Survivor Cook Islands - Episode 1 Discussion Thread - NO SPOILERS

[dr.strangelove]

Lets leave discussion to episode 1, no discussion of SPOILER info for future episodes. The previews are not spoilers, so feel free to talk about that. Just no "outside" info about who may win or who does well.

First off, GREAT START!! I love the scramble at the start and I loved the chickens. I think the chickens will come home for dinner, literally.

The racial divided tribes went well. Not too much shock, but plenty of interesting discussion. I found it interesting how the group reacted. I think this will be an eye opener for the next week or two for a white buy from NYC like me.

The shelter building seems to get cut out more and more each season. I enjoy seeing the interaction. With four tribes it is hard to show them all, but thats why I think they should do a first episode with no evictions to let us get to know the survivors.

I think Hiki made a huge mistake in getting rid of Seko (sp). The team will need someone to make tough decisions and he was a powerhouse of a man. I can see a very physical challenge being difficult without him. I think HIKI went from being the most athletic tribe to the least in one move. I think Stefanie made a bad decision. I never cut out a physical player early. It is often easy to get rid of physical threats later, but use them in the beginning. The mistake some players make is playing the tribe game for the first few episodes then trying to turn over to the individual game. Its an individual game from the first move, and she could have set herself up in a power position, but I think she dropped the ball. She is still the weakest link on the team physically and I suspect the remaining three "youngins" will turn on her.

[MemphisTiger]

1. I think they made a good decision in voting out Seko

He promised fire and all these other things but never delivered. He "needed a break" when he was getting close. His mistake was setting himself up as the leader early, big mistake.

I like the asian tribe so far. They seem to have a good combo of phisical strength and intelligence. I don't know how long they will remain as four tribes before merged to two, but it's very interesting so far. I'm sure the caucasian team will cut the girl who lost the chickens as soon as possible.

What happened to Probst not hosting this season, I thought he was done after last season?

[dr.strangelove]

2. No Probst signed on for two more

I understand he is now a full producer and gets a piece of the action too.

I can't get too down on him for fire since no tribe in the history of survivor has been able to start a fire on the first day without help from technology. I also think the lack of a leader will hurt this tribe, and the resting thing is usually subject to editing. It may have been a 10 minute break after three hous of work, but it seems like a huge break after no work.

I like the asian tribe too. Though cowboy is gonna get annoying.

[MemphisTiger]

3. I guess that would make me come back for more too

I don't think nate and the swing vote lady from the black tribe will go far just because the other two women seem tight and the ones that stay close like that seem to make a decent amount of time. We'll see. It seems the husky hispanic guy gets lazy next week, that should be a fun episode.

The fire thing isn't that hard, he just had it ALL wrong. Maybe it's the boyscout in me. The problem came when Suke said he would bring fire and indicated that they wouldn't get fire without him. Nate is next if they go to tribal next week. I still don't get why they sent Jonathan to exile island considering his team finished third and he was not close to being their leader, a bit of a dumb move in my opinion.

[dr.strangelove]

5. Fire

I'm an Eagle Scout man, the fire thing on a tropical island where it rains twice every day is pretty freakign tough.

[MemphisTiger]

7. When they were trying to start it it was very dry, but he didn't

have any air getting to the bottom or any kindiling around. Just didn't know how to start a fire. You would think going on the show you would google "how to start a fire" I'm just sayin'

[FormerDittoHead]

4. Does Jonathan from Raro tribe sound EXACTLY like Alan Alda?

Jonathan was the one who got sent to Exile Island.

I SWEAR - if you close your eyes and listen to his voice - he sounds JUST LIKE - I MEAN EXACTLY LIKE ALAN ALDA!

This isn't supposed to be funny or anything, but my wife agrees.

If you still have this on Tivo, check it out!

[MemphisTiger]

6. I was thinking the same thing

[babylonsister]

8. I had my doubts about the racial divide, but I think it's going

to be fun to watch, knowing that eventually those left will merge. I thought Sakou (sp?) needed to go. He was entirely too-too full of himself. Did you hear his sign-off, still tooting his own horn even though he was the first one voted off? I'll give him this; he had confidence! :rofl:
I think Stephannie was caught between a rock and a hard spot; she was odd (wo)man out. If she had picked a woman, the other woman left would have turned on her. Not an enviable position, but we've seen survivors survive worse.
Should be an interesting season!