Survivor-Is blood thicker than water? Episode 1 Discussion Thread-No spoilers about future episodes
Hey everyone. Welcome back to another season of Survivor. I will try to do a discussion thread every Thursday, but if anyone else wants to do one, feel free.
You know the rules, discussion threads are limited to only opinions about the castaways, the episode that aired or the clips about next week's show that aired after the episode. No spoilers that CBS has not already aired. If you know who wins, good for you, but many of us have no desire to know this, so please don't spoil it.
First of all, when Probst said this this was the 27th season of Survivor, I almost fell off the coach. My wife and I realized that we have "gotten old" with this show. We started watching the first season and never looked back. I learned from the paper that this was the 400th episode. It seems like just yesterday when Hatch was naked and Greg was talking into the coconut phone and going off into the woods with Colleen. Every time I see a snake on the clips between location shifts on Survivor I still think of Sue Hawk's snake eats the rat final tribal council speech. This show may be the "granddaddy" of reality competition shows, but it is still my favorite.
Okay, so we got a little treat last night. We get an extra half hour again for the opening episode, then we get the extra half day when the 10 "couples" going into the woods alone for a night.
Here are the players:
Gervase and his niece Marissa.
Kat and Hayden (Big Brother).
Rupert and his wife Laura.
Monica and her husband Brad (former NFL QB)
Candace and her husband John
Aras and his brother Vytas
Tina and her daughter Katie
Colton and his fiance Caleb
Tyson and his girlfriend Rachel
Laura M and her daughter Ciera
So instead of playing with their loved ones, the contestants are competing against them in two different tribes. Brad says he might try to help his wife, which was dumb. Then each has to vote someone off right away. Team Vets send Candace "home" while the newbies send Rupert's wife Laura "home." Or Do They???
Nope, its the horrible return of the worst idea ever, redemption island. This dumb ass idea is back. Candace and Laura have to go to redemption island and play to get back in the game. But another twist. Each loved one is given the opportunity to take their loved one's place on RI. Rupert jumps before he even hears what it means. He is going instead of his wife. Sweet, but bad game play. Rupert knew everyone at the vets camp and would have been in a position of power. His wife will be the first to go there. Dumb move. John sees this and realizes he and his wife will do better if he stays in the game, but he looks like jerk for playing smart.
Finally to camp. Team Vets get a fire started and make a solid shelter easily. Team newbies suck it up, can't start a fire and seem to be all over the place. I know its editing, but this team needs a leader. Monica makes up with Colton, who seems to be trying to show he is not a jerk, but the evil just keeps poking its head out. I still think he is a spoiled brat who throws a fit when he does not get what he wants.
The IC. Wow, this was one hell of an opening challenge. What we learned is that Gervaise still can not swim (13 years and not a single lesson). Colton and Tyson can not row a boat to save their life, one uses too much muscle and the other not enough. Laura and Tina did not teach their kids much about puzzles.
The newbies kicked butt in the first leg. They swam well and had a seemingly insurmountable lead. Gervaise had to have Aras lifeguard him to the boat and Colton's evil came out when Kat was telling him to pick up the pace. After eventually getting to the puzzle, Tina, Monica and Laura showed that experience can help in these challenges and they tore through the puzzle. It was not even close. Gervaise talked a lot of smack, especially considering the fact that he almost drowned out there. Colton cries.
At Team Newbie, the muscle bound Brad organizes the boys alliance, which should last an episode or two at best. It become clear that they want either Katie or Marissa. I am blown away that they choose to keep Katie. Although she looks great in a bikini, she is not in Marissa's class as an athlete. Marissa looked great in that challenge. She will be missed.
All in all, I liked the episode, but I was sad by how bad Gervaise played. He was my pick for the season, but he needs to turn it around. Brad is going to go once he is not needed. Rupert is not long for the game. He is not built for Redemption Island. Any thoughts? Who do you all like/dislike this year. Any bets on how long Colton lasts. I hope he gets voted out this time. I felt deprived of the fun of seeing him voted out at tribal with his fake injury last time.
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ALL of these people should know how to start a fire by now. Did they not think they might need that skill? Swimming, after all these years has he not watched another episode and taught himself how to swim? I always liked him too and was hoping he would get far but Gervaise made some bad moves. Puzzle skills people, it seems to be all about the puzzle in the end. I was just totally shocked that anyone who played the game did not do better and those who love and came with a loved one did not know better.
I would be voted out first for being a sarcastic bossy woman who insisted they were all stupid if they had not learned those skills before sending in their audition tape. I mean really.
OK, other than that I can't stand the football guy. Colton tried but alas his inner self came out. I don't think he is innately mean I think he is spoiled but it does not matter, his people skills suck and in the end he is mean no matter why he is mean.
