October 12, 2006: Talk Ain't Cheap
You have to watch what you say on
Survivor or it could cost you big. Just ask Stephannie, who watched her million-dollar dreams drift away on an imaginary plate of mashed potatoes. I feel bad for Stephannie because Nate, who, despite his declarations, is no friend to Stephannie, has been trying to get this woman off the island for the last two weeks. How do you take "I could go for some mashed potatoes and gravy" to mean, "Gee, I can't wait to get off this island"? I'm sorry that Stephannie was not motivated to fight to stay in the game. For that reason alone I'm OK with voting her out. Personally, I don't understand contestants who go on this show and then give up. It makes me wonder if they even really wanted the million.
Like Cao Boi, I'm not sure if the cash prize motivates him or if he only jumped at this opportunity to have a captive audience. The man can talk forever, yet he cannot read body language or recognize when he's gone to far. Not only did he, Flicka and Ozzy crash Raro's island, but he bored them to death with his now famous stories and then asked for supplies. Talk about your textbook unwelcome visitor. Raro wasn't exactly happy to see them and Rebecca put it best, "It's the three that we can't stand." As entertaining a character as he is on a reality show, Cao Boi's charm doesn't seem to translate as well in person.
If it weren't for Jeff's charm, he'd be on my list tonight. Why don't you just tell everyone that the hidden idol has been found or better yet just point to Yul? Jeff is, most assuredly, an activist host and he has become a part of the game, but some of his leading questions tonight came dangerously close to crossing the line from neutral territory into the tampering zone. I'm as eager as the producers to have the hidden idol come into play, but they need to reign
Probst in.
I will give the producers credit, however, for some original and interesting challenges this week. We've seen versions of the weight-bearing challenge before but I liked this season's pair aspect of it. Oh, and thank you Cao Boi for that homoerotic spin on Nate and Adam's strategy. The immunity challenge was really funny. I loved the stilts and the Jenga-like climb up the platform and watching both groups teeter on the deck. I was so hoping for a group tumble and my prayers were answered.
Unfortunately for Raro, they earned another appointment at tribal council where Jeff put forth some very direct questions. Cristina barely missed being the fourth member from the original Aitu tribe to be sent home. It would be in her interest to not lose anymore octopus. And since I've mentioned it, these people are messing with an awful lot of wildlife this season. I'm happy to see that most of it is being eaten, but last week's booby-bird encounter had me wondering about the endangered status of the animals on the Cook Islands.
Overall, this week was more exciting than last but I do have some questions: Why is it OK for the men of Raro to lie around but not for the women to do the same? What's the reasoning behind sending Jonathan back to Exile Island? Did Yul drop his weight first to appear less strong and therefore less threatening? And most importantly, what is it that happens at tribal council, that Nate needs to wear his glasses?
