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'Survivor' knockout: Gotta fly now
Survivor: Fiji just hasn't hit its stride yet, but things are bound to become exciting eventually, right? Perhaps Thursday (March 29) night's show will get the adventure going.
Pre-credit sequence. Ravu lost last week and had to vote somebody off. That stinks. In addition, they already have to live in the run-down camp with minimal rations. That stinks, too. Not only that, but that have to put up with the dueling obnoxious behaviors of Dreamz and particularly Rocky. That really stinks. Now, to make things worse, Ravu gets to add Lisi to its tribal mix. They've been well and truly Sanjayaed. Alex hopes that Lisi's time on Exile Island will have made her less, um, confrontational. Lisi returns with the grand announcement that during her time on Exile Island she had a breakdown, but she also reached some sort of self-professed spiritual enlightenment.
An Immunity Idol built for two. Earl leads the rest of the Moto tribe on a phantom mission, giving Yau-Man his second chance at digging up the Immunity Idol. Eureka! He quickly uncovers a carefully wrapped turtle necklace and does several little jigs, before announcing "This is a million dollars right here." There's something very endearing about the giddy little guy, as he preens and models the Idol noting, "It looks good on me. It really does." But the Idol isn't his alone and Yau-Man pulls Earl aside and lets him know of his discovery. They're thick as thieves, even if Yau-Man thinks theirs is a strange alliance. "I would have never thought that a big strong black man would become one of my best allies in this game." They agree that the Idol will be used to protect whoever needs it.
Arcade fire. It's time for the Reward Challenge. Want to know what they're playing for? The winning tribe gets to take a private plane to a Fijian arcade (your guess is as good as mine) to bowl and play fooseball or pool, with all of the hot dogs and beer they can eat. I'm a sucker for just about anything involving flamethrowers, so the fire-tossing contest looks like fun, though the level of technical complexity appears low. Led by Dreamz's precision-throwing, it's Ravu's first challenge win of the season. They send Earl off to Exile Island.
Oh, I wish I hadn't eaten those Oscar Meyer wieners. Like Survivor Kobayashis, the winning Ravuvians devour wieners by the handful and brownies aplenty. They play virtual golf and agree that Lisi's every bit the man they are. We suspected as much. But in no time, Gorgers Remorse sets in and like Romans of old, Alex and Mookie rush to the vomitorium. Soon, their afternoon of revelry turns to misery, with everybody curled up in balls complaining. The only exception? Rocky. He remembers the feeling of hunger and taunts anybody who claims to be too full. When Edgardo admits that he'd rather feel bloated than starving, Rocky responds, "Well, then suck up the stomach-ache and shut up, then." Edgardo thinks Rocky just doesn't fit in.
An Idle Yau-Man is the Devil's Tool. Since they still have plenty of food over at Moto, Boo isn't worried about starving, but he says that Immunity is big, particularly for Yau-Man, the weakest person in the tribe. But Yau-Man is feeling cocky and bored enough to putter about the camp making up a fake Immunity Idol out of a coconut shell and some yellow paint. He even puts "I.I." on his fake Idol just in case there could be uncertainty. I don't understand his full strategy here, but I guess this is what happens when Real World Brains meet Island World Stir Crazy.
Blindfolds+Machetes=Immunity fun. It's a blindfolded obstacle course for Immunity. Each team gets one set of eyes yelping instructions for their sightless teammates (well, their mouths yelp, not their eyes...). Michelle starts off as Moto's caller and her distinctive style -- complete with chirpy constructive hints and suggestive hip-shaking -- is an obvious winner. She proves too excitable, though, falling sideways from her platform in what's sure to be one of my favorite TiVo moments of the week. Michelle recovers to help her tribe solve the final puzzle, giving Moto the win and saving all of Yau-Man's Immunity Idols.
Rocky vs. Lisi: Whoever Wins, We Lose. Edgardo and Alex have determined that loyalty is more important to them than strength, so Lisi gets to stay and Rocky has to go. Lisi even proves her loyalty by informing Alex that the Immunity Idol is on their island, not Exile Island and enlists Alex in her quest. However, Mookie -- the only person left out of the anti-Rocky loop -- recognizes that if Rocky goes, he'll be in an Original Ravu minority. He goes to Dreamz for an ally and is surprised by Dreamz's willingness to vote against the pack. Dreamz tells the camera that while it seems like they've had disagreements, he wants to get to know Rocky better and Lisi less. Will it be a split vote?
Down for the count. The Tribal Council conversation is boring, but will there be a surprise in the results? Nope. Rocky's voted out. Rocky's exit speech begins with a primal scream and ends with his conviction that he'll get revenge when he's on the jury. My math is a little rusty, but does Rocky get to be on the jury?
Thoughts? Or are you just as bored as I am?
Jeff actually did say Rocky was the 1st member of the jury.
Karen | Mar 30, 2007 4:13:43 AM | #Rocky does indeed get to be on the jury as was evidenced by Probst saying "and the first member of the jury...".
Brandon | Mar 30, 2007 4:14:05 AM | #Yao Man making the fake immunity idol was laugh-out-loud funny. I'm surprised no one from previous hidden immunity idol seasons thought about doing that. I hope the season plays out that someone finds it and attempts to use it at tribal. Michelle falling off the platform? Priceless! One of the more entertaining Survivor shows I've seen.
Julie | Mar 30, 2007 6:04:10 AM | #This has to be the best episode of this season so far and on of the best episodes in general in a long time. It was fun, exciting and funny. I love that yau-man and earl got the idol and that Rocky (most hated survivor in a long time) got voted out without ever seeing it comming. So as far as Survivor goes, this was a great episode.
