Watching Survivor

-:15 It’s here, it’s here it’s HERE! Thanks again to ATI for live streaming the east coast episodes for me! Saved my behind on Big Brother Craze, and totally saves me here too! Buckle up, kids - It’s almost Live Bloggin Time!

:00 Welcome to Survivor! These survivors will be sent back into time and experience a culture in place for 5000 years. The survivors are different walks of life, from the lunch lady to the grave digger, professional wrestler to a 20 year old student, the youngest survivor ever. The adventure will play out in the shadows of a temple and AHHH! SNAKE! (phobia time!) on the shores of a lake of 1000 islands!

The ultimate challenge - 16 people battling the elements and each other. Adapt or be voted out. 39 Days. 16 People. 1 Survivor!

Oh - I LIKE the new theme, with the Chinese undertones - Nice!

A gong sounds, and the Survivors are led into a Buddest temple. Chicken says walking in was an adventure, he’s like a kid in a carnival - he loved it. Peih-Gee says being Chinese and being in China is amazing, her Grandfather passed away a while ago and would be thrilled.

Jeff welcomes everyone - and tells them they will partake of a Buddest ceremony, and it’s not a worship ceremony. The people want them to feel welcomed. Denise says it was emotional, and she was almost in tears. Courtney was irreverent, and they bowed for days, and were there forever! Swear to god! Leslie felt like it was worship, and she believes she couldn’t kneel to any other god. She walked out of the ceremony.

Jeff calls her out on it, and says Leslie didn’t make it through the whole ceremony, and she replies that she didn’t want to be disrespectful, but it felt like worship. She says she’ll play the game and be herself. If they like her, or not, so be it.

The Survivors are told they’ll be going into the game with only the clothes on their back! Ashley has on HUGE boots, and Courtney says she doesn’t have on a bra - Jeff says she’ll be popular, or a liability. They separate into tribes - The Yellow buffs - are Fighting Tigers, Zhan Hu Tribe. Red Tribe are the Flying Dragons, the Fei Long Tribe.

Jeff continues his introduction, and tells them the single greatest Document for strategy is the Chinese Art of War, and gives them a copy of it, as well as a map to their new home. Fei Long heads to the right, and Zhan Hu to the left. Good luck!

The scenery is STUNNING… Fei Long is on the lake in the middle of China, Aaron says he doesn’t think his tribe knows what’s going on, and sees himself as a leader but tries to do it subtly as possible. They find their camp, and their rice and ax. There is no flint, and it starts to rain.

Courtney is already irritated, marooned in a land of Sunday school teachers and flight attendants. She calls it her own private hell, it’s people she doesn’t like to be around - always “its so great, amazing, good job!’ Ha!

They find their place for Tree Mail, but nothing there. The flight attendant (Todd) is accused of being devious already, by Jean Robert and isn’t sure he’s really a flight attendant. He tells him he knows he’s clever, and watch out. Todd says hey, don’t tell people I’m sharp. I’ll do anything to stay here. He tells us he doesn’t want people saying Watch out for Todd already! $1 million is a LOT of money!

:14 Commercial! (Bear with me guys as I get everyone’s names down! (laugh))

:17 We come back to watching the other tribe find their camp. Sherea is having problems because she’s in heels, and says it is already way harder then she expected. Ashley helps the guys find some wood to salvage, and Chicken says that it won’t be big enough for everyone and wants them to build one. Chicken says he gots an opinion just like everyone else. He tells us he’s got a lot of experience over “these characters” He’s just givin his opinon and no one wants it so he won’t do that no more. MONKEY!

People have trouble believing Ashley is a wrestler. She tells us it’s helped her prepare for this game. It’s a positive, and she knows her fans want her to win.

Peih Gee says they’re on the lazy tribe - people are standing around and dancing and talking about things that don’t matter. She’s so serious. It starts to rain, and they finally start thinking of shelter. They ask Chicken what he thinks and he says whatever you want we’ll do it.

Cut to Fei Long, where they’re building away on their shelter, and the Grave Digger (James) is like PUSHING trees down. He’s a monster. Todd says they’re working really well together and getting along great. Leslie tells us James is amazing, he’s superman, and works and works. She says he’s quiet so asks him what he does and looks kinda shocked when he says “bury people.” She tells him to be himself, and he’ll be fine. He tells us that stratagizing and social aspects will be hard, but will hustle in the challenges and make them love him.

Nightfall - Zhan Hu. it’s raining again. The heavens have opened up, completely with lightening, and the tribe looks MISERABLE. Next morning, they realize that where they put the shelter was a bad idea, and Chicken asks them again what they want to do. He figures it was a reality check for everyone, and maybe they’ll come together. Chicken takes the lead and starts building a shelter. The women head off to look for fronds, and Ashley gets sick and lays down.

She tells us it was rough, and she’s pretty sick. Chills, and dry heaving. Everyone feels bad for her. She says she’s wrestled sick before, she has to stay in the game and hopes it will pass. Dave tells us that he thought she would be stronger, but if her health stays the same, she’s going first.

:26 Commercial!

