I Need Redemption
The Premiere episode of the 23th installment of Survivor opened with a white helicopter coming in over the water and we see the two returning players: Ozzy, now has really long bushman hair and Coach... is Coach... he's played twice before and is looking for redemption - he wants to prove that he can control his sense of self-righteousness and judgement of the others and prove that he can own this game playing with honour and integrity. Ozzy, I'm sorry to say does not strike me as a mental giant - he says he's able to climb trees and catch fish but he didn't play with any strategy - this time he's more mature and hoping he can lock his hands on the million dollars.
We then see the newbies rowing in on bamboo rafts - on the red team we first see the typical pencil neck geek - pink button down and sweater vest -[John Cochran] tells us he is the most survivor-savvy player ever to play the game - never missed a single episode and once wrote a prize winning essay on Survivor (me- thinks this kid should have gone outside more.)
Hot, dark-haired chick [Elyse] says she's not outdoorsy but she is Native American so hopefully her ancestors will impart some wisdom (Uh, yeah, you hold your breath and wait for that to happen.)
Handle-bar mustache, stetson and plaid shirt - Rick Nelson is 51 yrs old and owns his own ranch - if you didn't train, learn to build fire, etc - you might as well spit in the wind. (Like him so far.)
Over on the blue team we meet the 44 yr old African American woman [Stacey] who happens to be a mortician and the mother of 4 children, she's keeping her eyes and ears open, "you think I'm sleep, I'm not sleep" (I should hope she's not sleep) "I'm goin be nosy as hell." (ooh, fun.)
And Brandon, is Russell Hantz' nephew, "it's like being related to Hitler." He came out there to change the coarse of the Hantz' family name. (and he's not bragging he's related to Hitler.)
They all head into the Redemption Island arena in their tribes where Jeff welcomes them and then says their tribes are not yet complete - let's bring them in... the tribes start tittering, I wonder who it is and [Edna] the pant suited Asian girl turns to Brandon and says, "I hope it's not Russell." "Yeah, that would suck." Brandon tells us he will never, ever tell them he's related to Russell - he's just got to keep his shirt on because he's got a tattoo on one shoulder that says Lil Hantz and one across his upper back that says Hantz (Yeah, right, you're going to keep your shirt on the whole time... I give it 2 episodes.)
They are all excited to see Ozzy and Mikayla, the lingerie football player, wants him on their team - he can climb trees and fish - they are less excited to see Coach - she thinks he's just going to be loony, he's just nuts.
Jeff starts stirring it up right away - lady in the front [Christine] says it's nice to see Ozzy and the dragon warrior (does a crane pose) Jeff, "Meaning?" - "They are temporary players." (Oh Lady! Talking smack already - did you not see what happened to Francesca last season?) Coach looks hurt already.
Jeff then calls on pencil neck geek, John - who goes into a monologue about how Jeff calls players he really likes by their last name, so he's hoping he'll call him Cochran...Jeff says, "Okay, we'll see if you live up [to the past players], Cochran." then he says both have played the game twice before, they have lots of knowledge and would be an asset - laying it out on the table that he is a total Survivor fan-boy and proving without a doubt that he is a total geek.
To determine which tribes Coach and Ozzy will be on they have to choose eggs with paint inside - Ozzy tries to smash his on his chest - Fail! Coach just squeezes it in his hand and he's on the blue tribe - Ozzy finally gets his to break and smears it on his chest & hair - he's red.
Rick the Rancher is not too happy to see Coach's egg come up blue - "Dragon Slayer, there are no dragons. Hell, he's over 40."
Cochran is giddy fricken' Ozzy is on his tribe.
Coach is not feeling good vibes coming from his tribe - Christine is looking daggers at him - so he's grabbed both cheeks and is holding on, it's going to be a bumpy ride. It's going to take twice the Slayer charm to get through these first few days.
Ozzy is welcomed much more warmly by his tribe - and he's happy to be on red.
Jeff fills them in that they will be doing Redemption Island again this season (ugh, not excited about that...) and it's time for their first challenge. But it's only Coach & Ozzy competing - they have to climb a pole, retrieve a wooden turtle, then dig and climb under a log, then move a pyramid puzzle from one table to two other tables, only one piece at a time and only smaller pieces onto larger pieces (my husband tells me this is the classic Tower of Babel puzzle but I've never done one - looks hard.)
