Survivor: Cook Islands - Aired last few weeks - Commentary

Okay, I realize that in order to get the diverse cast for this season's big twist, the producers had to look for contestants outside of regular viewers of the show. That's the only thing keeping me from reaching through my television and smacking these people around, asking what the hell is wrong with them.
Take, for example, Cao Boi and Flicka. A couple of weeks ago, they had the chance to be in an alliance that would have shaken their tribe up and seen them through to the merge. So how the hell were they convinced to not only not do it, but that they would have numbers on their side only if they voted in favour of the current ruling alliance?
The following week, Cao Boi tried to make an impact, but it was too little, too late. Now he's gone, and he has only himself to blame. The right move at the right time could have kept him safe.
By the way, if I were to write a novel or screenplay and included characters named "Cao Boi" and "Flicka", how seriously would it be taken? But I'd take it a step further and add a "Nakomis" to the mix, a smart and sassy young woman who could lead this rag-tag group of misfits to much glory.
Actually, I'd like to see that one of these seasons. A whole tribe of misfits. That would be awesome. Do you hear that, Mark Burnett? Go ahead and use the idea, I will not seek any financial renumeration.
I can only give these contestants so much slack though. Unless they have to leave for the island the day after they get the news that they'll be on the show, they should have time to do some basic research. Many seasons are available on DVD, not to mention all the websites devoted to the show. Learn from past mistakes!
There's no reason we should be this many seasons in and still have people being lazy around camp or submitting to the will of the dominant alliances or being very cocky when they are in a position of power. There's no reason the same mistakes should keep being made, but they are. Every friggin' season.
Speaking of mistakes, yeesh. If you are sitting in on another tribe's Tribal Council and have the opportunity to remove one of their players for safety, you take the one in most danger of leaving! How basic is that? It screws up their game plan, and if that person makes it to the merge, you can flip them to your side! Damn, these people aren't thinking ahead.
I can't wait until we get to our first elimination competition. You watch, the pecking order of the alliances will once more be laid bare. If I ever found myself on one of these shows, I'd be telling my teammates to knock me out first. They can screw things up for themselves if they so desire, but leave me out of it.
Finally, a comment on the four tribes thing that started out the season. Last time around, they started the show with four tribes based on age and sex (which didn't start much controversy as splitting them up based on ethnicity), and it lasted all of one tribal council before they merged into two tribes. This time around, it lasted an extra episode or two, but that was it. Come on, Burnett! Have the cojones to go with the four tribe concent and stick with it through to the big merge! If one tribe gets down to three members, split them up amongst the other three tribes. It would work, and it would really make the four tribe concept mean something.