by Gina Scarpa

 

It's back! It's finally back! Survivor and Jeff Probst can throw as many seasons as they want at me and I'll never get sick of it. Besides, this season, they're splitting up the teams by gender AND having them live at the same beach for Survivor: One World. That's bad news for Colton, who was hoping to bond with the ladies and have them keep him safe til the end. It's also not good for TarZAN (as he pronounces it) and Troyzan - seems each one stole the other's idea for a nickname. Perhaps this will open their eyes to how corny it is and just go by their birth names that their parents gave them. Not holding out hope, though.

 

The men's tribe name is Manono, while the women's is Salani. Once tribal lines are drawn, the two groups immediately start hurling confident statements as well as insults at one another. Jeff gives them 60 seconds to grab everything they can off of a truck that will help them with their camp life. Michael steals things from the women; most importantly, their axe. The ladies take off into the jungle with coconuts and bananas while the men look like they're ready to set up a Four Seasons.

 

On the way to the camp, alliances form among the women. They're not wasting any time! Both teams arrive at the same time and, as you might imagine, are none too pleased to see one another. Two chickens run through and suddenly, they're teaming up to catch it, agreeing to split them no matter who catches them. Chelsea catches both and the women decide to keep them, ignoring the arrangement they made minutes earlier.

 

Afterwards, Colton is immediately singled out by the guys for trying to make friends with the women. If Colton were smart, he'd act as a spy to keep himself in the game as long as possible. The women have no fire and try everything from begging to flirting to offering to take their clothes off to have the men help them. They end up resorting to stealing fire during the night while the men sleep. Way to be self sufficient and have self respect, ladies.

 

Sabrina stumbles upon an idol but unfortunately, it's for the Manono tribe and according to the note with it, she has to give it someone before tribal council. Cue Colton, who tries to hold back happy tears at the chance that he'll make it past the first episode.

 

For the first immunity challenge of the season, players must jump off of a platform, onto a net, then make their way across a balance beam, and get to their tribe mat. The tribe that gets everyone to their mat first wins (and takes flint back to their camp). Several people ignore Jeff's instructions to land on your back and put your hands on your chest. Courtney, in particular, seems to have seriously injured her wrist and medical is called in.

 

The challenge is stopped and Courtney is taken out of the game to determine the severity of her injury. Jeff offers the men a victory right then and there or stay, compete, and earn the win. The men choose immunity, a move that the women won't soon forget.  Back at camp, Sabrina offers the idol to Colton, along with some advice about how he can keep himself in the game.  Before heading off, Alicia vows to go after Christina, for making too much of an effort with the guys.

 

At tribal, Alicia and Christina come to blows, talking over one another, telling one another to shut up, and rolling their eyes when the other is talking.  I'm starting to think grouping the women together was a bad idea.  Once Jeff lets them have it out, he reveals that Courtney has broken her wrist in several places and needs surgery.  No one will be voted out tonight.

 

How do you feel about an episode of Survivor without a finished challenge or a vote?

 

Survivor: One World airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on CBS.

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

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