Ozzy dominates until they get to the puzzle then he calls for help from the tribe, they start shouting instructions to him and Coach is also working on the puzzle - he's trying to get help as well but you can tell Ozzy finally figures it out and Coach is just totally lost. With some help from his tribe Ozzy brings it home for Red - they win taro root (food) and flint (fire.) Coach's tribe just walks away (aw, it's like kicking a puppy, he just wants to be loved) Edna is the only one that offers to help him with his stuff. This treatment makes Coach face his biggest fear, you're going home first.
Red tribe - Savaii
They head to their camp and right away are looking to Ozzy to lead them - but Ozzy is laid-back surfer dude, let's just walk around some more.
Getting to know you - Cochran is a Harvard law student (named John[ny] Cochran... really). Long blond haired girl is a singer/songwriter from Nashville [Whitney] and Big haired, big eyed chick [Semhar], her heart, her soul is poetry - they call her out and she lays down some weird poem (oh yeah, she is full of herself.) But it works on Ozzy - he respects her passion (and she's easy on the eyes - she's going to put her back out if she sticks her chest out any farther - I'm just saying.)
Then Ozzy says they should just enjoy this and he suggests they all just go hang out in the water. Everyone shucks down except Cochran, he's very thin and pale and doesn't want to get naked with the pretty people. (Come on, grow a pair already.) So by the time he finally gets up the nerve to go in, everyone is looking cause he's all alone, doing a weird slow-mo Baywatch run into the water. (sigh, this kid is going to get eaten alive isn't he?)
Blue tribe - Upolu
Coach was afraid of the cold reception of his tribe but he's determined to face the fear and launches into a speech saying he's not a threat, he's not a strategic player (rolling my eyes - they all say that - it's never true) and he's sorry he lost the challenge but the good thing was he felt it was a group challenge (so it's also all your fault I lost.)
Christine, the b*tchy one, suggests they all say their occupations to suss out who has building shelter skills. Rick (cowboy hat/mustache) tells them he's a rancher (in case you couldn't tell.) Tall, good looking guy [Keith] is a baseball coach (which made Coach light up, my brethren), mousy brown-haired girl [Sophie] just graduated college - Economics & Russian. So Coach and her bandy back and forth some Russian - which they subtitled - IN RUSSIAN (yeah, we know it's Russian, we still can't understand it.) And Sophie kinda makes fun of him to the camera - he's ready to show off what he has but you can't deny his experience, it's got some worth.
Christine, the b*tchy one, says she's going to look for firewood but that's just and excuse to look for a hidden immunity idol. They all know what she's doing. Coach says she scares him the most, with the 'temporary player' comment and now looking for the idol. She's the first to go in his books.
Savaii
Ozzy's tribe is chilling in the water and Jim, slightly pudgy, frat-boy-ish guy is happy to see the hot young girls in bikinis (ugh.) He tells them he's a science teacher but in reality he has an MBA, he's won over 40 poker tournaments and owns two medical marijuana dispensaries - but he's not going to tell them that... Why would I? (He's a slippery one, they better watch out for him.)
The retired NYPD detective, grey-haired, bearded guy [Mark] tells them he's gay - asks them to call him Papa Bear (oh, he's cute - I think I like Papa Bear - so far.) He says he's living his life free of what may hold him back, its not about being gay it's about surviving.
Ozzy suggests they go get a fire going and once back on the beach says he's just as happy sleeping on the ground. This doesn't sit well with short-haired, bug-eyed Dawn - she's the mother of 6 and is used to be organized and in charge, she is stressing out that they are not building a shelter - Ozzy is too 'Bob Marley' for her (oh lordy, she's my person in the pool - it's not boding well for me.)
Upolu
Coach asks Brandon about the tat on his neck (nothing says class like a neck tattoo) it says LOCO (nice) - Brandon says he's not proud of that tattoo, it means crazy in Spanish, he tried to act like Russell in school, he was a bully but now he's grown up a lot (he's all of 19 now) and God's #1 for him. He thinks Mikayla is Delilah (there to tempt him into sin.) She is just being herself, she's climbing trees, getting up on the shelter and working - Brandon is not comfortable around her, thinks she's flaunting herself... but he's kind of creepy stalker. He says he grew up in the Church and he's a young married (at 19?) gentleman, he's not going to get into a situation that could lead him to trouble. (So, it's her fault that you find her attractive?... Brandon's still got a lot of growing up to do.)
Later that night - sitting out under the stars are Coach, Sophie, Brandon, Keith and Rick - Sophie burns Coach a good one - wish they had an astronomer to tell them stories about the stars, I mean, I'm sure Coach could do it but... (hehehe). Coach takes it well (surprisingly) and then he brings it up that a strong 5 alliance will get them really far - they all seem to be up for it. And Coach just proved his lie in the 'I'm not a strategic player speech' - he's setting up his strategy and feels he's sitting pretty.
