CANOE -- JAM! Television - TV Shows - Survivor4: Marquesas: Episode One: Gutter ball for Peter

If asked, most people say they don't judge a book by it's cover. In reality, that's a bunch of crap. Whether we want to admit it or not, first impressions mean a lot to each and every one of us. It is human nature. Maraamu Tribe member Peter Harkey, bowling alley owner from Millis, Massachusetts, made a very bad impression and paid the price at Tribal Council becoming the first person to be voted out of 'Survivor: Marquesas' on the premiere episode last night.

Following a long-standing tradition of ditching the most annoying or the weakest players first, Maraamu sent Peter packing because as construction worker Robert Mariano put it so bluntly..."He's a Fruit Loop". That characterization may be unfair but Peter kind of brought it on himself. Coming off as some of sort of New Age guru while professing the mystic wonders of Yoga to the group did nothing for Peter's image. The first phase of any 'Survivor' game is melding with the people you are stranded with. That means trying not to stand out if you can help it. Knowing how some people would react to his chosen lifestyle, Peter should have kept it under wraps until his tribe knew him better. In that way, they might have been more accepting and chances are less likely to have judged him or his beliefs harshly as they eventually did.

Truth be told, Peter was far from being the only one to start off the game on the wrong foot. It seems some of this season's players haven't done their homework. Already bucking for some sort of Playboy photo shoot offer, Maraamu Tribe member Sarah Jones did very little paddling on the way to camp and was carried in on the raft like royalty. Prancing around in a bikini, the uncrowned queen of Maraamu drew the ire and the votes of several of her tribemates for her behavior. Sean Rector, the teacher from Harlem, New York, joined Peter in a baptism-like ritual when they first came ashore. Right or wrong, that too sparked a negative reaction. Over in Rotu, it was Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien, the 47-year-old, real estate agent and mom from Burlington, Vermont, who began frantically ordering people around. That brushed many people the wrong way. From first glance, it shouldn't be too difficult for anyone to predict the first stage of 'Survivor: Marquesas' evictions.

Based on the debut episode, the difference between 'Survivor: Marquesas' and 'Survivor: Africa' is going to be like night and day. While the mood of "Survivor: Africa" was pretty downright depressing at times due to the arid location and the constant backstabbing, 'Survivor: Marquesas' is lively and cheerful. Both of the Marquesas tribes are cohesive units thus far. Everyone is gladly working together and there seems to be a spirit of camaraderie. No tribe crippling alliances have formed...just yet. While the 'Survivor: Africa' contestants drew water from dirty waterholes and battled sickness through their first episode, the Marquesas players are splish-splashing in waterfalls, joking with one another and marveling at the tropical setting around them. If nothing else, the 'Survivor Marquesas' experience should have taught the producers that the location is the most important factor next to casting in assembling an fun-filled 'Survivor' series which will have viewers tuning in week after week.

Dedication and teamwork on everyone's part was evident right off the bat as the contestants were made to paddle in to the island of Nuku Hiva from a fishing trawler. That is everyone except Maraamu's Sarah Jones who sat in her tribe's raft doing nothing but cheering her teammates on. Her paddle never even skimmed the water. It wouldn't be a surprise if she is the 'Survivor: Marquesas' villain whom host Jeff Probst has been alluding to in many interviews conducted in the last few weeks.

Apparently, the Marquesas Survivors may have not been told that they would be getting no food, water or fire this time around. Many of them seemed stunned when they arrived at their camps, opened their crates and found only a map to their water source, two pots, two pans, a knife, a machete and a magnifying glass.

The remaining Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:

Rotu Tribe

Maraamu Tribe

Maraamu Tribal Happenings (Day One)

Sean complains to us that Sarah did zilch to help during the raft trek. The way she was carried into shore on the raft by the others has him comparing her to Cleopatra. Sean and Peter hold a baptism ritual bringing a lot of weird stares their way. Sean claims that "God was under the raft" which is why they made it to shore. Rob tells us that his impression of Sean and Peter is that they are either playing mindgames already or they are completely "off their rockers".

