Survivor: Fiji - Aired February 22
Ravu confuses me. I really don't know what's going through this tribe's minds. Other than season one when Richard Hatch created the concept of alliances, when has a tribe been this fractured this repeatedly at tribal council? Now I'm not saying that's a bad thing from an entertainment perspective, but it becomes more obvious every week that this tribe has no idea how to play this game. There hasn't been a single unanimous vote so far this season, and 14 seasons in, this is a very unusual thing to see.
It's a weird thing. I've been driven crazy in the past by the incessant need for people to vote with the majority, and it's kinda nice to see a tribe not worry about that, but there seems to be no strategy at all in anything they do.
But more on the divided tribe. First, let's look at the losing tribe that can't pull out a win to save their lives.
On the slip'n'slide challenge... What the hell? You really need this win! This isn't the time to be taking dainty little steps. Watch the people who fling themselves onto the slide and follow suit! That way, even if you can't get the ball into the basket at the end, nobody can accuse you of not trying and you'll look like you really want to win the challenge. I'm particularly thinking of Syvlia, but she wasn't the only one who didn't try hard enough.
In the immunity challenge, Ravu had people taking dainty little bites and making sure the food was completely chewed before swallowing. There isn't time for that! Get it into small enough chunks to get past your gullet and swallow hard! If you start to choke, there are people standing by who can give you the Heimlich!
Before this, the most losingest tribe we ever saw was Ulong on Survivor: Palau (Stephenie and Bobby Jon's first season). They made it all the way to the merge without winning a single immunity, but for the most part, they at least tried in the challenges and were able to pick up a reward or two.
Tangent time. I will argue to my dying breath that Angie in that tribe got screwed. In the challenges, it was consistantly the women in that tribe that stepped up and gave the competition a run for their money, particularly Stephenie and Angie. Yet the stereotype that you need manly strength to win challenges held out despite the evidence to the contrary. When it's the men who keep costing you wins, it's time to look at getting rid of them. Particularly, in that season, James.
Which brings up another issue. One thing you need in Survivor is a good, strong alliance. There's no argument there. However, that alliance is going to be no good to you if it's not going to get you anywhere. Angie was hurt by the sexism inherent in thinking you need manly men to win, but she was also hurt by not being part of the alliance, the alliance that was going to be no good to anyone if it doesn't make it to the merge fairly intact. There's no point of loyalty in a game if that loyalty is going to cost you the game (as opposed to real life, for the record). James should have been cut loose and Angie brought in. If this had happened, there would have been a much better chance of more than just Stephenie making the merge.
Another great example of needing to get rid of alliance members earlier than one would have liked was in Vanuatu. It was also a great example of changing strategy when it needs to be changed, and for keeping an eye on your alliance members instead of just trusting that they'll stick to the plan. And don't be so stuck on getting one person out that it's going to cost you the game (but start voting out your alliance before getting rid of all your opposition either unless you really need to). When Scout and Twila started showing signs of disgruntlement, they should have been kicked out of the alliance and Eliza brought in. Instead, they got together with the sole remaining man, Chris, and got to Eliza first. Even though she didn't particularly like them, they made her feel safer than the others did and that helped turn the numbers away from Aimee's alliance, and that gave the game to Chris who got to the end against all odds.
So why am I spending so much time looking at past seasons, other than for the lessons they have to impart? Well, I hate to say this, so far this has been the most boring season yet. At least when Ulong was losing, they had tribe members you could cheer on. Three episodes into Fiji and there's still nobody I care about. Ravu is an underdog, but they are seriously lacking the spunk or any other redeeming qualities that would make me want to see them persevere.
Even though we know little about the people on Moto because they do keep winning, we at least have had "Boo" and his accident prone ways to enjoy, but at the immunity challenge this week he showed himself to be a sanctimonious twit over a little smack talk from a tribe that needs to win and could use a little psychology against their opponents to help them do it.
However, who would have thought that the first member of Moto to risk leaving the game because of injury would be Gary? He took a pretty bad fall in the first competition, resulting in him being unable to breathe properly. Suspecting a broken rib or worse, the medics were called in to check him out and they passed him as healthy enough to keep playing. He managed to do quite well in the eating competition, but judging by the previews for next week, it's not looking good.
