Strangely enough, if you switched channels right after last night's Tribal
Council vote on 'Survivor: Pearl Islands' you missed the most important part
of the show. With eight simple words in the promo for next week's episode,
host Jeff Probst might have possibly confirmed the hottest rumour
surrounding this season of 'Survivor'.
Next week it's Halloween and coincidentally the remaining castaways are
about to play the 'Survivor' version of 'Ghostbusters'. In the promo, Probst
and the two tribes are at challenge of some sort. About to get things
started, Probst tells the players: "Your past has come back to haunt
you." What is the perpetually cranky Probst talking about? The rumoured "Ghost
Tribe", folks. A new tribe consisting of some or all of the booted
'Survivor: Pearl Islands' players could be returning on next week's episode
to do battle against the very people who sent them packing. At stake is
possibly the right for one or more of them to return to the game as if
Probst had never snuffed their torches out to begin with. It is speculated
that the "Ghost Tribe" will be a steady fixture of 'Survivor: Pearl Islands"
thwarting the contestants who are left in the game at the various
challenges.
Also on last night's broadcast, Trish Dunn, the 42-year-old, sneaky sales
executive from Maryland, made the fatal mistake of turning on Drake's
favourite son - Rupert 'Blackbeard' - and for that betrayal the tribe cut
her loose at a surprise Tribal Council vote. Another twist had Shawn Cohen
turning on his alliance partner Jon Dalton and voting for Trish and not
Rupert as they had agreed upon.
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.
Morgan Tribe
1. TIJUANA BRADLEY: Pharmaceutical Sales.
2. DARRAH JOHNSON: Mortician.
3. RYAN OPRAY: Electrician.
4. ANDREW SAVAGE: Attorney.
5. OSTEN TAYLOR: Equity Trade Manager.
Drake Tribal Happenings (Day 15)
It's another episode of 'Rupert's Survivor'. With more blood on their hands,
a dumbfounded Drake sits around their campfire. Happy it was Michelle and
not her who got the axe, Trish says that Michelle left with class. Our star,
Rupert, is not in the best of moods. His first trip to Jeff Probst's patio
party "sucked". He admits to being mad and tired there. "Blackbeard'
apologizes to everyone for the biting comments he made. Everyone forgives
the big lug but you just know they won't forget. 'Blackbeard' can't believe
he wrote down Michelle's name and not Shawn's.
Drake Tribal Happenings (Day 16)
Poor 'Blackbeard'. He awakes in the morning to check on his scaly, slimy pal
Balboa and finds that he has croaked. "So sorry, buddy. It's a hard world,"
he says quietly. To Rupert, Shawn offers his condolences as 'Blackbeard'
pulls a Jan and prepares to bury the defunct Balboa sacrificing what I think
could be a rather nice belt. To us, Shawn says he doesn't know why
'Blackbeard' is making such a big deal out of the serpent's demise..but
that's Rupert. He is passionate about certain things. Go figure.
Morgan Tribal Happenings (Day 16)
Ryan finally finds the perfect alliance partner: a pelican. Ryan names the
bird "Pete" and soon the two are talking strategy by the shoreline. 'Master
of the Universe' Osten wants to vote out the ravenous beast using a machete
when the feathered tribemate attempts to join him, Andrew and Tijuana in the
tribe's hovel. Pete gets his way and Osten takes a powder....I mean...goes
for a stroll. 'Dr. Death' Darrah talks smack about Morgan's most valiant
warrior: "Osten is so scared of everything." Whatever, Foghorn Leghorn.
Pete is voted out and Ryan assists him with his departure while Osten
bravely sharpens the machete nearby. You know, just in case the ferocious
creature decides to attack with its....ummmm...razor-sharp beak? Ryan rips
on Osten for being so threatening. Obviously Ryan doesn't understand that a
pelican could kill an adult human being. It would take about 321 pecks
but...it could still happen. It really could. Lord Andrew dishonours his
noble knight by accusing him of being an "ass" and an "embarrassment". Ryan
asks the one question that has been on some viewer's minds since the first
episode: Why is Osten on 'Survivor' if he is so afraid of the water, animals
and insects? How dare he question Osten's testicular fortitude! For shame!
Things turn out okay because at least Morgan didn't kill their mascot. Pete
The Pelican waddles off into the sunset. Osten counts his blessings as
his tribe has escaped certain death.
