CANOE -- JAM! Television - TV Shows - Survivor3: Africa: Episode Six: Richter rocked

An amazing thing happened at the conclusion of last night's 'Survivor'. With the eviction of Lindsey Richter, the fans can now look forward to watching each episode without any ear aches afterwards. The former advertising account executive was the game's biggest whiner, bitching about everything and doing very little to improve any situation she found fault with. Shedding more tears during her stay in Africa than an arena full of teenage girls watching a Backstreet Boys concert, Lindsey was long rumoured to have left the show due to a medical emergency. With that not being the case, the focus now shifts to an unidentified male contestant who becomes ill and finds himself surrounded by elephants on next week's episode.

With the Samburu vote split down the tribal lines that existed before last week's goofy and manipulative "member exchange", the Tribal Council vote went to the "previous votes against" method of breaking the tie. The former Boran members had voted for Lindsey and the original Samburu members had cast their ballots for Tom Buchanan. Since Lindsey had four votes notched against her and Tom had none, Lindsey was kicked.

Lindsey's ejection from 'Survivor: Africa' was basically brought about by the actions of her Gen-X Alliance partner in the game, Brandon Quinton. The former Boran members were all set to vote for Brandon until Kelly overheard him speaking to Lindsey and Kim about their tactic of misdirecting the vote to keep Lindsey safe. Upon learning that Lindsey was the one with several previous votes against her and putting that together with some hand signals they had recieved from Boran member Kim Johnson at the previous challenges, the former Boran faction changed their voting strategy.

The remaining Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:

Samburu Tribe

Boran Tribe

Boran Tribal Happenings (Night Fifteen)

After the Tribal Council, Boran expresses their fears over what host Jeff Probst said about the merger. Ethan admits the speculation that the merger could be delayed or might not occur at all is "driving him insane". He believes that Boran will not have enough food to make it past the traditional merger date. Boran begins talking about possibly rationing food or killing the chickens they won at the last Reward Challenge. Of course, if there is no merger at all than Probst had clearly lied to the contestants as he has made reference to it throughout the course of 'Survivor: Africa'.

Samburu Tribal Happenings (Night Fifteen)

Lex and Tom want to feed all of the Gen-X Alliance to the lions. Forced to stand guard for a five hour shift at night because of Gen-X's poor attitude towards security at the camp, Lex and Tom can do nothing but wait for the sun to rise on a new day. Lindsey can't believe that they worked such a shift. Tom, Lex and Kelly know the first Tribal Council appearance of the newly formed Samburu Tribe will be tied so they are on the lookout for any hint of who in Gen-X has more votes. Lindsey tells us she is worried about saving her own butt which actually she does quite well by sitting on it all day.

Boran Tribal Happenings (Day Sixteen)

Something more shocking than last week's "exchange" is revealed by Clarence. Apparently, he thinks about food all day long. He even thinks about food while eating. Big surprise there. To fill his belly-welly, Clarence wants to Kentucky Fry one of their chickens. The others aren't too keen on that idea wanting to give them a chance to lay some eggs first. Clarence starts stalking the pesky poultry saying he wants to make chicken nuggets out of them. Cleaning out their cage he says "I have broken some straw for your asses, now lay some eggs". Frank would rather wait until after the reward challenge to see if they in fact win any food first. Kim gathers the tree mail and reads between the lines. It is going to be some sort of trivia challenge.

Reward Challenge

The first thing Lindsey notices as the Survivors gather is that Silas is absent. She mutters "Silas is gone!" over and over again. Probst asks Gen-X if they are surprised that Silas was turfed. They aren't. Two bleachers greet the Survivors. By answering each trivia question about Africa and Kenya correctly the tribes get to move down a row of bleachers. The first tribe to reach the bottom wins. Since Samburu has one extra member, Tom is selected to sit out. Probst tempts the Survivors with a product placement - a well-known carbonated beverage - just we can see the contestants drool.

Reward

A buffet lunch.

Result

Samburu is victorious. Obviously thinking about all the food he now can't eat, Clarence looks on in disgust. Lex comments that Samburu is "breaking bread proper". Samburu gloats as Boran shuffles off to eat tree bark and dirt.

Winners: The Samburu Tribe.

Samburu Tribal Happenings (Day Sixteen)

Stuffed to the gills, the women are having a hard time not vomiting up the feast they just gobbled down. Kim is almost ready to hurl. Lex and Tom help her back to camp. Lindsey advises Kim to "barf up a little" and "keep the rest". Lindsey suddenly has a conscience after seeing that Silas is gone. She tells us that maybe Gen-X shouldn't have treated the Geritol Gang so badly after all. Brandon thinks that Gen-X's days are numbered.

Boran Tribal Happenings (Day Sixteen)

Clarence has had another revelation. He has discovered his true calling. He wants to be a food critic. Clarence, the Roger Ebert of the greasy spoon diners? Heck, who am I to argue? He sure does know his food. As Frank reworks the chicken coop so they have more room to move and play, Clarence licks his lips. He gives the poultry an ultimatum. Either they lay eggs by morning or they're going to be Shake N' Baked. Clarence gives the idea two enthusiastic "thumbs up".

