Right away I’m excited to hear the “Survivor” theme music and meet the new castaways. “Survivor” is just one of my many reality addictions and I’m ready for a fix!
We see Jeff Probst riding in the truck with two obviously already separat groups of new castaways. The Red tribe (Jalapoa, or as I will refer to it, “Jalapeño”) on the left and the Black tribe (Timbira) on the right.
First impressions are everything, and the camera lets us in on what some of the castaways are already thinking. The “geek” seems to believe our local Survivor, Sandy, is “a strung-out old lady” and sure enough so does every other member of the Jalapeño tribe. More on that in a second.
The players have 60 seconds to grab everything they can from the truck to take to camp. Timbira goes for the water and beans (they’ve seen this show before) while Jalapeno’s players are grabbing heavy fruit and throwing it over the side of the truck. Jeff reminds them it’s no good busted. What were they thinking?
Then, in true “Survivor” fashion, Jeff tells the castaways two players will not make the four-hour journey to camp and the tribes are to vote immediately on their first impressions! Right away, my heart drops. There is no way they are already voting off Sandy! She’s our local gal. We’re rooting for her!
But she’s not so lucky: all of her fellow tribesmen vote for her. And in her words she “is pissed!” Timbira votes for Sierra. They seem to think she couldn’t handle the heat even in the truck ride. Sierra blames a 102-degree temperature and strep throat, which makes me wonder: would they really let her come on the show if she were that sick? Hm…
Then the twist! Jeff said they will not make the journey- not that they will not be in the game! Sandy stays! And so does Sierra. They get to take a helicopter to their respective camps. Once there, Sandy’s already crying. She’s overwhelmed with emotion. And she’s calling her tribe Jalapeno. She makes for good TV. Faced with finding an immunity idol or building shelter, she chooses the idol search. Can’t say I blame her.
Sierra, on the other hand, chooses to build shelter and forgo the idol search. She is still viewed as sickly and weak. She could have built the Taj Mahal and she’d still have a better chance staying on the island if she found the idol. The castaways arrive, hugs are given and apologies are made.
Sandy makes an excuse to go search for the idol. She finds a clue but doesn’t know what a “pace” is. I must say the editing of the show is not doing her any favors, but I still think I’d be rooting for her even if she wasn’t our hometown girl. We get to know the other castaways, and they do not disappoint. They are already proving that when a single camera is thrust into one’s face on an isolated island, anything can and will be said.
And we have our first naked moment when Tyson the Mormon sheds his clothes to get water. Somebody get that guy a “man tiara!”
To wrap it up… the first challenge is fought. Sandy leads her team in the challenge but Timbira prevails. They win immunity, saving Sierra one more time, and in effect, saving Sandy as well. Her performance does not go unnoticed. She may be the old lady, but she’s got strength that they all recognize.
Carolina complains about the mess after the challenge and I must agree with Taj — “Who cleans up the outdoors?”
Speaking of Taj, I wonder how her D-listed celebrity status will play out on the show. It’ll be interesting to watch.
In Tribal Council (which I’ve heard lasts hours but we only see about 15 minutes of) Jeff asks Sandy, “Are you a little crazy?” and she seems proud to say yes. Hilarious.
Jalapeño casts their votes for Carolina. Good choice. She was bossy but I can’t help thinking it was her voice. I don’t see how they could survive in one of the most isolated places on earth listening to it. Yet my husband is terribly disappointed that the hot bartender is gone. And Sandy is safe, until next week, anyway.
So what do you think? Leave a comment and let me know.
Sandy needs to tone down the southern accent if she doesn’t want all the young punks to pounce on her first chance they get.
Most people equate southern accent with “idiot”, so if she keeps that twang up I don’t expect her to last too long.
I like the older lady and hope she goes far, I thought it was very unfair of jeff to make them do that hes a good host but always stirs things up and I just hope she finds that idol.
I hope the editing will be more kind to Sandy since she represents Louisville and Kentucky, for that matter.
It seems like it was the guys who saved Sandy, which is surprising, since Carolina was “hot.”
Sandy makes us all look like hillbillys’. She confirmed the misconception that people have on the state of Kentucky. Not knowing what a pace was just blew me away. It was her show for sure Thursday night, but not in a good way. I will not be rooting for her.