Everything old is new again on 'Survivor'. That's not a bad thing though. An amalgamation of the 'Australian' and 'Amazon' editions, 'Survivor: Vanuatu' debuted with a energetic cast, a pig killing and the tribes being split along gender lines with the women getting the wrong end of the torch before the game even began. What more could a Survivor fan ask for? Instant drama. Just add the water, palm trees and the Immunity Idol.
Right out of the gate, the producers switched things up and ditched the traditional opening. Instead of 'marooning' the 18 (not the usual 16) players and having them swim or paddle to shore, spear-wielding natives held an impressive abduction and initiation ceremony for them. As per the local custom, the women sat and twiddled their thumbs as the men shared a stomach-churning drink, got smeared with pig's blood and had to climb up a pole greased with pig fat to retrieve a spirit stone.
Looking back, it seems the women got the better of that deal.
With the NHL season hijacked by a lockout it seemed only fitting that ice hockey fanatic Brook Geraghty would be the first 'Survivor: Vanuatu' player to be benched. An admitted fan of the series who should have known better after watching eight seasons of the reality series, Brook made the fatal mistake of plotting too much and too soon. His attempt to rally the younger players against the older ones flopped giving him the illustrious distinction of being the first Survivor to take the Walk of Shame on Vanuatu.
The Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:
Lopevi Tribe
1. Chad Crittenden: Teacher. 2. Chris Daugherty: Highway construction. 3. Brady Finta: F.B.I. Agent. 4. Rory Freeman: Housing Case Manager. 5. Brook Geraghty: Project Manager. 6. John Kenney: Mechanical bull operator, model. 7. Lea "Sarge" Masters: Drill Sergeant. 8. John Palyok: Sales Manager. 9. Travis "Bubba" Sampson: Loss prevention.
Yasur Tribe
1. Julie Berry: Youth mentor. 2. Ami Cusack: Coffee server, model. 3. Mia Galeotalanza: Financial manager. 4. Lisa Keiffer: Real estate manager. 5. Scout Cloud Lee: Rancher. 6. Dolly Neely: Sheep farmer. 7. Eliza Orlins: Pre-law student. 8. Leann Slaby: Research assistant. 9. Twila Tanner: Highway repair.
Pre-Tribal Happenings (Day One)
As the Survivors drift along in a sailboat, a bevy of canoes greet them. Our host Jeff Probst announces that despite the producers working a deal with the government of Vanuatu to film there, the players will be part of a special rite of passage that will symbolically grant them access to the island. Probst reminds them that they are only visitors. They are instructed to get into canoes and join the...ummm...party.
Confessing he learned how to swim only six weeks before flying out to Vanuatu and thereby making him a liability if there are a host of water-based challenges, Travis tips over the canoe he belly flops into. He hangs onto the side of the sailboat for dear life as it sinks. Glug! Glug! As the players arrive on the shore, natives carrying spears burst out of the jungle and surround them. The Survivors are perplexed and frightened even though they understand the producers wouldn't allow any great harm to come to them.
The only African-American on the series, Rory notices that none of the natives thrust a spear his way at any time. He takes that as a good omen. You gotta like that blatant foreshadowing, folks.
When all the shouting and spear poking is over, the women are escorted to their place on the sandy beach while the men sit on special benches. The chief has the men drink some foul concoction that according to Rory numbs your mouth. Travis gags and pukes. The children in attendance giggle at the plump white man in the Bob Barker T-shirt as he chokes on his own vomit. I guess they don't get The Bugs Bunny - Roadrunner Hour there. John P. thinks it is "pretty cool" that the women get nothing. Ami is pissed that the women are being shunned. She is not used to being "stuck behind men". Cheer up, Ami. At least you didn't have to drink the funny Kool Aid.
Probst re-emerges to warn the Survivors and the viewers at home that what they are about to see might upset them...as if Travis spewing chunks and wearing a Bob Barker shirt three sizes too small wasn't enough.
A live pig is brought out. You know that can't be good news considering Survivor's track record when it comes to swine. As everyone hoops and hollers, the chief beats the pig to death with a club (off camera) and paints the men with the blood.
