There is a reason why 'Survivor' is the mainstay of reality television.
Though the series has always had superior production values, it is how
producer Mark Burnett supervises the series that boosts the 'Survivor'
franchise head and shoulders above the competition. Unlike the producers
of a summer-time CBS reality series, Burnett knows how to precisely tinker
with his product just enough to fuel interest but not enough to damage the
credibility of the competition itself.
On the second episode of 'Survivor: Pearl Islands', Burnett came through
with some more twists to the series, all of which made the game more
intriguing for the players and viewers alike. And, no, it didn't involve
anything as ludicrous as shipping the Survivor's ex girlfriends or
boyfriends to Panama or introducing the Titanium Power of Immunity.
Instead, Burnett did something simple and dramatic. He greatly upped the
stakes of the Reward Challenges.
Right before the Reward Challenge, host Jeff Probst announced two changes.
He handed each tribe a shovel and a key. From now on the winners would not
only take home whatever the prize was but in the spirit of the pirate
theme, would also be able to loot one item from the opposing tribe's camp.
Probst then informed the tribes that there is a treasure chest buried near
each tribe's camp with a sizable "bounty" inside. In order to uncover the
location of their chests, the tribes will have to obtain three pieces of a
map which can only be obtained one at a time at the Reward Challenges.
Rumour has it that within the chests are the belongings the players had to
leave behind when they began their adventure.
The episode also saw Ryan Shoulders get fed to the sharks by the feeble
Morgan Tribe even though the dispirited Osten Taylor begged and pleaded to
have his torch snuffed. Faltering yet again at another challenge, Shoulders
was declared dead weight and tossed overboard by Morgan in the hopes that
they could better their chances at actually winning a challenge or two.
The remaining Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:
Drake Tribe
1. RUPERT BONEHAM: Troubled Teens Mentor.
2. SHAWN COHEN: Advertising Sales.
3. JON DALTON: Art Consultant.
4. SANDRA DIAZ-TWINE: Office Assistant.
5. TRISH DUNN: Sales Executive.
6. CHRISTA HASTIE: Computer Programmer.
7. BARTON ROBERTS: Marketing Executive.
8. MICHELLE TESAURO: Student
Morgan Tribe
1. TIJUANA BRADLEY: Pharmaceutical Sales.
2. DARRAH JOHNSON: Mortician.
3. LILLIAN MORRIS: Scout Troop Leader.
4. RYAN OPRAY: Electrician.
5. ANDREW SAVAGE: Attorney.
6. RYAN SHOULDERS: Produce Clerk.
7. OSTEN TAYLOR: Equity Trade Manager.
Morgan Tribal Happenings (Day Three)
Another episode of the Weak and the Useless. Three days in and the whining
is worse than you'll find at your local Daycare Centre. Having done
absolutely nothing to improve the quality of their wretched dwelling, the
Morgan Tribe is surprised to find that sleeping on bamboo poles doesn't
make for a restful slumber. Duh. "Master of the Universe" Osten bellyaches
some more. It is not phantom snakes giving him the willies this time. He is
thoroughly convinced that it is only a matter of time before he catches
pneumonia. Too bad Prozac isn't on the list of Reward Challenge prizes. Not
that Morgan has a hope of winning one...yet. Lord Andrew of Morgan wonders
if the sleep deprivation will ever end but gives no thought to improving
the hovel.
Drake Tribal Happenings (Day Four)
For Rupert 'Blackbeard', everything is just goooovy, man. To him, the Drake
camp is like 'Fantasy Island' without that meddlesome slavemaster Mr.
Roarke around. Don't give me that goofy look. Come on, be honest. Mr.
Roarke ran that poor little Tattoo ragged. Think about it. Tattoo had to
carry the guests' bags, attend to the guests' wants and needs, clean the
pool, scrub the freaking toilets and whatever else to keep the resort
running. What did that shiftless Mr. Roarke do the whole time? Sit on his
ass, sip margaritas and hit on the women. Mr. Roarke was so darn lazy he
couldn't even be bothered to stand in the bell tower and watch for the
visitors' planes to land. He made the lovable Tattoo do that and then
adding insult to injury, he degraded the gentle fellow by having him ring
the bell every time like some demented, diminutive Quasimodo and shout "Da
plane! Da plane!" like a moron. Damn you, Mr. Roarke. Damn you to
hell!
When it comes to his trusty fishing spear, Rupert forgets about all that
peace and love crap. He is all business. Rupert reminds the Dynamic Duo of
Shawn and Barton to be careful with the spear tip. It comes off easily, can
be lost in a flash and they have no tools to secure it. The Dynamic Duo nod
in agreement and then go back to admiring their reflections in the ocean.
