Survivor Philippines: Episode 1 - You Take the Good You Take the Bad

--- This first part of the blog was written during each commercial break ---

After a long summer off we finally get to watch our favorite show again.

A good intro with Jeff describing the game, as he always does and cutting to interviews with 3 new castaways and the 3 returning ones.  Then Jeff comes aboard the boat containing the 15 new contestants and asks them about being in 3 tribes.  Jeff Kent says if you go to TC you will be down quick.  Frankenstein says as long as their are no celeberties, which his tribe doesn't have.  Then Jeff talks about how many players have been evacuated and the girl in the blue dress describes the moment she remembers, then Jeff tells them 3 are returning and another boat shows up with Skupin, Penner and Russell.

Next Jeff says you have 60 seconds to grab what you can and they are off.  Jeff Kent may have hurt his knee when Penner sets the raft loose.

At Camp, Russell's tribe, Matsing, gets the first coverage and they got a lot of face time. Russell is already cutting his own throat by saying he doesn't want to be the leader, but proceeds to be the leader.  Impressively they get fire very quickly thanks to Malasia guy's knowledge, but he did a smart thing by letting Russell do the work.  Russell is definitely going pretty quickly, or so it seems. Then Penner's tribe, Kalabaw, is shown and immediately Penner is on the outs, mainly because he is a returning player.  The only thing that may save him is the fact that Jeff K. may have to go, just from his medical condition.  Skupin's tribe, Tandang, already is jelling really well and there is already an alliance formed.  We'll see if it lasts.

Skupin confronts Lisa and lets her know he recognized her, but he is already in the alliance and he is playing a smart game.  While he doesn't want Lisa to go, the rest of his alliance doesn't trust Lisa, so he will do what he has to.  He definitely seems to be in the best place out of the 3 returning players.  Lisa is also not bonding because she is staying behind while the tribe goes off.  Dana on Penner's tribe bonds with Jeff K. immediately and everyone pretty much agrees Penner won't last.  Jeff K. could have trouble because he is recognized by Dawson, but she is holding the info for a time when she needs it.  That with is knee may be is ticket home.  Russell's tribe has Zane thinking he is running the game by making an alliance with everyone, but Molcholm rats him out and I think he will be one of the first to go.  Russell may go first though.

Skupin is mister accident.  In the matter of a day he cuts his head, finger and foot.  Most are superficial but Pete says lets see what happens when we have fire.  Penner is already looking for the idol.  He finds the clue in the rice but not the idol.  Everyone knows he's looking and he definitely has a target on his back.  Russell while cooking the rice finds the clue.  He goes to look at the clue and Zane sees him.  Zane confronts him about looking for the idol and Russell denies it.  I don't think that is a lie, because they didn't show him looking, but I bet he will.  He gives the line if you are looking or find it, you are gone.  Zane wants to vote Russell out first.  So Skupin is the only returning player not currrently being talked about in voting out, but he needs to stop hurting himself.

The immunity/reward challenge looked like Tandang was going to run away with it, but kalabaw came from a last at the beginning to winning by just a few seconds.  Tandang finishes second and Matsing wasn't even close.  Russell didn't listen to his tribe and they suffer because of it and it could cost him the game at TC.  The only thing he has going for him is his physical strength, but he isn't a team player, so I think he may go.  Tnadang performed very well as a unit and that will help them in the long run.  Kalabaw did great except for the two girls who fell behind early, but the time was almost made up in the water, they caught up with Matsing and then the final part of the challenge they had the right people doing the puzzle.

After the challenge Zane tried to outwit everyone by saying vote for me and hoped they would say no we need to keep him and vote out Russell, but that didn't happen.  So the move he thought was great was just plain stupid.  Russell did deserve to go and he would have had Zane kept his mouth shut.  After seeing how much facetime he got in the beginning of the episode, it should have been pretty obvious he was going.  At TC Zane made the case that Russell should go because he is too good of a player.  He also confused Jeff with his onion talk, but it was too late.  Denise made some good comments too. In the end Russell lives for another day and zane hits the road.

--- Commentary after the episode is over ---

My overall impression is good for the season but I wished Zane would have stuck around, because he was a good character, but not a great player, like he thought he was.  I think Tandang is working together the best with Lisa being on the outs.  Here are my quick thoughts on each of the players:

Mike Skupin - I loved him in season 2 and other than hurting himself so much this time, I still like him and would love to see him go far.  I think he is playing a smart game by not being a leader in all areas and going with the flow of the tribe.

Russell Swan - Not a big fan of his.  He is lucky to still be in the game and he better change fast or Matsing will be back at TC next week and he will be gone.

Jonathan Penner - Fun character but is not playing a smart game.  Spending so much time looking for the idol in the first few days instead of bonding with his tribe will cost him.  He better hope Jeff's knee doesn't hold up or he may be the first to go in his tribe.

Zane - Fun to watch, but not too smart in the game.  Thought he was controlling the show and ultimately he was, because his poor move got him voted out.  Maybe they'll invite him back to see if he does better.

Roxy - I think she has a good head on her shoulders and that is probably the military background.  I think she will go far in her tribe.

RC - She started out off the bat playing the game.  Forming an alliance immediately and we'll see if her game goes beyond that.  Other than that we didn't get to see much of her.

Pete - He had the funny line about Skupin and the fire, but so far not too much to go on other than he is in the alliance.

Malcolm - He is a great player and he is using his smarts to get him in a better position.  I think he will go far.

Lisa - Sadly she isn't fitting in.  Only Skupin has said he recognizes her, but the other girls don't trust her.  Maybe she is trying too hard to fit in, when around them, and then not bonding by staying back at camp.  I don't expect her to last long.  She better hope her tribe keeps winning and there is a swap to another tribe.

Katie - I didn't get much of a feel for her, as she didn't get a lot of face time.

Jeff K - If his knee can hold up, he may do ok.  He did pretty well in the challenge, so I think it is not too bad.

Denise - Being a theropist, she knows how to talk to people and get them to tell her things.  If she doesn't go early due to her tribe, i think her and Malcolm could be a good pair.

Dawson - We didn't see too much of her this episode either, but she did recognize Jeff K.  Too early to tell about her.

Dana - She is an interesting character.  I hope she sticks around for a bit.

Carter - This may be our winner, I don't think we heard from him at all this episode.  Probably not, but you never know.

Artis - Another one that we didn't hear from a lot.  Not sure what to make of him yet.

Angie - Seems to have a good thought process on things and if she gets in a good alliance, may do well.

Abi-Maria - RC came right up to her and the alliance was formed.  Didn't see much of her after that.  She could go far, if the alliance stays together.

So overall a good first episode, so until next week... the Tribe has spoken.