Survivor: Fiji
Snakes Are Misunderstood...We Have an Understanding Now
By Jim Van Nest
February 20, 2007
BoxOfficeProphets.com

Erica steals some parting gifts.

Hello, good people and welcome back to Survivor: Fiji. Last time on Survivor, 19 people were stranded on a tropical island with no supplies or idea what was going on. Things quickly changed when instructions and supplies for a new shelter were given. After creating the Survivor palace, the group was divided into two tribes and these tribes took part in a winner-take-all challenge for Immunity and the new shelter.

The Ravu tribe lost and they voted off someone named Jessica. The Moto tribe won and began enjoying the lap of Survivor luxury. I'm pretty sure there was an Exile Island appearance in there somewhere, but as I have in the past, I think I dosed off during it.

What's on tap for tonight? Hopefully, it'll be getting to know some of these people and maybe even figuring out who we at BOP like this time around. So let's get right to it.

We join the show after Tribal Council and the Ravu tribe is actually licking water off of the leaves around camp. It sounds silly, but after four days and no water, I guess you'll do just about anything. To say that this tribe is hurting is quite the understatement.

At Moto, it's a totally different story. They're showering, resting and wallowing in their comfort. It takes all of about 30 seconds for me to realize that Lisi has the most annoying laugh ever. And there appears to be a grown man calling himself 'Boo' in the game and he seriously needs to get over himself. 'Kitty' and Mike Wasowski would not be proud. He's just all about how good their tribe is living and how everything is so easy for them. I can only hope that the Survivor Karma Gods are watching and plan to make this idiot pay.

Back at Ravu they're working, working, working to get a fire lit. Anthony, an expert witness locator, explains how the entire tribe simply has no energy and without energy they can't light a fire. Yao Man lets us know that they have a plan to fill all the canteens with coconut milk. At least someone is thinking on this tribe. They're searching for food, but they seem to have no clue as to where they're looking or what they're looking for.

Back at Moto, it looks like the Karma Gods may have heard my little prayer. We join the action as Boo is complaining about having poked one of his eyes. Apparently, it's pretty messed up. Shortly after hurting his eye, he begins to chop some wood, with one eye. Yeah...beauty move. And as you might expect, he chops into his hand and follows through into his knee. He gets himself bandaged up and refuses any treatment. As Dreamz is telling us how Boo will hurt himself out of the game, we see a bandaged up Boo resting in a hammock and suddenly, the top part gives way and Boo falls straight to the ground on his head and neck. Like Nate said last season, "Karma's a bizzle." Maybe Boo will shut his trap now and the Karma Gods will remove their curse. Of course, for my entertainment, I sure hope not.

We come back to Ravu to witness Sylvia's arrival. There's not too much activity as the entire tribe appears near death. As she comes up to camp, Yau Man checks her bag for the immunity idol as he hugs her. Not very smooth, but also not noticed, so good for him. They try to teach Sylvia how to crack a coconut and get the milk out and she's not having a lot of luck. As this is going on, she tells us how she feels not part of the tribe. Michelle, for instance, is not thrilled to have Sylvia there. She says Sylvia is bossy. As she and Anthony tell us about this, we see clips of Sylvia telling people what to do. Nice. We then join Rocky, Mookie and Anthony discussing Sylvia as the next boot.

Back over at Moto, Dreamz is telling us how this is so much easier than being homeless. He tells us about how important his family is to us and how he's playing for them. Ya know, if not for seeing how obnoxious this guy is, I could really get behind him. But I just can't root for a guy I'd like to choke, so I guess I better keep looking.

Back at Ravu, the food search continues. Earl, Erica and Rocky are climbing to the height of the island and all they manage to find is a grove of not even close to ripe mangos. They have pretty much checked everywhere around their camp. Except, you know...about ten feet away from where they all live. Um, DUH! Literally some ten feet away is a pineapple patch with hundreds of fresh ripe pineapples. It's great to see these folks finally catch a break, but at the same time, I have to wonder if what's going on here is just simple natural selection. I mean come on, how could you not check in your immediate surroundings for something to eat?

Tree mail shows up and suggests that this will be a teamwork type challenge and that food and fire are on the line. The Ravu folks are getting fired up to exact some revenge on the Moto tribe. I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest the challenge will be very physical, where the tribes will collect puzzle pieces and then put together a puzzle. Not sure why I feel that way...

