With 26 seasons under its belt, Survivor has an impressive cast pool to choose from, but even still, most of the people they bring back leave me feeling underwhelmed. This season, with half the cast being returnees and the other half on the opposing tribe being their loved ones, is no exception. Six of these cast members could be found in just two seasons, and for four of them, it is at least their third shot (for the right people, like the women of Fans Vs. Favorites or Boston Rob, this works, but I’m not so sure Tyson, Candice, Tina, and Rupert fall into that same category). They even found someone willing to admit to being (almost) related to Colton. Hayden is at least an interesting choice. I wouldn’t mind seeing more crossovers like this, though the Big Brother/Amazing Race crossovers have largely fallen flat.
Galang
Aras Baskauskas (Panama)
Candice Cody (Cook Islands, Heroes Vs. Villains)
Colton Cumbie (One World)
Gervase Peterson (Borneo)
Kat Edorsson (One World)
Laura Morett (Samoa)
Monica Culpepper (One World)
Rupert Boneham (Pearl Islands, All-Stars, Heroes Vs. Villains)
Tina Wesson (Australian Outback, All-Stars)
Tyson Apostol (Tocantins, Heroes Vs. Villains)
Tadhana
Vytas Baskauskas (Aras’ brother)
John Cody (Candice’s husband)
Caleb Bankston (Colton’s fiance)
Marissa Peterson (Gervase’s niece)
Hayden Moss (Kat’s boyfriend and Big Brother 12 winner)
Ciera Eastin (Laura’s daughter)
Brad Culpepper (Monica’s husband)
Laura Boneham (Rupert’s wife)
Katie Collins (Tina’s daughter)
Rachel Foulger (Tyson’s girlfriend)
After the first night alone with their loved ones (which will extend the season to a longer than usual 40 days), Probst breaks the news that they are actually competing against each other. More than half of them are looking forward to the challenge.
As if that weren’t enough of a twist, each tribe will immediately vote someone out. Lame.
Tadhana: Laura, Laura, Laura, Marissa, Laura, Laura
In an early landslide, Rupert’s wife Laura is promptly voted out.
Galang: Laura, Laura, Candice, Candice, Candice, Laura, Candice, Gervase, Candice
Candice follows Laura’s exit. Did Candice really just get voted out over Colton? And who is this other Laura?
They will be heading to Redemption Island rather than being completely out of the game. It doesn’t end there. Probst has an offer. Are they willing to sacrifice themselves for their loved ones? Rupert agrees, and Laura joins the returning players, a big blow to his tribe both in terms of experience and physical contribution. John does not make that same sacrifice, as Candice thinks she can beat Rupert in a duel.
Within 15 minutes, Tyson starts a fire for Galang. They are pretty much off to the fastest start ever. Obviously the other tribe will not be so lucky.
Monica and Colton agree to work together, despite the fact that he stabbed her in the back when they played together in One World.
Brad put his foot in his mouth right when they hit the beach, saying without thinking that he might not go all the way in challenges to protect his wife. As a former NFL player, I doubt he’ll really throw anything, and he makes that point clear to his tribe. Then he starts building an all male alliance. They have five guys or, as he puts it, four guys and a gay guy. Granted, that gay guy does become the swing vote. Does he really want to be aligned with four alpha males, no matter how good they are in challenges?
Unlike his brother, golden child Aras, Vytas grew up addicted to drugs before finally being arrested. He has since been clean for 14 years and is now a yoga teacher.
Colton blames society for the fact that he’s an ass. They treated him badly for being gay, so now he must strike back. I get his point, but a few tears do not negate his own personal accountability.
Over on Redemption Island, Candice is already out for revenge against the tribe she was on for a few minutes. Meanwhile, she finds Rupert to be annoying because she’s doing all the work. He is wisely reserving his energy while she supports the both of them.
At the immunity challenge, their task is to race across a series of obstacles in the water, retrieve a boat with puzzle pieces, and return back to shore to make a puzzle. Tadhana is off to an early lead despite not having made fire. Gervase is hopelessly stumbling his way through the course, even with Aras dragging him. Galang can’t row their boat either as Colton threatens to hit his team with a paddle. Following a lackluster initial performance in the water, Galang pulls ahead as they dominate the puzzle against completely hopeless competition. Galang wins immunity and flint, leaving Tadhana fireless for now.
As the failed puzzle makers, Katie, Caleb, and Ciera are at the top of the chopping block. Lucky for Caleb, he’s not going anywhere because of Brad’s alliance, and they seem to have ruled Ciera out as well. The other possible target is Marissa because Gervase had an over the top celebration after his team won, a reaction from which she quickly tries to distance herself.
Votes
Katie
Marissa
Marissa
Marissa
Marissa
Marissa
With 5 votes, Marissa has been voted off the island. I don’t think they will particularly miss her, but voting her out because her uncle was gloating is one of the silliest excuses I have seen.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of Survivor: Blood Vs. Water Episode 2, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on CBS.