Culturally Preconditioned

Another week, another update but I’ll make this one a special one and post a double update : Survivor and Amazing Race Asia! Anyway, here’s the links to Survivor Cook Islands Episode 9, and for those who have missed this is AXN, here’s the link to the Amazing Race Asia Episode 1 (I will be updating TAR Asia regularly since some of my friends overseas would like to catch the show as well.
Survivor Cook Islands - Episode 9 Link: http://www.yousendit.com/download/2VcOCd9nBIc%3D (230 Mb)

Amazing Race Asia - Episode 1 Link: http://www.yousendit.com/download/fw2jO8GswLg%3D (350 Mb)
Do not proceed if you don’t want to get spoiled for the two episodes above.
Survivor Cook Islands :

Well the two tribes are dwindling down. Six people on Aitutaki (Yul, Becky, Sundra, Candace, Jonathan, Ozzy) and Six people on Rarotonga (Adam, Brad, Nate, Jenny, Parvati, Rebecca). And this episode was a first in Survivor history. Jeff Probst offered a chance for mutiny. Anyone on both teams can chose to leave their current tribe to join the opposing tribe - but they only had 10 seconds to make their decision. Now, this was absolutely not the first time such a chance has been offered by the Survivors. It was done in Survivor : Thailand. And as much as Shii Ann wanted to switch to the other tribe, she didn’t. Why? Because it was the smart thing to do.

But what do we see here on Cook Islands? Candace stepping off the mat and joining to the other team. Followed closely by Jonathan. So it’s 8 Raros against 4 Aitus. Wow. First of all, I still don’t see why these two felt the need to switch. They were sitting comfortably at the old Aitu (their alliance with Yul and Becky pretty much guaranteed their safety within the tribe). Secondly, by leaving (read: betraying) the old Aitu, they automatically have 4 votes against them. Why create such animosity at this stage of the game? Thirdly, joining the other team will not guarantee that they will be welcomed with open arms. They invited themselves over. I mean, wow. I am still shocked the mutiny took place.

The only possible good thing that I can see them doing this is, they’ve become perfect F2 goats. Everyone would probably now WANT to bring them to the Final Two. But it’s still early for that, so we’ll see.

Against all odds, the Aitu-4 won the Reward Challenge and they decided to send Candace to Exile Island. Can’t say that I’m surprised, but you can tell Sundra was really sad that it had to happen that way. She even mouthed “I’m sorry” when Candace waved them goodbye, when all Yul, Becky and Ozzy did was gave an icy cold stare. So Candace got exiled.. that pretty much sent a BIG signal to her as to what her ex-tribemates think of her. Her game is over (so she says). I still have an inkling of hope that she will pull this through.

Jonathan got some heat from Raro. With his domineering personality and his decision to jump ship, it certainly did not bode well for him. Jonathan is one of the most strategic players this season, but his decision to trust Candace and mutiny is possibly his greatest downfall. I do NOT see him winning this game at all. His best chance would go for the Final Two with Candace, but even then, Candace would probably win. It’s a shame cause I like Jonathan.

The Immunity Challenge ended with a surprise win by the Aitu-4. Talk about a comeback, eh? You can’t help but root for this four people on this tiny tribe who have been abandoned by their tribesmates. Candace and Jonathan musta been shitting their pants after losing two straight challenges to their former tribemates.

Talks around camp were that they were going to vote Jonathan out. I mean, that was the most logical thing to do. But in the end, because of Nate’s fucking hearsay (Brad says every man for himself bla bla bla), Brad ended up being voted out of the tribe AND BECOMES THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE JURY! Ohmigod. ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod. There are twelve castaways left. How is this ever going to work with a 10 person jury??? Anyway, it was one of the most entertaining and surprising show in a long time. I can’t wait to see what happens next week. Are they ever going to merge soon? I just can’t wait for the new buff to be released.
Amazing Race Asia :

Did I say this was the fugliest cast ever. Of course. But was I psyched for the show? For sure! That was just some sour grapes oozing out of my pores there. The premier episode was pretty good I’d have to say. The editing could’ve been done better, but it reminded me of the first Amazing Race where everything was so choppy. It doesn’t matter, I still think it was a pretty decent premier. I do, however, have to bitch about the host Allan Wu. Shit, dude. I didn’t think anyone could fuck up hosting a show like the Amazing Race but that was exactly what he did. OHMIGOD. Has he been taking robotic cue card lessons from Padma Lakshmi (or more fondly known as Padbot for her hosting stint on Top Chef 2)? Seriously. “Bla bla bla.. you are team number.. (pseudo suspense silence that lasts an eternity) ……. four.” FOR FUCKS SAKE, HOW FUCKING LAME AND ANTI CLIMACTIC IS THAT???

