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« Survivor: China
Survivor: China: Fireworks and Fishing Gear
Oh, Sherea! Sherea Lloyd by Monty Brinton/CBS
Episode Recap: "Ride the Workhorse 'Til the Tail Falls Off"
Have I mentioned what an interesting group of people we have playing Survivor: China? There is such a wide variety of folks on this show that each week I feel like I'm watching an entirely new program. That's a good thing, because it is keeping the show fresh.
Last week Jean-Robert was the guy you just wanted gone. This week, while you may still want him to disappear, he turns out to be an asset to the tribe. Who knew he could speak Mandarin? Fei Long won the reward challenge – a giant chopstick, flaming ball and fireworks affair – and earned fishing gear and a lesson from a local family on how to catch fish using trained diving birds. Jean-Robert stepped up as the translator, and the tribe got a lot of useful information because of him. Talk about pulling a trick out of the hat at the right time.
This week's kidnapping victim was Dave, who was swiped from the arms of his had-it-up-to-here-with-him tribe. Dave didn't attempt to hide his crazy from Fei Long. He was mooning people (this guy will drop trou at any opportunity!) and hugging them. James ("I told you about the hugging") was having none of that. Todd, ever the strategist, put on his most welcoming face despite thinking Dave a "nutcase" and earned the man's trust…and the next two immunity idol clues.
What is it about Todd that makes everyone think he's trustworthy? I don't see it, personally. He just looks sneaky. Regardless, Todd is the go-to man for secrets. But when will they notice that everyone who goes to him ends up gone at tribal council? Dave made it back home only long enough for Zhan Hu to lose the immunity challenge and vote him out.
Of course, this happened after Sherea placed herself squarely in the torch snuffers' sights by "conserving" her energy for the challenges. You can spin it however you want Sherea, but there's a word for that. But wait, she did pick the moldy rice out of the good rice. I've heard that can be tiring.
With Dave kidnapped, Zhan Hu was finally at peace. Their whole vibe was just mellow, even when they got up to work. They did what they had to do with no yelling. Imagine that. We also got to know Erik a bit more, which is not a bad thing. His showing at the immunity challenge was enjoyable. Especially when he pulled off his helmet, freeing his curly locks and posing ever so slightly like a true warrior. I saw a little bit of Eric Bana’s Hector from the movie Troy in Erik at that moment…but I digress.
Denise spoke on camera for the first time this week. She said, "Flavor never tasted so good!" I bet she's a really good lunch lady. Courtney spoke more with her eyes than her mouth when she was chosen again to sit out the reward challenge. I'm grateful for that because it guaranteed that we would see her in the suit of armor. And no, she didn't collapse under the weight of it. Oops! Did I say under weight?
Yes, indeed, this season's casting has kept me tuned in to the show and yet somehow last week I misattributed comments made by Jean-Robert to James. I apologize for putting words into James' mouth, especially since the ones that do exit his lips are usually quite entertaining.
Now that Zhan Hu is down another member, here are some questions to ponder for next week. With Dave gone, will Sherea's eyes stop their constant rolling? Was Dave really planning to bring those shells (rocks?) home to his mother, or was he just trying to make Sherea look bad? Has Peih Gee abdicated her role as co-captain? Why does Jean-Robert speak of himself in the third person? Did Todd recognize the immunity idol, or was it just the editing? Why the annoying freeze-framing during the immunity challenges? And one from the previews: Is Erik really a virgin, or is that declaration part of his strategy?
For more Survivor: China, check out our Online Video Guide.
To get the latest news and gossip about Survivor: China, tune into TV Guide Network's Watercooler; October 13 at 2pm/ET.
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Oct 11, 2007 10:23 PM
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I agree with you about Erik - it was very nice getting to see/learn more about him this week.  I think if Zhan Hu loses again, Sherea will be the one to go (hopefully). But it looks like things may be shaken up a bit? A little tribe member switching, perhaps? Next week should be interesting...
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Oct 11, 2007 11:36 PM
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They always have Courtney sit out during the reward challenge. Wouldn't it make more sense for her to sit out the Immunity Challenges?
Why have the editors not been showing us Denise the Lunch Lady? Priceless.
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Oct 11, 2007 11:40 PM
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I really can't stand Courtney. I can't believe she was upset that John-Robert yelled at her that the pot was hot. He did that for her own safety. Gee, imagine if something was about to fall on her. "Get out of the way!" "Hey, I don't like it when people yell at me!" *Splat*
You know, if Courtney is already that skinny and it's only episode 4, I would hate to see what she looks like by the end of the game. They really need to vote her off so she can go eat a Big Mac or something.
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Oct 12, 2007 12:01 AM
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People will call me stupid, but I think voting Dave off instead of Sherea was a big mistake. The tribe is more concerned about being happy that getting the job done. At least Dave gave it everyhing he had.
This season feels weird - like the tribes are so unsettled. Nobody is thinking beyond tomorrow and that surprises me. Is it the editing or did they purposefully get a different set of personalities for this season? I only watched season 1 and last season.
I find it strange that the last 2 kidnap victims have been voted off immediately.
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Oct 12, 2007 1:12 AM
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Rhoda, I think those freeze-frame moments are for predicting when someone scores a point, or in this case, maybe two. I agree with a previous poster they should have voted off Sherea. She really wasn't doing anything productive. Had it been the other group, it definitely would have been Courtney. Just looking at her tells me she shouldn't be there! This is my 200th post!
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Oct 12, 2007 1:42 AM
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I wouldn't have voted Dave off either. I think he worked hard for the tribe. And I really can't stand Sherea. I'm really liking Jaime & Amanda. I hope they go far. I think Jaime is this season's Elisabeth (and I mean that as a compliment because she was the sweetest Survivor ever).