Marc | Mar 30, 2007 6:38:41 AM | #I thought this was a really good episode of Survivor. If it works I think the Yau-Man false Idol could go down as one of the greatest Surivor deception tactics of all time. And what was with Boo taking over for Michelle and then suddenly going blind?
Brian | Mar 30, 2007 7:26:02 AM | #Ah. I somehow missed Jeff saying Rocky was on the jury. I guess that makes sense. I can't imagine he'd have invented that information otherwise.
Well go Rocky, then.
Now, I'm off to watch Michelle fall off the platform again.
-Daniel
Daniel Fienberg | Mar 30, 2007 8:22:03 AM | #Loved Yau-Man's faux immunity idol and I, too, am praying that someone finds it. Wish there was a way for Yau-Man and Earl to win as a team, they're priceless. For me, there WAS a surprise at tribal council. Why did Dreamz change his vote to Rocky? Did he just figure it was best to avoid a tie, or is he secretly still hoping to become part of the alliance?
Beth | Mar 30, 2007 8:36:55 AM | #Funniest moment of the night:
Michelle: "Go left."
(Boo moves to the right.)
Michelle: "Go LEFT!"
Boo (sticking out his left arm): "This way?"
Michelle: "YES!!!"
Yau-Man Fan | Mar 30, 2007 8:53:39 AM | #Jeff did say Rocky was the first jury member. Does that mean three will be up for the final tribal again?
Chris | Mar 30, 2007 10:30:34 AM | #To answer one question, Boo was blind because he had just taken his blindfold off to do the yelling. Also, it does seem that three people will be there for the final vote. In this season, it might be a lot more interesting with three people in the final vote, and at least, even if you don't like him, Rocky will make for a good jury member.
Kevin | Mar 30, 2007 10:47:46 AM | #Excellent Episode of Survivor!
Highlights:
1. Rocky's primoridal scream at the end! Powerful all time great Survivor scene!
2. Rocky bitchin at his team mates about piggin out! A sad display out we are always the author of our own alienation and doom!
3. Yau Man's frantic dance of excitement finding the I. I.!
4. Yau Man's placing the fake I.I.! Brilliant and hilarious!
5. Yau Man's excellent fire launch to the target after enduring humiliating macho taunts!
6. Michele's sensual hip swaying and her energetic crashing fall from her perch!
7. Rocky's primoridial scream of repressed rage, resentment, frustration, alienation, hurt, pain and loneliness!
Poor Rocky!...Poor Survivors...Poor You..Poor me..Poor me....Poor me...Pour Me Another Drink!
Krzysztof Kieslowski | Mar 30, 2007 11:17:06 AM | #"Rocky" or whatever his name is, has got to be THE most uninteresting player in Survivor history. Thank goodness for Yau man - the show has finally begun.
Trish | Mar 30, 2007 12:20:11 PM | #Finally! This season has been downright boring, but last night it finally showed some spark, and booted the most annoying player too! I'm so hoping Yau Man's fake idol get's played - how hilarious would that Tribal Council be!
Peter | Mar 30, 2007 12:33:50 PM | #everyones always so ready to complain. this season picked up as soon as the tribes got swapped. with the looming double hidden idol use, earl, michelle, and yauman teaming up, and other good things, this season is totally making a 180.
michael | Mar 30, 2007 1:10:11 PM | #Nobody is going to fall for Yao's immunity. Who would believe that crappy thing was an immunity idol? Adding the letters I I does not make it more believable. It was quite funny though.
There will be 3 finalists at the end. Jeff has said that in interviews. I think the final vote between the three of them will be more interesting than last time(I know who they are).
Survivor is always good. I don't like what they've done with the idol this year though, it seems almost worthless and more harm than good.
Add to the list of good moments this week:
When Moto was trying to solve their puzzle, someone said "Where's Michelle?" and she was brought from the fringes into the center, where she was able to quickly place the tiles. This showed a surprising level of teamwork and self-awareness. Good job!
Jeff | Mar 30, 2007 2:39:45 PM | #The season has been pretty boring so far and this episode was no different.
Juan Carlos | Mar 30, 2007 8:34:21 PM | #This is the best episode of the season. They need to put blindfold on the survivors all the time. It was hilarious seeing them acting like children at a party trying to hit a pinata!
Highlights:
- Michelle falling off the platform but then bounced back like nothing happened. Go Michelle! I really like her cheerleading energy!!
- Boo's inability to distinguish left and right. Michelle: "YOUR left!!!"
- Mookie mocking Yau-Man in the RC when he was up...and Yau-Man ends up scoring the only point for Moto.
- Yau-Man finding the idol and then make up a fake one. Please let Mookie find it and use it at Tribal so Jeff can go "What the hell is this??"
Nick | Mar 30, 2007 10:25:04 PM | #The power of this show is not that every season is a knockout.
It's watching little things -- like the fumbling Moto tribe actually CALL for Michelle and know that she would come in and nail the puzzle, which she did. It's stuff like that the makes me pull for someone, and she won me over.
This season is not on par with others because of the contestants, which just goes to show -- despite last season's racially charged season -- that you can't always pick a mix of "pretty people" and "characters" and get chemistry.
A merge should be coming, which could finally liven things up, with no one tribe dominant through the final stretch, alliances could flip like crazy ... we can only hope.
Christian | Mar 31, 2007 1:35:21 PM | #Boo's sudden blindness + Yao-Man's fake idol = BWHHHAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Bob | Mar 31, 2007 11:16:30 PM | #
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