Survivor: Philippines - Episode 1 (Part 1)

Survivor Smacked Me In The Chops

By Ben Willoughby

September 20, 2012

Lodestones tied together.

New at BOP:
Share & Save
Digg Button  
Print this column
Anyway, Russell is with the blue tribe, Matsing, Jonathan is with the red tribe, Kalabal and Michael is with the yellow tribe, Tandang. Michael turns out to have been a big fan of the Facts of Life, because he nearly calls Lisa “Blair”, talks about how amazing she is and tries to make out with her. Okay, not that last part.

Jeff advises them that Hidden Immunity Idols are back this season, and that they have 60 seconds to grab whatever supplies they can, and then they have to get their raft and get overboard. There’s a brief scramble for a machete, which the producers have wisely decided not to include in the supplies, but the only thing to happen is that when Kalabal shoves its raft into the water, the tribe’s supplies, the tribe’s chickens and Jeff Kent also fall in. Jonathan, who may already be looking for someone to vote out, asks “Your leg okay, buddy? Is it twisted?” - though I think this is an edit from a later discussion. In interview, Jeff Kent says his knee is twisted and something about his MCL, and how if the others find out he’ll be voted out real fast. This has to be a record for the fastest injury on Survivor ever. Obviously Survivor: Philippines is cursed, and the returning castaways will have to be burned at the stake to redeem the season. I’m pretty sure Jeff Kent was grateful the cameras were rolling, so there’s no chance anyone would think he hurt his knee dirt-biking or snowboarding or competing in the Extreme Daredevil Games.




Advertisement



All of the tribes get onto their rafts, which are half-submerged under the weight, and start paddling. We see each of them arrive at their respective camps. First, Matsing. Russell is thrilled to be playing Survivor again! And blessed! The first thing he does is gather the other Matsings around to announce that leadership isn’t gonna happen, that there will be no leaders, that we are all a team, that we can get this camp built and the fire started and then maybe we can select two leaders or something, I don’t care. I think I see a flaw in this plan, because by doing this Russell is taking a leadership role. In interview, he says that they can do what they want, but he’s not going to be the chief, and this is all a cunning plan to make some other dummy the leader so they can crash and burn when the time comes they can get the chop. Then back at camp we see him tell everyone the correct technique for cutting bamboo.

We also get to learn a little about Matsings who aren’t Russell. It turns out that Malcolm, the “bartender” who wants to play a sociopathic game, lived in Micronesia for a year teaching ESL. In interview, he downplays having experienced any roughing it, but he does know how to make fire, as well as stuff with coconuts and palm fronds. So he gives Russell some advice on technique, and Russell gets some coconut husks smoking, Malcolm throws in some grass and Matsing has fire. Good job, Russell! Russell gets the credit, which doesn't bother Malcolm at all, because Russell wants to be the leader so bad, and he wants to make Russell to feel good about being the leader. I don’t think he’ll need to try very hard.


Continued:       1       2       3

     


 
 

Need to contact us? E-mail a Box Office Prophet.
Friday, March 29, 2024
© 2024 Box Office Prophets, a division of One Of Us, Inc.