(S16E05) "Chickens have a pecking order. They peck at the weakest until they kill them. It's just like Survivor." - Chet
The promos this week made this seem like a show not to miss and they didn't steer us wrong. As promised, the tribes were mixed up and one challenge went beyond brutal. Schoolyard picks and wounded people? Now, there's a good episode!
Once again, though, the promos didn't steer us in the exact direction of reality. The promos had us thinking that Ozzy and Joel were having issues with each other. Nope, not the case at all. Once in context, they were both discussing Chet, not each other. CBS likes to make us panic like that. I had visions of Joel crushing Ozzy with his Hulk muscles.
The show opened in the still Fans vs. Favorites camps. Chet tells us he wants Jason out next and Jason tells us Chet has to go. I guess Chet didn't target Joel because he flipped with them (Chet, Kathy, Tracy) by voting Mikey B. out last week. But I want Joel out. I think he's a huge bully. Doesn't my input matter?
I'm not sure how wise it was for Ozzy to tell anyone about his found idol. I realize that he told his alliance -- James, Amanda, and Parvati. In hindsight, his decision might bring about issues. I hope it works out okay for him. Heck, I hope he never has to use it, but will bring it out to save his butt if he has to. The four-clique powerhouse might be doomed.
When the tribes met up for reward, it was "drop your buffs" time. Alas, a schoolyard pick. I really don't like those. They bring back bad childhood memories. Gack. Jef had a bag of stones for each tribe. All the stones were white except for an orange and purple stone in respective bags. The person who drew the colored stone in their tribe would be the captain. They alternated picks between fans and favorites so the tribes became truly mixed.
The new Airai tribe is: Natalie (Captain), James, Alexis, Jonathan, Jason, Parvati, Kathy, and Eliza. The new Malakal tribe is: Ozzy (Captain), Joel (who Ozzy called Troy), Amanda, Erik, Ami, Tracy, Cirie, and Chet.
Then it was onto the brutality comp ... er, the reward comp. Since the teams were new and should take some time to get to know each other, Jeff told them there would be no Exile Island. They were playing for a barbecue dinner with steaks, sausages, and all of the trimmings. Nice reward, nice ideas, but at least for a few people it was time to yell for the medics.
They had to run through a course harnessed in pairs of opposing tribes trying to grab a flag from the other tribe. It was sort of like the concept of flag football, but much rougher. Jonathan ran into a stick which impaled (literally) his knee. One of the girls had a busted lip. And, it's amazing that poor Chet didn't die.
Yes, I said die. I couldn't believe how Joel slammed him around, dragged him into trees, and such. Later people (Joel and others) were saying Chet gave up. That's not right! The poor guy never had a chance to try at the comp. I'm not a Chet fan. I do think he's weak and on the useless side. But you don't take a human being and do that to him with no regard for his life like they're a rag doll! Joel should have been removed from the game right then and there. I'm glad they lost reward although then Joel blamed Chet for the loss. When Joel told Chet he didn't care, I wanted a tree to fall on him.
I'm not too keen on the obvious adulation fan Erik has for Ozzy. Oh, I am indeed an Ozzy fan. But all I could think after watching them was that Ozzy might have to have Erik surgically removed sooner or later. I think Erik wants to BE Ozzy and that's just not going to happen!
The tribes found out how life is on the other side, at least about half of them did. The Malakal camp is a virtual paradise compared to Airai. "it's a wonder the poor things aren't dead, bunch of dingbats," said James looking over the Airai camp. I thought that line said it all. Not only did they have a bad camp, but they started the barbecue right where the tide came in and snuffed it out. Poor things indeed.
As much as I love my man Ozzy, I wasn't happy to see him teaming up with Joel. I think I dislike Joel to the same extent I enjoy Ozzy. Yes, they did have a point in that Chet is the weakest member of the tribe. Yes, Chet does have to go. But I don't care for Joel tainting Ozzy, not at all!
Thankfully, Cirie worked her magic (yeah, I like it when she's not taking out someone I like) on Ozzy after Malakal lost the immunity challenge. The challenge itself was made up of elements I personally think we've seen too often -- break tiles with rocks, get puzzle pieces, solve puzzle with a spotter. Chet was the spotter for Malakal, yet Joel bullied his way through every direction Chet gave them. I do think Chet seemed a bit defeated and ended up giving up. But the direction Joel was shouting over him was wrong. So they lost.
Cirie was told of the plan to vote Chet off. While she thinks he's useless, she knows that the pecking order would be to her if they continued to vote off the weakest. She worked her ways with Amanda and Ozzy, convincing them that while right now it's good to have Joel for comps of brute strength, it was Joel who didn't break a tile and Joel who botched the puzzle.