John tries to get a fire going with their magnifying glass but it is late in the day and the clouds keep blocking out the sun. Rotu attempts the rubbing-two-sticks-together method. No dice there. The fact that they can't get a fire going is a bee in Kathy's bonnet. Gabriel (think Christopher Atkins of 'Blue Lagoon' without the loincloth) says that Kathy should tone it down about ten notches because Rotu doesn't need a "skipper".

Hunter (think Tom Hanks' Chuck Noland from 'Cast Away') begins gathering firewood and basically leading the group. Gina tells us that she is 'in love' with Hunter already. I think the term she meant is 'in lust' with him. As Hunter describes how they can make funnels out of banana leaves to catch any rain that falls, the others mock him. Sean tells us that his nickname for Hunter is 'MacGyver'. He also has a problem with Hunter assuming the leadership role. He admits he is an 'Alpha Male' too. Therefore, he will not blindly follow Hunter like others are. Maraamu's attempts at creating fire fail until Peter joins in. Using the breathing techniques he learned from doing Yoga, he is able to feed the fire quite well. Whatever Peter is doing seems to work because Maraamu does start a fire.

Maraamu Tribal Happenings (Night One)

The claws are out already. Gina doesn't appreciate Sarah flaunting herself. Vecepia says in her book it is okay to use it if you got it. As everyone is sitting around the campfire, Sarah does tease an impromptu strip show then settles down. She and Rob go lay alone in the tribe's raft. Gina doesn't think that was a smart move at all because the others don't know if they are flirting or forming an alliance.

Rotu Tribal Happenings (Day Two)

Gabriel reveals that each Survivor was given a coconut full of water before they departed. Hey! I thought the producers weren't going to give them any aqua. So much for that rule. Kathy is spouting doom and gloom because the tribe still doesn't have fire yet. She claims not to be a "bitch". She just hates it when there is a job that's left unfinished. Methinks Kathy will be taking that 'walk of shame' sooner than she thinks. Kathy leads the way as the tribe finds their waterhole. Actually, it is a waterfall. Lucky them! The scene quickly transforms into what you would see outside any water park during the summer months. Rotu finds some Taro. (a hearty succulent perennial herb) According to them it is something edible so they are thrilled. Back at camp, Kathy says she will work on the fire until the sun sets if she has to.

Maraamu Tribal Happenings (Day Two)

The tribe finds some grapefruits and begin chowing down. Rob tells us that grapefruits and lemon just don't thrill him so he sets off with Peter to find some meat. He knows there are chickens and pigs in them thar hills. Peter and Rob chase a rooster around in circles before it flies away. "A rooster can't fly. Can they?," an incredulous Rob says to Peter as they watch lunch disappear.

Returning to camp, Rob is brow-beaten by Hunter for chasing roosters instead of helping out with the chores. Rob complies by gathering some rocks and dropping most of them on his way back to camp.

Rotu Tribal Happenings (Day Two)

Kathy and John go toe-to-toe over the tribe not having a fire yet. John tells us he finds Kathy's voice to be grating and he is annoyed at her negative attitude. In an interview, Kathy bawls. Snivel. Snivel. There are jobs to do. She isn't getting any support. She broke a fingernail. The sun is too hot. Snivel. Snivel. John feels quite bad about going off on Kathy so he commits himself to making a fire to redeem himself. John does so and offers the first cup of boiled water to Kathy as a peace offering. He says she deserves it for "lighting a fire into his butt" about the need to have a fire. Man. This guy just made the smartest move anyone has thus far.

