Survivor: China, Episode 5, As I See It – Bare Bones

I am not a Survivor strategist, merely an observer, as are most people. But sometimes I have to comment on that which seems to me to be just plain dumb game play. Now, I understood, through Peih-Gee’s explanation, what throwing a challenge would do for her tribe. I understood that she needed the numbers to help her and Jaime ahead in the game. What I did not understand was Jaime’s blatant throwing of the game, her laughing when the tribe returned to camp, and her general apathy about it at Tribal Council. There is a consequence for every action and I think Jaime may regret her laughter and nonchalance over throwing the challenge.

Speaking of Jaime, when Erik confessed to her that he was a virgin, did anyone else think that he was waiting for her to ‘fess up, too? I sure did. And her statement that being a virgin makes him more trustworthy made me go, “Huh?” I guess in her book virgins can be trusted. Erik thought he could trust her, but after her and Peih-Gee’s scheme to throw the challenge, perhaps he may be having second thoughts.

The two-person switcheroo was interesting. I was amazed that the whole Zhan Hu tribe didn’t figure out that they were going to have to give up two people, too. So much for smartness ruling their tribe, eh, Peih-Gee? And speaking of smart, if Fei Long thought they were getting the “best of the best” with Frosti and Sherea, well, they were half right, weren’t they? I can’t wait to see Sherea lying around there explaining to Jean-Robert why she’s not working.

Jean-Robert is smart enough to realize that he is in big trouble; however, ordering people around is not going to do much to help him out of the web he’s woven. I think Denise was just plain tired of his ordering people around, hence her admonishment to him to speak nicely and ask nicely. She talked to him like she probably would one of the kids in the cafeteria who just grunts when asked what they want to eat. Jean-Robert didn’t pick up on it, though, and ordered Sherea to cook. Little does he know that she probably hasn’t cooked a thing since they’ve been in China.

It was nice to see the interaction between Denise and James. They both acknowledge and respect each other in regards to work ethic. It’s just a darned shame that James was traded away; I think they would have protected each other.

James sure is a “what you see is what you get” guy, isn’t he? He was thoroughly aggravated with Jaime and Peih-Gee during and after the challenge and made no bones about it. I had to agree with his diatribe against them; I wouldn’t want to work so hard on a challenge and then have someone throw it. James is there to play and there to win. I think Peih-Gee and Jaime may have underestimated him and you can be sure that he didn’t let up once they returned from Tribal Council. He was displeased and he didn’t care who knew it.

I continue to root for Todd. Although he is not the strongest player this season, he is, in my opinion, the smartest. Todd steps up to the plate when he has to and stays in the background when he has to. He is not, as yet, making any waves, and is making some alliances to further himself in the game. Some may call him a weasel, but he’s a smart weasel.

We didn’t see too much of Amanda and Courtney this episode, but I still worry just looking at Courtney. Once again, before Survivor aired, Entertainment Tonight featured Courtney and the issue of her thinness in a brief spot. And we all know what happens when someone comes to the media’s attention – they’ll worry the subject like a dog with a bone. Although I thought Courtney was a little snip at the outset, I now wish she’d leave for an entirely different reason.

One thing that made me very happy with the producers this episode was that the contestants had some clothes! It was getting very tiresome watching everyone compete in their underwear, and I questioned how hygienic that could be after a while. Maybe the camera crew got tired of filming bare skin and the editors tired of editing wardrobe malfunctions, but I think we can all say “thank you” to whoever gave them clothes!

My question this week is: will Erik realize that Jaime is not to be trusted? If she didn’t clue him in to the strategy of throwing the challenge, what else is she not telling him? After all, if he can be trusted because he’s a virgin, does that mean that if she’s not, she can’t be trusted?

Stay tuned.

Peace!

Eileen is an intake operator for a legal referral service in Cincinnati, Ohio by day and spends her free time with the little ones that call her the “Queen of the Grandmas” and their parents and practicing Yoga which she thought was going to be the “lazy woman’s exercise.” She got fooled. She welcomes comments and constructive criticism at ohiograndma2003@hotmail.com