Morgan Tribal Happenings (Day Four)
"Crying" Ryan retrieves the tree mail summoning the Survivors for the next
Reward Challenge. Ryan whimpers that there is more pressure on him to come
through than there ever has been on any other Survivor contestant...ever.
It seems as if someone else is also visiting 'Fantasy Island'.
Reward Challenge
Probst makes the special announcements discussed above. There are five
treasure items and a chest out in the ocean. One by one, the tribes must
send a member out to locate a treasure and deposit it in the chest. Once
all the items are recovered, the tribes have to drag the chest back to
shore.
Reward
Winners can loot one item from the opposing tribes' camp and get a piece of
their treasure map.
Result
"Crying" Ryan screws everything up. He takes so long retrieving the
first treasure item that Probst reminds him that he can bring it back to
shore and tag out. Ryan does and collapses in the sand. In the meantime,
Drake has had the time to finish the challenge, go back to camp, eat a
hearty lunch and return to Challenge Beach.
Winners: Drake.
Drake Tribal Happenings (Day Four)
Drake has part one of their treasure map but they can't put it to any use
because the tide has come in. Drake huddles over what to rip off from
Morgan. Jon wants to hit them where it hurts. Rupert 'Blackbeard': "There
is no need to hurt them." This coming from a guy who stole Morgan's goodies
at the market. Odd that. Thinking strategy, nobody is dumb enough to
volunteer for the job of raider. The task falls upon Sandra. Rupert gives
her a hug that permanently rearranges her digestive tract.
Morgan Tribal Happenings (Day Four)
About to see his kingdom pillaged, Lord Andrew of Morgan wallows in pity.
His tribe is just getting by as it is. Osten tells Andrew if Drake takes
their tarp, he is gonna drown himself in the ocean, if the phantom pneumonia doesn't get him first. "Crying" Ryan greets Sandra as she steps off a boat. Ryan
accurately refers to himself as the "goober" of the Morgan Tribe. Sandra
acts all polite at first but looking around, she sees how pathetic the
Morgan Tribe is. Sandra: "They don't have anything." Scoring no popularity
points whatsoever Sandra stupidly brags that her tribe bought "tons" of
stuff at the market. Looking to do maximum damage, Sandra scavenges for the
tribe's water jug. Curiously, it is nowhere to be found. Sandra opts for
the tarp that is acting as the roof to Morgan's dump. Nobody will lend
Sandra a hand so she sets about the job herself. She tries to borrow
Morgan's knife to cut the tarp down but Tijuana ain't having none of that.
Darrah negates her superhuman powers of invisibility just long enough to
call the whole situation "B.S.". She thinks Sandra is damaging their
shelter on purpose. Well, duh. As Sandra tears down the tarp she claims not
to be doing any unnecessary harm. Sandra splits with it saying: "No hard
feelings. Have a good night and don't let the bedbugs bite." Out of
earshot, a female member of Morgan calls her a "bitch".
Once Sandra has motored off, 'Master of the Universe' Osten whimpers to
Andrew. It is only day four but he has had enough. He wants to pack up his
toys and go home..after he helps rebuild the shelter. Tijuana has a
heart-to-heart with Osten. Tijuana states the obvious: "You are giving up.
We are in this together." Osten still sulks. We wonder if it is time for Osten to be changed or if he needs his afternoon bottle.
Drake Tribal Happenings (Day Five)
Shawn's method of fishing with the spear is to let it drag behind him on
the ocean floor. In a shocking development, Shawn loses the head of the
spear. When Shawn breaks the news to Rupert 'Blackbeard', he blows a
headpipe snapping some branches in half as Shawn bumbles and fumbles for an
excuse. Seeing his strategy incinerate before his very eyes, Rupert repeats
to himself: "My spear is gone. The head is gone. My spear is gone. The head
is gone." Rupert angrily tells Shawn that he could at least help him find
the spear tip. Shawn replies that he knew how upset Rupert would be and
that's why he looked on his own for an hour. Christa calls Shawn "the
biggest puss" she has ever met. Since Shawn has no idea where he lost it,
Rupert starts searching the ocean in a grid pattern. He claims the area is
the size of five or six football fields. Rupert eventually finds the tip
lodged under a rock. He kisses it and howls like a madman. Shawn meets him
at the shoreline. Shawn: "Where was it?" Rupert: "In the ocean." Rupert
says to us that Shawn should count himself lucky the spear tip was found.