Savaii - Day 2
WHAT is up with Semhar's socks? She has on thigh high sport socks... Where, what... My brain is broken.
Dawn's day doesn't start well - she's having a mini-breakdown (oh sweet jebus!) Crying already. Papa bear tells her to get it together, they're the older one's there and the youngin's don't need a reason to turn on them. She says she's feeling old for the first time (well she is ... only 41, come on that is not old (sigh)). Then Dawn goes to pull down a vine and as it snaps she falls - hard - on her butt on the rocks below - OUCH! (I had to watch it again - hahaha... but yeah, that must have hurt.)
More tears. (Get it together lady or you will be out of there.) She seeks council from the guru Ozzy, he's so calm and talks her down. Mark is worried about her breaking down but he says he's going to stick by her as the other old guy (at 48). Ozzy hopes she can get it together cause she could be a good ally but if not, she could be going home.
Semhar gives out sticks for them to clean their teeth - uh, don't you remember last year that woman getting an infection in her gum from 'brushing' her teeth like that?
Oh no, Cochran is going to but a finger off - he's attempting to open a coconut with a machete. He does succeed despite his mother having forbade him to do it.
Upolu - Day 2
Brandon is out spear fishing with his shirt on like a shrug around his shoulders hiding his tattoos - he says he wants to do what his uncle never did - provide food for his tribe. He catches a guppy and announces it to the world - He re-iterates that he's never going to tell them he's Russell's nephew - he doesn't want to be judged by his uncle's reputation.
- Close up on Sophie on day 2 (whoa - okay, now I'm the b*tchy one but, she possibly should have done something about the moustache before going out there) Oh, and I have those earrings :) She thinks she's sitting in a good position but she has a gut feeling that Brandon is hiding something (huh, very perceptive of Sophie.)
IMMUNITY CHALLENGE (Day 3)
They have to move through a zigzagging pathway (crawl) - then through a web of coconuts - then they all must get over a wall - one person then digs up a machete and cuts through 4 or 5 ropes to release a bunch of coconuts that 3 tribe members will then throw into a large net - first team to get enough coconuts in their net will raise their flag and win the first Immunity. Jeff tells them the winning team will also get a clue to the hidden immunity idol.
Strategizing before they start and Semhar (red team) steps up to be a shooter at the end (oh boy.)
Off they go - at one point Cochran (red team) could not figure out how to even get a boost over the wall - Rick(blue team) the rancher cut through the ropes like they were butter - and they have a lead - they start shooting the coconuts - Mikayla(blue) is a good shot - football player - but Semhar proves to be the weak link, she keeps whining that she's so tired and is not making any baskets - they even ask if they can switch her out - nope. It's very close though but the Blue Tribe - Upolu - WINS IMMUNITY! Jeff tells them there is actually a clue hidden at their camp for the immunity idol - so they have to find the clue before they can find the idol.
Jeff talking to Semhar asked her what went wrong and she kept playing with her hair, doing the pretty girl thing, "yeah, I feel sorta bad." Jim is making a disgusted shocked face behind her and Jeff calls him out - Jim says, "You only feel 'sorta bad', I feel sorta bad when I'm out of milk, I feel like crap now because we have to go and vote someone out." Semhar did not like that. Jim says to the camera, there is no reason to keep Semhar.
Upolu - Day 3
They are celebrating their win - Coach proclaims people either thrive or die out there and we are thriving! - but then they all quickly start looking for the clue to the hidden idol. Stacey is looking under rocks, in holes in trees... and says to the camera she probably has already seen it... and the camera zooms in to the hole she was just poking around in and there is the clue - RIGHT THERE! Curled around a stick - she was right there - oh man - too scared to stick her hands in the hole, she missed it.
Savaii - Day 3
Semhar calls out Jim for making faces behind her back - says she feels terrible, and how can she trust him when she is down, when he just pushes her down even more. He tries to defend himself, says he's sorry and didn't mean it (but he wasn't that sincere - about as sincere as she was when she felt 'sorta bad'.) Fight - Fight!
So they start talking and it looks like it's between Semhar, because of the challenge debacle, and Cochran because he has absolutely no physical abilities at all. (Yay, they aren't talking about Dawn's emotional break down at all.) Old guard, Mark & Dawn are thinking Semhar.
