by Gina Scarpa

 

A helicopter flies over the waters of the South Pacific, carrying well known Survivor players Coach and Ozzy. Cut to Jeff Probst, who is standing outside of the Redemption Island arena. Oh yeah, it's back. Cut again to the new crop of Survivor contestants including a mortician, a self proclaimed scholar of the game, a cowboy, and Russell Hantz's nephew.

 

The players have been divided into two tribes. The Upolu tribe is made up of Albert, Brandon, Christine, Edna, Mikayla, Rick, Sophie, and Stacey. The Savaii tribe contains Dawn, Elyse, Jim, John, Keith, Mark, Semhar, and Whitney.

 

Ozzy comes runnin' out of the copter looking like a grown up Mowgli from The Jungle Book, with Coach right on his heels. John, who only wants to be called by his last name (Cochran) immediately points out that the former players can be assets to the tribe. It's determined by breaking eggs full of paint that Ozzy will join Savaii, while Coach heads to Upolu.

 

The first challenge gets immediately underway but it's only between Coach and Ozzy. There's obstacles, puzzles, everything one would need to prove themselves as a worthy competitor. Whoever wins a little food, as well as flint, for their tribe. Though for just a second it looks like Coach maybe in it, Ozzy (with a little help from his tribe on the puzzle) finishes first... and thus, the winningest Survivor in the history of the game continues on...

 

Cochran describes Savaii the best as the 90210 tribe and life over at their camp seems harmonious and laid back. One person at Savaii who is not calm, cool, and collected is Dawn. She seems like she's starting to crack under the pressure and we're only one day into the game! While older people tend to be targeted, I'm hoping Mark (aka Papa Bear) makes it far in the game - he's both interesting and entertaining.

 

The vibe at Upolu feels a little different, with Coach having to find a way to fit in and avoid being the first one voted out. Edna sees the good in him, making her the only person who has a brain enough to see that he is valuable. Christine goes running off looking for the idol and moves that target onto her back, which I'm sure Coach is grateful for.

 

For the first tribe challenge, players must make their way through an obstacle course in order to win immunity. Ozzy may be beast in challenges but he needs everyone from Savaii in order to win. Semhar promised that she would be good at the coconut basketball part of the challenge but she is a complete disaster and basically costs her tribe the game. Coach and his Upolu tribe win immunity - and the Dragon Slayer lives on!

 

On a side note, let's hope being Russell Hantz's nephew doesn't bite him in the butt if his tribe finds out because Brandon seems like one hell of a competitor and very different from his uncle.

 

Back at Savaii, of course, Semhar is a target but Ozzy tries to save her because, as Jim put it, he's weighing the snuggle factor into his decision. Since Dawn has gotten her emotions in check, she's off the radar which leaves Cochran as the other target.

 

At tribal, Dawn admits that she's feeling much better and then everyone starts directing attention towards Semhar for being unable to put a coconut in a basket.  When the spotlight of doom hits Cochran, instead of being quiet and trying to win people over, he goes off on Semhar.  Who else is shaking their head at this guy, who says that he knows the game so well?  Lesson #1: At tribal council, shut it.

 

Fortunately for him, Cochran lives to see another day and Semhar is the first to be sent to Redemption Island.  I have a feeling she's not going to like it over there by herself.

 

Survivor: South Pacific airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on CBS.

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

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