Culturally Preconditioned

This is getting ridiculous. I know we keep having tv stations filling up half the screen with advertisements and/or chat messages while the TV show is showing, but ntv7 takes the cake! The actual tv show was shrunk to less than 40% of the total screen for the Digi advertisement (the one where it seems like you are watching the show from a mobile screen). Oh my. Well, at least we’re still getting the show almost at the same time as our counterparts in the US, so I should count my blessings. (But, honestly! Sheesh… shrinking the tv screen in that advertisement was just ridiculous beyond words)

And.. wow! My gut prediction was actually spot on. W00t!! That almost never happens.. but from the previews last week, I think everyone knew that Mia was a goner. My choice of John Paylok from Lopevi was just a crapshot. I must say, so far, Survivor Vanuatu has not disappoint. Three episodes and not a single one made me yawn. This week’s episode was particularly interesting where they voted out two contestants instead of one. Pretty fast way to cut down the number of contestants but it seemed like they had 18 contestants in the first place specifically just for this ‘twist’, which kinda sucks. And Mark Burnett promised after the Outcast twist, no two survivors will be booted in a single episode. But still, you gotta love that lying, evil genius.

It was a pretty exciting episode. The challenges was kept to a minimum. They had both reward and immunity back to back. And half of the episode was focused on the tribe dynamics, which is the heart and soul of this game. You see people scrambling to save themselves. Alliances switch back and forth. Granted that the only real ‘fight’ we’ve seen so far was between Mia and Twila, that was good enough to make a shit-stirrer like me happy. Oooh and I was laughing my ass off when the subtitles displayed “Modder” when Mia said ‘martyr’.

Episode 3 : Castaways Impressions

Yassur Tribe
Ami - I think I may have fallen in love with this lesbian lady. Ami scored huge points for (i) getting individual immunity from John K (ii) being regarded as ’safe no matter what’ (iii) being very diplomatic in the Tribal Council (iv) taking some shots at Twila without really offending her (v) making excellent confessionals based on her observations. Oh boy, I know I said that I don’t want to have a favourite, but I can’t help it. I love Miss Ami. And there’s more to Ami than you might think. Some of you may have come across her pictures in Playboy (which puts Jerri, Jessie, Heidi and Jenna to shame), and that’s kinda telling what she’s like in real life (daring, no-nonsense, brave, outstanding etc), but you almost see none of that in her character in the show. For Ami, game is definitely ON in Vanuatu. I’ll be brave and declare that she will be Final Four, at least.

Eliza - LOL. John K summed her up very well. “Just shut up already!” and he’s only spent less than a day with her. Oh my. I thought Eliza was playing a good game last week. Not anymore. Her waivering loyalty backfired this week (thanks to Lisa). Eliza is now back again in the minority. Heaven knows how she’s gonna defend herself this time. And not only is she a chatterbox, can she be more obnoxious? I like what the ‘young-ins’ asked her when they were having a discussion with John K : “Are you teetering?”.. Aiyo.. the muka must be very de tebal to do that kind of thing. Uninvited and yet she still shows no shame. She’s getting desperate and it’s becoming laughable (but annoying at the same time). Get off my screen please.

Julie - *sigh* Julie, Julie, Julie. At least we got more than just a couple of lines out of you this episode. You were shown to be strategizing, but not as much as you should’ve. But I’m sorry sweetheart. You are so screwed and I don’t know what can save you now. It’s a real damn shame.

Leann - After her comments last week at Tribal Council, about being too quiet might play against her, I was kinda surprised to hear only one sentence out of her from the entire episode. But she’s in a safe position right now and I expect her storyline will grow in the weeks to come.

Lisa - I don’t know what they hell Lisa was trying to do by voting Mia off. Did she figure Eliza was gonna stick to the oldies alliance, and she would be better off siding with the majority? Hmm.. I don’t know. I think it was a big mistake because regardless who she votes with, her days are numbered.

Mia - I like Mia and I’m not afraid to say that out loud. Why? She’s the only one who has balls in that tribe. I get why she’s upset. After being called out in public by a condescending feminazi, she has every right to have that catfight. Again, it’s a numbers game and she lost because of that. Scout’s comments at Tribal Council (also calling her out) about getting rid of chaos and disharmony out of the group? Well, it takes two to tango baby. As Ami had also pointed out, Twila was at fault too. I guess some people just prefer to avoid confrontations and would rather eat all their problems inside. Sad, really. Well, I don’t care what the majority of the viewers might say, but I’m sorry to see Mia go. I would rather have someone who speak their mind, than someone who bitches and moans in the confessionals, basking in their own pity parties. Sheesh.

Scout - Scout is a total mystery. She has now fucked up THREE group challenges (even Jeff Probst called her out “Are you gonna dance with those keys, Scout?”) and yet, people don’t seem to want to vote her off. The girls all seem to like Scout. Why? I don’t know. Something is not being shown to us, which makes me wonder if Mark Burnett has other stories in store for us in regards to Scout in the coming weeks. However, her voting confessional was something uncalled for. For a woman her age (and academic qualifications) I would’ve expected her to be more graceful.

