At long last, the inevitable that had repeatedly been postponed finally happened. Marty got voted out when he finally made a serious attempt to save himself (too little too late). This is a good time to review his influence on events in the game, and revise our views on who are more likely to be voted out next.
How should we rate Marty's game-play? I would say rather poor. Let's consider the game to have had three phases so far - old Espada, new La Flor, and Libertad - and consider the thinking behind his actions.
Old Espada:
Marty did not seem to form an alliance at the start, and it was only after Jill shared the idol clue with him and Danny that there was any evidence of one. He was influential in getting rid of Jimmy J (who was such a poor player that he wasn't a threat). In the meantime, Marty found the idol and publicised his possession of it. This may not have been very well appreciated by others, of course.
New La Flor:
At this point, Marty was in a strong position, but unfortunately the tribes were required to exchange members, and he went with Jill and Jane to La Flor. He had probably no choice but to tell the whole tribe he had the idol, otherwise Jane would have blabbed. Still, he found time to bluff a dim Fabio that he was a chess grandmaster, and would have made an ally out of him if he had put in a little more effort. The tribe voted half-heartedly, hoping he would use the idol unnecessarily, and eliminated Kelly B. Then Sash managed to coax the idol out of him, and they could have easily voted him out, but chose Jill instead. This was the time when he could have got Fabio on his side, then used the idol in a 4 versus 3 situation to get rid of one of the 4.
Libertad:
Then the merge happened, and Marty felt liberated enough to supply the name Libertad. But really very little had changed. It was either him or Alina to go next. At tribal council, Marty started his campaign against Jane, and undermined her prospects in the game. He survived, but that was because Sash wanted to score a few ethical points by ensuring it was Alina who went. He lasted only one episode longer, and for once put up a fight. His attempt to make it look like they were gunning for NaOnka but actually vote Jane out would have succeeded if Sash and Brenda had chosen to do this. Unfortunately for him, they effectively spoke for the tribe, and it was finally the end of the road.
To summarise, it looks like Marty had lots of influence on the game, but played rather half-heartedly and rather unwisely. Why vote out Jimmy J, who was not a strong player? And then why tell people you have the idol? There was nothing he could do about having to move to the new La Flor, at which point he had to admit to having the idol. Over there, it was not enough to get Fabio only partly on his side, as this did not enable him to use the idol to his advantage. Giving the idol to Sash effectively ended his chances, but it seems to have earned him a slightly higher position than if he had played it only to save himself from an elimination. His parting gift was to alert the tribe that Jane was potentially dangerous; if she was the next to go, then he would have achieved something. He's made the jury at least, and that might lead to some interesting discussions at the end.
And what about the revised pecking order? The original La Flor five are followed by Danny, Benry, Fabio, Holly, and Jane in some order. It looks like Jane might be targetted next, thanks to Marty, when otherwise she would have been safer. Jane has one important ally, though - Chase. So that might save her for now. It should be one of the other four outsiders to go next, and Jane is likely to be partial to Holly, while Danny looks pathetic. So Benry or Fabio it should be, and they will probably vote for each other in the hope of staying around for another tribal council rather than rally support from others to vote out one of the five.
+5 Girl... you're analysis of Marty ans his game play is dead on!!!
Too Bad he was so arrogant.. I think it got in the way of his common sense!!!! Great read as usual ... love, you !! <333