Drake Tribal Happenings (Day 16)
'Blackbeard' suggests that the tribe prop up their dump with bamboo poles so
that the crabs won't feast on them any more. Enjoying being pinched
incessantly, Shawn is against the idea. He thinks it is a waste of time and
energy. Jon blows Shawn off and starts hauling poles on his own. Nobody
offers to help. Jon snaps. "I am tired of everyone just watching," he moans.
Shawn asks Jon to relax. Jon snipes back that Shawn is all talk and no
action when it comes to chores. Shawn tells Jon to shut up. He is acting
ridiculous. Jon: "What is ridiculous is not doing anything." Sandra tells us
that Shawn should get a clue. If they don't win the Immunity Challenge, he
could be doing a whole lot of nothing at the Loser Lodge.
Drake receives sea mail informing them of the Reward Challenge. Trish gives
the tribe a pep talk. Rupert wants to kick some Morgan ass.
Reward Challenge
Each tribe has a cannon and targets in the water. One at a time, the
tribemates will try to blast each other's targets. First tribe to put a
cannonball through all of the opposing tribe's targets wins.
Reward
A grill, utensils, spices, lobster and steaks. The pleasure of looting
one item from the enemy camp.
Result
Drake is victorious though the contest is close.
Winners: Drake.
Drake Tribal Happenings (Day 17)
Drake brings their bounty home and stuffs their faces.
Drake Tribal Happenings (Day 18)
'Blackbeard' wakes up Jon. It is he who will loot Morgan this time. Jon's
goal? To stomp out Morgan's morale.
Morgan Tribal Happenings (Day 18)
Lord Andrew and Tijuana welcome Jon to their camp. Jon says it is too early
in the day for him to be doing this. Lord Andrew is stunned at how humble
Jon is. Jon informs Morgan that Drake has decided to take their cooking pot
just in case Morgan decides to do the same to them in the future. Lord
Andrew was sure Jon would swipe their shower. Jon mentions how it would be
nice to borrow some shampoo and wash his hair. Amazingly, Morgan obliges.
Jon repays their kindness by letting them in on a secret...Drake threw the
Reward Challenge in which Morgan kidnapped Rupert. He claims it was an
attempt on their part to vote Rupert out. 'Dr. Death' doesn't believe a word
of what Jon is saying. Lord Andrew is fuming. The trash talking was
nonsense. Andrew is sure Morgan won that challenge fair and square. He
worries that Jon's comments will affect Morgan at the Immunity Challenge.
Andrew is more than happy to take the gloves off and really give Drake a
good throttling.
Immunity Challenge
Three members of each tribe stand with thick poles across their backs.
Taking turns, the tribes add weight to the opposing tribemembers in 20 pound
increments. Both tribes have 600 pounds total to work with. Last person
standing wins Immunity for his or her tribe.
Reward
Immunity from Tribal Council.
Result
Osten, Andrew and Ryan are the weight bearers for Morgan. Rupert,
Christa and Shawn take on the task for Drake. Drake sits out Sandra. The
strategy being worked is to overload the strongest weight bearers first.
Osten and Rupert go out. Shawn is next. In an astounding effort, Andrew sees
his load total 160 pounds but he doesn't give up. Christa falls before he
does. Andrew is the last 'Survivor' standing and Tijuana kisses him for the
unbelievable display. Probst notices that Andrew is almost in tears over the
hard-fought victory. Morgan allows Andrew to plant a smacker on the Immunity
Idol.
Winners: Morgan.
Drake Pre-Tribal Council Happenings
Rupert is despondent. Shawn feels his effort was poor. He should've tried
harder. 'Blackbeard' calls Shawn's effort "pitiful". "I want him off my
island and my adventure," he snarls to us. In plotting with Jon and Sandra,
Trish introduces the idea that it is unfair that Rupert has so much power
now. They shouldn't have to follow him like dolts. Sandra: "Rupert is the
man in charge." Jon isn't too sure about stabbing Rupert in the back. They
would sure miss the food he hauls in. Trish asks Jon if he would be willing
to starve for a millions dollars. For sure, he answers. Everyone leaves the
meeting agreeing that it is a done deal. Trish warns Sandra and Jon not to
tell Christa because she can't be trusted. Sandra says to us that she is
still interested in keeping Drake strong for the next little while. Sandra
informs Christa of the scheme. Christa brings Rupert over to share in the
news. 'Blackbeard' thought Shawn was supposed to be the target. Trish is a goner
now.
