Survivor Philippines Episode 5 - Two is the magic number

Back at the Matsing camp Denise and Malcolm talk about a possible tribal swap (or splitting of them to each other tribe) and how cold it is. Then the next day they realize this may be their last day at camp and decided to look for the idol.  They looked everywhere but figured it out.  Malcolm ended up finding it.

At the reward challenge, the Matsing tribe was split and Malcolm went to Tandang and Denise went to Kalabaw.  The challenge was one of balance, skill and timing and the tribes exchanged wins until Tandang pulled it out 5-3.  Mike Skupin had the best play as he threw his idol in the air and went for Penner's and got it and Penner's hit the ground first.  It was a smart move.  After the challenge they show Penner saying he likes Denise but would rather have had Malcolm, as they may have had the cookies now.  It shall be interesting to see how well Malcolm and Denise do being split on different tribes.  Malcolm does stand a better chance at the moment, because of his idol.

Back at the Tandang camp almost everyone loved Malcolm.  RC was the only disappointed one and that was just because she saw Malcolm and Pete talking and she knew that wasn't good for her.  Pete talks to Malcolm in private and says him and Abby have the idol and that now they can get rid of Skupin without fear.  Malcolm likened himself to the star football star from the other team that everyone wants to get to know.  That made him feel good.  It looks good for him, at the moment.

At Kalabaw, Denise said that she was happy to be on the tribe and Katie was glad they got Denise so the women's alliance can hopefully have 4 and she won't listen to the guys.  So this could be good for her too.

Now Kalabaw has a challenge in the fact that Dana is sick.  Her stomach hurts, fever and can't keep anything down.  Jeff Probst and the medical team show up.  Medical says with more fluids she may be ok and they give her at least 12 hours.  Now it is up to her if she can continue.  She decides she is too sick and she gets pulled from the game.  Katie is mad because Dana was one of her biggest allies.

At the Immunity challenge, Tandang led the whole way but Kalabaw came from behind and almost won.  Katie really slowed Kalabaw down in the first two parts of the challenge.  Tandang's win gives them a two person advantage since Kalabaw is going to TC.  Skupin once again showed he does good and Malcolm did well.  The tribe worked very well together untying the ropes and doing the puzzle.

Back at camp Kalabaw discusses who should go.  Katie apologizes for her poor performance and Dawson says they just need to get past that.  Denise is safe because she is stronger than both Katie and Dawson.  Laying around camp, Dawson starts to talk sports, just to get under Jeff's skin.  It works and he pushes for her to go.  She probably should have kept her mouth shut, but it still may not have saved her.

At TC Probst asks why Denise should stay and asks Kent what this vote is based on.  It was pretty clear that Denise was not going and it was between Katie and Dawson.  Dawson gets all the votes except the one she cast for Denise.  Denise was obviously a Jeff Probst fan because she gave him a hug after he snuffed her torch.  In her confessional she says should could have outed Kent, but said maybe he could win the game.  If he does then she said he owes her big time.

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So going forward we see at the next challenge someone gets personal in the challenge and it is either Penner or Kent.  Since we haven't seen anything like that from Penner before, my guess is it may be kent.  You see Artis saying he doesn't want any of that and Jeff Probst says he is pretty sure they are in uncharted waters.  My guess is it was a bad move and it will affect that person's game, but who really knows in this game.

So Tandang looks good, with Pete, Abby, Artis, Malcolm and Lisa in a solid alliance.  Skupin thinks he is still in that alliance with Pete, RC and Abby, but that is obviously not the case.  RC is on the outs with pretty much everyone. Malcolm seems good, but he could be the first to go once they get rid of Skupin and RC (if that happens).  They are working well together in challenges and that can only help them out.  We'll see if they can keep their lead or if Kalabaw will win the next couple immunities and tie it up.

Kalabaw looks good for the most part, with Katie being the obvious weak link and definitely the next to go unless whomever does the "personal" thing during the challenge has that held against them and they go.  Again I'm thinking it is Kent, but it could be Carter too.  We'll have to see.

