The Morgan Tribe of 'Survivor: The Pearl Islands' is sinking faster than a cannonball in the Pacific Ocean. It is not that they don't have the heart or the athletic skill to win the crucial challenges. Their downward spiral began at the start of the game when they were saddled with three players who just can't compete and worst of all, have no clue how to play 'Survivor'.
Nicole Delma, who admitted she never really watched 'Survivor', was the first to get whacked after putting her own distrustful neck on the chopping block. Last week, Morgan cut nice kid but constant screw-up Ryan Shoulders from their ranks. On last night's episode they jettisoned Scout Master extraordinare - Lillian Morris. Another contestant who didn't take the Scout motto to heart. She didn't come prepared to the Pearl Islands.
"It does seem to be a game of a lot of scheming and a lot of lying and I am not real good at that," Morris said in her goodbye grumble showing just how daft she was about the whole 'Survivor' deal. Morris' ousting proves once again that hard work around camp isn't a shield from the Tribal Council axe.
One has to wonder what Morris and Delma were thinking when they sent those applications and video tapes in. One has to wonder what the producers were thinking when they cast them for the series or put them both on the Morgan Tribe. Comparing the two 'Survivor: Pearl Islands' tribes, Morgan sure got a raw deal but as Ryan Shoulders so aptly put it...it ain't over until your torch is snuffed.
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. OSTEN TAYLOR: Equity Trade Manager.
Morgan Tribal Happenings
Attempting to bring about some sort of divine intervention, Lillian prays for strength. What she should've asked for was a 'Survivor' handbook. She whimpers over losing her "best friend" Ryan and Osten having "no heart". She's gonna do her best to stay as long as she can. Three more days for her. Sixty minutes for us. Thank goodness for small mercies. Lord Andrew of Morgan picks Lillian's brain. She points fingers at 'Master of the Universe' Osten for being a cry baby quitter and Darrah for spending more time on her ass than her feet. Andrew argues that Osten was never serious about packing. As Andrew calls Osten the "anchor" of the tribe, we see footage of 'Master of the Universe' making himself useful by counting grains of sand on the beach. Osten wishes he was home packing away cheese burgers. Andrew and Tijuana huddle. There must be a way to "fire up" Osten. Lord Andrew's patience is wearing thin. It is time to suck it up and move forward, he decrees.
Drake Tribal Happenings
Drake bumbles around looking for their treasure chest. Trish wants to find it sooo bad. It is eating her up inside. Instead of figuring out the clues they were given, the tribe rows around aimlessly and digs up half the shoreline. Rupert 'Blackbeard' mocks the morons for rushing off without a plan. After spending only a few hours searching, the intrepid Drake Tribe collectively throws in the towel. They are going to wait until they receive their third clue or until Jeff Probst draws them a detailed schematic.
Drake receives their tree mail detailing the upcoming challenge. The tribe ponders who to sit out. Ding! Let's get ready to rummmmble! Neither wanting to appear as the weakest link, Jon and Sandra publicly spar over which of them is the bigger loser...when it comes to swimming. They rehash the dog paddling they had to do at the start of the game. Jon claims he did so poorly because he was swimming using only one arm. Sandra blows a headpipe screaming at Jon..."I can get loud too!". Verbally lashed, Jon slithers away. Ding! Ding! Your winner by T.K.O....Sandra! Jon says Sandra is full of sh-t. Sandra calls Jon an "ass". Everything that comes out of his mouth is "ridiculous". Spitting out words that he might have to eat during the reunion show, Jon says he is willing to bet a million dollars that Sandra won't make it into the finals.
Reward Challenge
Each tribe gets two boats which will fit three players. The boats have a number of plugs to keep water out. The tribes are given a bucket and a longshoreman's hook. The idea is to pull out the opposing team's plugs or somehow fill their boats with water so they sink.
Reward
Four pillows, four blankets and a mattress. Winners can loot one item from the opposing tribes' camp. A piece of their treasure map.
Result
The boat Osten is in drifts away allowing Morgan's other entry to be double teamed. Osten sinks the boat he is on by standing up too often. Water rushes in and they are done like dinner. Rupert "Blackbeard" uses the hook to push down on the remaining Morgan boat. It eventually takes on too much water and sinks too.
Winners: Drake.
Morgan Tribal Happenings (Night Seven)
Their tails tucked firmly between their legs, Morgan hunkers in their hovel. Lord Andrew believes his plebes are starting to doubt themselves and their capabilities. Lillian announces that she is going to try her hand at fishing tomorrow even though she doesn't know a minnow from a mackerel.
Morgan Tribal Happenings (Day Eight)
Lillian makes true on her promise. She wakes up before everyone, grabs the fishing line and goes off to kill some marine life. Ryan is befuddled. He is fed up with people just going off on their own. Morgan...or what's left of them...needs to act more like a team. As the 'Jaws' theme plays in the background, a blow fish snags the tribe's last fishing hook from Lillian's line. Doh! A downcast Lillian confesses all to Lord Andrew. Lord Andrew is not pleased. Lillian is a Scout Master and should know how to tie knots. Lillian thinks it will be either her or Darrah walking the plank next trip to Tribal Council.
Drake Tribal Happenings (Day Eight)
Christa is chosen to raid Morgan. Drake decides what to swipe. The consensus is to make off with Morgan's water pot. The one they couldn't locate last time. Christa feels bad about targeting Morgan in that way. Jon is sure Morgan would do the same thing to them.