Jon and Shawn discuss voting Rupert out. Jon claims that nobody can beat
Rupert in the finals. Shawn trusts Jon's decision. There is no doubt that
they have each other's backs. Shawn predicts that the game is about to
change and that everyone will be sad about it.
Tribal Council
Probst asks Sandra if she was stunned that Morgan wiped the floor with them
during the Immunity Challenge. Sandra was shocked. Probst compliments
Christa on holding onto so much weight. She says it was hard and she didn't
think she could do it. Probst says Rupert looks sad. Rupert answers that he
is ready to cry. "We shouldn't be here. I am upset the way the tribe has
gone. We started out so strong now it will be hard to pull everyone
together." Rupert hasn't lost hope though. Rupert states that half of the
tribe wants him gone and doesn't think Drake needs him any more. There is no
guarantee there will be a merger and everyone seems to think they can't beat
him in the finals. It hurts that he scores 10 pounds of fish a day for the
tribe and some of them want to hang him. Christa tells Probst that the
person who is going tonight stabbed Drake in the back and they have no idea
how to play the game.
Jon votes Rupert. He rips off another wrestler for his goodbye to
'Blackbeard'. This time it is Ted 'Million Dollar Man' Dibiase. Everyone has
to pay the price and all that jazz. Sandra writes down Trish's name. She is
a snake that can't be trusted. Trish votes for Rupert. He has too much power
in the game. Rupert selects Trish. "You turned on me. You lied to my face. I
can't take that." We don't see how Shawn voted but he says that the game is
over for them and now it is his game to win.
Final Voting
1. RUPERT BONEHAM: Trish.
2. SHAWN COHEN: Trish.
3. JON DALTON: Rupert.
4. SANDRA DIAZ-TWINE: Trish.
5. TRISH DUNN: Rupert.
6. CHRISTA HASTIE: Trish.
Tribal Council Victim:
TRISH DUNN.
Parting Comments
"I didn't see this coming at all, obviously. But I always knew anything
could happen. I really never took anything for granted. Hats off to the
Drake Tribe. I think you guys are all great. I hope one of the Drakes end up
winning the million dollars. Good for you guys. You kept a secret and that's
the beauty of this game. You just never know what's going to happen and when
it is going to happen." -- TRISH DUNN.
Powell's Thoughts:
On the next 'Survivor', Rupert addressing the tribe: "Who the hell voted for
me?". Jon: "I did." Rupert: "You...bleep...bleep!" Rupert to the audience:
"Johnny Fairplay is Johnny-pain-in-the-ass now to me." At Morgan, Andrew
says : "OT (Osten), this morning, he has checked out. I see it in his eyes.
He has thrown in the towel again." And Morgan and Drake are in for a big
twist. Probst announces to the Survivors: "Your past has come back to haunt
you."
Who yah gonna call? The Survivors are about to be slimed in a big way. The
"Ghost Tribe" twist probably won't come until the end of the episode but it
will be curious to see whether they just appear out of nowhere or we will
given some background on what they have been up to. I surmise the former
rather than the latter. The producers probably don't want to give that stuff
away or tip their hats. It might follow that Drake and Morgan will be merged
soon as well so that it is a battle of two tribes....not three.
Andrew has really kicked it into high gear. People heap compliment after
compliment on Rupert but they forget about how much Andrew means to Morgan
and the 'Pearl Islands' series as a whole. Let's face it, Morgan would be
lost without him. In fact, the tribe might've been wiped out in its entirety
if he didn't accepted the leadership role. Sure, he has made some mistakes
along the way but you can't ever doubt his commitment to Morgan. He is their
heart and soul. He said he would take it to Drake at the Immunity
Challenge...and boy, did he ever. You have to admire Andrew's unwavering
determination. He might just be that "bearded man" in the rumoured final
three after all.
The big question at Drake will be whether Jon Dalton can possibly sweet talk
his way back into an alliance of some sort after being kept in the dark
about the vote by his own tribemates. That occurrence usually signifies that
the end is near. He has made an enemy of Rupert and that can't possibly bode
well at all. Goodbye, Jon. Nice knowing you. His only hope now is that maybe
the tribes will merge.
Don't fret Trish fans. A resurrection might be on the horizon after the
tribes have merged.