Ozzy talking to the cool kids in the water and he is championing Semhar and throwing Cochran under the bus. Jim is worried about Ozzy trying to keep the hot girl around for the snuggle factor. Ozzy goes to Semhar and tells her she has to start working if she wants to stay - gets her out campaigning. Jim tells Cochran that Ozzy is pushing for him and that triggers his crippling insecurities - Mark gives him a pep talk - Cochran is insulted that he could be the first to go when he's on a tribe with so many girls (oh really? Don't be a sexist jerk buddy, I'm trying to root for you.) Cochran's Survivor dream has turned into a nightmare.
TRIBAL COUNCIL
Jeff calls on Dawn first and she starts going on how she lost a lot of confidence in herself the first couple days because everything was so foreign to her and she couldn't get her feet under her (stop talking, don't cry...sheesh... did no one learn anything from watching Rob last season - you don't run your mouth at tribal council.) She says it was like she had the flu but now it's gone (okay, finished strong - I think she saved it there.)
Jeff asks Elyse if anyone else is worried and she throws out Semhar, should be worried because of the way the challenge went and the conversation when they went back to camp.
He asks Jim what was that conversation and he gives the I Hate Losing speech - "I think the only good losers are the people that are good at losing." [Semhar can pull some good faces herself - and holy, her eyes are huge!]
Jeff asked Whitney if she was glad it wasn't her and she said yeah, of course. Then kicked her a bit - I thought I could do it but when Semhar was so vocal about her abilities, no one else had the opportunity to step up.
Jeff says Semhar, you're shaking your head - "I know this game, I know I'd be safe if I didn't step up and I take full responsibility for taking on something out of my league, however, I know I got heart and I'm going to give it all I got." (Yeah, doesn't mean you have skill or stamina though.)
Ozzy says philosophically he'd rather play the game with someone willing to step - that ability to harness your passion is a huge advantage in this game.
Dawn, who else may be worried - Maybe Cochran - based on just strength he might be another target.
Cochran says he understands they look at his glasses, his sweater vest and his pale skin and think he's useless but he flew through the web like a hummingbird, no one seems to care - had a bit of a stumble on the wall... They all nod - Was it that noticeable? Yes!
Mark pipes up - and tells Jeff to call him Papa Bear (what is up with everyone telling Jeff what to call them this season - it's a bit presumptuous if you ask me - but I digress.) Papa Bear tells Cochran that he second guesses himself too much and he needs to be given direction.
Semhar says she was relieved when Cochran's name came up, she's not going to lie.
Cochran tells Jeff he better not say it's time to vote right now - Jeff tells him it's their tribal council - he will let them talk as long as he wants - So Cochran shows a glimmer of lawyer-ess and makes an argument that Semhar stands by the water 10 hours a day - it's not strenuous work.
-She interjects that she makes sure everyone has toothbrushes
-So you brought a couple sticks, it's not a huge job.
-It's a job no one had to tell me to do, that was my point.
-You make it sound like I wander around until someone tells me to get wood, but I'm on a learning curve right now and I'm an eager student, I'm building a knowledge base. I learn it once and I do it. This is the culmination of 11 years of passion for this game and to be even a possibility of the first one voted off is just heartbreaking, and mortifying (going for the sympathy vote there.) He says if he survives the vote he will do anything that needs to be done around camp - my eyes are open to people's perception of me.
-Semhar says this could work against him, he's so mesmerized by being in the game that he forgets how important it is to be that person that is working and doing things.
-He says he doesn't think it necessarily needs to be based on the past 3 days - And everyone jumps on that - What else can they base it on, they've only known him for 3 days, they have to base it on what they've seen so far (duh - what does he think, he gets fan-boy credits? Someone else has some growing up to do.)
Alright - So now it's time to vote.
Jeff tallies the votes: Semhar voted Cochran and everyone else voted Semhar - she is the first person heading to Redemption Island.
-Ozzy mutters he should have taught her how to build a fire. (That could have been helpful.)
Redemption Island - Semhar reads the rules that she has to win a dual to stay in the game - that sucks. Then she composes a poem to the lantern that lights her nights of solitude (okay, my husband made that part up - but she could have.) And with her on Redemption Island are Bryon Low, Lynne Brodie and Cheryl Bennett (you're not out yet though.)
Next week: Cochran messes up at a challenge (again) and remakes himself as a working machine around camp - Brandon's secret weighs heavy on him, doesn't like lying to Coach and it awakens the Dragon Slayer, "There's going to be an *ss whipping." (Oooh.)
So, that was the first long episode and longer recap - sorry, I'm a little out of practice. But I'll get back in the swing of things soon enough. :)
Hope you have a great weekend everyone!