I’ll provide some brief thoughts on the teams :

Mardy & Marsio (Indonesia) - These two fat, out of shape brothers gives me hope that if these two can make it onto the show, than so can I (I could pass of as the third retarded brother or something). Seriously. Not only did they perform well overall in this episode, they also ended up being first on this leg. More power to them! I think they will be give the others quite a run for their money.

Jeena & Ernie (Phillipines) - I don’t know.. other than knowing these two own a climbing center fitness thingymagicy, these two didn’t leave much of a first impression for me. Sorry. But they did end up in second place which is quite impressive.

Zabrina & Joe Jer (Malaysia) - Call me biased, I don’t care but I LOVE these two chicas. You can understand how severely disappointed I was when they lost their lead, not once but twice!!! during this leg. I have the feeling that these two will have a good balance between having a good time and really wanting to win. They are possibly the only real team in this show.

Aubrey & Jaq (Phillipines) - For two ditsy blondes (they’re not blonde but fuck it), they did pretty well on this leg. Their extra perkiness and checking on their mascara every five goddamn minutes are kinda cute. For now. God knows I will be sick of them by the next episode though.

Andrew & Syeon (Malaysia/Phillipines) - Arghhhh again, I was kinda rooting for them at first, but they did two fatal mistakes. First was driving into a Wira. Granted that every Proton made car deserves getting rammed into, but do you really need to do that during a race? Come ON! And kudos to them for actually arriving first at the pitstop. But I’m gonna have to take the kudos back for them not following the instructions. I still have high hopes for them.

Sharon & Melody (Singapore) - Surprisingly we didn’t get to see or hear much from our neighbours. So, there’s nothing to gripe about them for now.

Laura & Andy (Thailand) - Possibly my second favourite team at this moment (behind Zabrina and Joe Jer). I like them because they seemed like a nice, playful couple who’s not going to take things to seriously. The seven year old one night stand comment was funny and proved they have some sense of humour. I hope they go far.

Prashant & Sahil (India) - Models? Seriously? Eh.. no thank you. Next. There’s something about them that I don’t like. Can’t put my finger on what exactly. Maybe their constant hair fixing over the car’s rear view mirror. Vain, much?

Sahran & Howard (Sri Lanka) - Initially, before the show started, I wanted to like them… but get the fuck off of my tv, bitches. I have never ever witnessed a bigger wuss on ANY reality show. Ever. Calling him a drama queen would be an understatement of the century. I mean for fucks sake, crying and sobbing like a fucking baby when you’re asked to rapel down 8 stories of a building? I know it’s scary but fucking crying and fucking sobbing like a bitch like that? It’s not fucking cute. It’s fucking pathetic. How the fuck did someone like this get on a show like this is totally beyond me. Seriously, what the fuck. I so wanted to bitchslap this cunt. Grow a fucking pair, already. Please be the first one eliminated. FUCK OFF.

Francesca & Sandy (Hong Kong) - They came off slightly arrogant for me, but it could possibly be me intimidated by all the muscles and shit. But after hearing that he couldn’t get away without his skin lotion and eye mask or some shit like that, I’m pretty sure it’s the arrogance thingy.

All in all, it was a decent premier. The challenges in this leg of the race is pretty tame. Again, I would like to reiterate that I am very very very disappointed that the Malaysian teams did not use the hometown advantage given to them. I mean, one has to drive out of KL, to Shah Alam, and back into KL again. I mean, if any of you are even familiar with the signboards in this country, you would know that it is a very near impossible task. The Malaysian teams should’ve known the roads in KL like the back of their hand and used it. But they clearly didn’t. *sigh* Well I still have high hopes for both of them.

edited to add this picture :

They are so annoyingly perky that they’re actually in mid-air.