With First Impressions serving as our opening theme, one must consider that the players who made comments during the truck ride will be important.
They were, in order: Erinn, Tyson, Stephen, Sandy, Sierra and Coach.
The editor's choice was certainly partly determined by the irony behind the conflicting first impressions. Still, we should always remember which players were chosen to speak first. While some can be big pre-merge characters, there has to be some end game players in this group of 6 and possibly the winner.
Which players missed their first opportunity to make an impression on the viewers?
Which players made a strong first impression on the viewers and their tribe mates?
The winner is more likely to be found in the group that made strong first impressions UNLESS, as Jeff noted, some players are able to change the first impression that they made.
With Jeff mentioning something along the lines of "Working to Change Perceptions" in the introduction, after announcing the twist and during Tribal Council, that becomes a corollary to our original theme.
Who Are You?
These players made very little impression on the viewers and their tribe mates didn't tell us anything about them. Their chances of being named Sole
Survivor are weak.
Candace and Debbie weren't even given the opportunity to make an impression on the viewers. How many noticed that it was Debbie who told Sierra when they arrived in camp that "You couldn't have done what we did today"?
Although one these two women could make it to the end (we've seen many characters without a story do it), I don't think they will have much impact on the story.
Joe: He was in charge of the compass during the trek but he remained in the background until his only confessional that happened just before tribal council: "Between Sandy and Caroline, it's kind of a tricky decision being that it's pretty close as to how they will perform in future challenges and how they will add to the moral of the camp. The first option is Sandy, just based on how old she is, but Caroline can be very bossy and it's gotten worse. In this environment, that bossy streak will get old pretty quick."
(That last sentence was pieced together from another occasion as he didn't have his shirt at the end)
Joe gave us nothing of personal insight. If first impressions hold up, it looks like his role will be limited.
Sydney : Despite a few comments here and there, the first impression Sydney gave the viewers was when she struggled as much as Carolina in the challenge. Then, with Spencer, she failed at solving the table maze, costing Jalapao the challenge.
After the challenge loss, Sydney had a confessional: "Tribal council is the one thing that I was dreading. I don't want to vote for Sandy. I mean, she worked her ass off at the challenge but I don't know who else to vote for."
At tribal, Sydney told Jeff that Sandy welcomed them with "open arms but that, the next day…she didn't do much around camp. She was going off by herself a lot."
When we heard her say that she didn't want to vote out Sandy, I thought she shouldn't be so nice because the vote could easily swing against her. She couldn't have made a very good impression on her tribe except for Spencer who seem to always be with her. Tribal council should prove painful for Sydney sooner rather than later.
Taj : She was seen on screen with Coach when we heard Jeff ask if they were ready to start the game.
We heard Taj during the trek talking about melting her baby fat in the heat.
We saw Taj blowing a kiss at the immunity idol right after Jeff had said it was the most important thing in the game.
In the lake scene after the challenge loss, we had Joe, Sandy, Stephen, JT, Carolina and Taj. Carolina was trying to get her team to work together and it was Taj that spoke up, telling her not to get defensive but to listen, adding that she can be whiny and that she causes tension and frustration in the group.
Taj told us: "When we first came back, we were hot, we were exhausted. We lost and the first thing you're going to tell somebody is you need to clean up?? Clean up the outdoors, are you kidding me?"
Again, Tribal Council, where "Nothing good ever happens", Taj looked as if she was in charge but she didn't speak once. We saw her smile when Sandy told Jeff how pissed she was by the first vote and that she was in fact a crazy woman. We also saw Taj agreeing when Carolina recognized her faults.
Although I have slightly more hope for her future than the previous players, it's troubling that the editors didn't give Taj a chance to present herself to the audience. She's the invited celebrity of the season but she didn't get the treatment that Gary Hogeboom, Dan Barry, Ashley Massaro, Jean Robert or Crystal Cox received. On the good side, I will venture a guess that the main alliance in Jalapao is formed by Taj, JT, Joe and Stephen as the lake scene suggested. Taj directed the conversation that switched the vote from Sandy to Carolina and she looked very secure, even comfortable, at tribal.
