The more things change, the more they stay the same. Despite all of the twists and turns orchestrated by producer Mark Burnett, this season's 'Survivor' game steadfastly remains true to its traditions. Last week, the tribes merged and so began the typical booting-of-the-strongest-competitors phase. Andrew Savage, the devoted chieftain of the Morgan Tribe, was picked off last Thursday night. This week, it was his Number One foot soldier - Ryan 'Rhyno' Opray - who got keelhauled.
Ryan is the first member of the 'Survivor: Pearl Islands' jury. That is a given. What isn't clear is whether he was a victim of a dual alliance. Ryan was voted out unanimously by virtue of the fact that his former Morgan Tribe mates (Tijuana, Darrah) turned their backs on him too even though Ryan wasn't particularly strong when it came to the challenges in the game. Viewers saw a secret alliance which crossed tribal lines forming between Burton, Jon, Lillian, Darrah and Tijuana. It seems as though the unanimous vote might have been a way for them to shield their coalition from the Drake Alliance (Rupert, Christa and Sandra) as their true target - Rupert 'Blackbeard' Boneham - won the Immunity Challenge.
If the 'Survivor' game holds true to its course, Rupert, this year's undisputed fan favourite, could be sacrificed the moment he doesn't have the Immunity Sword at his side. Rumour has it, that moment might come next Thursday as the Misfits Alliance becomes the dominant force in the Pearl Islands.
The remaining Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:
Balboa Tribe
1. RUPERT BONEHAM: Troubled Teens Mentor.
2. JON DALTON: Art Consultant.
3. SANDRA DIAZ-TWINE: Office Assistant.
4. CHRISTA HASTIE: Computer Programmer.
5. TIJUANA BRADLEY: Pharmaceutical Sales.
6. DARRAH JOHNSON: Mortician.
7. RYAN OPRAY: Electrician.
8. LILLIAN MORRIS: Scout Troop Leader.
9. BURTON ROBERTS: Marketing Executive.
Balboa Tribal Happenings (Day 22)
The morning after she stabbed Morgan in the back, Lillian is up early justifying the treasonous act to herself and us at home to the tune of 'What a Fool Believes' by The Doobie Brothers. Sputter. Sputter. They voted her out. Sputter. Sputter. She has no reason to stay aligned with them. Sputter. Sputter. She stood up for herself. Yeah. That's what she did. Sputter. Sputter. Sure, babe. You were so right last week. You ARE a nice person. Don't let anyone tell you any different.
Rupert works Lill over playing into her insecurities. "You're a Drake," he proclaims. 'Blackbeard' promises Lill that if she sticks with them, she will be the last Morgan to leave the island. Rupert really lays it on thick saying that he would trade a Drake member for her any day. "You are a lion," says 'Blackbeard'. Lill swallows it all hook, line and sinker. Anyone got Lillian's number by chance? I have a condo in downtown Baghdad that I would love to sell her.
Rhyno's spider sense is going off. With Lord Andrew getting dethroned, he is next in the pecking order. Rhyno goes to Burton with a deal. According to Rhyno, Burton can't trust Drake. They voted him out before and they will do so again. If Burton will secure Lill, he will corral 'Doctor Death' Darrah and Tijuana. Such an alliance would be unstoppable. Plus, Burton can't trust Drake. They voted him out before and they will do so again. Like a broken record, Rhyno reminds Burton of that fact about fifty-five more times. Rhyno claims Burton can't totally trust Lill. "Look what she did to us," he says. Point taken.
Shhh. Be wery, wery quiet. It is stingray hunting season. Burton spears a defenceless stingray and plops it down on the shoreline. As the ray slowly dies, Burton has some fun with it. He touches it and suffers a mild but harmless electrical shock. Like a kid with a new toy, Burton shows it to Lillian, Ryan and Rupert. They take turns getting a buzz from the ray. After they had their fun poking and prodding the ray, Balboa barbecues it. "A high voltage meal," Rupert says. Tijuana mumbles something about food. Though he didn't have a hand in spearing the ray, Rupert feels great that the Ex-Morgan Tribe is eating well. It is so sad they are so thin. Not so sad that he would hesitate in voting their scrawny asses out though.