Coleen
The Premiere episode of the 23th installment of Survivor opened with a white helicopter coming in over the water and we see the two returning players: Ozzy, now has really long bushman hair and Coach... is Coach... he's played twice before and is looking for redemption - he wants to prove that he can control his sense of self-righteousness and judgement of the others and prove that he can own this game playing with honour and integrity. Ozzy, I'm sorry to say does not strike me as a mental giant - he says he's able to climb trees and catch fish but he didn't play with any strategy - this time he's more mature and hoping he can lock his hands on the million dollars.
We then see the newbies rowing in on bamboo rafts - on the red team we first see the typical pencil neck geek - pink button down and sweater vest -[John Cochran] tells us he is the most survivor-savvy player ever to play the game - never missed a single episode and once wrote a prize winning essay on Survivor (me- thinks this kid should have gone outside more.)
Hot, dark-haired chick [Elyse] says she's not outdoorsy but she is Native American so hopefully her ancestors will impart some wisdom (Uh, yeah, you hold your breath and wait for that to happen.)
Handle-bar mustache, stetson and plaid shirt - Rick Nelson is 51 yrs old and owns his own ranch - if you didn't train, learn to build fire, etc - you might as well spit in the wind. (Like him so far.)
Over on the blue team we meet the 44 yr old African American woman [Stacey] who happens to be a mortician and the mother of 4 children, she's keeping her eyes and ears open, "you think I'm sleep, I'm not sleep" (I should hope she's not sleep) "I'm goin be nosy as hell." (ooh, fun.)
And Brandon, is Russell Hantz' nephew, "it's like being related to Hitler." He came out there to change the coarse of the Hantz' family name. (and he's not bragging he's related to Hitler.)
They all head into the Redemption Island arena in their tribes where Jeff welcomes them and then says their tribes are not yet complete - let's bring them in... the tribes start tittering, I wonder who it is and [Edna] the pant suited Asian girl turns to Brandon and says, "I hope it's not Russell." "Yeah, that would suck." Brandon tells us he will never, ever tell them he's related to Russell - he's just got to keep his shirt on because he's got a tattoo on one shoulder that says Lil Hantz and one across his upper back that says Hantz (Yeah, right, you're going to keep your shirt on the whole time... I give it 2 episodes.)
They are all excited to see Ozzy and Mikayla, the lingerie football player, wants him on their team - he can climb trees and fish - they are less excited to see Coach - she thinks he's just going to be loony, he's just nuts.
Jeff starts stirring it up right away - lady in the front [Christine] says it's nice to see Ozzy and the dragon warrior (does a crane pose) Jeff, "Meaning?" - "They are temporary players." (Oh Lady! Talking smack already - did you not see what happened to Francesca last season?) Coach looks hurt already.
Jeff then calls on pencil neck geek, John - who goes into a monologue about how Jeff calls players he really likes by their last name, so he's hoping he'll call him Cochran...Jeff says, "Okay, we'll see if you live up [to the past players], Cochran." then he says both have played the game twice before, they have lots of knowledge and would be an asset - laying it out on the table that he is a total Survivor fan-boy and proving without a doubt that he is a total geek.
To determine which tribes Coach and Ozzy will be on they have to choose eggs with paint inside - Ozzy tries to smash his on his chest - Fail! Coach just squeezes it in his hand and he's on the blue tribe - Ozzy finally gets his to break and smears it on his chest & hair - he's red.
Rick the Rancher is not too happy to see Coach's egg come up blue - "Dragon Slayer, there are no dragons. Hell, he's over 40."
Cochran is giddy fricken' Ozzy is on his tribe.
Coach is not feeling good vibes coming from his tribe - Christine is looking daggers at him - so he's grabbed both cheeks and is holding on, it's going to be a bumpy ride. It's going to take twice the Slayer charm to get through these first few days.
Ozzy is welcomed much more warmly by his tribe - and he's happy to be on red.
Jeff fills them in that they will be doing Redemption Island again this season (ugh, not excited about that...) and it's time for their first challenge. But it's only Coach & Ozzy competing - they have to climb a pole, retrieve a wooden turtle, then dig and climb under a log, then move a pyramid puzzle from one table to two other tables, only one piece at a time and only smaller pieces onto larger pieces (my husband tells me this is the classic Tower of Babel puzzle but I've never done one - looks hard.)
