CANOE -- JAM! Television - TV Shows - Survivor3: Africa: Episode Ten: Frank flunks

In life, there are times to bit your tongue and times to speak your mind openly. The same holds true in playing the game 'Survivor'. By opening his big yap at the wrong moment, Frank Garrison put his own head on the executioner's block. It was bad enough that Garrison decided to go on a personal tirade the day of Tribal Council. With the Samburu Alliance already outnumbered and destined to be picked off by the Boran Alliance, it made no sense for Garrison to needlessly draw attention to himself. What made matters worse is that the politically charged gun control issue he chose to speak on while everyone was enjoying their breakfast of steaming slop had nothing whatsoever to do with any aspect of the game or his stay in Africa. In this instance, talk isn't cheap. It cost Garrison a million dollars.

It would be wrong to say though that one, foolish outburst sealed Garrison's fate. A crusty ex-soldier, Garrison never really fit in with the free-spirited atmosphere in his tribes. In 'Survivor' it is critical that you be able to communicate and bond with people often and easily. That's a tall order for an apparent loner like Garrison to fill. Truth be told, it is amazing that he lasted as long as he did in the game. The strategy of hooking up with older people like himself who appreciated hard work and d iscipline was also his downfall. His tried and true ally -- Teresa Cooper -- eventually turned on him. Though she attempted to soften the blow at Tribal Council by saying she never meant to betray him, she still did. Not only did she vote against him but she tried to form an alliance with the women who are left in the game. Based on the preview we saw for next week's episode, it is not a scheme Cooper has given up on. With Garrison gone, the tribe now has the same number of men and women in it. Like it or not, playing the gender card may be the only way that the remaining Samburu members (Kim Powers and Cooper) may be able to head off their imminent demise at the hands of Boran.

The remaining Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:

Moto Maji Tribe

Moto Maji Tribal Happenings (Night 27)

Kim Powers tells us it was hard for her to vote off Brandon but he betrayed her and therefore had it coming. No argument there. Lex begins some damage control. In chatting with Kim Johnson, he says that the reason he didn't vote for Brandon was because he considered him a friend who did Boran a favour. Talking to us, Ethan is wondering how strong Lex's commitment is to the Boran Alliance. He thinks Lex voted for Frank to "cover his own ass".

Kim Johnson lets us in on a very interesting observation. She feels that Lex, Tom and Ethan are planning on being the final three. In her mind though, they can't seem to trust each other enough to reach their goal.

Ethan and Kim are standing guard during the 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. shift. All of a sudden, a deep growling permeates the darkness around the camp. Those hungry lions are back to scare the crap out of our beleaguered Survivors. Tom awakes to back Ethan and Kim up. Without hesitation, he says that he will do everything he can to protect them. Eventually, the lions get bored and split the scene. Awww, darn it! Foiled again!

Moto Maji Tribal Happenings (Day 28)

The hardship of their stay in Africa is taking its toll on everyone. Lex says that it is interesting that everyone is falling apart at exactly the same time so nobody is shy about admitting they feel weak. Kim Johnson's legs have begun to swell up. She jokes that the condition will eventually reach her breasts. Lex notices that Tom's gut is not as flabby as it once was. Tom claims to have lost at least 40 pounds. He's probably right though I wonder if he factored in the ten pound boil into the equation . Hmmmm.

Kim explains that the Survivors eat two small meals a day. They make maize cakes, eat roasted kernels of corn for a treat and feast on a corn-flavoured gruel. Yummy. Yummy. Tom compares their meals to eating chalk every day.

Off on their own, Tom and Ethan discuss Lex. Ethan believes that Lex's decision to side with Brandon has hurt the Boran Alliance. Tom feels like Lex stabbed him in the back and when push comes to shove, Lex is a marked man. Ethan thinks the same. Tom and Kim are loyal to each other as well as him. Lex isn't as dependable any more.

Reward Challenge

No real challenge this time out. As in 'Survivor 2', a food auction is held with each Survivor being given 20,000 shillings to barter with.

Reward

Foods of differing nutritional value. The biggest surprise is that there isn't a single product placement to be found. At least none that I could see.

Result

The auction is revealing in the sense that we see whom is more willing to side with whom. Lex buys a coffee and a chocolate pastry. Kim Johnson purchases some crackers and cheese. Totally out of character for him, Tom claims a beer and dances around while he chugs it. Kim Powers nabs an ice cream sundae. Ethan buys a mug of chocolate syrup. Kim Johnson scores with a mystery meal. It turns out to be a chicken dinner which really annoys Teresa. Teresa and Ethan get into a bidding war for half of Kim's me al. Ethan wins out. Teresa scores a hoagie and allows Frank to buy half of it. Tom and Ethan pool their money on another mystery meal. It turns out to be a pancake breakfast with ham. Tom is so overjoyed he makes a comment about Ethan being Jewish and not being able to eat the ham.

Winners: Everyone.