It'll take a lot for Survivor to match Treasure Hunters though. That show had only one season, yet they managed to have two game ending injuries and one game inhibiting injury (if you didn't watch Treasure Hunters or follow Realivision's fine recaps (my pride and joy of my recaps, I must say), then you missed Miss Realivision 2006, Melissa Witek, playing with a hairline fracture in her arm). Damn, it would be nice to have a Kayte Fogal on this season of Survivor. She made my job so much easier.
So how broken is Ravu as a tribe? First there was "Rocky" coming up with an idea, but instead of presenting it to the group like a normal person, he had to make it clear that he wasn't trying to be a leader, he's just throwing it out there, and they can decided if they think it's a good idea or not. This hatred of leaders thing is pathetic. It's one thing if the person who tries to step up is a horrendous leader, but it's another because everyone loathes being told what to do. This tribe deserves to be decimated.
Where does the tribe stand on who to vote out? Mookie was pissed with Anthony's performance during the immunity challenge, so he wanted to see him gone. Then there was the contigent who still wanted to say goodbye to Sylvia. "Rocky" put it out there that she might have the hidden immunity idol, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to put a few votes towards Anthony so that if Sylvia does have the idol, the vote will then deflect to him. It was actually not a bad idea, and one would like to think that's why the vote went the way it did, but with this tribe at this point, you really have to suspect the worst.
Perhaps the most bizarre moment was Rita talking about making a move, then being the only person to vote against Earl. I really don't understand this tribe.
Well, if the split vote was part of a plan in case Sylvia had the hidden idol, it was for naught as she was indeed immunity idol-free. Even tough she was the underdog on a tribe of underdogs, I'm not going to miss her. She didn't play to stay other than some half-hearted digging for the idol, so having her leave is no loss.
If I'm mistaken and the split votes were the plan, then I'd like to apologize to Ravu for thinking they're completely useless as a tribe.
There was one bright spot for Ravu. Michelle, who I don't care for thanks to her entirely uncalled for and unexpectedly intense hatred for Sylvia, was able to start a fire without flint thanks to the use of a pair of spectacles. It's about time someone's glasses were put to this use! As long as a tribe has lenses, barring nothing but cloudy or rainy days, there is no excuse for them to go without fire.
It's a weird thing. I've been driven crazy in the past by the incessant need for people to vote with the majority, and it's kinda nice to see a tribe not worry about that, but there seems to be no strategy at all in anything they do.
But more on the divided tribe. First, let's look at the losing tribe that can't pull out a win to save their lives.
On the slip'n'slide challenge... What the hell? You really need this win! This isn't the time to be taking dainty little steps. Watch the people who fling themselves onto the slide and follow suit! That way, even if you can't get the ball into the basket at the end, nobody can accuse you of not trying and you'll look like you really want to win the challenge. I'm particularly thinking of Syvlia, but she wasn't the only one who didn't try hard enough.
In the immunity challenge, Ravu had people taking dainty little bites and making sure the food was completely chewed before swallowing. There isn't time for that! Get it into small enough chunks to get past your gullet and swallow hard! If you start to choke, there are people standing by who can give you the Heimlich!
Before this, the most losingest tribe we ever saw was Ulong on Survivor: Palau (Stephenie and Bobby Jon's first season). They made it all the way to the merge without winning a single immunity, but for the most part, they at least tried in the challenges and were able to pick up a reward or two.
Tangent time. I will argue to my dying breath that Angie in that tribe got screwed. In the challenges, it was consistantly the women in that tribe that stepped up and gave the competition a run for their money, particularly Stephenie and Angie. Yet the stereotype that you need manly strength to win challenges held out despite the evidence to the contrary. When it's the men who keep costing you wins, it's time to look at getting rid of them. Particularly, in that season, James.
Which brings up another issue. One thing you need in Survivor is a good, strong alliance. There's no argument there. However, that alliance is going to be no good to you if it's not going to get you anywhere. Angie was hurt by the sexism inherent in thinking you need manly men to win, but she was also hurt by not being part of the alliance, the alliance that was going to be no good to anyone if it doesn't make it to the merge fairly intact. There's no point of loyalty in a game if that loyalty is going to cost you the game (as opposed to real life, for the record). James should have been cut loose and Angie brought in. If this had happened, there would have been a much better chance of more than just Stephenie making the merge.
