Alex Moore’s first days on Survivor would have tested the limits of even the most resilient players. The Communications Director found himself on a losing tribe whose inability to win a challenge left them without food, supplies, or protection. Although Alex had no trouble making friends, the constant threat of elimination wore on him and his tribemates. By Day 7, the Kele tribe had all but collapsed, leaving only Alex and Sophi Balerdi still standing. Lucky for them, reprieve came in the form of a tribe swap, which allowed Alex a fair shot at redemption. He was now on a physically dominant tribe with players who viewed him as a free agent. It turns out that pity can be a useful emotion for a player like Alex, whose dire position in the game made his natural charisma less intimidating.
He, like many people employed on Capitol Hill, chose to play both sides, cozying up to whoever currently held power. For a while, playing the middle proved to be advantageous for him. Of course, it eventually caught up to him, spelling trouble for his long-term game. A friend to all is a friend to none.
Alex’s Survivor journey came to an end on the Wednesday, November 19 episode after a plan to send Rizo Velovic packing backfired. Let’s break down Alex’s game—and pinpoint where it all went wrong.
Where Alex Moore went wrong in Survivor 49
Alex’s early days on the island may account for his aversion to loyalty post-merge. On the Kele tribe, Alex made it known that he and Jake Latimer were a package deal. The “bromance” was not a well-kept secret, making his other allies wary of their relationship. He also formed a connection with underdog Annie Davis, whom he felt would stay loyal to him until the end. His first days in Fiji were all about forming bonds and making strategic alliances, which would’ve helped him if his tribe wasn’t so awful at challenges. By Day 7, his allies were gone, and he was left with Sophi, who only kept him in the game because he was in possession of an Immunity Idol.
Alex’s lack of relationships going into the merge put him in a tricky spot. The Survivor 49 players, excluding Sage Ahrens-Nichols and Jawan Pitts, were steadfast in their commitment to their OG tribe, making it difficult for Alex and Sophi to find their footing. Alex felt it was his best move to float in the middle, whereas Sophi allowed former Uli to adopt her.
Alex had many friends but no real allies
The title of Alex’s elimination episode is “If You’re Loyal to All, You’re Loyal to None,” a phrase that perfectly encapsulates his final days on the island. He felt it was best to be unattached, allowing himself to move like water between Hina and Uli. There is, of course, a major downside to playing the middle. If you don’t have any real allies, there is no one to stick up for you if your name is thrown out. No one felt Alex was essential to their game, making him an easy vote out. In Episode 9, Rizo, who was in danger of going home, used Alex to save himself. He suspected that no one would stick their neck out for Alex, and he was right.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Alex spoke about the difficult position he faced at the merge, telling the outlet he knew he was at the bottom.
“It’s kind of hard when everyone comes into this with a full tribe, and I’m basically alone,” he said. “And I knew that Soph was a goner. As soon as I saw her at one of the challenges with Savannah and Rizo, they just looked too close together. I knew I’d lost her.”
Alex should’ve stuck with Soph
Alex felt Soph’s loyalty lay with former Uli, but he would’ve been wise to water that connection. In the short-term, Soph would likely go with the numbers, recognizing that Uli offered her more protection. But it’s hard to beat history on Survivor. Soph will remain at the bottom of her trio with Savannah and Rizo, which would’ve presented Alex with an opportunity to rise in the ranks. It appeared that Alex abandoned his connection with Soph once he realized she was Uli strong. I believe that was a mistake. If anyone was going to stick their neck out for him, it would’ve been Soph. But he didn’t put in the work to preserve the relationship. So, when Rizo called for his head, she didn’t put up a fight.
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