Surviving Micronesia, Episode 7: Without Hope, You Cannot Start the Day

Last week on Survivor, we said goodbye to both Jonathan and Chet. The editors made it seem like Jonathan was the only one who was really injured and Chet was just a wimp who wanted out. At the time, having only seen the episode, I ended my recap with some pretty bitter words directed at Chet. However, afterwards, I interviewed Chet and he explained what went on that we didn’t see – including multiple visits from the medics and their statements that he also needed to leave, along with information that Chet had his infection treated at the same hospital as Jonathan (confirmed in my interview with Jonathan). So I apologize to Chet for my words, as they were written based on what we saw. However, as I made clear in Why Chet Lost, it’s not like I’m saying I liked the way Chet played – but it wasn’t as bad as he was portrayed.

With that behind us, let’s move on to this week’s (one day early) episode. We begin on Day 18 at the Malakal tribe with a discussion on whether to kill the chickens. Since they have not laid enough eggs for some of the tribe members (Ozzy blamed Tracy), they want to kill ‘em and eat ‘em. But Ozzy says they are a renewable resource and it makes no sense. Tracy says he doesn’t want to kill them so he can have more meat for himself after she’s voted off, but he denies that. Besides, there is other food, such as the pot full of crabs they have.

Tracy whines that Ozzy is the “kingpin” of the tribe – he tells people what they can and can’t do, when they can cook, when they can eat, etc. She says he’s going to win if they don’t get him out. Maybe you should have done a better job of convincing Chet of that point!

Over at Airai, it’s dark and rainy and a couple of the women are complaining. James tells us they didn’t even get wet because they were in the cave instead of the way the Fans were before, “outside, under a bush.” They also complain about the smell and James makes fun of that to us as well, pointing out that this is a game called “Survivor.”

Kathy says this is “the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my life.” She adds to us that her mood goes up and down, and “today is a crap day.” She is thinking of home, her daughter, her husband, food, a washer and dryer, etc.

That was all the Airai excitement we could handle, so we’re back at Malakal, where Erik is watching Ozzy work, in obvious awe as he is up in a tree tossing down coconuts. Erik says he wants to learn to be like Ozzy, so he decides he can climb a coconut tree too. Ozzy gives him advice and he gives it a shot.

Cirie adds her two cents to us, saying Erik is like the cub on Lion King to Ozzy’s dad on that movie. She says Erik basically worships him as we see Ozzy encouraging him in the tree and hear Lion King type music in the background. Heh. Cirie thinks if Ozzy proposed marriage to Erik, it would be a done deal.

Ozzy decides he wants to have the boat moved to the back beach. They ask Cirie to help, and even though she’s not a strong swimmer, she agrees to “be a team player.” As they row out – in what appears to be an area they didn’t really need to go to in order to get to another beach – Ozzy suggests they’re near the reef and can get some really big fish. Cirie is freaking out (at least on the inside) because she’s never been this far out into the open water in a little canoe. The others (Ozzy, Erik, and Amanda) try to convince her she’s not that far from shore, but she’s not buying it.

They put down an anchor and everybody hits the clear blue water – except Cirie. She is not happy. She tells us that Ozzy only cares about what one person wants: Ozzy.

Time for the reward challenge. Airai sees the new Malakal tribe and Kathy doesn’t look pleased that Chet is missing. Of course, Probst doesn’t give a health update on Chet, like he did for Jonathan last week.

Probst explains the challenge. First, he points out a traditional Micronesian moneystone. It’s a huge disk – I’d say maybe four feet around. Probst says they used to be the currency in these parts – the larger the stone, the greater the value. Today it’s part of the challenge.

Four of them will be blindfolded while the other two use verbal directions to guide the blindfolded ones through a jungle course while pushing the moneystone on a pole axis. Along the way they have to crush tiles at four stations and obtain a pair of smaller moneystones beneath them. They will then use those smaller stones to solve a rotating cog puzzle.

What does the winner get? Probst tells them to close their eyes and imagine they’re under a beautiful, refreshing waterfall. And they’re cleaning themselves and washing their hair. That’s the reward – the sponsor product great escape spa. The winners will be taken to an island to wash up and have a snack. And of course, they send a loser to Exile Island, and a winner too (I wonder if that means the winner has to skip the reward – that would suck).

Airai has an extra person and sits out Natalie. Cirie is the main caller for Malakal, Eliza for Airai.

And they’re off! Cirie leads them along and tells them to go to “your left.” They do so and she tells them no, it’s the other way. Ami screams, “That’s right!” Eh, left, right, whatever. Tracy is also helping for Malakal and Kathy is helping for Airai.

Malakal breaks their first tile, with Airai a bit behind them. Once again, Cirie confuses left and right, and has to turn around to get it straightened out. Oy. The backup callers don’t really seem to be doing anything other than picking up tiles. Malakal breaks their second, with Airai still a little behind. Malakal breaks their third, but Airai has a bit of problem with theirs. Jason starts complaining and James essentially tells him to shut up and listen to Eliza. They break their third.