Some guys have all the luck, some guys do nothing but complain ….

The new Chief!!

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 Surprisingly, in recovering from Russell Swan’s evacuation, which prevented a planned double-boot, Survivor went for a full two extra challenges here. Bringing us this challenge, “Canoe Dueling.” Oh well, more for Galu to win, we guess.
   The challenge itself appears to involve racing out to canoes, doing some “fishing” (presumably for puzzle pieces), then bringing it all back to shore and doing puzzles.

 

So who wins? Galu wins it, since Liz is the final pre-jury boot. As further proof, photographer Monty Brinton made the trip back to camp with Foa Foa after the challenge, an honor he reserves for the losing tribe. So Galu wins the (final tribal?) immunity challenge

This episode should be taking care of the final pre-merge boot, before the merge at 12, and was necessitated by Russell Swan’s fainting and removal in the (unfinished) Ep6 RC.

    Who’s most at risk? Well, Shambo was the slam-dunk Galu boot up until Ep6, when an alliance grew up around her, much to her own dismay. That would put Monica on the low end of the vote totals, if Galu returns to tribal council.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
   Liz was the decoy boot in Ep5, although it was clear from the hilariously dated clips used to build that storyline (some of which were from as far back as Ep2, when Russell didn’t have his swimsuit, and was nearly clean-shaven) that either Russell has been nursing this grudge for a while, or he initially thought of it, but had bigger fish to fry, and has all but forgotten it. Either that, or he’s just getting around to planting his “Russell seed” for the Liz boot. Probst seems to think so in his EW blog, anyway. Still, as of late Ep6, Liz and Natalie were both resigned to one of them being booted (and since we think Natalie may be the winner*, we’re guessing she isn’t booted).
    Then there’s Jaison, who seemed perfectly safe in Ep5, after coming close to quitting in Ep4, which got Russell’s ire up. After admitting in the Ep5 tribal council that he trained for the U.S. water polo team, he now may be a traditional circa-merge boot target, for being too strong. Still, as of the Ep5 story, he’s a less obvious target than Liz. Prior to Ep5, missyae said he’s the last person to get booted, pre-merge. But following Ep5, the missyae line is that Liz gets the boot, instead.

   Update: Never mind, Liz appears to be correct.

* Natalie got an apparently inaccurately positive edit in Ep5’s Gross Food challenge, since her attempt at downing a smoothie was edited out completely (but present in the press photos, oops), and Ashley hinted that others had trouble with the smoothies in her interviews. Update: Jaison confirms this in the “Foa Foa’s Bad Break” video on the CBS site: “Last time it was the food challenge where we had to chug the disgusting stuff, and we all know Natalie and Ashley aren’t gonna be able to do that. So, you know, we’re out on that.”
    Natalie also got a solo headshot as Probst said “turn this game around” at the Ep5 tribal council, and got to allay Mick’s fears of a post-merge decimation of Foa Foa in Ep6. Not to mention that Probst keeps mentioning her, for no apparent reason, in his EW blog.

The Immunity Blog With Coach and Debbie

  

  

Coach  |   Mother Nature Can Kick Your Ass!

October 26, 2009

What a beautiful, powerful, deep and dramatic episode. I am not just saying this because I am a former contestant but because the producers did an incredible job on this one. Did you see the cinematography? The drama? Life and death! Powerful and moving. And how about the music!!! The musicians who wrote the music for this episode? Beautiful, powerful, deep and dramatic.

Ah, the great equalizer: Mother Nature. The Creator of the Universe unleashes a visceral viscosity of venom. Battling the elements will turn some people into men (gotta give credit to Mr. Umpaloompa for taking a bath in jeans) and breaks others (no one is buying the cool “it” factor anymore Jaison). You will see what you are made of when you live and breathe and eat and sleep in the wild. Indeed you will see down to your very core how tough you really are. But then, in a blink of an eye the wilderness can turn around and display such beauty, magnaniminity, passion and power.

And in the midst of it all: young samurai in the making Brett is sitting there with a smile on his face and a rational word on his lips. He looks clean and comfortable and well rested during a rainstorm. Incredible. And Erik starting to pray and talk like a young dragonslayer. Tribal speech is starting to sound like the grandmaster slayer himself. I love it. Two young warriors in the making.