There are 12 people left in the game.  Assuming there is a final 3, which has been the norm lately, there will be a jury of 7 or 9.  If it is 9, then the next person voted out is the first member of the jury.  If that is the case, I can see a merge happening in the next 2 or 3 episodes.  Here is how I'm hoping it turns out.  I'd like to see Tandang keep their winning streak, especially in the immunity challenges and I would like to see kalabaw go to TC again.  Before the merge though I think Tandang should go to TC once and it is pretty obvious that RC will probably be the first to go, but Pete may decide Skupin should go.  I hope it is RC.  Her story has been told and I really do want to see Mike go far.  My guess is the merge will happen in two episodes (not next week but the week after).  I really want to see Malcolm and Denise get back together and I want to see Pete go down.  I have nothing against Pete, but he is the most cocky at the moment and I always like to see the cocky players get it handed to them.

Of course they could do a final 2, which always has only 7 jury members so that may push the merge back an episode or two.  Fun season so far and I think this season will really take off once the merge happens.  So until next week... the Tribe has spoken!

Survivor Philippines - Episode 4 - I'd write you a check to go along with the million to help cover taxes.

Back at camp at Matsing it was raining the next morning and the fire was out.  Malcolm tried to start the fire later but everything was too wet.  The tribe seems to be in pretty good spirit in spite of the situation and all are determined to mount a comeback.  Denise is worried and is looking to protect herself, which is smart.  Russell and Malcolm didn't mention their thinking on the alliance.

At Tandang Peter is complaining about the weather and Artis was able to start a fire, despite the rain.  Next we see Abby finding the clue in RC's stuff and now she knows that RC wasn't honest with her.  Little did she know that Peter took the clue and stashed it there to create a stir and of course RC knew nothing about it.  Peter is playing an intense game, somewhat like Russell Hantz, but more like Jeff Varner.  Jeff V. was the master of stirring up trouble but no one realizing it was him.  Peter so far is doing the same thing.  Great move, as it brings Abby even closer and alienates RC.

At Kalabaw the three guys are getting clams and talking strategy and they form a three person alliance.  First Jeff K. and Penner are talking and then Penner and Carter.  Meanwhile the girls know that something is up because the guys are gone for so long.  Dana says we'll stick together and get some other girls in the alliance and we don't need them.  Girls can do it.

At Matsing, Russell starts looking for the clue and Denise comes up on him while he is looking.  She knows he's looking for it, but plays along with his story.  She then tells Malcolm and they look through his stuff and of course don't find it.  Malcolm says the only thing they can do is blindside him.

At Tandang, RC tries to confront Abby to talk about it but Abby wants nothing to do with it.  Peter plays it off like he doesn't know anything and RC thinks he is lying.  Then Lisa and RC are talking and Lisa doesn't know anything but says she is going to fan the flame a little and let them burn each other out.  Lisa is finally playing this game!

At the challenge Matsing got off to a quick lead and Kalabaw was behind early.  By the middle of the challenge both Matsing and Tandang were leading, pretty close to each other and Kalabaw was way behind.  Artisan did a good job of smashing the pots and actually got two on one shot.  Tandang finished first.  Jeff K. was a master at the pots and beat out Malcolm to send Matsing back to TC again.  Russell loses it again and is talking to God and smashing pots.  Jeff confronts him on it and says that everyone will fail, surely you can't be perfect.  Russell says it pisses him off but he understands that.  The other tribes get a kick out of it, but I think they also had some sympathy for him.

Fun at Matsing as they get ready for TC.  Everyone saying to vote the other out, but the way it appears, Russell will be gone and I think that is the best move for Malcolm and Denise.  If they can stay together or at least survive until the merge, then they could have a shot.  It obviously would be better for them if they can stay together and the producers don't decide just to split Matsing between the other two tribe, so both stay the same plus one.  That isn't real fair, so hopefully it will be a random shuffle.

At TC Jeff asked questions and at least the way it was edited Jeff didn't ask Russell why he should stay, but instead why Malcolm or Denise should go.  I love Russell's passion for excellence and I'm sure that takes him far in life, but sadly he is not meant for this game.  As expected Malcolm and Denise voted him out.

The previews show both Malcolm and Denise tearing the camp apart looking for the idol.  Of course if they don't have the clue, then it will be tougher.  Someone from Kalabaw gets medical attention and it seems bad.  Will someone be pulled from the game?  Wouldn't it be strange if it was Penner, for the second time or maybe Jeff K. and the knee gives out or something.  Hopefully it is nothing too serious.