Bye, bye, bully, bye, bye. I loved the surprise on his face when he was blindsided. Erik was also shocked and might just realize that latching onto Ozzy might not mean Ozzy will keep him in the loop. I sincerely hope Cirie doesn't choose to target Ozzy next. While Ozzy is a small powerhouse, he also provides for others and is SO not a bully.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-06-2008 @ 11:26PM
Bob Baft said...
Wow, they blew that voting of Joel. Chet is useless and now any strength challenges, Ozzy's going to have to carry the whole team. He'll tire out and they'll lose the rest of the members. Dummies.
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3-06-2008 @ 11:37PM
Kalin said...
I completely agree but good for Cirie for being the best player. It's funny how she got no air time the first couple weeks and now it seems like shes basically controlling the game. It was clearly the best move for her even if it hurts the tribe.
3-07-2008 @ 1:40AM
Pierre-Luc Allie said...
I predict all the strong will be take off one by one by the weak. It's not the Fans vs Favorite season, it's the strong vs the weak, and the weak are winning big time.
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3-07-2008 @ 2:13AM
Will said...
Wow, do you and I see this differently. While I agree that is not the nicest guy out there, they made a big mistake in the vote. The only reason Cirie "worked her magic" is because she is as useless as Chet is. Remember, she coasted in her season 30 + days & then couldn't even start a fire in the challenge-off, even AFTER Jeff gave her flynt! She's useless, and now 2 weeks in a row she's been able to convince people to vote off productive members. The reason, at least I think, that Joel jumped in in calling the puzzle is because Chet was screwing that up, too. If this trend keeps up, we're going be left at the end of the game with a couple of do-nothing duds in the final two. Won't that be enjoyable. If this move protects Ozzie and gets him to the end, then at that time I will post a retraction, but at this point, I think it was a mistake. And if I had been sitting there and saw that sh---eating grin on Ciries face, I think I would have rammed her head into a post myself. But that's just me.
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3-07-2008 @ 9:59AM
Philip said...
Will, I think you're confusing Cirie and Sundra. Cirie was just as awesome and strategic in her first season as she is now. She's proved over and over again that she can get people to do what she wants; she's been an active player since day one and she has never just "coasted".
And before anyone says what a huge mistake it was to vote out Joel (or to do anything in this game, for that matter) why not wait until the final outcome is determined? You have no way of knowing if it was a mistake or not. Just because it's something that you wouldn't have done yourself doesn't mean it was a mistake.
And Cirie was right - Joel WASN'T an asset in any challenges so far. Where are all these mythical challenges that teams need to keep their "strong" players for? It never actually works out like that. Joel deserved to get the boot for the simple fact that he treated Chet like dirt at the reward challenge. Good riddance, Captain Caveman!
3-07-2008 @ 2:15AM
Will said...
That should read, "while I agree Joel' is not the nicest guy out there...
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3-07-2008 @ 3:50AM
Steff said...
Right on Will!
Jackie I agree with a lot of your views except, Chet did and has always given up on all the comps. 30 seconds into them. He did it twice tonight, he needs to go, but NOT before Cirie.
I almost choked on my chilled beverage when I read your Erik/Ozzy observation, reminded me of how Nat is up Matt's...hmmm...pants leg.
How succinct was James upon seeing the other camp! "They should be dead".
FYI OZZY:
Get rid of Cirie!!!!!
Jackie I just loved your Janis Joplin: Bye Bye Bully Bye Bye...my all time favorite Janis song.
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3-07-2008 @ 11:00AM
ORKMommy said...
I think they're finally playing the game well by getting rid of the stronger players early. Once they hit the merge, those strong players tend to win a lot of comps. When a strong player agrees with a weaker player to get rid of another strong player before the merge, they're just cementing their place in the game for post-merge.
I'm really enjoying both Ozzy & Amanda this season. I wasn't a huge Amanda fan last season, but she's really growing on me.
Did anyone else notice how James & Parvarti ended up together and Ozzy & Amanda ended up together? Is it fate?
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3-07-2008 @ 1:10PM
David said...
As usual, I agree with ya, ORKMommy. I never understood the "keep the strong early" arguments. The best thing the favorites could have done for themselves was to vote off Ozzy on the first day. (Not to be confused with how many of us feel about Ozzy. Certainly I am rooting for him to win.)
3-07-2008 @ 11:14AM
Eric said...
The funny thing is that if Joel hadn't listened to Tracy last week and had kept Mikey B, there is a good chance that he would have been in a better position to try to take out a favorite, not a fan, now it's a numbers game and the favorites can vote off the fans on that tribe.
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3-07-2008 @ 11:37AM
Dave said...
