Survivor: Vanuatu – Looking for a Few Good Characters

First of all, thanks to all of you who wrote after last week’s article. Noting a sharp drop in the number of emails I’ve received this season, I asked (okay, pleaded with) you to write, and did you ever! At last count, around 45 of you replied. Not only is that by far the greatest number of emails I’ve received on an article all season, it’s also a record for the number of responses received on ANY article I’ve ever written for RNO.

As an Oscar winner would say, “I’d like to thank the people who made this possible.” Seriously, I had actually wondered if it was worth the time and trouble to continue writing, and you answered that with a resounding, “YES!.” Thanks for letting me know you ARE out there and you ARE paying attention.

Judging by your responses, I’m not alone in thinking this season has degenerated into a snoozefest. In fact, I’d thought about titling the article, “Top 10 memorable moments of Survivor Vanuatu,” and leaving them all blank. Instead, how about, “Top Five books not written by members of the Survivor: Vanuatu cast”:

5. “How to Play Cutthroat,” by Dolly.

4. “How to Betray Your New Tribe Without Getting Caught,” by Bubba.

3. “My Life As a Girlie-Girl,” by Twila.

2. (a tie) “Flying Under the Radar,” by Ami and “The Balance Beam Is Your Friend,” by Chris.

And the number one book not written by a member of the Vanuatu cast? “The Fine Art of Keeping Your Mouth Shut,” of course, by Eliza.

Speaking of Eliza, is the most interesting character left in the game the pig she retrieved after going to get tree mail? And how ironic was it that of all people sent to get tree mail when it pertained to the pig, it would be swine-phobic Eliza, who cost her team a reward challenge by not wanting to touch one of the mud-loving creatures? And believe me: If Eliza tried to take ME away by use of a rope, I’d be squealing too!

Just how funny was it watching her sulk after becoming the first woman ousted in the reward challenge? This sulking and self-pitying continued well after the challenge was over. Well, SOMEONE had to go after the men. Did Eliza think she had some kind of immunity that entitled her to coast through? Frankly, this little piggy needs to get over it.

Speaking of the reward challenge, who was the unsung hero? In my book, that would be Scout, the only player who got the first questions right before being ousted. Yes, Leann won the challenge, but that had more to do with others than her own efforts. However, Leann was smart to seize on the opportunity to take Julie along on the reward. Her choice was obviously strategic, as she aimed to reassure Julie about her position in the game, and it obviously worked, as the two ladies seem to be getting closer and closer.

What about their strategy of bringing back chicken wings for the women, while allowing the men nothing but the bones and pretending it was some benevolent deed? You could almost hear them saying, to paraphrase Marie Antoinette, “Let them eat bones.” It was huge risk, but one that apparently paid off. In fact, Sarge said on The Early Show that the airing of the episode was the first time he’d found out the truth about the bones.

Could the wings have impacted the reward challenge the next day? Let me explain: Long-time viewers will remember how Colby dominated and won challenge after challenge, including a food reward, which gave him the energy to continue winning challenges, even mental ones, while in the Outback. After it was over, castaway Alicia said that when you’ve got food in you, as Colby did, you’re more “on it,” all around—meaning physically AND mentally.