Brendan: His only noteworthy moment came after Coach told him his plan.
His confessional: "Coach, right away he came in and said; "I want to tell you how I'm playing this game." That throws up a red flag, like 1: Is he lying? And 2: We're here to play and win a game and I don't think any of us wants a coach in that process."
Maybe Brendan made a good impression on Coach but what about the viewers? Did his confessional serve to put doubts in the viewers' mind on whether Coach can succeed or was it to set the table for later when Brendan blindsides him? We will need to hear more from him before we can determine what his role will be.
For these people, it could be a bad sign that all we saw of Carolina was to explain why she became a boot target. We had heard some off camera remarks from her, like "We see some booty" when Stephen ripped his pants or when she asked Taj "Have you seen any tarantulas yet?"
Carolina's anger at Sandy as they arrived to camp started her downfall as it showed her bossiness: "We've been walking 4 hours carrying pots and water melons… and I say great; you've been chilling here and we still gotta do stuff."
Soon Carolina was giving orders to Taj, Sydney and JT as they worked on the shelter. Carolina said: "It's hard for me to keep my feelings to myself but I'm hoping that my tribe really understands that shelter is extremely important and we buckle down and really get going."
Carolina was ignored during the trek and all her scenes were used to explain her boot. The players that were ignored in the premiere could have the same kind of arc.
"They Were Who We Thought They
Were":
For good or bad and in varying degrees of importance, these players made impressions on us during the opening:
Sandy: It didn't take long to realize that Sandy will be outspoken. She talked about Stephen: "I think he's like a geek. I think I should be able to lead him around real easy."
Reacting to the tribe's vote, Sandy had a lot to say: "I'm pissed. I didn't know it was going to be like this, that we vote before we got to know each other. When one of the youngest ones drops out first, you'll see who can handle the heat."
Jeff didn't appreciate her celebration after he announced the twist. He reminded her that she had been outcast by the tribe. Sandy's behavior during the rest of the episode showed that she didn't learn that lesson.
Receiving the nickname "Psycho Sandy" wasn't a good sign either.
Sandy was still pissed when she arrived in the helicopter. She said: "I'm glad I'm here first and that they can't see me with the emotions of the first vote. I'm hoping to make it 39 days; I'm going to show 'em. Maybe I am the older woman but I'm older and wiser. Let the games begin."
Sandy then read the welcome note. She told us: "I'm looking for the idol, that's what I'm doing… When I first got here and I saw the supplies…I thought that I could build this camp that they won't even like anyway because an old lady made it and it's still not going to keep my name off that piece of paper. So, I'm going to look for the idol. That's the bottom line; you have to look out for #1."
For someone who wanted to show she was wiser, the editors made her look foolish when she hid the note in her bra and asked if "they" looked even and then, later on, when she didn't know what 10 paces meant or where to find the palm tree. The first thing Jalapao asked her when they arrived was: "Why isn't our house built?"
Sandy wasn't apologetic: "Screw you… Why the hell do I even want to waste my energy in trying to get into your good grace when I wasn't even, when I, when it wasn't even an option? I know what I have to do and that's find that idol. I want to outwit them, trick them one time at least, let them write down my name and I go: "No, look here! I have the idol." I'd love to do that!"
As the tribe worked on the shelter, Sandy told them she was going to use the restroom but went to look for the idol instead. Her prolonged absence made JT comment: "That's kind of antisocial."
Despite all this, Sandy really performed well in the challenge, taking charge in building the staircase and overtaking the lead that Timbira had gained during the race. Jeff even said: "The two people nobody wanted are now leading their tribes."
After the loss, Sandy said: "I'm glad I'm here today. I hope I'm here tomorrow but I believe my tribe is voting for me so I'm going to look for that immunity idol."
