Surviving China, Episode 5: Throwing It All Away

Last week, we said goodbye to Dave after his tribe finally got sick enough of him to send him packing instead of lazy Sherea. Will Jean-Robert face the same fate on his tribe this week? Or will there be a twist to shake things up? Let’s find out!

I wish I could tell you how the show began, but due to severe weather in the area, the local station thought it was more important to show information about a tornado warning. Bah. Luckily, Jenn Brasler comes to the rescue and tells us what’s happening:

It's the morning of Day 13 and the Zhan Hu tribe is waking up. Everyone slept well, and Sherea tells us it's because Dave isn't there. Frosti is bored and wants to do something new. He thinks the team should be strong now, but Fei Long is also strong and smart, so they're tough to beat. Peih-Gee talks about strength as well and what the tribe can do to match Fei Long (despite not having James). Sherea is bored and looking forward to a change, even if it's drama.

Change, change, change. Do you hear the foreshadowing fairies laughing?

After the credits, more tornado warning info and Jenn helps us again: Jaime and Erik are in the water, sharing tidbits about each other like Erik's middle name (Taylor). He says it's like they're in the Garden of Eden; it's Biblical because they're a man and a woman and they like hanging out. Yep, that's straight out of Scripture.

Jaime says she can't find anything wrong with Erik, but even she admits they haven't even known each other for two weeks. Erik decides it's time to come clean – he's a virgin. This is where I come back in, with Jaime getting a “holy crap” look on her face. She tells us that it’s great Jaime’s a virgin – it makes him more trustworthy and she wants to go all the way with him. Um, then he wouldn’t be a virgin anymore! Oh, wait, she means all the way to the end of the game. Never mind.

Jaime decides to tell Erik about the immunity idol clues, and that the only way to get them is when the kidnapped person from the other tribe gives them to you. Erik says he doesn’t know what will happen in terms of his relationship with Jaime, but she seems to be a good person to align with right now.

Over on Fei Long, James tells us how Denise is a good, strong woman who works hard. Denise similarly tells us that she picked up on James’ work ethic and they get along well. She thinks she can trust him and ride his coattails.

A local fisherman arrives by boat to deliver a message. It says they are to choose the two warriors from Zhan Hu who could best help to strengthen their tribe, win challenges, and avoid Tribal Council. They are to immediately circle the names on the note, and then the fisherman will go get those people.

Aaron wonders what the catch is. Um, duh. It is explained to him that obviously the other tribe will have the same opportunity, and will probably pick James and Aaron.

They discuss who to pick, and Frosti seems to be a unanimous decision. Then they go with Sherea for the other. Todd says both are tough, strong, and fast. And they seem like good people.

Zhan Hu does indeed get the same note. But you know how I made fun of Aaron for not knowing that Zhan Hu would get the same note? I now must make fun of all of Zhan Hu, especially Peih-Gee, who actually tells us Fei Long will be pissed because Zhan Hu will outnumber them and power will shift – she goes on and on. Idiot.

James is the obvious choice. Erik suggests Aaron as a second, and if they lose, they can just send him packing. They agree. Frosti gives us a speech like Peih-Gee’s about how the numbers just switched, etc. Idiot number two.

The first boat leaves Zhan Hu and another arrives. Zhan Hu, still without a clue, figures the boat is bringing James and Aaron. Nope, it’s the one to get Frosti and Sherea. The fisherman hands over the note with the bad news, and the light bulb finally goes off. Hello! Sherea says it never occurred to them that it would be a switch – they just thought they’d get two people from Fei Long. She acknowledges it was really dumb. Yes it was!

Frosti and Sherea give hugs all around and then board the boat, tears in their eyes and sad music playing in the background.

When the second boat arrives at Fei Long, the somewhat brighter residents know they’re coming to take them away (haha!), they’re coming to take them away (hoho!), to the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time and— wait, sorry about that. Where was I? Oh, yes, the note reveals that James and Aaron are indeed leaving. Aaron is unhappy, as are the others. James is particularly annoyed because he doesn’t have any ties to Aaron, so he can’t even count on that as an alliance and he’s “starting all over again.”

Jean-Robert tells us they’re giving up their two strongest warriors and, on top of that, James was one of his strongest allies in the game. He’s pissed. Bad beat, man. (That’s poker lingo, for those of you not in the know.)

Jean-Robert suggests to the others on Fei Long that they talk about their plan before Frosti and Sherea arrive. Courtney snaps that they shouldn’t even think about it until they lose. Amanda agrees. Ah, good plan – to not plan (more likely, they don’t want to talk to Jean-Robert because he’s not part of their plans).

Jean-Robert shoots back that they need to talk about it now because they can’t once the newbies arrive. He says if they lose, they should target Sherea at the first Tribal Council and then Frosti next. But he recognizes that they might want to get rid of him instead. As he tells us, it’s not only a terrible day for Fei Long, but a “Godawful day” for himself. Well, maybe you can suck out (that’d be more poker lingo).

Two ships pass in the night – okay, two little boats pass during the day – carrying the different tribe members. As James and Aaron arrive, they wonder where Zhan Hu’s shelter is. Yeah, things aren’t quite as good here as they were on Fei Long. But on the plus side, a fisherman gives them a basket of fruit, nuts, and wine.