Culturally Preconditioned

I’m not very good at recaps, so if you’re looking for one, might I suggest the offical Survivor Vanuatu website from CBS. So, what I will be commenting here? Perhaps a very brief recap, my weekly impressions on the individual castaways, predictions and stickies from the show.

Survivor 101: Enjoying and ‘Spoiling’ The Show

Stickies, as I have probably mentioned in my previous posts, are quotes, actions or imageries that ’sticks out’ from the show. In other words, things that make you go HMMMMM. This could either be a sort of foreshadowing (an indication or a clue that certain things will happen later on in the game) OR a red herring (a false foreshadowing, or something that distracts the viewers from the actual storyline).

WHY has Survivor become a cultural phenomenon? It’s a show where strangers get together and vote each other off until there’s one left. What’s the big deal? That’s where Mark Burnett comes into play. Mark Burnett is not only a great producer. He is a genius and a master storyteller. He presents this reality show as though it is a soap drama (with a million dollar prize).

The production have camera crews covering these contestants 24/7 and have thousands of footage. What we see in one hour on the television, is what the producers WANTS us to see from three days. Selective editing is the key word. That’s why some of us believe that what is shown on the show was put there for a reason. Either giving us clues as to who the winner is, or giving us false assumptions and leading us away from the winner. Hence, the red herrings and sticky wickets.

Watching the show might be fun. But that’s only part of it. Half of it is when you really get into the show and trying to figure out these ‘clues’ and seeing Mark Burnett’s grand story. Through these kinds of ’study and analysis’ (if you will), previous winners like Tina, Ethan, Brian and Sandra have been successfully figured out halfway through the show*. It is not considered spoiling per se (like Chill One giving us the All Stars Final 7 before the show even started - that fuckin asshole) because you get so much satisfaction unravelling these clues yourselves (which were given by the producers) and seeing it come to fruition in the Finale. (*we may still have our previous analysis on these four seasons somewhere)

So that’s Survivor 101 for ya. Ha! People have called me a Survivor fanatic, and I don’t blame them. Heck I got 15 buffs to prove it. (which is kinda sad.grim.pathetic. but I don’t care). But just for the record, I’m going to say this again. I do not care much for Rupert.

Episode 1 : Castaways Impressions

Ami - There weren’t much of Ami to see, although she did have a few confessionals. she is seen working with both the old farts and relaxing with the bow heads. She may be in this for the long haul.

Brady - Token eye candy and alpha male as we’ve all suspected. His performance of getting the rock off the pole surely scored him some points with his tribe. Looks as if he’s in his FBI mode during his confessionals (though not a really good one)

Brook - I don’t really get why Brook was voted out. Because he’s cocky? Huh. I’m stumped. He’s not even that athletic. Seemed like a Cesternino wannabe with his ‘checking out the tails’ comments during Tribal Council. But, yeah, he seemed like a good first boot.

Chad - Seems like a quiet nice guy. No conflicts whatsoever. I find it very interesting that Jeff did not brought up the issue about his prosthetic leg during the immunity challenge AND at tribal council. VERY surprised. My favourite among the guys right now (and not just because of sympathy).

Chris - This guy really screwed up BIG TIME at the challenge, causing his team to lose. HOWEVER, I really MUST give props to him. Why? Well, he clearly fucked up, and yet, he managed to steer the focus away from himself to someone else. Simply amazing. And from his confessionals, he really does know what he’s doing. In terms of gameplay and strategy, I think he’s one of the better players out there. (but I hope he’ll go on Queer Eye after this. Long hair on men are as hideous as mullets)

Dolly - I thought Dolly would be the most annoying sorority chick out there. I was wrong. I kinda liked the fact that Dolly was not bothered watching the pig get slaughtered. After all, she IS a shepherdess. (Okay, I just sprayed some Coke on my keyboard)

Eliza - Do you know Eliza Dolittle? Doesn’t matter. Now, you know Eliza Do Little. In fact, it’s Eliza Do Very Little except yakkity yakitty yak. This little cheer leading chihuahua needs to go soon. There were too many confessionals of her going like bla bla like forever on and on and like there’s no like tomorrow. Urghh I am so going to OD on this whole bimbotalk.

John K - Hmm.. here’s a surprise. Our model boy was actually quite tolerable this episode. I was so hoping we won’t get a Ryan redux and thankfully we didn’t. Maybe that’s because we’ve only heard one sentence out of him.

John P - BLa bla fucking bla. Eliza.. meet your match. I didn’t like him from his pre show interview (”Some people call me Superman”.. i mean, what the fuck?) and I don’t like him now. That’s okay. His days are numbered.