Peter is in a great position for the game and Lisa is smart to stick with him.  I think Abby is too much a loose canon and I would get rid of her and keep Skupin.  RC is getting shafted, but that is the game.

Depending how the injury thing plays out, Penner, Jeff and Carter seem to be good and the girls seem to be good.  That is not ideal, because that becomes a tie.  You don't want your fate decided by a rock, so someone will have to flip.

I'm also assuming that they will do some sort of tribal swap next episode.  That will leave two tribes of 7.  If they do it early on, then the injured person may not be who we think and could be someone else that ends up on the Red tribe (Kalabaw, if it stays that name).  Again I hope they do a random mixup of the tribes so there is at least a chance Malcolm and Denise will end up on the same tribe.

So good show tonight and it should be interesting to see how next week plays out.  So until then... the Tribe has spoken.

Survivor Philippines: Episode 3 - Slip, Sliding away

Back from Tribal Council and Matsing seems to be good, but then Russell has his confessional and he agreed with Roxy's argument and hopes Denise doesn't side with Malcolm and Angie.  Too Late, at least that is what it seems.

At Tandang RC and Abby have another confrontation and then RC tells Skupin about it.  Then Abby tells Pete about the clue and Pete approaches Lisa about staying on and getting Michael voted out.  She goes along with it, reluctantly, but knows it is her only option.   At Kalabaw, everyone is around the fire and Dana notices the emblem is missing off the rice box.  Then Jeff K and a couple others say they need to blindside Penner at the first TC.

Demise and Malcolm confirm their alliance and say that Angie or Russell is next.  No clear cut decision yet.

Matsing stumbles again at the challenge where both Russell and Angie were useless at the challenge and they fell behind quick.  By the editing it looks like they were close doing the puzzle, but came up short.  Kalabaw finished first and Tandang finished second.  Third week in a row Matsing goes to TC.  Angie says Russell is the weak link, which is the pot calling the kettle black (no pun intended).

Penner approaches Jeff K and wants to bond with him so he tells him about the idol.  Jeff K agrees, sort of, to help each other out.

At Tandang Abby and Pete start looking for the idol and Abby finds it.  Now it is not looking good for Mike as Artis is now against him too.

At Matsing, Malcolm and Denise talk about who to vote out and then Angie shows up.  In front of her they say Russell, but we'll see what happens.

At Tribal Council both Angie and Russell both were passionate in their plea for staying and in the end Russell won out.  I think his physical strength is more important at this point, providing there isn't a tribal swap next episode.  I'm sure it was tough for Malcolm to let Angie go, because she would have been loyal.  Once again it is great to see that she took the result with class and is still rooting for them.

So many alliance shifts made this episode and nothing seems to be secure.  Sure it seems like Skupin is doomed and Lisa is saved, Penner and Jeff K appear to have an alliance now, at least by the preview, but I would not be surprised at all if a tribal swap happens next episode.  If not then, it will definitely happen in episode 5.  I'm thinking that it will happen next episode and the odd person will sit out the challenge and be on the losing tribe and may have immunity from the vote, but maybe not.  I would love to see a good mix up of the tribes so all the alliances are broken apart and new ones can form.  I also think next episode makes the most sense, because it is getting tough to come up with challenges for such different numbers on each tribe.

So far I like Malcolm's game along with Denise and if they can survive I think either one of them have a strong shot at winning.  I don't think the Penner/Kent alliance will last and I really don't see either of them winning. I think Pete has a strong head on his shoulders and if he keeps Lisa close and either Artis or Abby, then he could win too.  Skupin needs to stop doing stupid things and get a new alliance or he will be gone quickly.  This was a better episode tonight than the last episode and I look forward to seeing what happens next.

So until next week... The Tribe has spoken.

Survivor Philippines: Episode 2 - Cookies would be nice!

Russell apologizes and hopes things are better.  His plan is to step back and let the tribe make their own decisions and if it fails, they will be on the chopping block.  We'll see how that works out.

Angie and Malcolm are cuddling, because it is cold.  The Roxy wakes up and sees them and is now determined to break them up.