I don't know about Rupert. My like of Rupert stems from the first time he played and the little (admittedly little) I know about him IRL. After that first time I have found some reasons not to want him to win yet I always do. His wife Laura on the other hand seems to have some real steam and determination in her, fire in her eyes. She will be interesting to follow if she is allowed to stay.
Just looking at Cat and wondering why she was even thought of as someone anyone wanted to see again pissed me off.
AND I hate RI.
Other than that, good episode 
Anyone who grows up in a tough situation, no matter the reason, should come out of it tough and empathetic. I know that is a large generalization but really, to be that mean over anything other than someone saying horrible things to him about him is just way out of line.
I think some of the women will stay together as vets against their own daughters. You could see the competition and it seemed to me like fun competition not angry. That could be fun if football boy does not get rid of all the daughters first. I worry that the men will feel the need to rescue their partners ala Rupert. Laura seemed to let him do it but she seems tough, most likely to me is that they both think he can easily fight his way back. If so, I wonder if he has to go to the other team? The fact that one said he would help his wife even though she was on the other team was stupid, these women look to be mostly perfectly able on their own and would probably not bat an eye ousting him if she needed to, it IS a game after all. You are correct about the vets wanting to be rid of the newbies. Those women are cool as cucumbers right now, that puzzle making catch up and win was outstanding. (right now I am not calling up who actually did the puzzle)
Actually all I came in here to say was that last season I ended up really liking. For the first time in a long time I was engaged right away and enjoyed the entire run. Not so engaged this time. I think it actually has more to do with what they choose to show us and I am so far outside the demographic they shoot for that the difference may lay there. I will still watch, I am for some reason hooked on this show. Never watch any of the others except I have seen over the years some episodes of that Race show and liked it but until Survivor is gone I allow myself no more of the reality type show.
Here is to some interesting twists and fun game play. 
...because he WILL NOT SHUT UP!!! Holy crap was that yammering annoying...No clue why they didn't go for Colton, although I guess that means that they all think, from the start, that he isn't a threat and doesn't stand a chance at winning.
Not a fan of redemption island. At all.
I wish they would get back to just having brand-new contestants on the show...celebs, former winners/losers/re-treads isn't as much fun as getting to know a whole new crew of fame-starved wannabes.... 
Glad the show is back and I hope the season is a good one..
He instantly has to walk up to 'save' his wife like the big caveman, without any thought. He admitted himself that he's never won an individual immunity challenge, and yet he just put himself in RI which is all about individual immunities! And he mentions that he is such a great shelter builder/food provider---as I recall the first shelter he built was essentially a swimming pool! He bullied the women into doing it his way and the waves were washing into the thing all night! He can't leave soon enough for me. And good grief, he and Laura were already crying when they thought she was going to have to leave! It's the first damn day, why are you crying as if you will not see each other for a year!? 
Colton is like Jekyll and Hyde but I don't think he will be able to keep his spoiled, mean self hidden long enough to get very far. His fiancee Caleb seems so nice, he is either a real masochist or under some love spell, lol. It would be fun to see him go far and Colton get voted off asap. (Right after Rupert!!)
I agree about the quarterback talking too much, I think he will wear on people too fast and I don't think he really has a grasp of the game. I think Monica is the mastermind in that family.
I would have kept Marissa on the tribe and I won't be surprised if she wins the first RI challenge. I don't remember what kind of player Candace was in the past. She is at least working at the camp there. I was thinking that if she's so upset about Rupert not doing any work but getting the benefit, she should just make enough food/water for herself and let him get his own. He's such a great player, he can provide for himself.
The challenge was a good one, it really gave a chance to see some of the strengths and weaknesses of the players. I'm guessing that many of the challenges will involve water, so I think Gervaise should go before too long or he will be a detriment to his tribe. And it was good the way the newbie team worked together to get through the obstacles. Sadly, too much time will be eaten up with the RI portion of the shows to allow more good reward/immunity challenges.
I have a feeling that the women are going to be dark horses in this game. It's starting out all about the bromance alliance, but I think there are some tough ladies out there that will undermine the guys before too long.
I hope this will be a good season. As others have already said, it has a couple of strikes against it--RI and too many returnees. But I will still be watching (and griping) as always.
Except for the first night where he kind of did nothing and let Caleb work, what was shown looked to me like they were trying to make him look like he had reformed... Or was showing a better side... I'm not sure.
Speaking of... What was with the first night and everyone just kind of staying where they were? My first thought was... Go looking for others to form an alliance but if any of them even tried, they did not show it. I would have gone looking 