Julie - *sigh* I was hoping we’d get to see more of Julie, but I think she only had one (unmemorable) confessional. I hope Mark Burnett has a big story in stored for her down the line. (Please please please don’t be another Darrah)

Lea - Wow! I thought I was going to dislike him after his drill sergeant routine in the pre show interviews. He actually seemed likeable in the show. He’s playing the game carefully and will easily make it past the merge

Leann - I like Leann. She’s working hard with the old farts and doesn’t even seem to whine or bitch about the younger girls. She’s quickly becoming a favourite.

Lisa - Boob job much? It was quite amusing to see her blend in with the bow heads rather than the old farts (cause she’s not really that young). Other than her association with the LAMIHAPs (Look-At-Me-I’m-Hot-And-Pretty), I can’t really tell much about her from the episode (but I sure do love the Southern accent, yassuh)

Mia - Mia was JUST like what I thought she would be. She has a lot of meaningful confessionals (compared to Eliza’s yapping), but will she make it far? I don’t know. I see similarities between her and Shii Ann. They both make good narrators and storytellers, but that might not reflect how far they will go into the game.

Rory - Brutha just cant shut it. Not even for the first few hours. *sigh* I am hoping the little power trip was a separate incident, but previews from next week (WHICH ntv7 BRUTALLY LEFT OUT, BY THE WAY) shows him in yet another spat with a tribesmate. I hope that’s a misdirection, cause I want to like him.

Scout - Thank God she’s not another Jan. Scout seems like a nice lady. Hardworking, pleasant, humble. I like her. Maybe because she has Eliza on top of her list too. Ha!

Travis - Didn’t get much out of Travis from this episode. Seems like Tom’s distant cousin, with slightly better enunciation (just slightly, mind you), but if he breaks out into a chicken dance, I’ll quit.

Twila - Nope. There’s just something about her that I don’t quite like. Before even reaching the Vanuatu shores, she’s already sporting the Lil-like scowl. And she has the right to be upset and angry about the work situations in camp, but this is where I disagree. BIG TIME. Survivor is NOT about just surviving nature. It’s also about surviving each other. It’s about ADAPTING to both the surroundings AND your tribesmate. This was one of the reasons why I was not at all surprised when Hunter got the boot in Marquesas. If you disagree with your tribesmates, even if they’re in the wrong, do so in the right way. Be more political. Not openly whine and bitch about it. Especially not when you’re in the minority. (Stupid Hunter. Who’s the knucklehead now?). But is Twila in the minority or majority? Maybe we’ll know more next week. That said, I don’t like her approach in the game. You may survive the wilderness, but don’t forget you have to survive your tribesmates too.

Predictions : Brain/Heart/Gut

This is how it works. Brain indicates who I THINK will go based on assumptions and analysis of the previous episode. Heart indicates who I WANT to go. Gut indicates, despite the logical reasonings and personal impressions, this is who my INSTINCTS tell me will leave.

Brain : If the guys go to Tribal Council, John Paylock might leave (if the others have learned how to make fire by then). If it’s the girls, Twila.

Heart : John Paylock/Eliza (it’s a tie)

Gut : The Shepherdess (there goes the Coke again, dammit)

Stickies for the First Episode :

* Ami: �I�m not used to getting put second behind a man.� (will this indicate her losing out to a man?)

* Mia on the ritual �We got a bum deal… we�re out for blood now.� (the women got their ‘blood’ for winning the IC. will they kick the guys asses all the way?)

* Rory during the ritual : “No one jabbed a spear at me, Black man not unwelcomed”

* Dolly: “(the pig slaughter) doesn’t bother me, that is what I do with sheep”

* It started to rain as soon as the men got their rock. Could be a bad omen.

* Chris: “Perfect. I can outsmart men better than women. Men I can manipulate” (he sure did. it was a miraculous turn of events for him at the TC. That might not be the case when they merge with the women)

* Eliza: “I didn’t want to be too pushy and be odd person out” (Ha!)

* Brady: “Great, the guy with the mechanincal leg will win for sure, he is nice too, gonna win for sure. We’re screwed” (Will chad win? who knows.. but me thinks Brady IS screwed)

* Brady: “Rory is on his own sheet of music right now. He’s not with the group effort right now” (Ironically, Brady was the odd one out, casting the rogue vote)

* Travis: �You never underestimate a woman.�

* Lisa: �apparently they honor pigs, they are better than women�

* Chris: �In this game, you outwit, outplay and outlast them. You don�t out balance �em.�

* two shots of spiders before lea and leann

That’s all for tonight. I will make a mid-week update some time next week.