Maraamu Tribal Happenings (Day Two)

Hunter leads the tribe to their water source. Maraamu got ripped. While Rotu has a nice waterfall to frolic in, Maraamu has small pools of water fed by a natural spring. Once they are back at camp, Peter admits to being a workaholic and slows down the pace by sitting with Sean. The two get along quite well. Peter asks Sean to teach him some "Harlem stuff". What he means is the lingo used there. Sean snickers at this suggestion asking Peter where in the hell would he use such language. Peter does add the term "chilling" to his vocabulary though. The others gather around. Peter begins yacking about Yoga and how it focuses on controlling all the hole in your body....and he means ALL the holes. Knowing where this conversation is heading, people begin to disperse quite rapidly. Peter claims that it is Sean's fault the subject came up because he taught him to "chill".

Immunity Challenge

The Survivors must row an outrigger to a firepot and light their torches. They have to then light all the torches on the way back, carry their outrigger along the beach, light three more torches, return the outrigger to its resting place and ignite the final torch to win. Host Jeff Probst reminds the Survivors that they aren't getting any help with fire so matches will never be up for grabs. With that in mind, it is crucial that each tribe look after their campfire.

Reward

Immunity from Tribal Council.

Result

Rotu completes the course first.

Winners: Rotu.

Maraamu Pre-Tribal Council Happenings (Day Three)

Sean tells us that once they lost the Immunity Challenge, reality set in and the game faces appeared. Patricia argues that even though she is overweight and older, she is still a steady person to count upon. She doesn't want to be voted out just yet. Peter gathers everyone together to discuss a voting strategy. This upsets many member of Maraamu. They feel that Peter is trying to dictate the game already. With everyone standing right there, Gina says she will vote how she wants to vote and won't be influenced by others. Peter claims that there is nothing "magical" about reading someone by looking into their eyes. Sarah admits to us that she thinks Peter is "strange". Sean is going to vote for Sarah. In his words, beside her "two floatation devices" she has nothing to contribute to the tribe. In his mind, the more males left on the tribe the better they will do. Gina is deciding between Peter and Sarah. Patricia isn't sure who she will vote for.

Tribal Council

Gina says to Probst that having to fend for themselves is rewarding. Vecepia is happy that Hunter stepped up and took over the leadership role. She respects him for it. Peter confesses that he thought 'Survivor' was going to be a cake walk but since he has stepped off the raft he hasn't felt comfortable at all. When asked about what chores she has undertaken at camp, Sarah doesn't give a specific answer. Instead she compliments everyone on coming together. She claims to help out here and there.

Peter votes for Patricia. He believes she deserves to stay even though he is casting his ballot against her. Yeah, right. Sarah selects Peter. A couple of things he did ticked her off. Sean votes for Sarah. He says she hasn't been contributing to the tribe.

Final Voting

Tribal Council Victim: Peter Harkey.

Parting Comments

"Sometimes I take myself a little too seriously. I wish I had heeded my wife's advice to just come to this island and have fun. Truly the other seven contestants -- I love them dearly. I'll have fond memories of this adventure." - Peter Harkey. Episode Rating: A+.

Powell's Thoughts

On the next 'Survivor', Patricia Jackson takes over at Maraamu telling people where to store the tools and whatnot. Sean complains that she is getting on his nerves. A hungry Rotu Tribe puts together some contraptions to kill some prey but it is Kathy who is shown finding fish or shrimp in the water.

An interesting thing about tonight's episode is that Patricia Jackson's vote was not shown at the end of the show during the parting comments segment nor is it on the CBS 'Survivor' site at press time. Hmmm. Curious that. Viewers are left wondering who she cast her ballot for. Probst was right when he categorized this 'Survivor' as a lot more free-wheeling and fun...though I am sure the knives will be drawn soon enough. Patricia, Paschal and Kathy look to be good bets for boot candidates. Gina and John have made some good calls and decisions already. As I wrote above, it seems that Sarah could be the scoundrel of this 'Survivor'. Hunter and Gina are probably the two that hook up and in doing so form an alliance.