Surviving the Pearl Islands, Episode 4: Traitor!

As we enter the fourth episode of Survivor: Pearl Islands, we have several questions in front of us. The most obvious is if Morgan can pull out a win or if they will continue their horrible losing streak. If they don’t pull something out right away, they are going to get seriously Pagonged. (Speaking of which, we recently recognized the members of Pagong with a Reality TV Hall of Shame Moment for their poor planning and strategy and making the name “Pagong” into a verb for use forever more in Survivor. Click on the link and check it out.)

The next question is if we will see some sort of a “twist,” which we have been told will be a mind-boggling one this season. Personally, I’ve never been a huge fan of most twists. For example, if there is some sort of twist that exchanges members of Drake and Morgan, I will be very annoyed (I’m writing this part before seeing the episode, so you’ll see my annoyance later if it happens). In this case especially, it would be terribly unfair to send members of Drake, the big winners, over to the losers at Morgan. But anyway, enough speculation – let’s get on with the show itself.

Morgan, Day 10. It’s high tide, which is higher than usual due to a storm at sea. They have their shelter fairly near the water, with a “wall” of sand and small logs blocking the water. In theory. The tide washed their sand wall away. Ryan says they will have to move the shelter if it keeps up and they don’t want to do that. So they are fighting the waves with more sand. Yeah, that’ll work. Not. When it’s the tide vs. a sand castle, the tide is gonna win every time.

Andrew says morale is low. No kidding? I can’t imagine why. He says they feel the impact of Lill not being around. Well, gosh, then maybe you should have voted out Darrah instead! Anyway, he says Darrah and Tijuana are taking over the water responsibilities.

Andrew continues that it’s them against the world – not just against Drake, but Mother Nature too. Tijuana found a crab under their bed and fireants are coming out to take over the campsite. When it rains, it pours, I guess.

Andrew says they need fish. Coconuts, rice, and beans are okay for now, but they need the boost, plus it would work to help morale.

Over on Drake, Jon is complaining about something – the water jugs, I think. He starts to argue with Shawn and begins yelling. Well, that’s a good way to make friends. He’s already argued loudly with Sandra, now with Shawn. Not smart.

Trish (who?) says people getting testy, the mood is weird, and morale is off and on – and she can’t figure out why. Sandra is not happy with Shawn and Burton either. Christa says because they won so many challenges, it’s annoying because nobody is leaving. Shawn agrees – except he seems to think that Christa is the one who should be going! He says she just keeps making comments about him and he just smiles at her, but takes note. Unfortunately, we don’t really see much of an example of this to judge who is really at fault. Still, Christa says she has no connection with the guys.

Next, we are taken back to the days of high school as Burton laughs at Rupert’s mini-skirt showing a bit of crack. Rupert can’t believe it, saying it’s like the pretty boy jock guys making fun of him.

We are quickly taken to the reward challenge. This one requires quite a bit of physical activity but also a bit of mental. They have to solve a 16-piece puzzle. But the pieces are either buried in the sand (with markers) or floating in the water – eight each. One tribe member at a time, they have to get a piece from either the sand or water. Once they have all the pieces, all of them can help put it together. Well, not quite all of them – Drake has to sit out Shawn, Michelle, and Christa.

The reward is an old-fashioned sewing machine, cloth, thread, etc. to help them make some new clothes. Plus a piece of the treasure map and, of course, the opportunity to loot one item from the other tribe.

And they’re off! Ryan and Burton head into the water. Let’s see if Ryan has better luck at this water challenge than the previous one – I mean, who can he blame this time? Burton gets the first piece quickly. Sandra hits the sand for the second. Two for Drake, and then finally Ryan comes in from the water with one. I think I’ve seen this before, and I bet I know how it’s gonna end.

Andrew gets a piece out of sand. Tijuana heads out and her tube top falls a bit – whoops! Pixellation time! Drake meanwhile is up to five while she’s looking in the water (she doesn’t have the mask). She finally gets her piece as Drake has gotten a ton of ‘em.