Samburu Tribal Happenings (Day Sixteen)

Kelly is spending mucho time with Gen-X. One figures she has been chosen to infiltrate the group because she is around the same age. Brandon and Kim discuss how best to save Lindsey and therefore themselves. Brandon tells Kim that he is sure that the former Boran members like her more than the rest of Gen-X.

Boran Tribal Happenings (Day Seventeen)

As dawn breaks, Kim checks the chickens. It looks as if Clarence's tough talk has worked wonders because one egg has been laid. Kim takes the egg and places it near the campfire so Clarence will see it when he awakes. "I'll be damned!", says Frank. A bleary-eyed Clarence spots the egg and exclaims "Oh, hell no! I hate you! Of course they laid the smallest egg possible." In a stunning reversal, the tribe decides to kill one of the chickens for dinner. Kimmi Kappenberg's screams can be heard even though she is half way around the globe. Frank is happy being a member of Boran and wishes he had been with them from the start. So does Mark Burnett, Frank. Which is why he instituted the "tribal exchange".

Samburu Tribal Happenings (Day Eighteen)

Kelly, Tom and Lex have a secret meeting. Kelly claims that Boran's Kim was trying to signal her at the Reward Challenge making an "L" or "B" sign with her fingers indicating Lindsey or Brandon. The trio suspect that Brandon has votes against him because of how they think Frank must have felt about him. Lindsey, Kim and Brandon also hatch a plan. Brandon agrees to "take a bullet" for the team and allow the former Boran members to believe he is the better target. Gen-X is going to vote for Tom because they believe Brandon would beat him at a trivia challenge.

Boran Tribal Happenings (Day Eighteen)

The tree mail reveals that the Immunity Challenge will involve archery. Frank, a skilled hunter, starts teaching his tribe how to let the arrows fly.

Immunity Challenge

The Survivors are going to square off against one another. There are 5 targets they must set ablaze with flaming arrows to win.

Reward

Immunity from Tribal Council.

Result

For being such a skilled hunter and teacher, Frank's performance at the challenge is dreadful. In fact, he doesn't hit a single target. Kelly is chosen to sit out for Samburu. During one of his attempts, Brandon drops the flaming arrow and squeals. Lindsey hits one. Clarence hits one. Lex hits two. Tom hits one. Kim Johnson hits one. Ethan hits three and wins the challenge for his team.

Winners: The Boran Tribe.

Samburu Pre-Tribal Council Happenings (Day Eighteen)

Brandon and Lex have a chat. Lex kinds lets Brandon know that the former Boran members are voting for him. He says that he hopes Brandon won't take it too badly. Brandon says he won't. Standing behind the shelter, Kelly hears Brandon, Lindsey and Kim confirming their strategy. She runs off and tells Lex and Tom. Gen-X sees what has happened. Lindsey cries. She feels that Brandon's big yap has cost her the game. Lindsey and Kim talk about voting with the former Boran members and stabbing Brandon in the back. Lindsey proposes the deal to Kelly but says she feels like she is selling Brandon out. Tom chats with Lindsey and Kim. He tells them that if they vote with his faction they could stay in the game longer. If they don't, they are toast. Kim is not comfortable with turning on Brandon. Lindsey doesn't know what to do.

Tribal Council

Lex tells Probst that the "exchange" was a shock to everyone but they have all pulled together. Brandon doesn't trust anyone. Kim says to Probst that she is having to struggle with playing the game in a selfish fashion or with integrity. Kelly claims Gen-X is a great bunch of people.

We don't see who Lindsey votes for but she says she hates herself for having to do so. She would vote for herself if she could.

Final Voting (First Round)

With the vote tied, Tom and Lindsey are asked to make their case about why they should be permitted to stay. Tom says he has been himself all along and will continue to do so. Brandon and Lindsey hug. Brandon tells Lindsey he is "so sorry". Lindsey claims that on the way to Tribal Council her "dignity took over" and she doesn't care if she is voted out. She says she won't for a friend and then sobs.

Final Voting (Second Round)

The vote is tied again and the deciding factor is the past votes against. Lindsey has four. Tom has none. Lindsey is a goner.

Parting Comments

"It was a surprise. I thought they would vote for Brandon. I honestly don't think I could have gone on much longer because this game is a serious emotional roller coaster ride and you know, I am an athlete but I would much rather do it in a civilized environment where I am not battling malicious behavior. I don't like that aspect of this game at all. See you on the dark side. " - Lindsey Richter.

Episode Rating: B.

Powell's Comments

On the next episode more complaining about the merger situation. Clarence collects the tree mail before everyone wakes up in his tribe. The message contained therein is referred to as "big and nasty".

Whether he meant to or not, Mark Burnett has gotten what he wanted. The disrespectful Gen-X Alliance is in its death throes and it appears that only Kim might make it out alive. Funny how after the "exchange" last week that this episode's challenges are less physical and were more skill and intelligence oriented. The positioning of these events in the game sure does favour the older contestants to some extent. One wonders if the "exchange" was planned before the show started filming or after Burnett saw how things were shaping up. Rumour has it that Samburu loses the next Immunity Challenge as well and that Brandon could possibly bite the dust. There is also talk that when the merger happens, the Boran Tribe reunites and focuses their gameplan on ridding Kenya of Samburu.