At tribal, Jeff asked Sandy if she tried to change their perception that she was an old lady. Sandy responded: "No because I'm the old lady no matter what but that old lady can also fit into this tribe of all these kids that could be mine!"
Jeff had to ask: "Sandy, are you a little crazy?"
She answered: "I'm a lot crazy!"
The big character of episode #1, nothing was held back to show that Sandy was in fact the crazy old woman. The vote that saved her could mean that she has changed the first impression of her tribe but her confessional and her surprise at Tribal told us that she's still an outsider. The impression we get is that she's working against the themes of the season and that would spell failure.
Spencer: He spoke to Jeff about Jalapao's scramble: "We'll be alright, we'll make due."
Spencer had a confessional about the trek: "I'm 19 years old. As far as I know, I'm the youngest contestant ever on Survivor. I'm obsessed with it. I've watched every season. I love the physical aspect, I love the challenges. But, the trek was treacherous, it was hot."
Finding him alone with Sydney after the challenge loss, Spencer was thinking of voting someone else than Sandy. Sydney agreed.
Spencer told us: "My first impression of Sandy was that she could be a liability in challenges but she proved today that; not so much. She did a great job. She's really into this so why should we base it on first impressions and just get rid of her."
Joe, Stephen and JT joined them and told her that Carolina had started giving orders, JT saying: "She's more than welcome to take her ass up there and finish the shelter herself."
Spencer had a good introduction which gave us a chance to get to know him and the way he intends to play the game. It would be surprising to find him in early danger and he could profit from a tribal switch but he looks isolated and his edit was weak. It didn't help that we didn't hear him talk during Tribal. He has potential, not much but potential.
Stephen: His comment during the truck ride showed that he was already in game mode: "We have this old lady and it's encouraging to have her because you know you won't be the first to go."
Stephen made a bad first impression on Sydney who voted against him.
He showed that he was aware of his predicament: "When I saw at least one good old fashioned Southern boy, I thought; I'm a little bit screwed. I don't really see us connecting on too many levels. I don't know how much he's going to like the anxious New-York Jew."
Although we didn't get much from Stephen, we still got an introduction, some humor and some intelligence as we expected. He seems to have gotten himself into the alliance which was the main question regarding his prospects. His weak presence makes us wonder if he can last until the end.
JT: He had a confessional during the trek: "I'm from Alabama. I manage a black Angus cattle ranch. I'm in hot weather everyday so I'm accustomed to the weather and mosquitoes and things of that nature. I know I'm gonna be good at catching fish and I know I'm gonna be good at providing. But I know that puts me up in front of everybody else as a threat eventually. So, the biggest challenge for me is going to fit in with the people."
JT took the lead during the trek.
Day 2 showed Jalapao building their shelter. As Sandy sat and watched and Carolina gave out directions, JT commented: "Things at camp are shaping up OK. We've got our shelter build now but we haven't got our floor done. It's gonna get better, we're going to work on it a little more."
Of note, JT was the fastest guy to the raft during the challenge. He was followed by Tyson, Spencer, Joe and Brendan. Coach and Jerry faded quickly and arrived last.
At tribal, JT told Jeff that they first voted out Sandy to make the tribe stronger.
JT was shown as the leader of Jalapao, the one who guided the trek, who led them in building the shelter, during the challenge and in pointing the vote at Carolina. He has told us what he plans to do to contend for the win but also how it can put a target on his back. We will need to see him provide for his tribe if we are to believe that he can live up to the first impressions he made. He will need to step up to help Jalapao avoid tribal council or else he could be the first target after the merge because he would have put himself in front of everybody else as a threat. Despite not having a confessional during the truck ride, he is the one that I see with the best story in Jalapao.
Jerry: He impressed Brendan who asked him what he did to stay in shape. Jerry played the comedian as he answered: "Eat potato chip and watch TV… I work out, I go to the gym."
