(S15E03) Well, tonight's Survivor China certainly wasn't an exception to the rule. What rule, you might ask? I'm talking about the rule which necessitates either wet or muddy very physical challenges in direct correlation to the amount of clothing available to the female contestants. Throw in a chunky naked guy and call it a show!
Now, I'm just not being fair here. There was more to the show than that. But, for the love of all things good and decent, get Sherea (in particular) some clothes, CBS! Please, I'm begging here. I do not want to see what that woman's panties and bra will look like as time goes on. That's the stuff of nightmares!
And, it's official: Jean-Robert, the castaway I made as an early pick for the win, now creeps me out to no end. The show opened with the Fei Long tribe trying to sleep. He was all over both Courtney and Leslie no matter what they did to get away from him. He claimed he wanted to cuddle for warmth.
I think that if Courtney had any strength, she would have bopped him over the head with a rock or something. As she pointed out, she's not anyone you'd cuddle for warmth -- she weighs practically nothing and is probably much colder than Jean-Robert! And, Leslie? She's so married and so Christian she squeaks. He was all but groping her in the dark! Blech.
Later on, it was Creep Me Out Jean-Robert talking to him about voting out either Courtney or Leslie. Jean-Robert got sleazy with his talk and, while James wasn't as sleazy, they were heard. Not only were they heard, but it was by Courtney and Todd who were in plain sight! Argh, shape up your act James ... I enjoy watching you!
The Rewards Challenge tonight was physical, wet, and quasi-violent as women were matched up against women and men against men. The goal was to knock the opposing tribe members into the water. For Fei Long, James was the star and ruled the challenge. But, for Fei Long, it's not a good thing that the women were up first. Zhan Hu's women took it over and won it all! Dave decided he would do the challenge naked. What? Is he channeling Richard Hatch?
So, Zhan Hu turned the tide and won their first challenge, bringing home comfort supplies which included a lantern, blankets, pillows, and a tarp. Woohoo! They also chose to kidnap Leslie. Oh my gosh ... what a bad choice for Fei Long, eh? True to form, Leslie talked on and on. She thinks Zhan Hu is a happier tribe, told them that Aaron was the leader of Fei Long and on ... and on.
I just don't get this woman. She applied ten times before getting on the show. She should know better than to spill so much information. Not only did she talk there, but when she rejoined her own tribe, she told them what she told Zhan Hu! Where is her mind? Did one of those brain-stealing monkeys in the trees make it into an appetizer or what?
Not surprisingly, she gave the clue to Jaime. So now we know that the hidden idol is hidden in plain sight and, with the latest, it's not on the ground. Jaime didn't seem to look for it much, but that could have just been editing. The last time a clue read that way, it was in a tree.
While Leslie was over at Zhan Hu, that James/Jean-Robert overheard by Courtney and Todd took place. Of course, it's Todd who's the avid student of the game. He's decided that James and Jean-Robert are trash because of what they said and the trash must go out. It's Jean-Robert who's the most offensive to all of the others. Perhaps James has time to redeem himself!
The Immunity Challenge didn't seem all that horribly physical to me and I thought at first that Courtney was throwing it, perhaps in an effort to rid themselves of Jean-Robert. But that wasn't the case as she showed sores on her hands. Huh? Is she made of paper? She had to use a machete to chop seven ropes to release puzzle pieces. Zhan Hu was halfway through putting together their puzzle by the time she finally cut the last rope. Since she was the first person up, that spelled doom for them in the challenge.
As she showed her really nasty sores she said, "I lost two hands and possibly a shoulder!" I'm just confused here. How delicate is she? And what was the deal with that strange freeze-frame for each person as they cut threw the last rope? Is Survivor trying to go artsy on us?
Fei Long had a dilemma -- do they eliminate the weaker or the more obnoxious? There were valid pros and cons for each choice. But in the end, until the merge, they need the physical power. Since Courtney does more around the camp and they all feared that Leslie's talking might have garnered her some friends on Zhan Hu, Leslie ended up being the target.
