Survivor: Exile Island - The Blame Game

As I always do, I took a second look at the evidence, er, episode before writing, because what I saw the first time merited closer scrutiny. Let’s address the way Terry picked a fight with Cirie on the way back.

Remember the previous episode, when, as Shane was ousted, we could see Terry with his head in his hands? And with good reason: He had once again failed to win any allies, so he was probably a bit cranky as it was, and looking for someone to take his anger out on. That someone happened to be Cirie, and unfortunately for everyone involved, Terry completely overreacted when she dropped her torch.

In the first place, Danielle was walking right between Cirie and Terry, and if she didn’t complain, what right did Terry have to? In the second, Terry’s comment to her about slapping her kids around if they dropped their stuff was woefully inappropriate, and Terry owed Cirie an apology for this. To me, this was just as immature and offensive as Aras’ comment about Terry making a disparaging remark about women.

Terry has no idea what kind of mother Cirie is, and to say she’d physically abuse her kids was absolutely uncalled for. He then compared her to HIS kids, which was equally out of line. Maybe he figured he had no allies anyway, so what was there to lose, but Terry seemed to be forgetting about final tribal council, when he may need Cirie’s vote.

Granted, her response to his attack wasn’t perfect, although understandable, i.e. the “King Terry” comment, but then he had the gall to tell her not to get so upset about it. It always amuses me when someone picks a fight, gets more than they bargained for, then tries to blame it on the other person. It brings back memories of a previous episode when Shane assailed Danielle for her work ethic, or lack thereof, and when she struck back, he said, “Danielle we are NOT having this conversation.” If you’re going to play with matches, don’t carp when you get burned.

Aras finally stepped in and pointed out to Terry that he immediately laid into Cirie the moment they got back, and of course, Terry informed the camera that the other three ganged up on him for how he talked to Cirie, and frankly, I don’t blame them one bit. Terry seemed to think they were picking on him, but in reality, this was a situation he created. Even if he had a point, maybe he would’ve been best served to let sleeping torches lie.

Then there was his comment about not coming to make friends with 24 year-olds. Nor apparently, with anyone else. Yes, he said this to the camera, but it showed the utter contempt he had for Aras and Danielle. Way back in the first Survivor, Rudy said, “I’m the one who needs to fit in, not them,” and maybe Terry should’ve looked at it from the same viewpoint.

Also laughable was his comment that he didn’t give a **** if they didn’t talk to him for the next five days, because he was winning a million dollars. Terry, if they don’t talk to you for five days, chances are they’re not voting for you either. I wonder if he watched the episode when it aired and got even a little embarrassed.

Then there was the infamous reward challenge, when Terry said, “Aras should’ve been back by now.” Why was it even his business whether or not Aras was back? He complained to Jeff Probst that they didn’t tell him he could take a second look, but could it just be that Terry couldn’t accept the fact that he was finally being beaten fair and square?

But Terry wasn’t the only one to blame here. There was no call for Aras’ antagonistic “Somebody call a whambulance” remark, which only seemed to give credence to Terry’s contempt for his much-younger rival.

Then, when Terry asked Jeff Probst for a clarification on the rules, Aras felt the need to interject, saying that every time Terry didn’t win something he complained about it. Oh yeah, he complained after every team challenge La Mina lost to Casaya, didn’t he? Maybe Terry should’ve kept his mouth shut this time, but Aras was looking more and more like a sore winner. He reminded me of a football team that’s being beaten 42-0, and finally scores a touchdown, and feels the need to rub it in their opponents’ face.

Then there was the comment which, like the immunity idol, Terry decided to store for later use, which was Aras asking him if he was going to say something bad about women. Let’s establish that Aras shouldn’t have said it. Forget about whether or not it was uncalled for; I simply found it to be stupid and nonsensical. But of course, if Terry couldn’t get first place, he was at least getting in the last word, sarcastically calling the remark a mature comeback.

Finally, Aras picked Cirie to enjoy the reward with him, and said politely, “Sorry, dude,” to Terry, and Terry finally showed some rational behavior, saying, “You gotta do what you gotta do.” Unlike some, I had absolutely no problem with this comment. It seemed to me like he was saying Aras had to pick SOMEBODY, and he didn’t really blame Aras for not picking him.

Later, when Terry and Danielle were on Exile Island, Terry told her Aras seemed to be getting more emotional, and Terry didn’t know if Aras was cracking. Come again? This from a person who whined about an unlit torch, and then whined during a reward challenge? Terry seemed to be taking Shane’s place as the person in the game most needing self-awareness.

Terry also said he has to calm it down and “act like a 46 year-old.” It would’ve been nice if he had. Terry. By the way, is it just me, or does he remind anyone else of “Doc,” a.k.a. Carl from Africa, who after being cast out thanks to the younger members of his tribe, used his ouster as an opportunity to insult all of Generation X? It also kind of makes me wonder what Terry was like when HE was 24, or has he forgotten? Dude, 1983 isn’t THAT too terribly long ago.

Later, after Aras defeated Terry for the second straight time, this time in the immunity, Terry decided he couldn’t let Aras’ previous comment about making a disparaging remark about women die. He called the comment “false, uncalled for, and really slanderous.” Well Terry, what do you call your comments about Cirie slapping her kids, even verbally, if they’d dropped their stuff? He lectured Aras about how “serious stuff like that can be,” but I can’t help wonder if he’s not just miffed because his younger rival defeated him again.

Again, this is NOT to defend what Aras said, but Terry should’ve, as he put it, acted like a 46 year-old and let it go. He went on to defend his honor and the way he treats women, but if I were Cirie and heard all this, it would’ve been all I could do not to laugh. Maybe Cirie should’ve slapped TERRY around… oops, did I just say that?

Well, as you can see, I wasn’t too impressed with, or proud of, either of the alpha males left in the game, at least from a behavior standpoint, and this should all make for an interesting final tribal council, regardless of who’s in the final two.

Ken can be reached with any comments, criticisms, or money orders at YourNextOfKen@aol.com .

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