Ozzy dominates until they get to the puzzle then he calls for help from the tribe, they start shouting instructions to him and Coach is also working on the puzzle - he's trying to get help as well but you can tell Ozzy finally figures it out and Coach is just totally lost. With some help from his tribe Ozzy brings it home for Red - they win taro root (food) and flint (fire.) Coach's tribe just walks away (aw, it's like kicking a puppy, he just wants to be loved) Edna is the only one that offers to help him with his stuff. This treatment makes Coach face his biggest fear, you're going home first.
Red tribe - Savaii
They head to their camp and right away are looking to Ozzy to lead them - but Ozzy is laid-back surfer dude, let's just walk around some more.
Getting to know you - Cochran is a Harvard law student (named John[ny] Cochran... really). Long blond haired girl is a singer/songwriter from Nashville [Whitney] and Big haired, big eyed chick [Semhar], her heart, her soul is poetry - they call her out and she lays down some weird poem (oh yeah, she is full of herself.) But it works on Ozzy - he respects her passion (and she's easy on the eyes - she's going to put her back out if she sticks her chest out any farther - I'm just saying.)
Then Ozzy says they should just enjoy this and he suggests they all just go hang out in the water. Everyone shucks down except Cochran, he's very thin and pale and doesn't want to get naked with the pretty people. (Come on, grow a pair already.) So by the time he finally gets up the nerve to go in, everyone is looking cause he's all alone, doing a weird slow-mo Baywatch run into the water. (sigh, this kid is going to get eaten alive isn't he?)
Blue tribe - Upolu
Coach was afraid of the cold reception of his tribe but he's determined to face the fear and launches into a speech saying he's not a threat, he's not a strategic player (rolling my eyes - they all say that - it's never true) and he's sorry he lost the challenge but the good thing was he felt it was a group challenge (so it's also all your fault I lost.)
Christine, the b*tchy one, suggests they all say their occupations to suss out who has building shelter skills. Rick (cowboy hat/mustache) tells them he's a rancher (in case you couldn't tell.) Tall, good looking guy [Keith] is a baseball coach (which made Coach light up, my brethren), mousy brown-haired girl [Sophie] just graduated college - Economics & Russian. So Coach and her bandy back and forth some Russian - which they subtitled - IN RUSSIAN (yeah, we know it's Russian, we still can't understand it.) And Sophie kinda makes fun of him to the camera - he's ready to show off what he has but you can't deny his experience, it's got some worth.
Christine, the b*tchy one, says she's going to look for firewood but that's just and excuse to look for a hidden immunity idol. They all know what she's doing. Coach says she scares him the most, with the 'temporary player' comment and now looking for the idol. She's the first to go in his books.
Savaii
Ozzy's tribe is chilling in the water and Jim, slightly pudgy, frat-boy-ish guy is happy to see the hot young girls in bikinis (ugh.) He tells them he's a science teacher but in reality he has an MBA, he's won over 40 poker tournaments and owns two medical marijuana dispensaries - but he's not going to tell them that... Why would I? (He's a slippery one, they better watch out for him.)
The retired NYPD detective, grey-haired, bearded guy [Mark] tells them he's gay - asks them to call him Papa Bear (oh, he's cute - I think I like Papa Bear - so far.) He says he's living his life free of what may hold him back, its not about being gay it's about surviving.
Ozzy suggests they go get a fire going and once back on the beach says he's just as happy sleeping on the ground. This doesn't sit well with short-haired, bug-eyed Dawn - she's the mother of 6 and is used to be organized and in charge, she is stressing out that they are not building a shelter - Ozzy is too 'Bob Marley' for her (oh lordy, she's my person in the pool - it's not boding well for me.)
Upolu
Coach asks Brandon about the tat on his neck (nothing says class like a neck tattoo) it says LOCO (nice) - Brandon says he's not proud of that tattoo, it means crazy in Spanish, he tried to act like Russell in school, he was a bully but now he's grown up a lot (he's all of 19 now) and God's #1 for him. He thinks Mikayla is Delilah (there to tempt him into sin.) She is just being herself, she's climbing trees, getting up on the shelter and working - Brandon is not comfortable around her, thinks she's flaunting herself... but he's kind of creepy stalker. He says he grew up in the Church and he's a young married (at 19?) gentleman, he's not going to get into a situation that could lead him to trouble. (So, it's her fault that you find her attractive?... Brandon's still got a lot of growing up to do.)
Later that night - sitting out under the stars are Coach, Sophie, Brandon, Keith and Rick - Sophie burns Coach a good one - wish they had an astronomer to tell them stories about the stars, I mean, I'm sure Coach could do it but... (hehehe). Coach takes it well (surprisingly) and then he brings it up that a strong 5 alliance will get them really far - they all seem to be up for it. And Coach just proved his lie in the 'I'm not a strategic player speech' - he's setting up his strategy and feels he's sitting pretty.