Reward Challenge
It is the recycled slingshot competition. This time the Survivors must strike three targets in the correct order. Goof up and they are out.
Reward
A full-course breakfast away from camp.
Result
First heat is Sandra versus Rhyno versus Darrah. Ryan wins. Second heat is Burton, Rupert and Jon. Rupert wins. Jonnie Fairplay gets Pearl Harboured. Host Probst says "Another challenge Jon couldn't finish." Ouch! Third heat is Lillian, Tijuana and Christa. Lillian wins. Host Jeff Probst jokes that Christa's aim is so bad, she might kill someone if she isn't careful. Final heat is Ryan versus Lillian versus Rupert. Rupert wins. Probst reminds Rupert that he can pick someone to attend the breakfast with him or he can give it away if he doesn't want to make that decision. In a surprise move, Rupert hands it off to Burton. Burton isn't sure who to select. 'Blackbeard' whispers..."Take Lill."...and Burton does.
Winner: Rupert...but really Burton?
Balboa Tribal Happenings (Day 23)
Burton makes his true feelings known to us. No matter how he acts, he has no loyalty to Drake at all. They voted him out. His primary goal is to bring the win home for The Outcasts. What strange plant life has this moron been smoking? If Burton reaches the finals with anyone else besides Lillian, does he really think the jury will vote for an Outcast to win the game? Seems he and Lillian are made for each other. They are both delusional.
Burton chats with Jon to solidify their alliance. They agree that Rupert 'Blackbeard' must be taken out. Jon thinks they should blindside him...or there will be trouble. Burton fears Rupert will "lose it" if he finds out there is a plot against him.
Burton and Lillian head off to their breakfast. Lillian is more anxious to talk than eat. Burton informs Lillian that Rupert is the "mastermind" in the Drake Alliance and has Christa and Sandra wrapped around his finger. Burton wants Lillian to convince Darrah and Sandra to hook up with them. If Rupert wins Immunity, they will target Christa instead. Lillian must think she is on Jeopardy or something because she is desperately afraid of lying to the other players.
Back at camp, Christa and Sandra wash each other's hair while chatting about how much they want Rupert and Burton gone. Sandra proposes a female alliance to oust the men. Sandra gathers the women up to try their hand at hunting. They can't rely on the men to survive. Darrah utters four of her 12 words she is allotted each episode. The fruits of the women's labours...if any...is not shown.
Finished their breakfast, Burton and Lillian scheme some more. Burton says that they have Jon on their side too. He promises Lill he will do everything to keep her. He says he used to be a Boy Scout himself and gives her his Scout's Honour he will never betray her. They work out what they will tell the tribe about their breakfast. Lillian wants it to appear that she did mucho talking but Burton didn't care. Lillian asks Burton not to portray her as a "bitch" back at camp but just a "dumb broad". That's not a stretch if you ask me.
Drake is hard at work hacking down trees and gathering water while Darrah, Ryan and Tijuana lay in the shelter tittering to each other and not lifting a finger to help. Rupert tells Christa that he should catch eight to ten fish and hand them to Darrah, Ryan and Tijuana to cook. That would teach them. Christa calls them "lazy" and "unmotivated". Tijuana presents her case for sitting on her ass to us. She thinks the Drake Alliance does a lot of "frivolous" work. When one starts a chore, they all follow like sheep even if their tasks don't amount to much. Lill walks by with a Red Wood tree strapped to her back. She kids that she now knows what Jesus felt like. Methinks that Judas would be a better fit when it comes to Lill.
Immunity Challenge
Recycled pecking order concept challenge. Each Survivor has a table with five compartments. Probst asks trivia questions. Whoever gets them right is permitted to place one coconut in an opposing player's compartment. When your compartments are full. You are out of the game.
Reward
Immunity from Tribal Council.
Result
Rhyno knocked out immediately. The order from there is...Darrah, Tijuana, Burton, Jon, Sandra, Lillian and Christa. Lillian is the one who took Burton out. She plays up the charade that he didn't treat her very well at the breakfast by ignoring her.