Ozzy's first pick for his new tribe was Joel, and then he voted for Joel at tribal council. How did that change? He got played by the queen. Cirie is manipulating everybody and nobody is smart enough to figure it out.
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3-07-2008 @ 12:11PM
BC said...
Ozzy made two of the DUMBEST moves last night I have ever saw on Survivor in that he told them he had the idol and he voted out an ally in Joel.
Someone tell me why they are listening to Cirie? Ozzy had Eric and Joel basicially siding with him in an alliance, then he and Amanda listened to Cirie AGAIN.
I don't what is more surpirsing to me 1) that Cirie has become a power player deciding players fates yet staying under the radar OR 2) that people are actually listening to Cirie.
Yes they are still 2 tribes in everyones mind, but there is no way of knowing when or if there will be a merge -- and if there is a merge how many of your old partners will be left at that point. Joel was right in the Chet and then Cirie should be the next two targets, and I think Ozzy (and Eric as a hang on ) knew it when Joel suggested the next two targets. Ozzy should have put the "new team" first to get rid of the weakest links or they won't be around for the merge. Also Ozzy should see that Cirie is cutting into his allies and thus keeping people she can advise --- thus Ozzy will be a target very soon to her. Joel was an ally that Ozzy could have used, while Cirie is not an ally and can't be used -- I don't know if she is smart or they are just dumb!!!!!
I guess we will see what happens (as another previous poster stated earlier) but in my opinion Ozzy's team and Ozzy inparticular made a big mistake last night!
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3-07-2008 @ 12:37PM
Joe said...
I am just as shocked as ever one else I can't believe they listened to Cirie. Right after they let Yaw-man go they were kicking them self in the foot and even were saying to Eliza that she should have been gone instead.
But they do it again I really do not like Cirie but the way she is right now I see her winning the whole thing. The way she is controlling people she could make a sinner look like a saint and that is really good for her but not for the other people on the tribe.
I can already tell this move is going to bite the tribe in the butt and that sucks because I was a fan of Ozzy in the past but this season He is just being dumb.
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3-07-2008 @ 1:33PM
Dave said...
I am a big fan of Ozzy's and it was fine that he told others that he had the idol. This keeps people away from voting him out knowing if he suspects it and uses the idol, they could be gone.
The favorites that are on Ozzy's team are in the majority. Even if they lose every week, they can kick off the fans each week and when both teams play for individual immunity, they will be back with James, Parvati, Jonathan and their old team. I think he is doing alright.
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3-07-2008 @ 3:29PM
jordan said...
This was a decent episode. The blonde lady from fan's has pulled two sweet moves to get both strong men voted off.
http://webkinzparents.com
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3-07-2008 @ 3:42PM
Jon said...
Seriously, you feel bad for Chet? You feel it's Joel's fault that Chet laid on his ass during the obstacle course? Perhaps they should have taken a moment and talked through their feelings, I mean, they had a whole minute to work that out. Trying to compare Chet and Joel at challenges is like comparing apples and thermonuclear weapons.
I am surprised at how easily these guys roll over when a Cirie or Tracy puts up the least bit of resistance. When Cirie informed Ozzie of what he was doing he should have informed her that if she didn't go his way that he would see her voted off; he could have easily sold that to the rest of the tribe. It just goes to show you that a successful Survivor has less to do with holding one's breath for 5 minutes and more to do with being able to sniff out out a bargain at a Marshall's on Black Friday. If you don't get that analogy...just think about it. Still not coming? Try holding your breath for five minutes...maybe you're just too superior an athelete.
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3-07-2008 @ 3:54PM
Jitaroo said...
Chet is turning into the new dreams... im completly on joels side!! He shouldnt give an f about him breaking his head! And how come there wasnt a mention about Jonathan and his poor leg!! that scene grossed me out.
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3-07-2008 @ 4:23PM
David said...
Jackie did mention Penner's injury in her write-up :)
3-07-2008 @ 6:23PM
Ron said...
This episode of survivor ticked me off the most! I never liked Cirie the first time around and I like her even less now. I can't stand that disgusting (sp.) smile she has and that very annoying way about her.
I so wanted useless to go home, but, alas, big mouth got her way...AGAIN! Can't these players see through her ways or what? They complained last time they listened to her and they do it again? It'll be so sweet when she gets booted out. I CAN'T WAIT!!!
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3-07-2008 @ 7:17PM
marva said...
I agree with all of the comments about Cirie. I used to like her, but she is really getting on my nerves! She talks about others (Joel) playing for the million...what do they think she is doing??? While I do think that Chet should go, I would see Cirie go sooner. She is a bigger threat. Chet is expendable at any time. This season is certainly different, with the strong being voted out earlier. I will continue to root for Ozzie. He's the best...I just hope he manages to see through Cirie...and yes...before she gets him too!
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