So, it has been kind of a down season for Survivor, but we keep watching because we know, somewhere deep down inside, there is a lot of petty arguments and backstabbing to be had. We just have to take some of the bad to get to the good. The main problem we had was the presence of two tribes, each divided by gender, each with a strong block that wielded the power. People outside these main groups were getting picked off one by one, but about 3/4 of each team had no incentive to do any work in the actual game. As the numbers tighten and people start thinking about the merge, people are forced to think ahead farther than the next day. I'm happy to say that the scheming has returned to Survivor: Vanuatu, and we hope it's here to stay.
After the move last week to split up the tribes (Scout clearly picked the worst team for dodgeball every day on the playground), Yasur lost and voted out Travis, also known as Bubba, commonly referred to as the jackass with the Bob Barker shirt. That left Rory as the only man left in that tribe. Barring a miracle, i.e. Yasur winning a challenge, Rory was going to get the boot if the women stayed true to their original alliance. To save himself, he was going to have to do some masterful work in terms of manipulation, and he wasted no time in that task. He let it be known to a few people the night of that tribal council that he was not happy they were focusing on him first, and he was going to let them know they made a mistake letting that fact surface. It was pretty pointless of him, but it did elicit a great response from Scout who said Rory should get off of his pity pot, wipe his ass, and get on with it. It was pretty funny, and about the only worthwhile thing scout has done all season.
As it turns out, Rory came to his senses and managed to avoid being too confrontational. He said that he was unfairly judged, and his alliance was to Yasur and Yasur only. He reminded them that he couldn't go back to Lopevi, because they will all think he sold out Travis, and Lopevi loved Travis. He also said he wouldn't slave around the camp if these women did not give him a fair shot. All of his impassioned speech turned out to be a hoax, as Rory was simply trying to buy time. He said it was so cheesy, he couldn't believe it was actually coming out of his mouth. It's a strange transformation Rory has undergone since the split. Rory never liked Sarge, and especially hated taking orders from him, so I could actuall believe what Rory said about "not going back".
The reward challenge was fairly interesting, with a pretty simple goal. One person from each team would run had to run around a pig pen and pick a pig with their team colors and bring it over to a fenced in "holding area" until each team member brought bag two pigs. One person had the job of watching the gate to the fenced in area, so each team had to have a total of ten pigs. These sort of challenges are always fun because everybody gets really dirty and inevitably somebody slips and eats a bunch of mud. With all of these pigs running around, people made some funny moves to corner their pigs. I'm surprised they didn't just strip the pretenses and have people jell-o wrestling. Still, there was some great moments, especially watching Ami carry the pig like it was a new infant and Twila pouncing on a pig after getting it into a corner. We also saw a little boobage, thankfully from Leann this time, as she popped out of her bikini for a minute while chasing down her own swine. It proved to be fairly easy for people (don't be fooled by the added pig squealing they used during the show)., except for Eliza, who took a great deal of time to grab a pig, and then eventually gave up on the proposition. Things were really close, but after Eliza's gaffe, Lopevi pulled ahead and won 10-6, winning steak and eggs for their meal.
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Comments (3)
Scout voted for Rory because she said she wouldn't vote out any of the women in her tribe. It was a "sisters are doing it for themselves" moment.
Though I don't think she really thought this past getting rid of Fat Urkel and The Jackass With the Bob Barker Shirt.
1 of 3 | Posted by Papercuts! | Posted on October 22, 2004 10:34 AM
You nailed it once again, j-unit. Did you get a load of that menacing, Colonel Kurtz-ish expression on Ami's face when she cast her vote against Lisa? Creepy. Don't let the boobies and the New Age/co-op hipster banter fool you--this bitch knows how to cut throats when she has to.
It might have been foolish for Ami to tip her hand so obviously, but she looks secure in the alliance, since Rory is still an outsider and Eliza, Scout, and Leann have all screwed up in important challenges and just seem grateful to still be around. I lack your confidence that the remaining core of the old and fat alliance will foresee the possible power-shift at the merge you've outlined here, which could figure heavily in the end-game.
As far as Scout goes, it seemed pretty clear that she voted against Rory solely out of loyalty to Lisa, as Rupert did on Rudy's behalf in All-Stars, knowing all along that the vote would be meaningless. My guess is that, after she realized that Ami had rallied the opportunists against Lisa, Scout got permission to cast a sympathy vote.
As for Lisa, she got the shaft, but her fatal mistake was made weeks ago, when she sided with the Pretty Young Things against the Earth Mother alliance in the early days. Ami's choice was actually pretty shrewd: they obviously needed to keep Rory for strength, and while Leann seemed to be most responsible for losing the immunity challenge, she now owes her life in the game to Ami, and there's no reason to believe given how whipped Ami was when she came out of the water that anyone else on Yasur besides Rory could have completed the challenge. Eliza is a useless pain in the ass, but you need to have a few of those around to keep the bullseye off your own back and to increase the odds of ending up in the final 2 with someone everybody else hates. As you mention above, Lisa's alleged slip of the tongue was nothing more than code for 'i want to go scheme too,' but that was just enough ammunition for Ami to justify ousting her. Lisa might have saved herself had she pointed out to the others how powerful Ami has become and how quickly and ruthlessly she will target a former ally, but despite showing minor signs of Lex Van Den Berghe-ish homicidal paranoia, Ami has a subtle hold over the other members of her alliance that is likely to carry her far in the game.
2 of 3 | Posted by jack | Posted on October 22, 2004 11:47 AM
I couldn't believe what a crazy person Ami turned into. She flipped, big time. I already thought she was a little too Lilith Fair for me, but I was really surprised when she cut one of her own. I don't think anyone will hold it against Scout for voting Rory. She said something like: I just couldn't do it to you. I can't believe Scout and Eliza have lasted as long as they have. It always seems nothing new could ever happen, but I'm continuously surprised. It almost seemed Amy was surprised when Rory's name was written down twice, like she thought Lisa was going to vote for her.
Oh, and I can't believe Pocahantas got naked. what a sneaky sneaky girl. An not even like naked off somewhere, but naked 6 inches from other guys.
PS Did anyone catch Twila resting her head on Sarge's belly for a little siesta? I had to 8 seconds it a couple times to make sure my eyes weren't fooling me.
I don't know how I feel about the Sarge/Twila romance. He wants to put a dress on her and take her out? What? Wierd.
3 of 3 | Posted by smithie | Posted on October 22, 2004 4:17 PM