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Episode 2 Recap: 'Survivor' Smackdown!
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39 Days, 16 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog
Here are the tribes as they currently stand...
Timbira (wearing black)
• Coach – 37 – Soccer Coach
• Brendan – 30 – Entrepreneur
• Candace – 31 – Attorney
• Debra – 46 – Middle School Principal
• Erinn – 26 – Hairstylist
• Jerry – 49 – Sergeant, U.S. Army
• Tyson – 29 – Professional Cyclist
• Sierra – 23 – Model
Jalapao (wearing red)
• Joe – 26 – Real Estate Sales
• JT – 24 – Cattle Rancher
• Sandy – 53 – Bus Driver
• Spencer – 19 – Student
• Sydney – 24 – Model
• Taj – 37 – Former Pop Star
• Stephen – 29 – Corporate Consultant
We start off at the Jalapao camp where the Jalapaoians are busy trying to create fire after Tribal Council. Spencer lets us know that Sandy will be next on the chopping block. The following morning, the tribe decides to sample some of Brazil’s insect cuisine, chomping on termites and freakishly large worms.
At Timbira’s camp, Sierra lets Brendan in on the fact that there’s an immunity idol hidden at their camp that is good for Timbira’s first Tribal Council. The two find the same “ten paces” clue that Sandy found. However, they don’t grasp the concept of a pace either as they’re clearly digging in the wrong place.
Here’s my gift for any future “Survivor” contestants that may be reading this blog…
pace – noun - Any of various units of distance based on the length of a human step.
You’re welcome.
While Sierra and Brendan are digging their way to China (wait, that’s not right, what’s on the other side of Brazil?) Debra comes looking for them. Sierra, thinking quickly, explains that they’re trying to dig a bonfire pit. Sierra then goes on to explain that she wants to have a big beach fire for herself and her wife...Morgan Fairchild. Yeah, that's the ticket!
Meanwhile, it occurs to your “Survivor” recapper that Spencer was probably born in 1989 or 1990. Therefore his Morgan Fairchild joke is, in fact, older than a contestant on the show. Thus, your "Survivor" recapper feels sad. Oh well, at least Jon Lovitz will feel appreciated.
Later on, Timbira has its first little feud as Coach and Candace debate the merits of various rice cooking techniques. Both players smartly step back and don’t let their emotions get the best of them. Last season, Crystal nearly punched G-C in the face over a similar debate.
Back at Jalapao, Taj spills the beans about her marriage to former NFL star and Heisman trophy-winner Eddie George. The men in the tribe are impressed except for Stephen who clearly knows nothing about football. JT puts two and two together and realizes that Taj is probably a millionaire already. I’m torn as to whether or not this was good strategy on her part. It may help her get further as nobody would be afraid to face her at a final Tribal Council, but, early in the game, people can be voted off for the stupidest reasons. I think I would have held in that tidbit if I were Taj.
Immunity Challenge Time: Probst calls both of the tribes in, then almost as if on cue it starts pouring down rain. Kudos to the “Survivor” production department for being able to manipulate the weather. The challenge will feature two teams of three in knee-deep water wrestling to get control of a ball. The first team to shoot the ball into their goal basketball-style will win a point. The first team to three points wins immunity and fishing gear. And, the winning team will send a member of the losing team to Exile Island.
Hmm…wrestling and bikinis? The editing team had better have the blur button ready.
Round 1: I was right on the bikini censorship front, as this challenge was blurrier than my last New Year’s Eve party. The first round comes to a quick end as Candace intercepts a pass from Taj and sinks a rather impressive shot.
Round 2: JT absolutely levels Tyson with an impressive German suplex (Kurt Angle represent) but Tyson manages to hang on to the ball. Tyson eventually scores to give Timbira a two to zero lead.
This didn’t affect the outcome much, but Sandy was literally holding Erinn back by her bikini top like it was a lasso. Hysterical.
Round 3: This round consisted of three women vs. three women, and for a brief moment I was worried Sierra would drown. Fortunately, she did not. Also fortunately for Jalapao, Syndey managed to score.
Round 4: In a round that consisted of three guys going against three guys, JT managed to fake out Jerry and tie the game.
Round 5: Finally, in a back-and-forth affair that was highlighted by Candace and Taj throwing down, Stephen managed to win it for Jalapao. Not bad for a guy who knows nothing about sports.
Afterwards, Jalapao elected to send Brendan to Exile Island. J-Pro told him he would need to take someone from Timbira with him. Brendan decided to take Taj.
Back at Jalapao, it turns out that JT is leading the tribe and Stephen is becoming his right-hand man. It’s like a starving, bug-bitten version of “The Odd Couple”
Later, we meet up with Brendan and Taj as they're arriving at Exile (not an) Island. They’re greeted by a pot, rice, and two mystery urns. Taj’s is empty, but Brendan’s features the first hidden immunity idol clue. Brendan decides to share the clue with Taj after she says she’ll help him find it. She quickly figures out that the idol isn’t hidden at Exile Island, but back at the tribal camps.
Brendan’s urn also included the option to jump to Jalapao after his stay at Exile Island. He decides not to exercise this option.
Pre-Tribal Council politicking has begun at Timbira. The original plan was for everyone to vote for Sierra, however Candace is thinking of voting for the very Steven-Seagal-like Coach. Later, Debra informs Coach of Candace’s intentions. Realizing that he’s “Under Siege” and wanting to prove that nobody is “Above the Law,” Coach makes an “Executive Decision” to make Candace “Marked for Death.”
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Fancast.com for their help with the preceding joke. How’s that for corporate synergy?
Later Erinn and Candace discuss strategy. Candace decides that they should kick Coach off eventually, but the time isn’t right just yet.
That night at Tribal Council, trust is a big issue. Coach lets us know that he trusted Brendan when he said he didn’t receive a clue at Exile Island (even though Brendan was lying). Erinn doesn’t think six days is long enough to actually trust someone. Debra disagrees because of their time together surviving (even though she trusted Brendan and Sierra on the whole fire pit issue).
Voting Time: Candace votes for Sierra, Sierra votes for Candace, and the remaining votes are for Probst’s tallying eyes only.
Jeff reads the votes: one vote for Candace, one vote for Sierra, four votes for Candace and the second person voted out of “Survivor: Tocantins” is…Candace.
Verdict: Wow, with back-to-back attractive women getting the boot, you can bet the producers are trying to figure out how to get a “Hot People Get Immunity Until the Merge” rule worked into the game. That being said, I’m liking where this season is heading. The immunity challenge was intense and the strategy has been relatively sound. That, and I’m pretty sure Coach will have turned his alliance into a cult by the time the merge happens.
Who’s Going to Win? I think admitting she was married to an NFL star was a strategic mistake, but I made a choice and I’m sticking with it. So, go Team Taj.
Editor’s Note: If you have any questions for Charlie Herschel from “Survivor: Gabon" for next week's Point/Counterpoint, post them below.
Click Here to Comment – Was booting strong Candace over tiny Sierra a mistake? How do you feel about Coach? Who’s playing the best game thus far?
Message Edited by Gordon_Holmes on 02-20-2009 08:53 AM
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