Okay, that's not entirely true. Wait, that's not true at all. I don't love racism, but America does. The new season of Survivor kicked off, and I have to give myself props for calling this one. I was really hoping that this new "twist", dividing the tribes by race, would maybe be positive. I don't know how it could be positive, but I was hoping, I really was. The only positive thing I could say, is it really gave each team a good camaraderie, although we saw good camaraderie when they were divided into gender and age as well, so I can't say the race thing is what brought it together.
I'm still torn on whether to not to watch the show. I think I'm going to stick with it, holding out hope that maybe, just maybe, we'll come away with something more then what's to be expected.
The show starts off like all the others, Jeff telling the gangs on the boat they have however many minutes to do their thing, and then jump off the boat and get to their camps. We get to meet the members of the teams, no one really standing out yet, besides the hot guys. Am I racist to think there aren't any hot black guys? What's up with that?
What's interesting is Jeff didn't tell the groups they were being divided by race, I would have liked to see their reaction. Instead, we have people comment on something they've obviously known about for awhile, at least since they put on their team colors, way before we meet up with them in the boat. A few people think it's a bit, um, RACIST, to do it, but say it in a nice way. Probably the way the producers told them to say it. But regardless, the teams row their way to their respective beach. Luckily, there's one person in each group who decide to perpetuate the stereotypes. All except in the white group, interesting. Of course, they call themselves the "whitey" group, which is, I have to say, funny. Surprisingly, I didn't see any boobies. I thought for sure I'd see some boobies popping out, as everyone tries to hurry. I'm sure we'll see boobies soon.
Everyone starts out building a shelter and getting some food. Good idea. Can I take this minute and talk about race? What I find interesting is all the Asian people are different races within the Asian culture. I see, it's the "American" version of Survivor. A few people begin to stand out as leaders, i.e., the first people to get kicked off. Sekou, from, you guessed it, the black tribe, begins suggesting ways to put the shelter together. They also start trying to make fire, but he gets tired and goes to sleep. Oh look, a lazy black man on Survivor. It's like old times.
Over with the Asians, Cao Boi becomes the dominant male. I don't know what's more interesting, the fact that he pronounces his name, "Cowboy", which is totally awesome, or that he's a nail salon manager, because that's not a stereotype at all. When Brad, one of his fellows Asians has a head ache, Cao Boi does some sort of Asian trick saying he has "bad wind". My roommate has bad wind sometimes, we just light a match or something. After doing some sort of a ritual to get rid of the bad wind, poor Brad has a red mark on his forehead, which he doesn't really mind because his headache is gone. Now that mark just hurts to high hell.
Over with the "whiteys", they're doing alright. Jonathan was able to snag two chicken off of the boat, stealing one from the Asians. I half expected the black guys to steal it and the white guys to get mad, "I hate it when these black guys steal our jobs, I mean chickens". I don't think he meant to, it just happened. So he says anyway. A tribes mate of his is Jessica, her profession? "Rollergirl". I hate all these people. She does know that's in reference to a porn movie right? Oh, but she doesn't like to be called "Rollergirl", or even her given name, Jessica, no, she prefers, "Flica". Yes, that says, "Flica". Like the horse. I can't stand it when people give themselves stupid ass nicknames. Not only is her name stupid, so is she. Remember those chickens Jonathan worked so hard to steal? Well she walks by the pen, which in her defense was just a box turned upside down, and lifts it up. The chickens run out, happy to be free. They're fast little suckers. Everyone tries to chase them, but to no avail. The best part about it is they can hear the chickens clucking or crowing or whatever it is they do, but they can't get to them. Hahah, Flica.
We finally get to the challenge. The winning teams will get flint, and the top team will get a fire making kit, in case they're all morons and can't use the flint. Three teams will get flint and immunity, one will get nothing and have to go to tribal council. The challenge consists of constructing a boat in sections, paddling out, lighting a torch, coming back, putting four puzzles together, using the braces from the boat to build a ladder, putting the puzzles into the ladder, everyone climbing it, and then lighting the final fire. Puzzles and swimming, I really hope it doesn't work out like I think it will.
The challenge starts and immediately the Asian team is doing well putting the boat together, as well as the Hispanic team. Look, I know all the teams have traditional Survivor tribe names, but will we really be calling them that? No. The African-American team is just having a really hard time, in fact, they don't even get their boat together by the time the Asian team makes it back with their fire. They do catch up enough to really be neck and neck with the white tribe. Unfortunately, the white people beat them. I mean, beat them to the fire. Luckily there is some payback. The losing team's able to choose someone to go to Exile Island. Oh, we're doing that again? Because they don't know any of the dynamics yet, because of the chicken fiasco, the AA team chooses Jonathan from the white team. It's sorta messed up, but interesting none the less. This time Exile Island isn't nearly as cool, it's just a sandbar. Boring!
So the black team is first to tribal council. The team is set up, three girls, two guys. Of course the guys are on the chopping block. And of course it's Sekou, who tried to be the leader but then got lazy on them. Also, two of the girls have bonded, making the third one a swing vote. The guys try to get her, and when it's time to vote, she sides with the ladies and votes out Sekou. The best part about the voting is to see all the different wants they've spelled this poor guy's name.
It's still the game of Survivor, no doubt about that, but like I said, I'm not convinced it's a good thing.
