TVSquad

Oh, I'm not talking about the sickening food challenge we see each season on the show, nor am I trying to dismiss the current season of Survivor: China. I'm talking Survivor 16! I'm talking the rumors, the realities, the casting, and the location.

Yes, true Survivor believers, the news has been circulating. It's hard to keep secrets these days, so much more difficult than the days when Richard Hatch had won the first season and they knew for months, no one said a word. For me, it's better because knowing spoilers ahead of time whets my appetite -- for the show, not for the gross food challenge, of course. Rumors have been circulating it will be an All Stars version. Is it? If you want to know, read on.

(S11E10) So much of this season has been about jockeying for position on flights and very little has been about challenges. Finally, after we spent a lot of time in the airport at the beginning of the episode, we got to see some really cool challenges. The first Detour was Lost in Translation or Kung Fu Fighting-- with ninjas! I would've chosen that, too. The challenges, unfortunately, were super simple for everybody, but at least they were entertaining to wtch.

This week, teams flew more than 1,500 miles from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Hong Kong.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

(S11E06) Tonight we began in Mozambique, Africa. Teams flew to Tanzania where I swear we witnessed the weirdest race ever! First of all, three teams were nearly an entire day behind the other top teams as they were stuck in the Johannesburg airport. There were three-hour time differences between the racers who left to Zanzibar by boat. The teams didn't get to a challenge until 32 minutes in the show because so much of this week was spent just trying to get the hell out of Johannesburg!

At least both challenges were on the island of Zanzibar so not much more travel was required. The first was a quick little puzzle and the second was a really tough-looking axe-throwing challenge.

Without giving anything away before the jump, I wonder how next week is going to work out with such a huge difference in the finishing times between the teams. I think the final team is going to leave about 12 hours or so later than the first team.

*SPOILERS* AFTER THE JUMP:

(S11E05) Who are you rooting for? The race is narrowed down enough that it's easier to pick a favorite. Right now, I'm partial to Oswald & Danny but I think this episode was edited in their favor.

This week, the teams all caught the same flight from Argentina to Mozambique, Africa, where they found rats. I actually thought this was one of the more interesting challenges since I had no idea that rats were used to sniff out land mines. And the names of the rats were quite funny: Tupac, Nelson, Twinkletoes, and Xena? Hilarious!

The second challenge was a lot more along the lines of Amazing Race-style challenges (finally!). Teams had to either give manicures or fill 45-pound bags with coal and carry them to a location. Most of the teams opted for the porter challenge and I think that's because they were afraid to interact with the locals.

Anybody know why the teams had drivers while they were in Africa?

(S11E04) We're already down to eight teams after last week's elimination of David & Mary from Kentucky. Now the race gets real serious because the weak teams have been weeded out. Plus, the field isn't so cluttered so we get to spend a little more time with each time. I loved how the teams went from saying they didn't care about Rob and Amber last week, to calling them "the team to beat" this week.

This week, the Racers flew from Chile to Argentina. The challenges weren't terribly impressive this week. One of the Detour options was super lame and the other was bad for poor spellers. Even though it wasn't very exciting to watch, it did change the entire race, putting the first placers (Rob & Amber) way back at the end of the pack.

My thoughts on the teams (AND SPOILERS) are after the jump:

(S04E10) I've always though Janelle was a shrewd player and that her buxom blonde exterior hid the heart of a warrior and a shrewd and calculating mind. I'm beginning to revise that theory for one reason. She's falling for Dr. Will. Now I'll admit that Will is easy on the eyes (if a bit shiny) and charming when he's not complaining about the living conditions and saying he hates everyone, but Janie, haven't you ever heard the story of the scorpion and the snake?