Control Freak Runs the Premiere of Survivor Samoa

Survivor is back to the beach after two seasons of fields and deserts. Survivor Samoa premiered tonight with twenty castaways. I usually don't like larger casts and tonight was no different as we saw little of half of them, making me wonder who will become the break out star in a few short episodes later. The game began similar to last season with first impressions playing a large role. After rowing in the two tribes, Foa Foa wearing yellow and Galu wearing purple, met Jeff to decide a tribe leader. For Foa Foa we had Mick, although Jaison was close to getting the vote. While it came down to either Shambo (awesome so far!) or Russell with Russell getting the title handed to him. Their task: decide who would take part in the first reward challenge. Now that is something new and I'm liking this leader thing a lot! Let's hope they don't kill it off next week and keep it going.

Russell and Mick chose their players for the challenge: swimming would be Jaison and Jon, moving heavy logs would be the other Russell and Erik, being agile were Marissa and Yasmin and the smart ones were Liz and Shambo. Some of the picks were interesting, for instance everyone was surprised Jaison was picked to swim as they believed African America's generally can't swim. Luckily Jaison can, considering he was part of a water-polo team. The "smart ones" were also some interesting picks as Liz is Asian, she felt Mick chose her for that stereotype. While she was flattered, she didn't want people to feel the negative stereotypes as well. Shambo was also chosen as smart... ok? I mean she seems cool and all but by no means the smartest, based upon looks alone. Good thing she proved me, and her tribe, wrong though!

The challenge began and was simply for flint, a good enough reward for the first day I guess. Jaison and Jon were out first, they had to swim out to a key. Both were neck and neck until they had to actually swim where Jaison took a strong lead. He was back first while Jon struggled to return, passing out at the mat. It was then up to Russell and Erik to move the logs with Russell using his lead and finishing first while Erik struggled to finished but still proved to be a tough player, impressing his tribe leader. Yasmin was able to catch up slightly to Marissa during the balance beam but it all came down to Liz and Shambo. Shambo was behind to start but came back towards the end. Thanks to Jaison's lead though Liz was able to finish the puzzle first and won flint for her team. They celebrated of course while the Galu tribe was humble. Some weren't happy though, especially with Jon. Erik didn't like the fact that he seemed defeated so I can see Jon being an early boot.

The two tribes then left for their beaches where Fao Fao arrived first. It was nice to finally see the beach setting in high definition but Russell ruined it. Mick was chosen the leader on the first day but didn't want the title, knowing it could be used to force a target on him. Russell took the lead instead and made alliances with the "dumb girls". That's his plan... make alliances with all the girls and stab them along the way. Only problem was that Betsy didn't trust him right off the bat and I hope she takes him out. Over on the Galu tribe they were trying to pick themselves up after the loss. Russell was proud to be on the tribe but others felt he wasn't taking his leadership role seriously. Jon took control and tried to tell everyone how to build the shelter. Shambo was very vocal, to us at least, about Jon's talk but no work. She caught on that he is a smart guy but still felt that Russell should take power. Shambo doesn't seem to fit in with the 20-something crowd tribe she is stuck on. If she doesn't realize that soon she could go and our entertainment for the season is gone early... sound like dejavu coming our way.

Later that night we got a glimpse of the evil Russell they have been promoing lately. He's not doing things Evel Dick style, more like ass hole style to everyone. First he told them all that he was almost killed during hurricane Katrina. He was "in his house when the flood came and stayed on his roof for two days", little does his tribe know he never lived in Louisiana and the story was a complete lie. Then while everyone was asleep he empties all their containers of water and burned ONE sock. I don't get it... why would you sabotage your own tribe? Maybe it will work but I hope not considering he's a douche. The next morning everyone woke up wondering where their water was. It caused a small spat between Ben and Marissa, which would carry on a bit later, and left Russell smirking all morning long.

For their first immunity challenge the tribes split up with six running a course while four would put together a word puzzle. The six would run over three large hills, pulling each other over as they went. Once they got to the platform they then had to pull a crate up where the puzzle doers would put together the puzzle out of the crate. Galu was out of the gate early and over the first hill first but towards the second Foa Foa was only slightly behind. In the end though Galu used their momentum to win the challenge after almost screwing up with the puzzle. Luckily it seemed "smart" Shambo realized how the puzzle worked so she may be hiding some smarts we don't know about. Galu then celebrated more then I've seen a tribe celebrate in a long time. It as nice to see as it seemed very real and hopefully it continues!

Since they just lost the first tribal council it was then customary for Foa Foa to decide who was the weakest player to send home. Mike was the first to throw a name out there, saying that Ashley should go for being weak. Now here is the problem, Mike is over 60 years old and pretty much over weight. He's probably also the weakest there, yet everyone thought his idea was correct of getting Ashley out since he spoke first. It seemed like she would be heading home until Marissa spoke up to Russell. She told him that she was getting weary of his talks with everyone on the tribe. She's not the only one to see it, but she's the only one who told him about it. With that Russell then went to work, turning everyone against Marrissa simply because she "doesn't trust him". Um... come on people! You don't get the girl out because she spoke out against the idiot of the tribe! I just dumped all your water out and you're helping him?!?!?! I don't get it. Luckily Betsy still doesn't trust him and I smell a Russell Revolution brewing!

It was then off to tribal council where we had some interesting call outs on the first night! I can tell these tribal councils are gonna get crazy. First things first, Betsy said straight out that Ashley was the weakest. She then went and defended herself, making a very good case. It then came down to Russell, Marrissa and Ben arguing. Not sure how it happened but it did and Marissa there and then made the realization that she made a mistake by telling Russell her true feelings. He also made it clear to everyone that he IS making alliances with them all, if they don't realize it after that Tribal Council they all deserve to be voted out one by one. Just not before Russell please! In the end Marissa's torch was snuffed thanks to Russell's dirty work. It was an ok opening to the 19th season, I hope it gets better from here and hopefully they don't focus so much on the idiot Russell.