Savaii - Day 2
WHAT is up with Semhar's socks? She has on thigh high sport socks... Where, what... My brain is broken.
Dawn's day doesn't start well - she's having a mini-breakdown (oh sweet jebus!) Crying already. Papa bear tells her to get it together, they're the older one's there and the youngin's don't need a reason to turn on them. She says she's feeling old for the first time (well she is ... only 41, come on that is not old (sigh)). Then Dawn goes to pull down a vine and as it snaps she falls - hard - on her butt on the rocks below - OUCH! (I had to watch it again - hahaha... but yeah, that must have hurt.)
More tears. (Get it together lady or you will be out of there.) She seeks council from the guru Ozzy, he's so calm and talks her down. Mark is worried about her breaking down but he says he's going to stick by her as the other old guy (at 48). Ozzy hopes she can get it together cause she could be a good ally but if not, she could be going home.
Semhar gives out sticks for them to clean their teeth - uh, don't you remember last year that woman getting an infection in her gum from 'brushing' her teeth like that?
Oh no, Cochran is going to but a finger off - he's attempting to open a coconut with a machete. He does succeed despite his mother having forbade him to do it.
Upolu - Day 2
Brandon is out spear fishing with his shirt on like a shrug around his shoulders hiding his tattoos - he says he wants to do what his uncle never did - provide food for his tribe. He catches a guppy and announces it to the world - He re-iterates that he's never going to tell them he's Russell's nephew - he doesn't want to be judged by his uncle's reputation.
- Close up on Sophie on day 2 (whoa - okay, now I'm the b*tchy one but, she possibly should have done something about the moustache before going out there) Oh, and I have those earrings :) She thinks she's sitting in a good position but she has a gut feeling that Brandon is hiding something (huh, very perceptive of Sophie.)
IMMUNITY CHALLENGE (Day 3)
They have to move through a zigzagging pathway (crawl) - then through a web of coconuts - then they all must get over a wall - one person then digs up a machete and cuts through 4 or 5 ropes to release a bunch of coconuts that 3 tribe members will then throw into a large net - first team to get enough coconuts in their net will raise their flag and win the first Immunity. Jeff tells them the winning team will also get a clue to the hidden immunity idol.
Strategizing before they start and Semhar (red team) steps up to be a shooter at the end (oh boy.)
Off they go - at one point Cochran (red team) could not figure out how to even get a boost over the wall - Rick(blue team) the rancher cut through the ropes like they were butter - and they have a lead - they start shooting the coconuts - Mikayla(blue) is a good shot - football player - but Semhar proves to be the weak link, she keeps whining that she's so tired and is not making any baskets - they even ask if they can switch her out - nope. It's very close though but the Blue Tribe - Upolu - WINS IMMUNITY! Jeff tells them there is actually a clue hidden at their camp for the immunity idol - so they have to find the clue before they can find the idol.
Jeff talking to Semhar asked her what went wrong and she kept playing with her hair, doing the pretty girl thing, "yeah, I feel sorta bad." Jim is making a disgusted shocked face behind her and Jeff calls him out - Jim says, "You only feel 'sorta bad', I feel sorta bad when I'm out of milk, I feel like crap now because we have to go and vote someone out." Semhar did not like that. Jim says to the camera, there is no reason to keep Semhar.
Upolu - Day 3
They are celebrating their win - Coach proclaims people either thrive or die out there and we are thriving! - but then they all quickly start looking for the clue to the hidden idol. Stacey is looking under rocks, in holes in trees... and says to the camera she probably has already seen it... and the camera zooms in to the hole she was just poking around in and there is the clue - RIGHT THERE! Curled around a stick - she was right there - oh man - too scared to stick her hands in the hole, she missed it.
Savaii - Day 3
Semhar calls out Jim for making faces behind her back - says she feels terrible, and how can she trust him when she is down, when he just pushes her down even more. He tries to defend himself, says he's sorry and didn't mean it (but he wasn't that sincere - about as sincere as she was when she felt 'sorta bad'.) Fight - Fight!
So they start talking and it looks like it's between Semhar, because of the challenge debacle, and Cochran because he has absolutely no physical abilities at all. (Yay, they aren't talking about Dawn's emotional break down at all.) Old guard, Mark & Dawn are thinking Semhar.
