vote onto Parvati Shallow and taking himself out in the pre-merge. Duped by three-time Survivor loser Russell Hantz, Tyson was determined to avenge his blunder when he returned seven seasons later for Blood vs. Water. After then-girlfriend Rachel Foulger was eliminated early, Tyson led an alliance of Gervase Peterson and Monica Culpepper to the end, playing down his physical and strategic assets as a way to deflect attention after the merge. He famously drew rocks at the final six, a move that paid off and kept his majority threesome intact. Now a father and husband, Tyson has even more motivation to show that he’s the best Survivor player in its 40-year history.
Why Tyson will win
Tyson’s sense of humor is unmatched in the annals of Survivor, and it is this vital quality that gives him the ability to endear himself to his tribe. It also helps Tyson hide the deep knowledge of the game that he possesses. He is well-connected with several of the season 40 cast members from outside the show. He should be able to use some of those friendships, like the one he shares with Boston Rob, to shield him as he attempts to maneuver his way to the end again.
Why Tyson won’t win
Everyone knows just how much Tyson understands Survivor, so they won’t be fooled by his social acuity. He may be targeted for the same reason he was in Heroes vs. Villains, as a way to weaken a powerful alliance by taking out someone less obvious than, say, a Boston Rob or a Sandra Diaz-Twine.
Prediction: 12th place: He may not come in with the same threat level as a Tony Vlachos, but Tyson is still going to have a difficult time navigating his way to the end, especially once the merge hits. After some of the bigger names are eliminated pre-merge, all eyes will turn to Tyson, as his reputation as a social charmer and challenge dominator will work against him.
Survivor premieres Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
