Watching Survivor

The preview this week went all the way back to episode one, and centered around Joe Don and the Triad (Azmyth, Ben and Jay). Foreshadow much, guys? With that, I had a pretty good idea how this episode would pan out, and watched to see if I was right.

We get to the meat of things this week in the Captain’s Quarters, where they are already planning what will happen what they’ll do next week. They’re well fed, rested and quite confident that they’ll lead the Black Crew to victory again.

And sue me - I still like Azmyth. Sigh. But not as much as I like Louie! Louie is so sweet. But Azmyth, well. He’s hot. Except for the fake accent. (STOP! WITH THE ACCENT! AUGH!)

Everyone is gunning to get Azmyth out of power, and to break up the triad. Azmyth doesn’t help this feeling at all by serving his crew a ¼ cup of gruel for breakfast, which is all they have until late that night. Louie jokes about losing weight, but says he’s got enough to last him and get him through.

Azmyth - in his stupid fake accent (PLEASE STOP THAT!) gives the crew a list of things to do and unleashes his plan to work Joe Don and Louie to death so they’re exhausted by the time the challenge rolls around, increasing their chances of staying in power. He sends Joe Don into the water to scrub the hull and check for barnacles, and Louie climbing up and down the sails, while the Captain and crew eat their breakfast of eggs and fruit and vegetables.

Louis says “They’re stacking the deck, because those greedy bluecoats want more gold!”

Azmyth belches. Sexy.

Pirates to the Quarter Deck!
Another day, another bag of gold! Time for today’s expedition. Today’s treasure was hidden by the purser, and he placed the first clue to his treasure under a floating marker at the west side of the island.

Black Crew: Azmyth, Ben, Jay, Laurel and Jupiter
Red Crew: Joe don Louie Kendra, Nessa and Krista

They get into the longboats, and with Cameron Daddo’s firing of the pistol, they are off! Black crew gets to the floating barrel first, and Ben dives into the water for the bottle clipped underneath the marker. As he comes up - he took some time - the Red Crew, lead by Louie and Joe Don, get there and Joe Don is a rock star, diving down and coming back up before the Black Crew even has their bottle open. They read the map together, and take off again.

Now they row east to skulls point, where they search the island for a cannon, and two hidden ropes. Black crew gets to shore first, but Red Crew is right behind. It’s a long run uphill, and the Red Crew is losing ground, and Louie felt like he was going to pass out. They get to the top together, but Azmyth finds the rope first, and starts pulling. Louie finds theirs and gets the Red Crew pulling hand over hand in an instant - it’s the same thing they’ve been doing on ship day after day.

They’re too weak though, too tired. They switch around, and the Black Crew gets theirs up first. They find a riddle, and walk away to start reading and deciphering it. The crews must solve the riddle and find the x - finding the x they have to dig under it and find the keys to the treasure. Red Crew gets their clue, and Louis says “Use our heads, think twice, act once” and since they stay there to read the clue, Kendra finds the x and the crew, and they take off running and run right past the Black Crew, who are clueless.

But smart. The Black Crew follows the Red Crew, gets to the X, and the teams are dead even as they pull out the keys to the treasure and the next clue. They have to follow the map to the bunker, and using the dials to figure out the right combination to open the door and get to the treasure below.

They are still dead even, though the Black Crew is a few steps ahead and get to working on their combination first. They work hurriedly, but in the end, the Black Crew pulls out yet another victory - and the Triad remains in power.

The treasure is worth another $35k, and Azmyth and his boys again do the 60/40 spilt, as well as slip Jupiter another $500 for keeping them fed. Bids for the pardon go in, but Joe Don knows that since he is required to sell it, he’s going to be black spotted, and likely cut adrift.

Kendra approaches Jay to make a deal and plead her case before the black spots go out. He agrees and makes a deal, knowing that if he saves her, that Kendra will have his back - and not a ‘with a machete they have my back’ like the others. In the Captain’s quarters, they decide to take out the threat while they can, and put up Joe Don. Jay pleads Kendra’s case, and they decide to also Black Spot Nessa - knowing she’ll buy the Royal Pardon. They put up Louie as a pawn, in hopes that the fact everyone loves him will save him and Joe Don will be voted out.

The crew gets together and feels out the possibility of Mutiny. Unfortunately, Jupiter says straight up that she’s “not so much” for it, and there goes that plan. They’ve also tipped their hand to the Blue Coat Boys, as well, as we all know Jupiter will run back and tattle on them.

Louie is a big father figure to the girls, his “Ladies”, and he takes the time to teach them about the ship and how to do things around. Louie’s very open about trusting his ladies, who are like daughters to him.

Joe Don is really strong, and if he goes, it may make it impossible for the Red Crew to ever win and get the Triad out of power. It makes it difficult for the crew to make their decision. And Kendra has to promise to vote Joe Don off, because she gave her word.

Pirates to Midships! It’s time for Pirates Court!
Azmyth is quite open with why he chose where to put the black spots. Except for with Nessa who she says is up because she might be unhappy. He put up Louie as a pawn, and willing to take the risk. but he knows Louie is well loved. Joe Don is up because they have to be careful about treats on board.

Nessa says she’s lost three times, and says if she’s blamed for being dissatisfied by that, that’s fine. She calls out Azmyth for not embrasing the compition, preferring to stack the deck.

Louie says he likes the men, but he does love the ladies and is happy to see all ladies casting ballots. He couldn’t be a prouder father to all his girls, who are strong. He has never once lied to anyone, and never will, and he’s ready to take their test.

Joe Don skips the formalities, and says the fact is that Nessa more then likely holds the pardon, and it’s a popularity contest. If Louie is the father, he is the warrior. They need a warrior to light the way, and speak up and call it like it is. He calls out Kendra, who he saved in the last challenge, and towed her to shore. The Father can’t keep them safe, they will be picked off one by one. They need him.

Each of the girls admits to being torn, knowing they can’t afford to lose Joe Don, but they don’t want to lose Louie either.

Cameron Daddo is doing better at this point at asking questions, and getting information. He’s growing into the roll a little more each week. And he’s still cute, with that accent and all!

Time to Vote!
(CUE DRUMS!)
(CUE VIOLIN!)

As expected, Nessa wins the Pardon - and has no votes for her, so she did not need it anyway. The votes are 3 to 1, and Joe Don is to be cut adrift. Before he is though, Nessa makes her way to him, and they share a lip-lock that was quite sweet, actually - for a showmance. Sealed with a Kiss, Joe Don climbs down, and is cut adrift.

Joe Don feels he played the game the way he wanted too, and hopes Nessa, “a sweet lil girl, really cool” goes a long way.

Next Week:
The Pirates come face to face with ghosts from the past, and will a mutiny spell the end for Azmyth?

Pirates, Pirate Masters, Cameron Daddo, CBS, Mark Burnett, treasure, Picton Castle, ship, Joe Don, mutiny