Survivor China: Episode 1, Aired 09-20-07
In case you missed Survivor or became a fan late in the season, this series of articles will help you catch up! May I suggest if you are new to Survivor that you start by reading the article introducing everyone, with some background information and quotes by Jeff Probst regarding the survivors. You can find it at:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/387622/survivor_china_jeff_probst_talks_about.html
Episode 1 starts with the survivors going to a real Buddhist ceremony at Huangpu Mountain’s Mi Tuo Temple. Leslie, the Christian radio show host, refused to participate. Jeff interviewed her about it. This is what Leslie had to say, “I’m not a religious person but I have a relationship with Jesus Christ.”
When Jeff questioned her further, indicating that he had informed her it was just a welcome ceremony and not of a religious nature she added, “I really didn’t wanna be disrespectful, but it felt like worship.”
Jeff went on to inquire if she was worried it would hurt her in the game at all. Her reply, “You know, I’m really not. I’m just gonna play the game and be me. If they like me, great. If they don’t, I’ll deal with that.”
Jeff announced to everyone that they were leaving their suitcases behind. Courtney was not pleased as she said she had no bra on at the moment since she was well covered with a sarong type thing over her bosom.
The reply from Jeff, “Well, that’s gonna make you either very popular or a big liability if you let it get in the way of challenges or camp life.”
The survivors are divided into two tribes.
Yellow – Zhan Hu (pronounced, “John Who”) means “Fighting Tiger” and is comprised of Frosti, Dave, Jaime, Erik, Peih-Gee, Ashley, Sherea and Chicken.
Red – Fei Long (pronounced, “Fay Long”) means “Flying Dragon” and is comprised of Jean-Robert, Leslie, Amanda, Courtney, Denise, James, Todd and Aaron.
Each tribe is then presented with their scroll, “The Art of War” and a map to their camp.
At the Fei Long (Red) camp Aaron privately says he sees himself as a leader due to being the only one who knew how to row, instructing the others, but he wants to be subtle to prevent a target on his back.
The tribes find a pot of rice waiting for them.
It starts raining and Amanda says, “Oh no, it’s raining!”
Leslie says, “It looks like the big guy upstairs is providing.”
Courtney talks privately to the camera: “I’m sorry. I am completely irritated. I seem to be – like – sort of marooned in a land of – like – flight attendants and Sunday school teachers. Like – come on! I live in the city – like – people who live in New York don’t act like this. This is – like- my own private hell. They’re – like – exactly the kind of people that I – like – don’t like being around.” Then she goes on to mock them. (Yes, after “like” talking like that!)
Jean Robert and Todd find the tree mail spot, a large Chinese statue with a chest in front of it. Jean Robert questions Todd about his true identity, not full believing he is just a flight attendant. Jean Robert tells Todd he thinks he is a bit “devious”. Todd says he is telling the truth about who he is and asks Jean Robert not to spread that around and make people think he is a threat. Jean Robert says he won’t spread his suspicions around.
Meanwhile, back at the Zhan Hu (yellow) camp, the survivors have found some salvageable wood. They are discussing building a shelter with it. Chicken says even if they get it up it’s not enough room for all of them to sleep under.
When the others ask him what he suggests he says they should “build something” and then, when they are trying to figure out what to use to build and stuff, chicken remarks, over a small tree they are scrutinizing, “Do you think this here’s gonna hold up? Seriously! Come on.”
The tribe does not seem to appreciate Chicken’s “help” and nobody seems to know what they are doing. Chicken is leaning against a tree telling the camera, “I’m just giving my opinion and nobody wanted it so I’m done suggestin’. I won’t do that no more.”
Peih-Gee is really upset, watching everyone compare dance moves and laugh. She has this to say to the camera, “We’re like the tribe who’s laughing and hanging out. We have no food and no fire. I think I’m on the lazy tribe. Just seeing like half the people wanna just stand around and talk about the most ridiculous stuff I’ve ever heard. I can’t connect to the wackiness out here. Like – I mean – I would probably do it at home but I just – I – I feel like – so serious.”
Now there is some discussion over where to put the shelter. Chicken does not want to put his two cents in, simply stating, “I’m just along for the ride.”
Now we return to the Fei Long (red) camp where everyone seems to be working together and coming along with their shelter. Leslie is talking to the camera about James. She says he is like Superman. Then she goes and shares a brief talk with James, finding out he is a gravedigger and not used to dealing with people. Leslie offers some advice and says, “You be you and you’ll be fine.” And they hug.
The camera is back at the Zhan Hu (yellow) camp again, where the survivors are huddled together in the cold, wet, rainy darkness. Daylight breaks and Chicken asks what they want to do. Chicken is cutting trees up. Ashley is very sick – dry heaving. She is shivering and says she has chills.
Dave comes over to Ashley and says, “I know – if you’re feeling bad – don’t start thinking you’re on the block just because of this – okay?”
Ashley grouses to the camera about how she has wrestled sick, even with 104-degree fever. She must be feeling pretty awful then if it’s worse than that.
Now Dave is talking to the camera with his “other face” and says, “Ashley – I thought she’d be a lot stronger person, considering her profession and how her demeanor is but if Ashley’s health stays the same – Ashley is going first.”