Leslie and Courtney voted for Jean-Robert to leave. Amanda and Todd, although closer to Leslie and despising Jean-Robert, reluctantly voted out "Mom" -- Leslie. The rest all voted Leslie as well.
Although I'm surprised regarding Leslie's actions on the show, trusting people and talking too much, this didn't surprise me at all tonight. Loose lips sink Leslie's ship. She should have known better.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-04-2007 @ 11:39PM
NDsUltimateJugg said...
I thought the freeze frames were lame too. And by the looks of the promo for next week, they'll continue.
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10-05-2007 @ 12:16AM
Eric said...
It's their own fault they lost the immunity challenge, they set out their two weak players during the reward challenges forcing themselves to use them for the immunity challenge. The lunch lady would have plowed through that wood.
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10-05-2007 @ 12:36AM
Sharon said...
Yep,poor planning by Fei Long got them in big trouble in the IM and Courtney was a big ole rock around their neck in that challenge. I'm just surprised they didn't vote her out,working around camp won't win them any challenges!They should have voted that slimeball John-Robert out. Can we say..."makes your skin crawl"?? Also,Naked Guy
kind of creeped me out. I was kinda hoping he'd get a splinter somewhere sensitive rolling around on those planks in the Reward Challenge!! The women of Zhan Hu were ferocious tonight! They sure showed their men up! I'm glad they finally won something,I hate when it's so lop-sided.
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10-05-2007 @ 5:05AM
Brent McKee said...
As much as I dislike Jean-Robert - and like you Jackie I expected much more of him (suffice it to say all pro poker players aren't like him) - Fei Long's problem with the immunity was clearly in the allocation of people to the various tasks. There is no way on earth that Courtney should have been doing the chopping (Jean-Robert is right, she is way to thin and weak). Given how well they performed once the pieces were cut down, they could have won the challenge if Courtney had been part of the stacking team and either Todd or Jean Robert had been cutting. That said, I also think they made a mistake when they sent Lindsay home - Courtney and her fitness are going to keep giving them problems.
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10-05-2007 @ 6:30AM
frafoa said...
Courtney is cute and funny with all those gesticulating and imitating but the thing is she is so weak... She spent more time on pulling her shirts more than actually cutting those ropes.
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10-05-2007 @ 7:11AM
Kathleen said...
Is no one bothered by how thin Courtney is? I literally found myself looking away when they show her body up close. It is troubling to me that the producers at CBS would let someone who clearly has an eating disorder on a show where they will lose more weight. What next - Celebrity Fit Club? Maybe Biggest Loser? C'mon - she needs to be on Dr.Phil!
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10-05-2007 @ 8:30AM
Dara said...
I don't think that James will suffer any consequence for JR's trashy talk. And, if Todd were really smart, he'd want to keep those big guys around! Todd's no physical threat to them, so he could just fly under the radar, use their brawn, and then, once merged, cut 'em lose.
Go James!!!!!
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10-05-2007 @ 8:48AM
laura nason said...
I have a couple of questions and statments:
1) were they not aloud to bring bathing suits? did i miss that? because all of these people are walking around in thier underwear. Sherea is making me cringe with disgust when she is on camera, and did i notice some sort of "padding" in her undies? did they give her something to um, cover her lady bits? The people to have to go through the footage and blur out everyones naughties must have stomachs of steel by now. personally i think its nasty and the next reward challenge has got to include clothes.
2) the freeze frame action shots are just retarded, i know its china and Sun Tzu is in the air, but lets not turn these people into R-rated power rangers.
3) Why didnt they send home courtney? the girl is one step away from death. Her blase attitude at the challenge was unacceptable. I could hear her saying "whatever, like god this sucks, sorry, whatever" At least sister/mama christian still had meat on her bones!
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10-05-2007 @ 8:53AM
h8rain said...
Does anyone else think the "hidden idol" is that medal "symbol" (with what I am guessing is a chinese character) they keep showing that it at the top of what looks like an archway?
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10-05-2007 @ 9:08AM
Lucy said...
I wish Survivor would issue the people appropriate clothing...enough with the wear whay you came in idea....I don't want to see men or women in their underwear!!!