If it wasn't he was done...done...done. Rupert ain't
kidding...kidding...kidding.
Immunity Challenge
Probst asks Sandra what it was like to raid the other team. "It felt good,"
she says. Probst reminds her that payback can be painful. There are two
rafts tied to pulley systems on the shore. Three members of each tribe are
tied to the rafts. The players remaining on the beach can yank on the
pulleys to cause the other tied-up tribe members to float further out. On
each raft is a bamboo shoot containing coordinates. The captive tribe
members must free themselves, swim back with the rope and the shoot,
unravel the shoot, use the ropes on a grid to find the right coordinates so
they can start digging. Buried in the sand is their tribe's flag. First
team to erect their flag wins.
Reward
Immunity from Tribal Council.
Result
Morgan chokes again. They have a strong lead but wastes it when they
can't get the bamboo shoot open to read the cordinates-oridinates. Drake
never quits and is rewarded for their efforts.
Winners: Drake.
Morgan Pre-Tribal Council Happenings (Day Six)
No group huddle from Lord Andrew. 'Master of the Universe' Osten pulls
"Crying" Ryan aside. He wants to be voted off tonight. "Crying" Ryan is
perplexed. It is only day six and Osten has quit. Ryan figures if your
whole heart isn't in the game, you gotta be shown the door. Lord Andrew
meets with Osten. Andrew: "With you gone, there is no hope." Lord
Andrew then disparages his plebes. He calls Lillian "Grizzly Adams". As
footage is shown of Osten goofing off on the shoreline Lillian tells us
that Osten isn't sick. He is just in a huff because he didn't win. Tijuana
is disappointed in Osten. If he doesn't have the will to continue she has
no choice but to vote him out.
Tribal Council
"Here we go again," mocks Probst as the Survivors take their seats. Lord
Andrew says that lack of sleep is hindering his tribe. "Crying" Ryan
believes the tribe needs more focus and better teamwork. When Probst
pressures Andrew on why they haven't fixed their shelter yet, Andrew
retreats and states that the tribe will do so tomorrow morning. Probst
ridicules Lillian for stating that all of the problems with the tribe would
be cured if they just fished more often. Osten admits he would never go on
an adventure like this again. Probst asks Lillian what she will base her
vote on tonight. Lillian: "Based on who has contributed to the troop...I
mean, tribe." Andrew is voting off the weakest link...goodbye. Ryan
confesses that someone approached him and asked to be kicked. He won't say
who it is though.
Lillian votes for Osten. He has given up on the tribe. Ryan O. picks
"Crying" Ryan. He is a good kid but doesn't have the stomach to play the
game. Ryan writes down Osten's name. "You would never have gotten this vote
if you didn't ask me to," says "Crying Ryan".
Final Voting
1. TIJUANA BRADLEY: Ryan S.
2. DARRAH JOHNSON: Ryan S.
3. LILLIAN MORRIS: Osten.
4. RYAN OPRAY: Ryan S.
6. ANDREW SAVAGE: Ryan S.
7. RYAN SHOULDERS: Osten.
8. OSTEN TAYLOR: Ryan S.
Tribal Council Victim:
RYAN SHOULDERS.
Parting Comments
"I lost the game in the first five minutes I was out here because I
didn't make friends with the right people. It is really hard to turn things
around. I just wish I had gone and tried to be friends with everybody. I am
upset that the ride is already over. It is a game I know inside and out.
All I have to say is that I am kinda disappointed in myself. I am not sure
I gave it a hundred per cent. Sorry if I let anybody down. " -- RYAN
SHOULDERS.
Powell's Thoughts:
On the next 'Survivor', at Drake the hunt is on for the treasure chest.
Andrew about Osten: "There is a big difference between quitting and pulling
the trigger." There is trouble in paradise as Sandra and Jon get into an
argument. Sandra: "Screw Jon. He's an ass."
With "Crying" Ryan gone, you just know that Lillian will be next on the
chopping block unless the tribe totally gives up on keeping Osten around.
With "Crying" Ryan gone, Lillian's alliance is history.
It appears that Morgan didn't vote Osten off because they might assume his
attitude can be changed whereas there was nothing that could be done to
make Ryan a better competitor. It sure is looking bleak for Morgan though.
I suspect that they could bounce back next week and take the Immunity
Challenge forcing Drake to dump the annoying Jon.
If Morgan continues to be hammered into the ground though, it very well
could be appropriate for the producers to make the merger so late in the
game that it makes no difference any longer and saves Morgan from utter
extinction. Curious to see Ryan O. and Darrah getting very little face time
again. You gotta wonder.
