I am cautiously optimistic. I cannot allow myself to become enthusiastic about this new season of
Survivor because the last time I did that Jeff Probst and his accomplices (fellow producers) pulled a bait and switch and assaulted us with the Phillip Sheppard Show for most of the season. Lesson learned.
One of my hard and fast rules regarding reality television is to be disdainful of hasbeens (returning players), however, I am happy to make exceptions when Boston Rob, Phillip Sheppard, and Russell Hantz are not invited to play, and the newbies entering the game know that they are going up against hasbeens and are good with it.
That being said, let's review some of the finer moments from the season premiere.
Colton threatening to smack Kat with his paddle if she didn't stop yelling at him made me almost like him.
Candice massacring a coconut while she plotted revenge against those responsible for her banishment to Redemption Island made me smile in anticipation of the good times ahead. A pissed off Candice is a fun and entertaining Candice.
Candice slaving at the Redemption Island camp while Rupert lounges about like he's on holiday can only be fueling her aggravation. An even more pissed off Candice has even more potential.
Gervase conveniently forgetting that he was useless and had severely handicapped his team during the Immunity Challenge made his obnoxious victory celebration that much more ludicrous.
Hayden sheepishly admitting that he and his fellow tribemates are a bunch of meatheads saved us the trouble.
Which brings us to our favorite shit stirrer. When Jeff is not making the survivors spill their guts at Tribal Council, he is exploiting their dysfunction by openly mocking them during challenges. All for our amusement.
All of this fun almost makes one enthusiastic for the new season. Too bad history tells us that we must not label a season of
Survivor "good" until we are sure that none of the survivors are pretend secret agents disguised as Boston Rob disciples.
Time will tell.