Twila - Nope. There’s definitely something about her that I don’t like. I mean, seriously.. I don’t get all the Twila love that’s been going around the boards. Refined woman? Gimme a break. She can’t adapt. She WON’T adapt. If numbers were not on her side, she’d so be history and get the Hunter boot (hardworking but that’s about it). Go watch Episode 1 back again. The first shot of her was of her Lil-worthy scowling face. Think she can speak better with men? Oh I very much doubt it. *insert patented mia-eye-roll emoticon here*

Lopevi Tribe
Brady - Not much seen of him this episode, but at least now we know he’s in the minority and possibly the next to go from the tribe. *sigh* why must all the eye-candy go so soon this season? Anyway, I’m kinda amazed that Brady’s not putting his FBI persona and skills in this game. He seems like he knows he’s screwed and is well, basically, scrambling. I’m disappointed.

Chad - Mysterious Chad. Did you guys notice that we have barely seen or heard anything negative from Chad? He is so getting special treatment from the editing crew. I mean, from what we’ve seen so far, how can we NOT like Chad? He hasn’t said anything really strategic in his confessionals, but he has been talking a lot on spirituality and morality, which probably means, he’s in it for the long haul. But will he get the million? His chances seems good so far, but I don’t think so.

Chris - Chris was invisible last week, and this week I think there was only one particular scene with him in it. But it spoke magnitudes! From the episode we are led to believe that Sarge is in control of everything. However, when Sarge asked Chris about letting go of Rory, Chris’s response of “This is not the right time!” managed to shut the drill sergeant up. Makes you wonder who’s pulling all the strings in Lopevi, don’t you? I like Chris. I would be willing to say he’s secured his place in the Final Four, or Final Two even.

John K - He got the biggest spike in face time this episode. He was John Who last week, but he was clearly THE MAN this week. Winning the immunity was just superb. Getting to spend the rest of the day with the women was even better! Who knew this young good looking boyish model would break the stereotype? He’s good at the challenges, and he seemed very strategic during his stay at Yasur. I am highly impressed! But what’s his fate gonna be like within his own tribe? Personally, I think it looks bleak unless the majority think they owe it to him for stirring the shits over at Yasur (and he may provide useful Yasur info with the men)

John P - The reason he was the one to go? Well, just because John K won immunity and he seemed more of a challenge threat (and more annoying) than Brady. To tell you the truth, I always found John P a little weird from his confessionals. I don’t know, he talks like he’s a teenager or something. But the main reason I’m glad he’s gone is that now we can finally go back to referring JP to the REAL JP - Jeff Probst.

Lea - Lea seemed to be the center of Lopevi. He seems in charge of everyone at camp (but not in a drill sergeant kind of way). Brady’s comments on Sarge at Tribal Council might score him some points with the leader, but IS he the real leader of Lopevi?

Rory - What is up with the negativity? He could’ve at least brought back some of those oranges (or limes or whatever) and offered them to his other tribemates. Seriously, this guy has NO social skills whatsoever. And that is the reason why John P took the walk of shame, and not Rory. Rory is the fifth wheel in the men’s alliance. If they were to take a relatively more pleasant guy like John K, John P or Brady, they might switch to the girls when the merge comes. But Rory? Based on the current editing, there’s no way in hell the girls were gonna accept him. Rory is mildly tolerable, but more importantly, dispensable. And that’s why he’s probably going to outlast John K and Brady. Some times, being loathsome can really work for you. Remember Clay from Thailand, anyone? He made it to the Final Two.

Travis - Nothing memorable out of Bubba this episode, although during the immunity challenge, the cameras showed that the women were kinda amused with Bubba’s antics. This might bode well for him when, or if, the merge happens.

Predictions : Brain/Heart/Gut

Previews next week (still missing from ntv7) shows Brady trying to gain favour of his tribe by finding fish using their spear they won from the reward challenge. And the previews also show Lisa defending herself on her vote for Mia, and Eliza calling her a bitch. (Hello, Pot. Meet Kettle. Kettle. Pot)

Brain : If it’s the guys, it’s hard to tell. I still think Rory is safe despite what we’ve seen so far. It will be down between John K and Brady. Since the previews are showing Brady struggling for acceptance, it could be him. However, John K has been in the JohnP/Brook alliance since Day One. So I’m gonna go with John K. If it’s the girls, it’s hard to say. I’m pretty sure it will be between the two ‘traitors’ - Eliza and Lisa. Why would the older group chose Eliza? Why would they choose Lisa? I would say, Eliza would be a good choice, because she’s flipped-flopped twice.. and can anyone really stand that motormouth?

Heart : Rory (still) or Twila (she’ll probably be my Heart pick till she gets voted off)

Gut : John K or Lisa

Stickies for the Third Episode :

* Volcano eruptions galore!

* Chris : Now is NOT the time (with regards to voting Rory out)

* Mia (to Twila) : You keep playing that card (about working hard) - (she will)

* Twila : I’m a tomboy. I talk better with men than women. (uhh.. I doubt it)

* Eliza : They (pointing to the older group) were targetting me
Leann/Ami? : You take that back!

* JohnK (giving immunity to Ami) : Out of everyone here, she’s the only one who won’t get bvoted out no matter what

* Ami unafraid that she might jeopardize her position in the tribe by calling Twila out in the open at Tribal Council. Very very diplomatic. And kinda ironic, how a lesbian is teaching Twila how to be more feminine.

* Scout (voting Mia out) : Good luck finding a husband who will put up with you. (again, very ironic, coming from a lesbian)

(might add some more stickies later in the week)