What he told us was: "I just got back from Afghanistan on a 12 month tour. I'm in the Army National Guard and I'm a First Sergeant. I have a hundred men under me and I know how to give orders. In Survivor, every body has their own individual mind so I'm going to try to keep it as low-key as I can. I don't want to be in charge. If you're in charge, you don't last too long."
Jerry wasn't the immediate big character that he could have been but he did follow his plan by staying out of the lead. He should fit in well with the type of game that Coach wants to play. We should get an opportunity to know Jerry better.
Erinn: She had the opening confessional about Tyson: "Love him. He seems like a good guy to have around".
As we heard, Tyson didn't share the sentiment while Brendan voted to eliminate her immediately.
During the trek, Erinn had the first confessional for Timbira: "What the hell am I doing here? I'm a hair stylist. The last time I went camping, I was maybe in the 7th grade."
Working with Brendan, the guy who had voted against her at the start, Erinn handled the table maze very well, winning it for Timbira.
Erinn has to fight some bad impressions she made on Brendan who voted against her at first and Tyson who saw her as a bitch. Her confessional about being a hairstylist couldn't have made a very strong impression on the viewers either. Her performance during the challenge however could have helped change that perception. It wasn't underlined by the camera and we didn't hear anyone praising her but I will be very interested to hear what Brendan, Tyson and Coach have to say about her in the next episode. Any positive comments would tell us that she will be the important player that her 2 early confessionals would indicate.
Coach: He was all business, first talking about Sierra: "I have an unfortunate feeling she's going to
crumble."
Coach was the first person that Jeff addressed after the initial scramble. He gave his impressions of Timbira: "It seems we all knew what we were going to get. We got all the water, we got all the beans. We got every thing we needed."
As Jeff explained the twist, Coach was smiling: "Game On! Let's play hard right from the beginning. Let's get rid of the weak players even before we start and this is going to set the tone for the whole time."
Showing Sierra on screen as he spoke left little doubt where his vote was going.
During the trek, Coach told us: "I consider myself a renaissance man, an adventurer. I'm a University head soccer coach and, the polar opposite of that, is that I'm the conductor and artistic director of a symphony in Northern California. I've always been a leader, by inspiring and pulling out the best in everybody (Debbie shown on screen) because, like we know, a team is only good as its weakest player."
He then told his plan to Brendan: 'I want to change this game. It's survival of the weakest, survival of the people that can't survive in the wild. You and I can change this game by making the strong survive."
They shook hands on this.
Coach's confessional continued after this: "If we look back at our Ancestors, whether it be American Indians, the Norse Vikings or the samurai warriors, they prayed for an opponent that would be worthy enough to defeat them and die with glory and honor in battle."
Arriving at their camp site after dark, Coach saw the job that Sierra had done with the shelter and commented: "Sierra, she is a great, sweet kid, she's got a sweet spirit. She did do a lot of work and we appreciate that… but, you know, let's face it; you can't change what we did together as a tribe. It bonded all us and, unfortunately, Sierra wasn't there. Obviously, I'm pushing for the strong to survive. So, I think that Sierra, even if she's awesome, she's gotta to go."
Coach was the player that made the strongest impression. The season should revolve around Coach's plan to take out the weak players. Will he be successful or will he be blindsided? His alliance seems to include Brendan, Debbie, Jerry and Tyson. Are those 5 really on board? His confessional about the ancestors hoping to find an opponent worthy of defeating them leads me to believe that he will be successful: He will find someone that will beat him in the end!
Changes:
They surprised their tribe mates and the viewers. Both could be changing the first impressions made so both will demand close observation:
Tyson: He had a confessional about Erinn during the truck ride: "The younger Brunette, she comes off to me like
being the bitch."
