Ask Brooke & Murtz: Survivor: Tocantins – Episode 1

Brooke: Murtz, I think this season has your name written all over it! There are four twenty-something year-old women for you to drool over. Multiple models. And, it’s Brazil! Land of the Brazilian Bikini. You are LOVING it aren’t you?

Murtz: Brooke, Brooke, Brooke. Can you believe that we are already on Season 18? Who knew we’d be eight seasons removed from that terrible 10th season. Haha. I am kidding. Now let me break down some terrible news about this season (particularly for Murtz). Most of the girls this season are in relationships. I know, heartbreaking. You know Sydney is totally my type, but she is taken. Carolina is. Not sure about Erinn. I guess that leaves Candace and Sierra. What do you think?

Brooke: Murtz, Murtz, Murtz. Go ahead and knock season 10, because Season 11 Guatemala was the best ever :). But you’re right, time flies! Season 18. Wow. My vote for you is Candace hands down. You know I will always side with a fellow attorney. Were Sydney not taken though I would have guessed you’d go for her. Don’t give up so easy though! There isn’t a ring on her finger yet is there?

Murtz: Don’t get me in trouble now Brooke! Haha. Candace huh? What is it with me and attorneys? You, Eliza… now Candace. Maybe I should have gone into law after all. Wait a minute. If I did that, we wouldn’t bewriting this together. So come on. Brooke, it’s Valentine’s. Tell me what an ideal way to win Candace over would be…

Brooke: It may be cliche, but, “diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” We attorneys aren’t cheap :). However Murtz, you do have quite a way with words so I think you could sweet talk your way in. Speaking of the holiday, what did you do for Valentine’s Day Murtz?

Murtz: Believe it or not Brooke, I did nothing. Well, actually I just watched the premiere again. Sad huh? It’s okay, you can say it. Let’s get to the picks!

THIS WEEK’S BEST PLAYER

TYSON

Brooke: It pains me to say that Tyson seems the front runner after episode one. Obviously he’s athletic and personable. It also wasn’t a bad idea on his part to quickly drop his drawers to win favor with the ladies on his team. My gripe though is that Tyson seems completely full of himself and needy of being the center of attention. He better learn to keep that in check or he may become an annoyance to the more mature men on his team. Does his bio really say “looking awesome” is one of his hobbies? Puh-lease.

Murtz: Tyson had a very strong opening episode. The player that is described as “the next Jonny Fairplay” made a strong impression. He did well at the challenge and it’s like I said in my TVGuide interview, his long and lean body type will lead people to believe he isn’t as strong as Brandon and Coach and this will allow him to hide under them while still performing well physically. He is also quite likeable and he is going to go a long way in this game.

THIS WEEK’S WORST PLAYER

SANDY

Murtz: It was a terrible opening episode for Sandy as she broke every Survivor rule around. She had to have known she was behind the eight-ball because of her age, so a smarter move would have to not display her emotion when her team voted for her at the top of the episode. Then when Jeff Probst gave her a second chance to break through her bad first impression, Sandy again decided to play selfishly and look for a hidden immunity idol instead of starting on the shelter. Struckster, let’s face facts. Sandy cannot win this game. So even if she found the idol, it would have only delayed the inevitable. For her to do well in this game, she should just try to stay as long as possible and try and make an effort with her team instead of isolating herself. I know some people will argue that she shouldn’t be our worst player of the week because of how well she did at the challenge. But they still lost, so she obviously didn’t do enough. The only reason Sandy is still in the game is because people didn’t take a liking to Carolina. She’s a sitting duck.

Brooke: I want to like Sandy, but she couldn’t have been more incompetent this episode. I really felt for her getting targeted from the get-go by her team simply because of her age and gender. I think she proved in the first immunity challenge that they judged her too quickly. However, I predict that her social game has her sunk. After she knew her team was already gunning for her she needed to go abov eand beyond to win their favor. Not only did she not setup camp, but she didn’t seem to get anywhere searching for the idol! She has to realize that even if she had found the idol it would only save her once at tribal. If she were to setup camp and get her team to like her then that could potentially save herself from being voted off for several rounds. Sandy better figure out what a “pace” is quickly and find the idol if she wants to stay in the game for another episode.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Brooke: “What’s a ‘pace’?”- Sandy (after reading the immunity idol clue that directs her to walk 10 paces)

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Murtz Jaffer is the world's foremost reality television expert and was the host of Reality Obsessed which aired on the TVTropolis and Global Reality Channels in Canada. He has professional writing experience at the Toronto Sun, National Post, TV Guide Canada, TOROMagazine.com and was a former producer at Entertainment Tonight Canada. He was also the editor at Weekendtrips.com.