The red camp gets their tree mail about the challenge and decide they should start reading, “The Art of War”. The first thing they learn is they need a commander. Todd suggests Aaron who accepts, but is concerned about it making him a target. Todd tells the camera he did that on purpose.
Now the yellow camp gets their tree mail and Frosti thinks he has an idea what the challenge will be like and he volunteers himself to lead it, since he is good at that kind of thing, having the Parkour abilities. Frosti tells the camera, “I’m gonna use my skills to do whatever I can to get my team across that finish line first and win.”
Everyone is at the challenge location now and Jeff is interviewing them. Jean Robert says being fully drenched and trying to sleep is the worst part so far.
Jeff explains the two tribes have to line up under a long dragon or tiger, holding the poles, and maneuver it through an obstacle course, solving a puzzle at the end by placing their poles in the proper holders. Each pole only fits one way in one holder so they must get it exactly right.
The challenge begins with James as the head of the red dragon and Frosti as the head of the yellow tiger. Jeff says, “The tribe that works together the best will win this challenge.”
Frosti forgot to lower the drawbridge and lost some time but the tribes were still pretty much “neck and neck” most of the time. Fei Long wins immunity and fire. The immunity idol is a Chinese stone statue.
Back at the yellow camp, Peih Gee is crying. Dave is holding her and telling her to go ahead and cry. He addresses the tribe, while still holding her, “As I see it right now we are all still a complete tribe and I’d like to see us function as such, pretty please. We have unfortunate business to do tonight. It sucks. It is a fact of life.”
Now Peih-Gee, still crying, addresses the group, telling them they need to pitch in at camp because there is too much to do.
In the next scene Peih-Gee is trying to get Chicken to offer an opinion on the location of the shelter but Chicken is not biting. Ashley is not pleased that Peih-Gee is trying to take on a leadership role because, she says to the camera, leaders don’t cry after a challenge.
Finally, the discussion about who to get rid of starts. Chicken is very outspoken about wanting Ashley gone. He asks what she has done in the past three days. Frosti reminds Chicken that she has been sick and Chicken says he wasn’t asking if she was sick, he was asking what she has done in the last three days, so, apparently, being sick is not an excuse in Chicken’s eyes.
Sherea says it is between bossy Peih-Gee and Chicken. Dave says it’s between Chicken, Ashley, and Peih-Gee and he is not writing down Chicken’s name because they are both older, with more experience.
Now the tribe arrives at the first tribal council. They light their torches. Jeff interviews them. Peih-Gee admits it is harder than she thought it would be. Chicken says it took two days to build a shelter that should’ve been complete by dark on the first day. Lack of leadership is the stated cause of their troubles so Jeff asks for a show of hands, who is willing to step up and lead.
Dave raises his hand immediately, Peih-Gee right after. Jeff asks Dave why he would be a good leader. Dave says, “We don’t have time to mess around. I did not want to step into this position at all and, you know what, if I don’t step up and kick someone in the butt to do something, I don’t know what’s gonna happen but I will step up and do what I can to help get this tribe together and proficient and then focus on the challenges at hand and hopefully get it nice and tight.”
Now Jeff turns to Peih-Gee, asking her what she could bring as a leader. Peih-Gee says, “It is hard because you don’t wanna be bossy – like – these are grown people and I don’t wanna be sitting around trying to tell people what to do but on the other hand – somebody has to kind of do it if it’s not happening naturally, if you’re just floundering around = you’re gonna die out here.” (Ashley was giving evil looks during this speech)
Now Jeff asks if they’ve just made their first tribe decision, to which Peih-Gee exclaims, “Yes!” bringing both arms up in a gesture of triumph. (Ashley looks so irritated. I doubt that anyone wants Peih-Gee to be a leader.)
Now Jeff asks how everyone is planning to base their votes tonight. Dave says, “Trying to trim the least productive people out of it.”
Chicken says, “I’ll base my vote on tonight the person who has done the least in the last three days – it’s cut and dry.”
Ashley expresses concern that she is a target because she was sick and unable to work. Jeff asks Chicken how he fits in. Chicken says, “I don’t fit in. You know I don’t. But, I’m not the one that’s done the least amount of work and you’re out there in the middle of a jungle – you ain’t got nuthin so do you want the guy that don’t fit in or you want the guy that works? If we don’t open our eyes we gonna be seeing you a lot.
The votes:
Frosti – Chicken
Ashley – Peih-Gee
Erik – Chicken
Sherea – Chicken
Chicken – Ashley
Courtney – Chicken
Dave – Ashley
Peih-Gee – Chicken
When Chicken is told he is voted out he loudly exclaims, “Damn!” and when Jeff snuffs his torch, and says, “The tribe has spoken.” Chicken says, “I heard em’.” Now Chicken walks down the path and disappears.
Jeff announces the surprised tribe that they now have fire since they get to take their torches back to camp with them. (Do they even watch the show? Why are they surprised?) Jeff also presents them with flint.
Chicken gives his goodbye speech to the camera, “It was kinda a shock that the young group didn’t come together and I don’t think they ever will. They’re just playing by the seat of their pants. I put a lot of thought into it but I never got nowhere. There’s no one more proud to have been such a small part of one big adventure. It was truly and honor to be here, without a doubt.”
