Survivor: Pearl Islands – Questions Regarding Episode 5

As always, Survivor has left the viewers with more questions than answers. And while the answers may not all be clear, it's still fun to ask away.

Let's start with possibly the season's biggest star. Could Rupert have handled his temporary switch and transition back to Drake any more smoothly? When the switch was announced at the end of episode five, Ru looked like he'd just been apprehended by the other team in a game of "Capture The Flag." But did he ever make the most of it. It was obvious that his new tribe wasn't getting so much a temporary new member as a consultant. Helping them rebuild and re-locate their shelter was a stroke of genius. So was teaching (or trying to teach) Ryan to fish.

His real genius, however, came during the reward challenge. The way he took over and steered Morgan to victory was nothing short of brilliant. Just how lost did Drake look without him? It was like watching a game of sandlot football, where one team dominates the other handily. All of a sudden, the losing team gets to choose one player from the winning team. They choose the quarterback, who destroys his old team the way he did the team he's on now.

But did the mountain man make the right decision by taking refusing to take part in the very reward he helped the Morgans win? In my opinion, he could not have made a better strategic move. He endeared himself to his temporary tribe by helping them win, but further endeared himself to the Drakes by going back to them the minute he got the chance, and he did so in a way that most likely did not offend the Morgans.

Now, was it smart of him to help Andrew get some rice together to take back to Morgan? He realized that by doing so, he was taking a risk. But in reality, he was helping Morgan get something that was valuable to them, but that Drake could spare. He commented that his actions were truly a case of friends helping friends. I agree, and while you can say he let his emotions rule him, it's doubtful the move will hurt his standing in Drake. In fact, if anything, they should be grateful he steered Andrew away from something even more valuable to the Drake tribe, whatever that may be.

Okay, we've seen that Rupert again played an excellent game. But there were some not-so-excellent moments among his original tribemates.

Let's start with Shawn. Could his trashing of the now-departed Burton have looked any more desperate? Trish obviously wasn't buying it, judging by her comments to the camera, and it's hard to believe any of the others did either. If Burton was as unlikable as Shawn now claims, why were they practically joined at the hip?

How does Jon keep avoiding the axe? Should viewers send a bouquet of roses to Mark Burnett for limiting the screen time of "Jonny Fairplay”? And how gratifying was it to see him make a complete fool of himself during both challenges? In the reward challenge, Jeff Probst called attention to Jon's use of the boat rudder as an oar, and in the immunity challenge, Jon tried to hit on Darrah, who wasn't buying it. When asked if Jon would have a chance if she didn't have a boyfriend, she said, "not a chance." Then, he tried to get back at her by pretending to gag while she was downing her drink. It worked about as well as his attempt to pick her up and he again ended up with egg on his face (and probably liquor on his breath). The irony is, his behavior has most likely made many a viewer gag throughout the series. RNO reader Toni, whom I've quoted before, commented that Jon resembles a skinny Sammy Hagar. Hopefully, Drake will soon do to Jon what Van Halen did to Sammy.

Especially obnoxious was his comment about sardines being bigger than Sandra's mind and his implication that the immunity challenge was more mental than physical. Jon, I got news for you: Sometimes, not being able to down certain foods is indeed more physical than mental. Yes, I speak from experience, having always had something of a sensitive palate. I honestly think Sandra did as best as she could, but simply couldn't keep it down.

Speaking of immunity, WHAT WAS MICHELLE THINKING? The strategy was for her to pretend to be the most squeamish Drake member during the challenge, and indeed, she tried to sell it. However, she tipped her hand by gulping down her drink so easily and quickly. It was obvious afterwards that several members of her tribe weren't happy with her. Her performance led the Morgan tribe to instead pick Sandra for the tie-breaker. How ironic is it that by doing so well in a team immunity challenge, she actually hurt her tribe and helped contribute to her own demise? She knew she was on the chopping block as it was and had a chance to save herself and become her team's hero. Instead, she joins Burton in Loser Lodge.