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10-05-2007 @ 9:35AM
RuDee said...
h8rain,
...duh...
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10-05-2007 @ 9:45AM
I miss the stars said...
laura nason: they made this group give up their material goods at the Buddhist Temple ceremony. They went into the game with only the clothes on their backs. Jeff gave them their sneakers at their first challenge.
h8rain: since they immediately cut to that symbol at the archway - I'm guessing the same.
How stupid was it to put Courtney in the chopping part? They could have put her with James in the solving part and he could have pulled the thing across the line all by himself.
Jean-Robert is disgusting. I would prefer sleeping on the ground to letting him spoon up next to me.
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10-05-2007 @ 10:13AM
jessie said...
I am so sick of looking at ladies under garments - especially after they have been word for days without being washed. The fibers eventually give way and no longer hold or cover what they were meant to for heaven's sake! I never, ever want to see the lunch lady in her underwear ever, EVER again. For the love of Pete, let these people get their clothes. I swear, one more season of "only the clothes on your backs" and I wont watch anymore. Even, guys in their underwear just gets gross after awhile. I love men, but I don't have to look at my boyfriends "parts" bouncing around in his undies all the time. Ya know? There are limits.
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10-05-2007 @ 10:29AM
ORKMommy said...
RuDee - My thoughts exactly! Could it be more obvious?
Kathleen - How do you know Courtney has an eating disorder? Some people are just extremely thin! You can't make a statement like that without having backup...
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10-05-2007 @ 2:04PM
Nancy in Seattle said...
ORKMommy...agree Courtney may not have an eating disorder, but she is definitely way too skeletal to be on Surivvor. Elisabeth Hasselback got down to 90 lbs. on Survivor starting from a normal, but petite weight, and it took her a year to get her health back...I think she said she even lost a lot of her hair from malnurishment. I think Courtney is an "at risk" person. Also agree with the poster who said that in the comp her attitute was pretty much the same as in the temple..."whatever." Miss your comments over on Jackie's blog...and where is Joe is NY when you want to hear him weight in?
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10-05-2007 @ 1:02PM
RobynS8971 said...
When are these contestants going to learn how to dress when they travel? This is like 3 or 4 seasons where they get "the clothes on their back". My kids and I came up with the perfect traveling outfit - 3 pairs of unders and a good quality bathing suit over it (a modest one, tired of bits flopping out during challenges) and a good supportive sports bra (who travels without a BRA on!). Buy those pants with the zip off legs, so you have shorts and long pants. A tank top under a tee under a long sleeve tee. A hoodie, preferably rip stop for rain protection. A decent pair of sneakers and wear 2 or 3 pairs of socks. There, all dressed up, now where do I get my plane to the next season's taping!
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10-05-2007 @ 2:00PM
Renothndr said...
So far this has been beyond stupid and I am quickly losing interest in this show I once enjoyed. RobynS you are exactly right. Any idiot should know better than show up in the clothing these clowns were wearing and Courtney shouldn't even be there! Where do they get these nimrods?!!
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10-05-2007 @ 5:38PM
ntlee said...
I agree with you guys about the undies. The girls are tugging at their tops instead of competing at times. And I too miss Orkmommy and Joe over at Jackie's. Oh, and they do keep showing that archway when referring to the imunity idol, but...are the "contestants" going to feel free to tear down the "set". They probably think they are not supposed to mess around with that piece of prop. By the way,Jaime has handled that whole scenario with the clues to perfection, especially now, with Leslie out.
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10-05-2007 @ 7:47PM
sid gilmore said...
Jeff was on a talk show and said that there are contestants who dress in layers just in case they just get the clothes on their backs. However, the producers make them change and only allow one outfit to be worn.
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10-05-2007 @ 11:00PM
Cody said...
I'm in the James-stay-quiet! camp. In the first episode I got a total Green Mile vibe from him, which made him my early favorite, but now I'm starting to not like him. Also, Denise was much weaker in the reward challenge than I was expecting. At the moment I don't really have any favorites, but that's not to say that it doesn't make for good TV! They all seem to be playing the game pretty well.
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