The decision to make that switch from Russell to Parvati was partially because everybody saw Parvati as a huge threat after Micronesia. It was also partially because like I said, Tyson likes to be flashy and create some good TV. In a way, he is a precursor to someone like Tony who comes in with the goal of playing a very bombastic game and still somehow end up winning in the end.

After two seasons worth of gameplay, it became clear that Tyson was not motivated simply to win. He wanted to also be a memorable contestant and he really managed to do so. It ended up being worth it when he was called back for Blood vs Water with his girlfriend, Rachel Foulger. The idea that he was going out there with a loved one definitely had a play in how Tyson was going to act out on the island, for the first time, Tyson seemed a lot more focused.

This only became doubly true after Rachel was voted off the loved ones tribe. It was a thinly veiled attempt to get Tyson to take her place in Redemption Island and hopefully end up losing. Tyson saw through it and it fueled his fire in a way that we had never seen on Survivor. For the first time in three seasons, Tyson had a purpose in winning the game and it was for, as Ozzy would say…

Having been the goofy player who made key errors in two seasons also served Tyson in Blood vs Water. He could do all these backdoor dealings with Gervase Peterson and slowly mount his numbers against Aras Baskauskas in silence because nobody suspected him of being a puppeteer. While he was still having fun with the coconut bandits and his love of magic, Tyson was not letting his need to make jokes and be a big character get in the way of his win.

Early in the season, Tyson suffers a shoulder injury during a tribal challenge. It’s not enough to take him out of the game but does limit him physically for a bit. As he is wont to do, Tyson also plays it up at every given opportunity to avoid doing work. This injury is probably a blessing in disguise because it forces Tyson to be less useful in challenges and diminish his target as a threat when the merge eventually comes around.

People often talk about Kim Spradlin or Earl Cole as players who had their season locked up and forget Tyson. It’s fair because while he may have won Blood vs Water, Tyson is still usually more remembered for Tocantins and his joking, fool-like personality.

Still, Tyson puts on a Survivor clinic his third time around and really dominates the game. He strikes at Aras at the exact right moment and puts himself on the proper course towards a win. He navigates a potential blindside from Hayden Moss and Caleb Bankston perfectly by turning it around them using Ciera Eastin. He manages Monica Culpepper and her constant paranoia and Gervase and his massive ego without ever setting either of them off. Throughout the season, Tyson is the only player to find an idol, in fact he finds two of them. Tyson is dead-set on winning the season and he works for it.

Thanks for giving me an easy final three guys.

That isn’t to say that Tyson doesn’t make mistakes in Blood vs Water. As hard as he tries, Tyson can never fully supress his own personality. It’s just too big and commanding to take a backseat for a full 39 days. At the tribal council where they ultimately draw rocks because Hayden manages to flip Ciera, Tyson holds onto a hidden immunity idol instead of playing it in case the vote became deadlocked. Sure he has the idea of Redemption Island sitting there to bring him back if he needs it, but it’s an unnecessary risk fueled by his overconfidence. When Katie Collins draws the rock and Tyson makes sure to point out where her seat on the jury is, that sets some people off against him. That is again Tyson’s need to make the funniest joke coming out and almost shooting himself in the foot. This is also the tribal council that rustle vs ruffle takes place, further irritating Tyson.

HAYDEN: (very, very serious) Ciera, it was to rustle feathers. It was to rile Gerv up — TYSON: Ruffle. Ruffle feathers. TYSON: (completely deadpan) You said “rustle feathers.” HAYDEN: (utterly nonplussed) Rustle, ruffle, whatever, I don’t care… TYSON: (even deaderpan) Russell is a first name; ruffle is — HAYDEN: Rustle, R-U-S-T-L-E. Rustling leaves! You can also rustle feathers. TYSON: (unable to keep from grinning) OK.

It’s such a dick move to correct people’s way of speaking, especially when that other person is heated at you but Tyson is gonna do Tyson.

Still, Tyson’s mistakes are far less fatal and numerous than in the past. He has learned from his previous experiences and is really motivated not to let it slip away again. We even get some actual emotion from him when he talks about Rachel or about how close he is to the win despite feeling like it’s about to be ripped away from him. Tyson really does put his blood, sweat and tears into winning and you can really tell how much it means to him. Blood vs Water Tyson is maybe not as funny as he has been in the past, but he certainly feels more human.

Which is interesting considering people have referred to this Tyson as a gamebot. To me, that makes me question how people define such a term nowadays. Yes, Tyson does talk about the game. Any winner should be showcasing his strategy on the show otherwise we would have people bitching about another Jenna Morasca situation. That isn’t the only attention Tyson gets during the season. His bond with Rachel and how much it means for her to give up her chance for Tyson to go further is a huge storyline. He still has those moments where he is playing around and being the goofy character he was in Tocantins. Just because Tyson wins and talks about the game more than in the past does not suddenly rob him of his personality.

He even kneels when accepting immunity.

In the end, Tyson closes out the deal. He turns it on physically to win the last two immunity challenges. At final five, Tyson pulls out his Tyson Flashy Move tm by playing his second idol on Gervase as a show of power over him. It’s both effective in terms of showing who is in power in the alliance and TV friendly which kind of presents the best of both worlds for Tyson. He is able to get to the final tribal council and grab seven of eight possible votes.

Seeing his cathartic reaction to winning the game was very emotional for me. I have long been invested in Tyson and never honestly thought he would be able to win the game. Not because he wasn’t smart or physical enough but because he was just too extra. To have witnessed him actually pulling it off and in a dominant fashion was incredible. Of my Survivor watching experience, it may top everything else simply because of how much I like Tyson.

Let’s also appreciate that he wore a Tuxedo T-Shirt to his own million dollar crowning.

Much like in multiple Shakespeare plays, when it all came down to it, the fool ended up being the wisest of them all.