Moto Maji Tribal Happenings (Day 28)

Back at camp, Lex sees Tom as the biggest winner of them all. Tom apologizes to Ethan for his comment. Ethan is not offended at all by it. Ethan tells us that Tom and him are good friends. He kids Ethan all the time about him being Jewish and Ethan jokes around about Tom's weight. No harm. No foul. Everything is cool.

Kim Powers reveals to us that she can't figure if Tom's "folksy" character is the real deal or not. Kim Johnson thinks that Tom is not as naive or simpleminded as he pretends to be. So too does Lex. Some of the Survivors challenge Tom to checkers. He seemingly crushes them all.

Many of the Survivors head out to take a bath in a nearby river. Tom volunteers to act as the human shower by drenching everyone with buckets of water as needed. Ethan and Kim say to us that they are like family now and aren't embarrassed to change or fart in front of each other. Tom gets particular enjoyment out of helping Kim Powers bathe. She even opens her bathing suit top slightly for him to pour water down it. Tom gets an eyeful. A befuddled Lex can't believe what Tom gets away with. Kim Johnson says Tom is "harmless". It's not like Tom is going to "jump their bones" or anything. For a grandma, KJ still has a lot to learn about men it seems. Bottom line...no matter how sensitive or well mannered certain men may seem, deep down we are all pigs. You can take that cheque to the bank and cash it, my friends.

Immunity Challenge

Samburu's former camp site has been modified for this challenge. Seven gates have been installed. Beyond them are seven depots. At each depot is a question and two possible answers. One is right. One is wrong. By guessing the right answer and cracking the right ostrich egg, the Survivors gain a ribbon to tie to their staffs. The first person to get 5 out of the 7 questions right and return with all of their ribbons wins immunity. The questions are based on a story host Jeff Probst relates to them about the life of a tribal warrior.

Reward

Immunity from Tribal Council.

Result

Lex and Frank are the leaders. Tom doesn't have much hope at all. Lex scoops seven ribbons before Frank does but he loses one. Scrambling back to the last depot he visited, Lex finds the lost ribbon and hustles back to beat Frank by an eyelash.

Winner: Lex van den Berghe.

Moto Maji Pre-Tribal Council Happenings (Day 30)

Frank wakes up to enjoy an amazing sunrise. Lex and Tom join him. They are almost struck speechless. Frank tells is that not enough people take time out of their busy lives to enjoy the simple and beautiful things around them. Truer words were never spoken on 'Survivor'. At breakfast, Frank launches into a major lecture about gun control. Kim Powers begs him to shut the hell up. Sitting right beside Frank, Ethan remains silent through out it all. Teresa is stunned that Frank would jeopardize his time h ere by doing what he did. Tom tells Teresa that Frank is Frank and he won't change. Teresa sidles up to Kim Johnson and broaches the idea of a women's alliance. She tries to convince Kim that the Boran men (especially Ethan) will target her next once Samburu is gone. Kim declines the offer and relates some of what happened to Ethan. Teresa informs Frank that her plan isn't coming together in time.

Tribal Council

Teresa tells host Jeff Probst that playing the game fairly can improve one's chances with the Survivor Jury. Ethan basically subscribes to the same belief. Lex tells Probst that the tribe is going through a calmer, peaceful time but things are sure to get ugly again quite soon. Frank thinks that the tribal lines are gone and that people are voting based on their strategy now. Kim Johnson isn't worried about her not being as physically strong as the others. .

Kim Johnson comments that she is voting the way she is because that person is the next "logical choice". Kim Powers claims to have learned a lot from the person she is casting her ballot for and was glad to spend time with them. Teresa votes for Frank but claims it is not an act of betrayal. She thanks him for the friendship they shared.

Final Voting

Parting Comments

"To my lovely wife Pauline and my daughters...thank you for the unselfish sacrifices you made so I could go on this adventure. I give you my word of honour that down the road I will make all your dreams come true. As your husband, as your father, as your friend, I love you and I miss you." - Frank Garrison.

Episode Rating: C+.

Powell's Comments

Next time on 'Survivor': Teresa is really pushing for an all-women alliance. The tribe is allowed to see some videos sent from home. The winner of the reward challenge apparently gets to fly in a hot air balloon or gets a plane ride.

Based on the comments she has made before, we get the feeling that Kim Johnson knows she is the odd "man" out in the Boran Alliance and that might give her incentive to accept Teresa's offer. She would be stupid not to as it gives her a greater chance of getting into the final two than if she sticks by the men of Boran. The idea of things breaking down along gender lines is an intriguing proposition. If during their first Tribal Council together they were able to cast their votes for Lex, the women would have the upperhand as he has more previous votes against him that anyone. Teresa, Kim Powers and Kim Johnson would be guaranteed as the final three. It will absolutely enticing to see if there is another shift in power during the next episode. Too bad the producers had to recycle the auction again and the Immunity Challenge was kind of lackluster as well.