Ozzy talking to the cool kids in the water and he is championing Semhar and throwing Cochran under the bus. Jim is worried about Ozzy trying to keep the hot girl around for the snuggle factor. Ozzy goes to Semhar and tells her she has to start working if she wants to stay - gets her out campaigning. Jim tells Cochran that Ozzy is pushing for him and that triggers his crippling insecurities - Mark gives him a pep talk - Cochran is insulted that he could be the first to go when he's on a tribe with so many girls (oh really? Don't be a sexist jerk buddy, I'm trying to root for you.) Cochran's Survivor dream has turned into a nightmare.
TRIBAL COUNCIL
Jeff calls on Dawn first and she starts going on how she lost a lot of confidence in herself the first couple days because everything was so foreign to her and she couldn't get her feet under her (stop talking, don't cry...sheesh... did no one learn anything from watching Rob last season - you don't run your mouth at tribal council.) She says it was like she had the flu but now it's gone (okay, finished strong - I think she saved it there.)
Jeff asks Elyse if anyone else is worried and she throws out Semhar, should be worried because of the way the challenge went and the conversation when they went back to camp.
He asks Jim what was that conversation and he gives the I Hate Losing speech - "I think the only good losers are the people that are good at losing." [Semhar can pull some good faces herself - and holy, her eyes are huge!]
Jeff asked Whitney if she was glad it wasn't her and she said yeah, of course. Then kicked her a bit - I thought I could do it but when Semhar was so vocal about her abilities, no one else had the opportunity to step up.
Jeff says Semhar, you're shaking your head - "I know this game, I know I'd be safe if I didn't step up and I take full responsibility for taking on something out of my league, however, I know I got heart and I'm going to give it all I got." (Yeah, doesn't mean you have skill or stamina though.)
Ozzy says philosophically he'd rather play the game with someone willing to step - that ability to harness your passion is a huge advantage in this game.
Dawn, who else may be worried - Maybe Cochran - based on just strength he might be another target.
Cochran says he understands they look at his glasses, his sweater vest and his pale skin and think he's useless but he flew through the web like a hummingbird, no one seems to care - had a bit of a stumble on the wall... They all nod - Was it that noticeable? Yes!
Mark pipes up - and tells Jeff to call him Papa Bear (what is up with everyone telling Jeff what to call them this season - it's a bit presumptuous if you ask me - but I digress.) Papa Bear tells Cochran that he second guesses himself too much and he needs to be given direction.
Semhar says she was relieved when Cochran's name came up, she's not going to lie.
Cochran tells Jeff he better not say it's time to vote right now - Jeff tells him it's their tribal council - he will let them talk as long as he wants - So Cochran shows a glimmer of lawyer-ess and makes an argument that Semhar stands by the water 10 hours a day - it's not strenuous work.
-She interjects that she makes sure everyone has toothbrushes
-So you brought a couple sticks, it's not a huge job.
-It's a job no one had to tell me to do, that was my point.
-You make it sound like I wander around until someone tells me to get wood, but I'm on a learning curve right now and I'm an eager student, I'm building a knowledge base. I learn it once and I do it. This is the culmination of 11 years of passion for this game and to be even a possibility of the first one voted off is just heartbreaking, and mortifying (going for the sympathy vote there.) He says if he survives the vote he will do anything that needs to be done around camp - my eyes are open to people's perception of me.
-Semhar says this could work against him, he's so mesmerized by being in the game that he forgets how important it is to be that person that is working and doing things.
-He says he doesn't think it necessarily needs to be based on the past 3 days - And everyone jumps on that - What else can they base it on, they've only known him for 3 days, they have to base it on what they've seen so far (duh - what does he think, he gets fan-boy credits? Someone else has some growing up to do.)
Alright - So now it's time to vote.
Jeff tallies the votes: Semhar voted Cochran and everyone else voted Semhar - she is the first person heading to Redemption Island.
-Ozzy mutters he should have taught her how to build a fire. (That could have been helpful.)
Redemption Island - Semhar reads the rules that she has to win a dual to stay in the game - that sucks. Then she composes a poem to the lantern that lights her nights of solitude (okay, my husband made that part up - but she could have.) And with her on Redemption Island are Bryon Low, Lynne Brodie and Cheryl Bennett (you're not out yet though.)
Next week: Cochran messes up at a challenge (again) and remakes himself as a working machine around camp - Brandon's secret weighs heavy on him, doesn't like lying to Coach and it awakens the Dragon Slayer, "There's going to be an *ss whipping." (Oooh.)
So, that was the first long episode and longer recap - sorry, I'm a little out of practice. But I'll get back in the swing of things soon enough. :)
Hope you have a great weekend everyone!
Coleen
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