:29 We’re back, at Fei Long, where they have their first Tree Mail! Bad ass Dragon. The untested enemy you must face today… will you lead your tribe to victory, or be the first to depart? Immunity challenge is coming up! They decide to look at the Art of War, and they choose Aaron to lead them, and Todd pushes the role on him, because he doesn’t want the position himself. Aaron says it is just going for it, and he’s ready.

At Zhan Hu, they read their tree mail, and Ashley says she’s doing ok. Frosti says he’s ready, and he’s a procur athlete - basically you go from point a-b fastest way possible, over and through.

Time for the Immunity Challenge!
Jeff asks about the first three days. Chicken says it’s as well as expected, they’re doing ok. Jean-Robert says the worst part is being drenched and without sleep. Time for the first challenge

Each tribe will be teathered too and carry the ceremonial mascot - awkward and heavy. Race through the course, then the leader will race across to lower the bridge, then return to free their tribe mates. They all continue, solve a puzzle, and put their pole in the correct hole. They’re playing for immunity and fire!

One more thing - running shoes for the challenge, and they get to keep them.

Survivors ready? GO! James is at the head of the Dragon, Frosti at the head of the Tiger. GO! Denise falls, and they are dead even even on, the tribe that works together will win… Still dead even up the first platforms! Fei Long (Red) is in the lead, Frosti close on their heels. James is having problem unclipping, and Frosti and James leap across the first wall, Frosti had to go back to release the draw bridge, James first back to the gate, Frosti and he clip in at the same time, and they’re neck and neck again!

Into the swamp, they have to stick together, the Yellow Tiger is struggling, they keep dipping it down. Fei Long is first to the finish platform, and starts putting their poles into the correct order - Zhan Hu getting no where with the puzzle.

Fei Long (Red) wins Immunity and Fire!

Zhan Hu - date with Jeff at Tribal Council where the first person will be voted out of Survivor: China.

:38 Commercial!

:42 We’re back and rejoin the Zhan Hu tribe as they get back to camp, and Pieh-Gee has a moment where she has to cry, and (who is that again?) asks them to act like a full tribe, and they have a crappy decision. Peih Gee says it’s hard and they need a shelter, and starts taking charge of making the shelter. Chicken is asked his opinion again, and he won’t really say anything. It’s starting to get to Peih-Gee, she says it’s not worth it to her if he won’t step in with his strength.

Ashley says that if your going to start barking out orders and be a leader, you can’t cry after a challenge. Ashley says she feels a million times better, and would hate to think one day of being sick would dominate. Chicken asks Frosti what she did the day before, and he defends her and says she was sick. Chicken says that wasn’t the question. He feels like Ashley is going, because she ain’t done nuthin. Frosti won’t say what he’s thinking yet.

The going thought is that Peih-gee and Chicken are the two people at risk. It’s time to make stuff happen.

Time for Tribal Council!
Time to light the torches, because fire represents life. Let’s talk about the first few days. Jeff asks Peih-Gee if it was more then she bargained for. She says it’s astounding, the there’s mud everywhere, and they don’t have a good shelter. Chicken says it took two days to build a shelter, he don’t want to grab the bull by the horns.

Jeff asks who would step up and be a leader. Dave says he will, as does Peih-gee. Dave says it’s time to step up, and he’ll do what he can to pull the Tribe together. Peih-gee says someone has to do it, floundering around is death. Jeff asks if it was a tribal decision, to seek a leader? Peih-Gee says yes! And Jeff cautions her that the vote hasn’t happened yet.

Dave says it’s time to put the least productive people out. Chicken says his vote will be who’s done the least. Eric says that contributions are huge, especially knowing how long it takes to build a shelter. Ashley thought she was fitting in for a while, but now she feels like she broke down for a day, and if you put that into the equation, she’s technically done the least work. She says she’s feeling uneasy. Chicken says outright that he doesn’t fit in, but he’s not the one who’s done the least amount of work. Do you want the guy that don’t fit in out, or the guy who works. If they don’t open their eyes, they’ll be seeing Jeff a lot.

It is time to vote. Frosti’s up first. Ashley votes for Peih-Gee, as she feels Dave is already their leader. Chicken votes for Ashley - wrong place, wrong time, he says. Peih-Gee votes for Chicken and says he’s lived up to his name, he’s been too chicken to step up and they don’t need that.

Time to tally the votes!

Votes: Chicken, Ashley, Ashley, Peih-Gee, Chicken, Chicken, First person voted out of Survivor: China, Chicken - who lets out a “DAMN!” that makes Frosti jump. The tribe has spoken. “I heard’em.”

Jeff says that they will go back with their torches, and they will have fire, and gives them flint as well. Time to head back to camp!

:55 Commercial!

:58 Next time, on Survivor: China…. At Fei Long, the poker player’s bluff is called, Dave takes command at Zhug Hu and the pro wrestler comes out of Ashley.

Chicken tells us the young group didn’t come together, it was a shock and he doesn’t think they will, they’re playing by the seat of their pants. But there is no one who is more proud to be a small part of a big adventure. It was an honor to be there.

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So, what did you think of the first episode? I already don’t like Leslie or Ashley… any one sticking out to you yet? Who is your front runner favorite after the first episode? Sound off!