Tyson was with Sierra, Debbie and Candace at the lake when he decided to take some liberties. He commented: "Being from Utah, you'd think I'd be a shirt and tie, nerdy glasses but I'm probably not the stereotypical Mormon. ("He's naked" laughed Sierra) "I'm probably more of a free spirit. Having somebody that could make you laugh in an environment like this where everybody is dirty and tired, I think people appreciate that."
("It's your show Tyson" said Sierra. Will it be? )
His confessional continued: "But, when it comes down to it, I want that million dollars. Expensive furs on my shoulders, jewels on these pretty fingers,
we're talking Big Times! I'll wear a tiara, a man-tiara. Do they make those?"
At the last moment, when Tyson was carrying the barrel of water out of the lake, we saw that Coach had been standing there all along. He was laughing but I wonder if he was impressed.
Maybe Tyson impressed Coach more at the challenge because, as Jeff said: "Tyson is really pulling the weight for Timbira…Tyson is taking a big heavy load for Timbira."
Tyson surprised his tribe mates and the viewers with his atypical behavior but he also showed he's a strong competitor. He could also surprise Coach by pulling the women to his side. Erinn said she loved him and Sierra found him hysterical. Will it be Tyson's show as Sierra put it? I'd be surprised that the editors would have let us hear the trivial things that Tyson plans to do with the money if he were to win but it could be Tyson who decides which way the alliance flips.
Sierra: She got off to a rough start as she explained during the ride: "I've been sick. I've got some real bad tonsils. I've been trying to hide it so I don't get voted off."
She wasn't successful as Coach noted and the tribe's vote confirmed.
Emotionally, Sierra told Timbira: "I think I could have brought a lot to this team. I'm sorry, I have a fever but that's your choice, fine by me."
We never saw an expression of joy or relief from Sierra when the twist was announced. When Jeff scolded Sandy by saying: "Smiling is not what I'd be doing. I'd be thinking about: How do I start working to change an impression I have given these guys?" Sierra was seen deep in thoughts, apparently taking in the lesson.
Arriving at camp, Sierra said: "I'm here at Timbira alone because I was looked as a weakness and that's really hurtful. They don't know me at all. I bring a lot, a lot of good strengths to this."
After reading the note, Sierra said: "People may look at this as a really stupid idea but I'm going to continue to build my camp. They say that first impressions are everlasting but, hopefully I will change their opinion of me. I could look for the immunity idol and protect my butt but my prerogative is to look good in the eyes of my crew. I mean, if you don't redeem yourself, you're pretty much in the doghouse for ever."
The shelter that she built looked good because it drew praises from Jerry ("She built a lot") and Coach but her task of redeeming herself wasn't quite accomplished as we heard in Coach's confessional.
As we went to Timbira at the start of day 2, we were accompanied by a light melody delivered by wind instruments while horses were running free in the savanna.
(Jalapao's music was much tenser with percussive instruments and their scene was preceded by a flock a birds flying away as if something had scared them. It will be interesting to see if a pattern emerges)
Despite the upbeat music, Jerry told us that they were out of water.
It was Sierra who commented: "We've already emptied the water that we pulled off the truck so, me, Debbie and Tyson decided to go down and fill up our canteen."
The scene was Tyson's moment to make an impression but it really served to show that Sierra was, if not integrating, at least feeling better as she laughed at the naked Mormon.
The challenge was another opportunity for Sierra to impress her tribe. As Jeff said, she took the lead building the staircase puzzle. Her determination kept Timbira close and gave them a chance to win.
Sierra showed better than anyone else that you can fight to change the perception created by first impressions. Her confessional was right on theme. It could be very telling that the camera didn't show any sign of Sierra's reaction when Jeff told Sandy and her that they weren't eliminated. The viewers were left with an impression of determination rather than one of relief. It would be quite a story if she were to turn around that first vote into a victory but she still has a lot of work left to do before we consider her as a contender. At least, she has taken a step in the right direction. The next step will be to see if her story holds up when the events don't require it.
Since editing is open to interpretation, I would appreciate hearing your comments on how you perceive the contestants.
