Trouble in paradise

Just because you win three challenges in a row, doesn’t mean you have to get along. Through Blair Witch Project type shots, we get to see the ladies of Fei-Long trying to figure out how to get a good night’s sleep with Jean-Robert still on the island. Seems Jean-Robert needs to cuddle and stay warm, no matter who he’s next to, but all of the ladies are repulsed by his wandering arms and snoring.

Leslie says he should be the first to go if they ever go to tribal council because he doesn’t seem to understand the social structure of the game. As in try to get along, without touching.
The next day, James catches a crab. The tribe argues over whether or not James should eat the crab or they should boil it and use the water to flavor their rice. The argument over one crab gets on James’ nerves. He says that his team has a slow learning curve. He asks if he is the only one there that actually went to Barnes & Noble to read a survival guide before coming on the show. Seemed like a good enough question to me. They all look stupid as he says he doesn’t even eat outside at home, but at least he’s as prepared as Crocodile Dundee.

Zhan-Hu isn’t doing much better…

Since he wiped out at last week’s challenge, Dave seems to feel that he has something to prove. As the tribe disagrees about whether or not to light a fire under a brick in the fire pit, Dave goes and gets another brick and adds it.

He says that it took as long for him to get a brick as it did for them to decide if they needed one. Frosti points out that if he would have waited another 20 seconds, he would have realized there was already a brick there. Phei-Gee tells Dave that he needs to rest. He rambles on and on about going strong and the camp sorting itself out. Yeah, he’s tired.

The first challenge

There were two boats connected by planks. Three-on-three, the teams had to engage in hand-to-hand combat to push the other tribe members off of the planks. Fei-Long sat Courtney and Todd out to even the teams. The women were up first. Sherea, Phei-Gee and Jaime have no problem knocking Denise, Amanda and Leslie off. Score a first for Zhan Hu! Next, James, Jean-Robert and Aaron knock Frosti, Dave and Eric off. One for Fei-Long. Two more rounds of the Zhan Hu ladies taking no prisoners and Zhan Hu prevails. As a prize, Zhan Hu gets kerosene, a lantern, rope, pillows, blankets and a tarp (thank God!). They also get to kidnap one Fei-Long member until the next challenge, just as Fei-Long did last week. They pick Leslie, who looks a little too thrilled to go and embraces her new neighbors. Leslie is confidentially (…here we go again…)given a scroll, and told not to read it until she is alone at the Zhan Hu camp.

Finally, Leslie feels at home on the island

As Leslie and members of Zhan Hu wade in the lake and visions of that brain-eating amoeba in the warm lakes of Arizona cross my mind, I wonder why Leslie is so gullible. As the tribe members surround her (everyone smartly keeping their heads, and more importantly – their NOSES, above water), they entice her into conversation about what else? Her own tribe. Ever so eager to bond, Leslie tells them little personality pros and cons of Fei-Long. She says that as a Christian, she is misunderstood over at Fei-Long. She also says that the morale is much better at Zhan Hu.
Uh, they just won their first challenge and they want you to talk. Helloooooo.

Jerry Springer ain’t got nothin’ on them…

Jean-Robert and James discuss the weakest links on their team, Leslie and Courtney. James says that Leslie and other Christians pray so much because they know they are going to hell. James, some things you just don’t say out loud. Especially with the cameras rolling…Besides, He can hear you.
Courtney and Todd are standing nearby as Jean-Robert accuses James of not wanting to vote Courtney off because he likes her. James denies it, and I kind of believe him. Baby got NO back. Or front, for that matter. Anyways, Jean-Robert says it would be cool to win $1M, but if you can win $1M and get some ass too, that’s even better. Ewww!!! Just what we want to hear from a man who hasn’t really bathed or changed his drawers in six days.

After hearing that exchange, Todd says his attitude toward Jean-Robert and James has changed. He says they are trash, and the trash needs to leave. It would have sounded a lot cooler if he’d said the trash needs to be taken out. But I understand. He’s only had rice with no crab juice for six days.

Once again, Leslie has a secret…

Leslie reads the scroll, which is the clue to the identity of the Zhan Hu immunity idol. She is supposed to give it to one Zhan Hu member. She gives it to Jaime. After all, Jaime is her new best friend.
Jaime reads the clues, and says the idol is probably right in front of her face. It was. But I’m not telling…you have to tune in ‘til the end…or Tivo it.

Next Page: The Second Challenge