Probst sighting! Right off the bat, Jeff takes the immunity idol back from a girl that I don't think is even on the show. If she is, I'm about 99% sure we haven't even heard her speak yet. And seriously...shouldn't we have by now? Today's challenge will be to paddle a canoe around a tribe flag. On the way back, they will collect four crates. Once back with all four crates, they will open them to fine *gasp* puzzle pole pieces. They will construct a pole with a flag on top. First tribe to raise their flag wins. Wanna know what they're playing for? A whole bunch of fishing gear. And Ravu will also be playing for flint. And the winning tribe will send someone to Exile Island. Readers ready!!

As the tribes take off, the Ravu tribe jumps to a quick lead with good teamwork and balanced rowing. Moto isn't too far behind. Ravu gets to shore and opens up their crates with a pretty solid advantage. We're only two episodes in but it seems as though there is not a puzzle out there that Ravu can solve. In the middle of NOT solving this one, apparently Erica is certain that she knows what she's doing. They don't listen to her. After Probst points it out, they do listen to her and she proves to be wrong. While they're messing around to make Erica happy, Moto assembles and raises their flag. Ya know...if you're going to scream and shout at your team, you damn well better turn out to be right. And with little hesitation, Moto chooses Earl to go to Exile Island.

We come back from break to join Earl at Exile Island. He checks out the clues and is a little bummed that he can't start looking for it. As Earl makes his fire, he tells us that he's a little concerned about not being involved with camp life. As he sits by the fire, a sea snake gets a little too close for his comfort and he hacks it up with a machete. One quick point to ponder...do you suppose he could smuggle the Exile Island flint back to the Ravu camp when his time on Exile is over? I would think it would be fair game. Not to mention the kind of gesture that could extend Earl's stay on this island considerably.

We join the rest of Ravu as they decide to curse the puzzles for their losses. And now it's time to decide who's going home. Mookie comes to Rocky and complains about how bad Erica freaked out at the challenge. That is not sitting well with several members of the tribe. Anthony isn't too thrilled with the idea of getting rid of Erica. Sylvia is all over that idea. She's just excited to possibly have a chance to stay in this game. Anthony and Michelle really don't like this idea but realize that they probably don't have the votes to do anything. Rita and Anthony talk and both agree the tribe was better off before Sylvia entered it. So, there's another person on board. I just don't think it's going to be enough. But, I could be wrong.

As they get to Tribal, Mookie discusses the hole this tribe is in. Anthony says he thinks too many people were involved with the puzzle part of the challenge. Probst asks Erica about her screaming during the challenge and she puts it off on being "passionate about her tribe". Not one time does she mention that not only was she annoying and loud, she was also wrong. He asks Sylvia how she felt joining the tribe. She says that the tribe had a lot of time to bond while she was on Exile and that she definitely felt like an outsider. Rocky then gives some sort of politically correct answer that anything Sylvia has tried to do has been in a positive manner. (What a nice way to say she's bossy.) Anthony does point out that Sylvia throws out ideas and just expects people to go along with them. And in response to this, Sylvia says she thinks they need to assign a leader. Um...yeah. That works real well. Yau Man says that his vote tonight is based on making the tribe a more cohesive unit. Before the vote, Jeff talks about the hidden idol. The idols this season is good through the Final 5 and will be played after the votes are cast but BEFORE they are read. If the person who plays the idol gets the most votes, the person with the next highest amount of votes will be the one to leave.

We see a few votes this time around. Erica votes for Sylvia. Rocky votes for Erica. Anthony keeps his original thought and votes for Sylvia, while Mookie sticks with his plan and votes Erica. Assuming Sylvia also voted for Erica, that leaves only Michelle, Rita and Yau Man up for grabs. As it turns out, they all vote for Erica, making her the second person voted off of Survivor: Fiji.

Next time on Survivor, Sylvia starts digging for the idol. She seems to think she knows where it is. Ravu finally gets fire and a Moto member is in trouble. We see Cassandra say that "he" was worried about dying in Fiji. I can't help but think they're talking about Boo, based on his injury history already. But something tells me it's someone we least expect. Either way, next week better start getting interesting, cause thus far, this season is a yawner. Until next week, take care!