The clouds, the storm, the waves. All dark indications and foreshadowing that all is not well with Russell S. He is hurt and he is hurt bad. A scary scene indeed to watch a strong man’s body give out in the midst of battle. This goes to show you just how brutal this game can be. Galu has won the majority of the rewards. They have been well fed. Russell, their fearless leader looked good all morning around camp. And yet in the blink of an eye everything changes.

Yes I was a little harsh on you last week Russell, my warrior to be, but you have earned redemption and have left the game a true winner. You played and fought and pushed until your body could no further go on. You earned my respect this night for sure. Out of the seven layers of Viking heaven, I think you will reach the sixth layer. Well done. FYI, Evil Russell (aka Gollum), no matter where he ends up will not even make it to the first layer.

On to pre tribal debates: the arguments were repetitiveve and naïve. John, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist (had to use the pun) to figure out that Shambo IS dangerous to your tribe. She has been to the other camp twice, and is much more personable than Monica. And girls… voting out someone who starts fire every day like Shambo? Your only excuse is that she wrote your name down last week? Hello??? Has anyone seen my season? That’s the worst reason to vote someone out.

And in the end…it was all for naught. Double tribal. 13 people sitting there arguing about what is next to come and then Jeff gives them a free pass. Good night everybody. Sleep tight. Don’t let the rain freeze you or the rain soak you. Wait isn’t it raining non stop? Should anyone be complaining about lack of water. Hello? Open your mouths, use a leaf, leave your water bottles in the open. But alas…I digress.

So what have we learned from this episode? Mother Nature can kick your ass! But hopefully there is something more profound lurking around your thoughts. The princess put it best last week when she said “it was during the toughest moments on my season that I remember the clearest and those which made me a forged sword of iron character” or something like that.

It is indeed in the toughest of times that we not only reveal our mettle, but forge it as well. Every man and woman has a destiny to fulfill a dream to dream and a road to travel. Trials and tribulations come about for everyone. That’s life, and if we develop perseverance and character along the way we can and will come to a fork in the road where there can be no turning back. And when the road less traveled is taken, with the right amount of introspection: it can and will lead to hope, understanding, wisdom, compassion, depth/breadth of character, passion, balance and of course love.

And this, my friends, is what life is all about.

Coach   

  

Debbie  |   Here’s to Hoping Jaison Blindsides Russell

October 26, 2009

Tonight was full of firsts- the first time a challenge was stopped and not completed and the first time in 19 seasons when Jeff was truly scared with the physical condition and safety of a cast member.

Russell’s tears said it all. He broke my heart. When you are in the game, the last thing you want is to be pulled from the game for medical reasons. When Joe was medically removed in our season, we had just merged. It makes everything you are going through so real and you realize how fragile your body is and your existence in the game can change in a moment.

Russell S. was my one of my favorites; therefore, I was sad to see him go. He is a proud man, a hard worker and always tried to lead by example. Watching a true leader crumble was painful. Knowing the Survivor family and medical team, I feel confident they made the right decision and hopefully, Russell will quickly recover.

Rain and misery was the focus for tonight’s episode. Solid rain and only 15 days into the game will make anyone contemplate quitting. The end is not in sight and as Eric stated, “Your biggest fear is it is not going to quit raining.” Mick also stated that he was somewhat jealous of Ashley having her torch extinguished. These thoughts are prevalent when you are in pure misery. Once again, I hate to do it, but I have to give “little Russell” credit for his strong mental focus. He is not letting the elements detour his game plan. Plus, his physical ability seems to improve weekly. I am beginning to get nervous because I think he has the possibility of winning this game. I am hopeful that Jaison will blindside him since he knows Russell has an idol. It would be a great twist to this game.

I know from experience when it is cold and rainy, your desire is to do nothing, but sit and try to find comfort somewhere. Memories surfaced of sitting in soaking wet clothes. It was by far the most miserable I have ever been in my life. Luckily, we did not endure the constant rains as this group of Survivors has endured.

There is not as much to comment on this week because there was limited movement around the camps. Come on Jaison, give us some excitement and blindside Russell. Galu, who is your next leader? They have some big shoes to fill. Hopefully, Samoa will get some reprieve from the rain and everyone will start playing the strategic game again.

Debbie

Tagged as: Coach, debbie, Foa Foa, Galu, Hey Rod, Immunity Challenge, Jaison, Survivor, survivor 19, Survivor Samoa