October 26, 2006: A Repeat by Any Other Name...
Eighteen days in and the producers are still trying to reel in new viewers with this CliffNotes, catch-me-up episode. That's right, it's recap time on
Survivor: Cook Islands. Rather than just stroll down memory lane, we regular viewers were also treated to 14 new and easily identifiable scenes - the most riveting of which was Adam and Candice's Day 2 adventure at sea that left them stranded and shivering on a sandbar and had them ultimately abandoning ship in a desperate effort to swim back to land. The next time this happens, it would be nice to see Parvati show a little more concern for her fellow tribe mates than for the unwrecked boat safely parked on a sandbar. At least now we have some basis for Candice's blowing kisses to Adam at last week's tribal council. You don't go through something like that without it changing you. Theirs is a bond none can break.
Pavarti is, I guess, this season's hot chick. She got her own montage and everything, but if I see that tattoo one more time....
Also starring in her own short was Stephannie, whose journey takes her from hymn-singing soloist to a fall-down drunk - an all too common tale.
In the sobering light of day, this very special episode delved deeper into the season's controversial twist only to reveal that pretty much everyone except Cao Boi hated it. He seemed to take the ethnic divisions to heart more than the rest, exhibiting an admirable, yet unreciprocated, devotion to his original Puka tribe.
And then there was the uncomfortable part of the show also known as Billy's final tribal council. Can we just agree to let this man's embarrassment end here and now? OK, maybe one last shot of Jeff's eyes' bugging out, but then I'm done. Honest.
What didn't I expect to see? Yul destroying all evidence of the idol. This one means business. What didn't I realize? No luxury items (or am I reading too much into Jonathan's lament for a toothbrush?) What did I realize? Nate talks
a lot. What touched me? Cristina's tears. And what made me laugh? J.P.'s blindsided ouster complete with an Oscar-worthy sacrificial-lamb performance from Stephannie.
Now that we've been there and done that, I'm ready to get back to business. It is time to whittle down these tribes. It's time to merge. It's time to start worrying about who's going to be on the jury. In other words, it's time to play
Survivor.