Winner: Rupert.
Balboa Pre-Tribal Council Happenings (Day 24)
Ryan says it is hard not to get depressed in the 'Survivor' game with so much being thrown at you all of the time. He believes it will take a "minor miracle" to save him but he will go down swinging. Ryan attempts to form an alliance with Darrah and Tijuana. He wants to bring in Lillian too. Rupert extols Lillian's work ethic to Jon. He hopes Burton doesn't cross him. "Cross me and I will kill you," 'Blackbeard' threatens. Yikes! Easy there, big guy. Rupert calls Ryan the "leader of the weak". Jon and Christa jabber about Rupert. Jon doesn't trust Rupert at all. Christa is dumbfounded by the news. Jon tells us that he isn't on the island to make friends. He will slit anyone's throat. They shouldn't trust him. What no wrestling references? How did this pod creature get in the game and where is the real Jonnie Fairplay?
Tribal Council Happenings
Lillian repeats what she said to Probst at the last Tribal Council. She is happy to be with her "new family". Yadda. Yadda. Christa wishes the ex-Morgan Tribe would show more initiative. She calls out Darrah and Tijuana. Probst asks Darrah a question allowing her to speak again. Twice on one episode? What a shocker. Darrah fires back at Christa. At Morgan, they all joked and had a good time. They worked when they needed to. Rupert claims it is getting harder and harder to live together. People need to do better. Him included. Burton sees more bonding between the Drake and Morgan tribes going on.
Rupert votes for Ryan. He would trade him for any member of the Drake Tribe but it is his time to go. Ryan picks Christa. She is a bitch.
Final Voting
1. RUPERT BONEHAM: Ryan.
2. JON DALTON: Ryan.
3. SANDRA DIAZ-TWINE: Ryan.
4. CHRISTA HASTIE: Ryan.
5. TIJUANA BRADLEY: Ryan.
6. DARRAH JOHNSON: Ryan.
7. RYAN OPRAY: Christa.
8. LILLIAN MORRIS: Ryan.
9. BURTON ROBERTS: Ryan.
Tribal Council Victim:
RYAN OPRAY.
Parting Comments
"Looks like I got snuffed out by the Drake Tribe. Total bummer. I thought I would be in this until the end. I knew I wasn't a quitter but I had no idea how tough I was. I wish Darrah and 'T' a lot of luck. Not so much Lill but best of luck to you guys and you gotta remember one thing: I am on the jury." -- RYAN OPRAY.
Powell's Thoughts:
On the next 'Survivor', Rupert goes extreme fishing. Footage airs of 'Blackbeard' hunting a shark. "The shark appears and I say...I want it baaad." On land, the tribe plots a mutiny. Burton, Darrah, Tijuana, Jon and Lillian are holding a meeting. Burton: "The five of us have to stick together." Everyone shakes on it. And Lill makes a decision she regrets. A crying Lill is on the beach with Jon. Lillian: "I am such a bitch." Sniffle. Sniffle.
Tonight, we have seen the formation of the Misfits Alliance. Burton, Jon, Darrah, Tijuana and Lillian are on the right track to "Pagong-ing" Rupert, Christa and Sandra. That is unless their mutiny falls apart and Jon convinces Lillian to switch sides. I doubt that will happen though next week. It would seem Lillian is probably upset at lying to either Burton or Rupert. I truly doubt Lillian's regret involve the "Big Lie" everyone is expecting to play itself out.
My guess is that we will see Probst snuff Rupert's torch sooner rather than later. It just makes strategic sense with even Rupie's best friends in the game - Sandra and Christa - talking about taking him out. The first time Rupert fails to win Immunity, he is toast.
With a possible women's alliance lurking in the background, the Misfits' union might not hold together for long. Rupert and Burton are still too much of a threat to the gals. What might save Burton for the time being is his alliance with Lillian. Though the editing surrounding Darrah is still suspicious, Sandra might be sneaking through as a dark horse contender who sits back and waits for the others to cannibalize themselves.