Probst introduces a spirit stone. According to island legend, whoever possesses it gets good luck. The stone is put atop a high pole greased with pig fat. The chief picks one of the men to climb up and get it down. If the men fail, the women get the stone. Brady is chosen to complete the task and does. Mia admits that the women were wishing he would fall. He doesn't. As Brady retrieves the stone, a fierce rainstorm hits. Probst hands out the buffs and assigns the tribe names. He tells everyone they have a machete, a pot and a map to their water source at their camp. Although the Survivors don't get a map to their camps or fire, Probst points them in the right direction as he heads off to chug a beer at the production camp. Suckers.
Chris is pleased that the tribes are divided by gender. He can outsmart any of the men but women are devious and not easily fooled. Twila mocks the "prissy ones" on her tribe. They ain't gonna last. Mia: The women got a bum deal at the ceremony. They are out for blood now....and not Porky's.
Yasur Pre-Tribal Happenings (Night One)
The ladies hold hands as they bumble around in the dark. Scout, Ami and Dolly take a breather from the storm under some trees. Scout tells us she is worried she might injure her artificial knee if she is tripped up by one of the rocks. The rest of the women want to haul ass and get moving. Scout thinks it might be a good idea to rest under the trees for the night and find the camp in the morning. Twila and others aren't down with that idea. Scout relents and they all stumble on.
Lopevi Pre-Tribal Happenings (Night One)
The men aren't doing much better. Rory halts the procession. He's got a plan. With nine guys at their disposal maybe they should split up to cover more ground? Brook tells us he thinks Rory should just shut the hell up. Brook and Rory argue. Rory backs down and the men keep shuffling along. Rory: The younger guys don't want to listen. Eventually, the men find their campsite. Someone shouts out...May the spirits be with you! ... as they celebrate. Me, I would rather have The Force on my side as long as Travis wasn't revealed to be my father. Shudder. Shudder.
Yasur Tribal Happenings (Night One)
The women have found their camp. Someone yells...We did it! Once the cheering dies down a classic 'Survivor' moment occurs. A lone voice says...Now what? Funny stuff that.
Yasur Tribal Happenings (Day Two)
Scout, Twila and Leann work on the shelter while all the others slap on their bikinis (You never know when Playboy will call, eh?) and goof around in the water. Didn't anyone watch 'Survivor: Amazon'? Duh. Scout calls the lazy lima beans 'sorority girls' or as they refer to them back home..."bowheads". She compares them to cattle that group around each other and chew their cud all day. Eliza says to us that by the others working so hard they are making those who want to take a well-deserved break look bad. Twila about the "bowheads": They talk too much and should get off their asses and work.
Lopevi Tribal Happenings (Day Two)
John P. builds some sort of contraption to start a fire. He says it is based on some sort of Aboriginal tool or something. You just know how this is gonna turn out. Chris comments that the young guys are "all frame and no brain". The guys do manage to scrape a spark but that dies out quick. Back to the drawing board.
Figuring this is as good a time as any, Chad reveals his artificial leg to everyone. He explains how cancer forced doctors to amputate it 20 months ago. Most of the men are impressed. John K. says he had no idea about Chad. He looked and moved the same as everyone else. The reveal was "shocking". Brady about the fact that Chad is disabled: Great. Now we are screwed. We don't stand a chance of winning the money. Brook: Chad is inspirational but he would still vote his ass out.
Yasur Tribal Happenings (Day Two)
Tree mail arrives informing the women of the Immunity/Reward Challenge. Julie is psyched the women might win fire. Leann: We need to win and kick butt.
Immunity / Reward Challenge
It is an obstacle course. First there is a military mud crawl. Everyone must make it through that. In stage two, three of the Survivors must work a small ball through a maze by tilting it. In the ball are matches they will need later. During stage three, everyone must walk across a narrow balancing beam. In the final stage, the players must start a fire and light a torch.
Reward
Immunity from Tribal Council and a flint to start a fire back at camp with the machete.
Result
Scout has to be dragged through the mud crawl. One of her breasts is exposed. Thank goodness for that blurry dot thingy. Chris fails again and again and again at the balance beam. In the end, he just gives up after trying every way he knows how to get across.
Winners: Yasur.
The women aren't good sports. They trash talk the men shouting... Fire! Water! Immunity! ... in their faces. Not a smart move. They aren't gonna stay divided forever.