Morgan Tribal Happenings (Day Eight)
Saying he will have to act like MacGyver to survive, Ryan fashions a fishing net. Morgan has their water pot boiling away on their fire with a smelly old towel or blanket in it. Tijuana greets Christa. She congratulates her on Drake's win. Lord Andrew starts getting chummy with Christa in front of his plebes. He asks her who Drake would boot at Tribal Council. Christa claims not to know. Christa admits to us that the whole situation made her feel uncomfortable. She still takes the pot though. Upon giving some hugs, Christa splits the scene. Osten ain't buying "Big Bird's" act. To him, she is just a big phony. Forever looking on the bright side, Lord Andrew is quite certain the tribe is better off being pummeled into the ground. That which doesn't kill you, makes you stronger...and all that jazz. He can't wait to see Drake suffer their first defeat. He wants to see whether they crumble or not.
Immunity Challenge
The tribes are told to pick their strongest and smallest members. Darrah and Michelle are designated the smallest. Rupert and Osten, the strongest. Darrah and Michelle are hoisted up on a pulley system. The rest of their tribes have to yank on the ropes and keep them high in the air. If Darrah or Michelle are dunked in the drink, their tribe will lose. At five minute intervals, the tribes lose an "anchor" until just Rupert and Osten remain.
Reward
Immunity from Tribal Council.
Result
Burton and Trish sit out. When it is down to just Rupert and Osten, they remain strong for ninety minutes. They are both laying on the beach with their ropes wrapped around the pillars in front of them to lessen the pressure. Probst then orders them to stand. Rupert and Osten show no signs of giving up at two hours even though Michelle and Darrah can barely feel their legs. Probst orders Rupert and Osten not use the pillars for stability. They must stand, hold their ropes and hang on for dear life without any assistance. Osten holds on as long as he can but eventually lets go.
Winners: Drake.
Morgan Pre-Tribal Council Happenings (Day Nine)
Lord Andrew commends Osten for lasting that long. Osten says his hands were just too torn up from the rope and he had to quit. Lord Andrew, Osten, Ryan and Tijuana discuss who should be voted out. Andrew says that Darrah hasn't shown him anything and that Lillian has worked hard around camp but is weak during the challenges. Andrew and Tijuana pair off. Andrew speaks with Lillian. He tells Lillian she is an "unbelievable asset" to Morgan and promises to inform her of how the vote will go before they head off to Tribal Council. Tijuana goes on a walk with Darrah. Her report to Andrew is short and sweet. "She didn't say anything," says Tijuana. Tijuana doesn't know if Darrah is just cocky or what but she had no fear about being kicked.
Tribal Council
Probst viciously rubs it in that Morgan is closing in on the record of being the worst tribe ever on 'Survivor'. Tijuana thinks the tribe is coming together. Morgan is unified states Ryan. They just need to notch their first win. A victory which he says is "inevitable". He praises Osten for his effort during the Immunity Challenge. As long as Morgan has a pulse, they are still in the game, says Osten. Andrew sees Morgan as strong-willed and there is no doubt they will take the next challenge. Darrah admits to not being very handy around camp but she isn't a quitter. Lillian is proud that Andrew applauded her work ethic.
Darrah votes for Lillian. She's a bright woman but has to go. Lillian writes down Darrah's name. She is just too fragile. We don't see who Andrew votes for. His choice is pure strategy and hopes it works out.
It takes two attempts for Probst to snuff out Lillian's torch.
Final Voting
1. TIJUANA BRADLEY: Lillian.
2. DARRAH JOHNSON: Lillian.
3. LILLIAN MORRIS: Darrah.
4. RYAN OPRAY: Lillian.
5. ANDREW SAVAGE: Lillian.
6. OSTEN TAYLOR: Lillian.
Tribal Council Victim:
LILLIAN MORRIS.
Parting Comments
"My biggest regret is that I didn't stay in longer to represent my beautiful state of Ohio. It bothers me that our leader said he would get back to me after I stated my case and he didn't. Because it does seem to be a game of a lot of scheming and a lot of lying and I am not real good at that. " -- LILLIAN MORRIS.
Powell's Thoughts:
On the next 'Survivor', at Drake winning has a down side. Jon: "A little more help would be appreciated." Christa: "It is really starting to get annoying because we want someone to lead." Under the cover of darkness, a male Drake tribe member says to Rupert: "At some point we should lose. Can you do that?". Rupert: "He's a traitor and if this was a pirate culture, he would already be dead." And, Osten gets into trouble. Osten is shown barely treading water during a challenge as Probst yells "Osten! You're okay." Osten: "I need help." Probst: "Hang on!".
After much hype, it seems we will finally see the footage of water-logged Osten needing to be rescued by the 'Survivor' staff next week. Everything points to Morgan pulling off a key Immunity Challenge victory as well to put an end to their devastating slump. I assume that Christa's comments probably relate to the hunt for the treasure chest and not the Drake Tribe itself. Andrew proved a lot to me this episode. Despite his questionable leadership, he just won't give up on the tribe. That kind of tenacity has to be admired. The way he continually sizes up the tribal politics correctly and his ability to worm his way in with a person (as he did with Christa) illustrates that he has the skills to go far in the game. The question is...will a mutiny occur at Morgan or are they satisfied letting Andrew take the lead? In my mind, Darrah is still the one to watch though. Keep your eyes on her. Jon's boasting about Sandra not being a finalist stood out like a sore thumb too.