RC finds the clue to the idol with Lisa right there, but Lisa doesn't notice and then RC starts to look for it and Abby comes up while she is looking and RC tells here, hoping it will secure their alliance, but then Abby gets really leary of RC and Mike and thinks she is forming a sub-alliance.  She says that if RC screws her, she is dead.

Penner continues to be obsessed with the idol and the rain gets everyone but him to go to their cave for shelter.  Penner starts looking but doesn't find it.  A little later it occurs to him where it is and it is the bull medalion on the rice box.  He finds it and is happy.  Jeff K. is hoping the rain will give him the opportunity to rest his knee.

Lisa is struggling.  Admitting that she is an introvert and unless she is hiding behind a role, she isn't good with the small talk.  The rest of the tribe thinks she is sneaky and trying to find the idol, but obviously that is not it.  I hope Michael reaches out to her again when right.

Angie and Malcolm are still cuddling and the tribe is noticing.  Malcolm picks up on the vibe and is concerned.

Roxy has a tough moment with all the rain and Russell tries to get her to open up to what she is feeling, but she doesn't.  When the sun comes out she praises God and says a prayer out loud, using english and a prayer language and the rest of the tribe is leary of it.  It's not looking good for the Matsing tribe.

At the challenge Matsing loses again.  It was close though at the end and Kalabaw barely pulled out the second place finish.  Tandang had another good showing and Lisa did a great job of directing the puzzle making.  Before the challenge you could tell Matsing was in trouble because everyone was giving an excuse why they shouldn't run twice.  I was impressed that Jeff K. went both times with his bad knee.

Back at camp Roxy goes off on Angie to Russell and says she has to go.  She doesn't really talk like you would expect a Christian to talk, but she does have spunk and I don't think she has really gone overboard.  Malcolm and Angie see the show and Malcolm says that they will call them out for the sleeping situation.  Denise is in the middle and has an alliance with Malcolm and is conflicted.

A lively TC.  Roxy was intense on accusing Malmcolm and Angie of more than an alliance.  She said the words a couple is dangerous.  While her and Russell were in a relationship, they too were tight.  In the end Roxy proved to be more of the liablility than Angie and she was sent home.

In the previews, we see that Pete is talking to Lisa about getting Skupin out and she wisely says she's ok with it.  At the challenge Mike gives it all he has and ends up with a cut on his face, but is this a red herring?  At TC Jeff says fortunes can change quickly and I think he may be hinting of a tribal swap, down to two tribes.  My guess is it either next episode or the one that follows it.

Russell did a better job of getting input and letting everyone voice their opinions, so that was good, but it didn't change the outcome.  Malcolm, Angie and Denise can be a strong 3 if they can stay together in a swap, otherwise everyone on Matsing is in trouble.  Penner is lucky that he found the idol, because his tribe will vote him out as soon as they can.  The only thing that will save him is if Jeff K's knee goes out on him.  My guess is that he will play the idol.  I'm not sure who the next person to go would be on that tribe.

I think the preview of Pete going to Lisa is just a sign that the original 4 alliance is breaking up.  I think it is nuts to get rid of Michael's strength at this point and Abby would be the best first choice, from a physical and social perspective.  She is annoying.  Lisa needs to try harder to fit in and hope it isn't too late and that Pete will help save her.  It could also signify the tribal swap and RC and Abby are either split up or both are on the other tribe, but then I would think Lisa, Mike and Pete would want to stick together.

In either case I don't see any tribe as particularly strong in alliances and actually Penner's tribe maybe the best off, with the exception of Penner.

My final note is that I am impressed with the way Roxy handled being voted off and her closing speech.  That showed class and it also showed that she was just playing the game with all her heart, which I respect.  She was just a little too out there for the rest of her tribe.

So until next week... the Tribe has spoken.

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.

After a couple seasons off...

I took a couple seasons off of blogging about the show, but life has settle down some and I am going to try to blog about this season once again.  The premiere is tomorrow night and is 1.5 hours long.  I'm excited.  If you want to discuss Survivor, I created a group on FB.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/survivorpurist/

Until tomorrow night... the Tribe has spoken.

No blog this season

I'm sorry to say I'm just too busy to blog right now about the season so more than likely I won't be blogging at all about Survivor: South Pacific, but if my schedule frees up some, then I will start mid season.  If not I hope to return for next season.  Thanks for the intrest.