Lopevi Tribal Happenings (Day Two)
Brady whines about losing to the women. Chris: If he had wings, he would've been victorious over that darn balance beam. Rory tries to cheer Chris up. "You gotta outlast them not outbalance them," he says. Brook and John P. corner Lea. They figure Chris is the weakest link...goodbye! Lea says he hasn't made up his mind yet whom he will be voting off. Lea tells us at home that his thought on who the weakest link might be very different from the other dudes. On their own, Lea lets Chris in on the plot against him. Lea calls Brook "cocky". Brook speaks to us saying that as an athletic guy, he would be targeted. Brady believes that Rory has his own sheet music and isn't assisting the group in any way, shape or form.
Tribal Council
Probst gives the standard yadda yadda on what fire means in the game. Lea knew the women wouldn't be easy to beat. Chris doesn't believe he is at risk just because of his horrid performance at the challenge. Chris reveals that Rory has been getting on people's nerves but he isn't going to vote him out over that. Ouch! Rory is happy with the team effort. John P. says the camp is on red alert when it comes to lack of water. They are getting tired and lethargic without it. It is taking a toll on all of them. Travis says he has learned to never underestimate a woman. He respects them for their win. Brook was impressed too but he couldn't help but take a few glances at the hot babes on the other tribe. John P. believes the women raised the bar and the men have to play harder.
Brook votes for Chris. It is a strategic vote to save his own butt. Brady picks Rory. He will miss him but it is all about teamwork. Chris picks Brook. He was ready to play the game when he stepped foot upon the beach.
Final Voting
1. Chad Crittenden: Brook. 2. Chris Daugherty: Brook. 3. Brady Finta: Rory. 4. Rory Freeman: Brook. 5. Brook Geraghty: Chris. 6. John Kenney: Chris. 7. Lea "Sarge" Masters: Brook. 8. John Palyok: Brook. 9. Travis "Bubba" Sampson: Brook.
Tribal Council Victim:
Brook Geraghty.
Parting Comments: Television.
"The one thing I didn't want was to be the first person off. Who the hell wants to be the first person off? During the three days in the game, I don't think I learned much about myself. My only problem was the other 17 people here gave me an absolute schooling in the game of 'Survivor', so I got beat. Bottom line, someone got me and they got me good. Peace out 'Survivor', man. -- Brook Geraghty.
On the next 'Survivor': Television.
Lines are drawn at Lopevi. Travis talks to John P. about someone being a threat. At Yasur, things are bleak. Dolly is shown crying and being comforted. "It is so miserable. Being here is like being in prison," says Julie. And Rory gets mad. Rory shouts at Travis: "That was nonsense. That was classless." Travis tries to interrupt. Rory: "Show some class."
On the next 'Survivor': Internet.
A tribe deals with very grim conditions as one castaway has a tearful meltdown after finding maggots in the tribe's food. A wild chicken wanders into the Yasur camp and sends the hungry tribe into a frenzy as they try to catch the chicken with a machete. One Survivor tries to take advantage of tensions between two tribemates after a loss at the Reward Challenge. Two castaways think they are the swing vote, leading to a very unpredictable Tribal Council.
Powell's Thoughts:
Despite the recycled themes, I was impressed. The 'marooning' of the contestants was particularly good. It was nice to see that changed. The ceremony sure set the tone. Let's just hope the producers follow up with more themes inspired by the setting or the culture.
Funny how just like on 'Amazon' everything breaks down by age once the gender lines are drawn. I wonder why that is? Notice that Leann and Julie didn't get much screen time at all. They are definitely the ones to look out for. With Probst saying the Vanuatu experience was like the 'Australian Outback', you have to wonder if Leann will take on the role that Tina played of big sister and mother figure to some of the other Survivors.
I don't expect this gender division to last long. It will definitely continue through next week but in the weeks to come I am sure the tribes will be integrated. When they do, I expect the older Survivors to start chopping away at the young ones. For an F.B.I. guy, Brady doesn't seem to sharp on assessing people. He also seems out of the loop on who to vote for. That can't be good. Travis must do something that makes him fall out of favour too. He probably joins the young guys and that sinks his canoe.
