Survivor: Guatemala

[Del]

sure the challenge was rough, but with so much focus on Bobby Jo and Stephanie, I have NO feel for any of the new guys at all.

It usually takes a while to get a feel for the new players, but if they keep focusing on the two prior contestants, it'll never happen.

It came down to this though:

Steph - "Yay, this team is my b***h!"

Bobby Jo - "Oh look! Yesterdays lunch!"

Steph is light years ahead of Bobby Jo, who won't be around much longer. Then they will focus more on whoever gets canned next.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

I just couldn't believe that Jim showed up to tribal council with a sling on his arm. I mean, why not just paint a target on your back instead?

 

[Silver Moon]

I think this will be the best Survivor yet. I've watched all except for Seasons 3 & 4 (which I'm now taping on the OLN channel). Yeah, the first episode focused somewhat on the past contestents, but that isn't surprising. We will start to see more as time goes on.

As for Jim, the sling was certainly a "vote me off" target, but what really surprised me is that he cast his own vote for Nurse Margaret! Come on, he should have at least put down another of the other walking wounded who at least stood a chance of getting a vote.

 

[Hand of Evil]

It came down to this though:

Steph - "Yay, this team is my b***h!"

Bobby Jo - "Oh look! Yesterdays lunch!"

Steph is light years ahead of Bobby Jo, who won't be around much longer. Then they will focus more on whoever gets canned next.

I do have a thing for Step, maybe because of her spirit from last season. Bo Jo, I feel for him, he is a good guy, a hard worker, but as a 'player' he is a red shirt.

The new members, well the nurse looks like she will be the most important player to keep around.

Jim, wanted out, could not take it.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

If I were a contestant, I'd be seriously p.o.'d that those two folks got to come back to get another bite at the apple. Their experience isn't that important.

Looks like they are definitely upping the challenge ante. Starting off with an 11-mile hike in the jungle, with people with no outdoor experience, it surprises me that they didn't seriously injure someone. They were lucky to escape with dehydration and heat exhaustion.

 

[John Crichton]

If I were a contestant, I'd be seriously p.o.'d that those two folks got to come back to get another bite at the apple. Their experience isn't that important.

Looks like they are definitely upping the challenge ante. Starting off with an 11-mile hike in the jungle, with people with no outdoor experience, it surprises me that they didn't seriously injure someone. They were lucky to escape with dehydration and heat exhaustion.

I believe there were one or two folks in there (from reading their bios and a preview show) that had some experience in the wilderness. But yeah, that was a rough challenge. Really fun to watch, tho.

This season looks great. No beach camps - first time since Africa. I love that Steph is back. If anyone remembers my posts from last season I was a HUGE fan. She was one of the main reasons I kept watching. If I were one of the contestants I would be a little worried but not that much so. They know her strategy and what she is all about which put them on even standing with her knowledge of actually playing the game (pacing and such).

BJ is a sleeper. Sure, he seems like a moron (and maybe is a bit) but that worked to his advantage last time as people underestimated him. He may last longer than Steph - right now all the girls worship her but that can change in a heartbeat after a few lost immunity challenges...

 

[John Crichton]

As for the focus? The first week or 2 is always confusing and we hardly ever get a really good idea of who any of the players are. I didn't think they focus on Steph and BJ that much at all, it just seemed like it because we know them already and they got their own intro. In fact, unless one of the players REALLY stands out for some reason (like Coby, from last year, who had a distinctive voice and like to yack alot) most of the players come in a fwe different catagories:

- Young, hot chick (at least 30% of each cast)
- Old guy
- City/Country dude/girl
- Middle aged woman
- "Different" (read: non-white, non-straight or handicapped) person - oddly enough, yet to be seen this season. I would fall in this group if I ever made the show, BTW so I always notice it. Like with the deaf chick or the dude with one leg. I'm a little surprised that the entire cast this time around is white. I know they have been going more for the young and attractive look for the males and females for a while (the Friends look if you will) now but still.

Sure, there are exceptions to the above but you can break down 90% of the early game players to these groups and then sort them out later.

 

[Rel]

One comment on the "Jim + Sling" issue: My wife (a Physical Therapist) watched the episode last night and commented that if Jim really has a detached bicep tendon, he's worse than useless for the entire rest of the time they'd be out there. That isn't something that is just going to feel better in a few days. It need surgery.

If he tore the muscle then he might have a chance. But it would mean that, if he wants it to heal, he's still going to be severely limited in what he can do for a period of at least a week or more (probably more given his age and the slower healing that comes with it). Since that team would be shorthanded compared to the other then they don't have the luxury of sitting him out during any of the challenges.

My theory is that Jim knew this and pretty much accepted that he was going home and couldn't dispute the logic of doing so (based on both what was good for the team and what was good for his health). But unlike past players who have suffered the indignity of quitting (I'm looking at YOU, Osten), he opted to let his team vote him off. I still don't understand why he voted for the nurse though.

 

[Ghostwind]

Jim voted for the nurse because he realized she was the leader and represented the strongest threat. I think it was his way of telling everyone else, "Hey, keep an eye on her."

I enjoyed the episode. It looks like there will be several heads butting as the show continues and the effects of the jungle takes its toll on the players.

My early prediction for the final two: Steph and Margaret (the nurse) with Gary coming in third. (I like his style and can remember watching him when he played in the NFL for the Cowboys and Colts.)

 

[John Crichton]

Jim voted for the nurse because he realized she was the leader and represented the strongest threat. I think it was his way of telling everyone else, "Hey, keep an eye on her."

I enjoyed the episode. It looks like there will be several heads butting as the show continues and the effects of the jungle takes its toll on the players.

My early prediction for the final two: Steph and Margaret (the nurse) with Gary coming in third. (I like his style and can remember watching him when he played in the NFL for the Cowboys and Colts.)

I love the fact that there is an ex-NFL QB on the show.