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Oct 12, 2007 6:17 AM
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Dave was a jerk but I agree that they were stupid to vote him out and keep her. I don't understand why he had to be so condescending all the time. If he had just been a little less irritating he would still be there. It was almost as if he was daring them to vote him off.
I can't stand it when people claim to be keeping their energy for the challenges. I just can't imagine laying around while everyone else is working.
Jeff's questions are so specific this year. More so than ever. The challenges continue to be really cool and interesting. This season is great.
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Oct 12, 2007 9:02 AM
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I am absolutely loving the challenges this season. I don't think there has been one that was derivative of another season - all have been unique and visually cool. I can't understand why they sit out Courtney during reward either but I guess she was OK this time in immunity, no worse than anyone else.
How about Jean Robert rocking the Mandarin? That was pretty darn cool, and I didn't think James should have gotten bent, JR was just translating. I was surprised he didn't go out on the boat but I guess there was more need of him at camp since there were more people needing translation. Loved the bird trick but I could have sworn we saw one of our guys throwing the birds in the preview so I thought they were going to leave them some birds for later.
Sherea is some piece of work. I have never understood the saving strength for challenges defense. Why can everyone but you expend their energy around camp but also compete in challenges? How do people really think that comes off as logical or fair?
OK, what was the deal with Dave at the other camp? He's behaved like a tyrant and an A hole at his camp but he was seriously crazed at the kidnap camp. I thought he was on drugs, very strange dude, glad he's gone, but was surprised Sherea didn't bite it after her slothfulness. But I guess winning challenges are more important than what one person does at camp.
I wanted to add that if you want some more survivor-esque faire, check out Last One Standing on Discovery immediately following Survivor. This is a really interesting show set in 6 tribal locations. 6 Westerners [3 British, 3 Americans] visit underdeveloped tribes and learn their way of fighting and then must compete right along with these guys doing it all their lives. No one gets voted off, there is no strategy for remaining in the game, but it is really cool to 1] watch tough guys from our culture compete in a way that is completely different from what they're used to and to try and relate and be respectful of the completely foreign customs of these tribes, while also forcing down their fear at the sometimes barbaric treatment they have to endure and 2] it is a real blast to read what these tribesman are saying about the guys. Sometimes it is really funny [this chief the first episode got all PO'd because the guys hadn't improved in his fighting technique after 2 days even though his guys take years to learn it] but mostly they are very accommodating and encouraging of their shortcomings.
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Oct 12, 2007 10:01 AM
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davej - I agree with you... Sherea should have gone. It just infuriates me that this show has been on for SO many years and yet people still act clueless... How can you sit there and WATCH everyone working and not think it wouldn't affect how people saw you? Conserving your energy? Well... how much energy will you have if you're dehydrated due to lack of water? Idiot.
And J-R with his Cro-Magnon act... I know nice guys finish last, but do ya HAVE to be a skanky perv?
Courtney... she makes my body hurt just looking at her... I'm almost expecting one of her hip bones to start breaking thru her skin soon. I feel like I'm watching an episode of Intervention. And she's the weakest one on her team... so why do they sit her out on Rewards, but not Immunities?
And lastly... the 'special effects' on the challenges were so bad that I felt like I was watching Tron or something....
Yes, the personalities are different this year, but the stupidity is the same...
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Oct 12, 2007 10:34 AM
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Has Sherea ever watched Survivor? If so, she would know that people with her attitude never get far.
Can we please get these contestants some clothes. Its really disgusting watching them run around in their underwear.
I cannot believe that Eric announced that he was a virgin.
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Oct 12, 2007 12:08 PM
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davej - People will call me stupid, but I think voting Dave off instead of Sherea was a big mistake. The tribe is more concerned about being happy that getting the job done. At least Dave gave it everyhing he had.
No, you're not stupid - personally I think it was a close call between the two. Sherea is not only lazy, but she thinks she deserves rest more than anyone else - her excuses for not working are just lame. However, she has done more than Dave has in the challenges - he basically lost at least two challenges single handedly. In addition to losing he really is a d**k. When you are living in such close quarters with someone you loathe with no way to get away from him your only recourse is to get rid of him. I personally am kinda glad to see Crazy Dave gone. Davej I do agree with you they are not thinking beyond tomorrow.
Now with Dave gone so is the HII clue.
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Oct 12, 2007 12:12 PM
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Actually, Melissa, it wasn't Dave that got the HII clue. The kidnapped person only chooses who they GIVE the clue to. It is Todd that got the clue this week.
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Oct 12, 2007 12:28 PM
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Sherea or Dave....I agree with Melissa—it's a close call. But I would have gone with Sherea, and kept Dave for at least a couple of more days.
So it seems that Sherea has two choices for attire -- a full dress or underwear. Hello -- has she not watched the show before? If I were going, knowing there was a very good chance they'd only let me in with the clothes I was wearing, it would have been as many sports bras and bikini bottoms/short shorts as I could possibly squeeze into. At least use the Survivor buff, as the other ladies do.
Todd is in the driver's seat. Here he is with all these clues, and only one or two others even know that there's an immunity idol. All he has to do is continue to look "trustworthy" and he could get them all.
I agreed with Master Moron...if someone yells "Don't touch that," because somethings hot, don't you appreciate it?
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Oct 12, 2007 1:28 PM
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During the tribal council, I wish someone had said that it is everyone in the tribe who has to compete in the challenges so they all need their strength and not only Sherea. Maybe if she helped out at camp the others could compete stronger and they could actually win again! LOL
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Oct 12, 2007 2:02 PM
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