Another great example of needing to get rid of alliance members earlier than one would have liked was in Vanuatu. It was also a great example of changing strategy when it needs to be changed, and for keeping an eye on your alliance members instead of just trusting that they'll stick to the plan. And don't be so stuck on getting one person out that it's going to cost you the game (but start voting out your alliance before getting rid of all your opposition either unless you really need to). When Scout and Twila started showing signs of disgruntlement, they should have been kicked out of the alliance and Eliza brought in. Instead, they got together with the sole remaining man, Chris, and got to Eliza first. Even though she didn't particularly like them, they made her feel safer than the others did and that helped turn the numbers away from Aimee's alliance, and that gave the game to Chris who got to the end against all odds.
So why am I spending so much time looking at past seasons, other than for the lessons they have to impart? Well, I hate to say this, so far this has been the most boring season yet. At least when Ulong was losing, they had tribe members you could cheer on. Three episodes into Fiji and there's still nobody I care about. Ravu is an underdog, but they are seriously lacking the spunk or any other redeeming qualities that would make me want to see them persevere.
Even though we know little about the people on Moto because they do keep winning, we at least have had "Boo" and his accident prone ways to enjoy, but at the immunity challenge this week he showed himself to be a sanctimonious twit over a little smack talk from a tribe that needs to win and could use a little psychology against their opponents to help them do it.
However, who would have thought that the first member of Moto to risk leaving the game because of injury would be Gary? He took a pretty bad fall in the first competition, resulting in him being unable to breathe properly. Suspecting a broken rib or worse, the medics were called in to check him out and they passed him as healthy enough to keep playing. He managed to do quite well in the eating competition, but judging by the previews for next week, it's not looking good.
It'll take a lot for Survivor to match Treasure Hunters though. That show had only one season, yet they managed to have two game ending injuries and one game inhibiting injury (if you didn't watch Treasure Hunters or follow Realivision's fine recaps (my pride and joy of my recaps, I must say), then you missed Miss Realivision 2006, Melissa Witek, playing with a hairline fracture in her arm). Damn, it would be nice to have a Kayte Fogal on this season of Survivor. She made my job so much easier.
So how broken is Ravu as a tribe? First there was "Rocky" coming up with an idea, but instead of presenting it to the group like a normal person, he had to make it clear that he wasn't trying to be a leader, he's just throwing it out there, and they can decided if they think it's a good idea or not. This hatred of leaders thing is pathetic. It's one thing if the person who tries to step up is a horrendous leader, but it's another because everyone loathes being told what to do. This tribe deserves to be decimated.
Where does the tribe stand on who to vote out? Mookie was pissed with Anthony's performance during the immunity challenge, so he wanted to see him gone. Then there was the contigent who still wanted to say goodbye to Sylvia. "Rocky" put it out there that she might have the hidden immunity idol, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to put a few votes towards Anthony so that if Sylvia does have the idol, the vote will then deflect to him. It was actually not a bad idea, and one would like to think that's why the vote went the way it did, but with this tribe at this point, you really have to suspect the worst.
Perhaps the most bizarre moment was Rita talking about making a move, then being the only person to vote against Earl. I really don't understand this tribe.
Well, if the split vote was part of a plan in case Sylvia had the hidden idol, it was for naught as she was indeed immunity idol-free. Even tough she was the underdog on a tribe of underdogs, I'm not going to miss her. She didn't play to stay other than some half-hearted digging for the idol, so having her leave is no loss.
If I'm mistaken and the split votes were the plan, then I'd like to apologize to Ravu for thinking they're completely useless as a tribe.
There was one bright spot for Ravu. Michelle, who I don't care for thanks to her entirely uncalled for and unexpectedly intense hatred for Sylvia, was able to start a fire without flint thanks to the use of a pair of spectacles. It's about time someone's glasses were put to this use! As long as a tribe has lenses, barring nothing but cloudy or rainy days, there is no excuse for them to go without fire.
Labels: CBS, commentary, Survivor: Fiji
posted by Tabby at 8:06 a.m.
1 Comments:
I'm sure it has to have been done before, but this is the first time I remember someone starting fire with a pair of glasses. It's something you'd think you'd see more of on the show.
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