Nina Twine may not be a true hero on Australian Survivor, since she is related to a villain. Australian Survivor returns this January with a Heroes Vs. Villains season, complete with 12 returning contestants. Nina previously competed on Australian Survivor: Blood Vs. Water with her mother and previous two-time Survivor winner, Sandra Diaz-Twine. Unfortunately, Nina's time was cut short due to an ankle injury at a challenge involving a slide, forcing her to be medically removed from the game in episode 10.On Twitter, Channel 10 announced that Nina would be returning to Australian Survivor as a hero. While Nina was an early fan favorite on her original season and a great addition to the cast, the choice to portray her as a hero is surprising. The editing of Australian Survivor: Blood Vs. Water showed Nina as socially connected and cutthroat, as she was constantly seen manipulating others to get her way in the vote. This is proven by her 100 percent voting accuracy at the four tribal councils she attended. Her only heroic depiction is her abrupt departure, where other contestants lamented her loss and cherished the time they spent with her in the game.
Nina's Mother Is Notorious Survivor Villain Sandra Diaz-Twine
However, Nina's mother is none other than Sandra, who won Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains as a villain. Throughout Australian Survivor: Blood Vs. Water, Sandra repeatedly told viewers how she taught Nina everything she knows about the game, which would mean that Nina's game is based on villainy, not heroism. If Shonee Bowtell is a beloved villain due to her sneaky gameplay and snarky quips, Nina should no doubt be on the villains' tribe with her.
Unfortunately, it seems Australian Survivor will focus on her injury instead of her devious gameplay, as evidenced by this casting decision. This period of bad luck took Nina out of the game, but it certainly did not define her gameplay, as she voted out her own mother to appease her tribe and protect her standing within the game. The only other heroic moment is her belief that her mother Sandra was an anchor to her game, and that she needed to distance herself from her mother's villainous legacy in order to go far in the game.
It remains to be seen how Nina will choose to play on Australian Survivor without her mother, but her roots are firmly planted on the villains' side. An advantage to Nina's game is that she can be perceived as heroic while playing a villainous game, helping her make it far in the game. She is able to play on a season without her mother, and while she could continue to be targeted for Sandra's notorious history, it could finally be time for another win in the Twine family.
Australian Survivor returns to Network 10 in January 2023.
Source: Channel 10/Twitter