Survivor 4: Marquesas

1 March, 2002

Week 1

Well, here we are, yet another season of Survivor upon us. This time last season I was busily searching through the thesaurus looking for other ways to describe whiny and annoying. This season though, I'm singing a different tune. The cast of contestants is a far more eclectic and individualistic bunch this time around. That leaves me hopeful that this could be the first season of this show that I actually enjoy from start to finish.

The big news of course is that the word survivor is in more literal use this time. The producers are giving the contestants no food, water or fire. They get some very basic tools like knives and pots but that's about it for help. Bravo I say. In the past it was hard to take things totally seriously due to all the help the contestants got along the way. The other item of note is that this version once again takes place on an island. Clearly the producers hope to recapture a little of the first season's magic.

The first episode is usually the least interesting because we have sixteen people to meet and less than an hour to do it. If you can get the names straight, it was a pretty good episode. Amazingly, this time there were distinct personalities emerging right off the bat. Exploding right out of the gate was Sean of the Maraamu tribe. He opens by blasting Sarah for a lack of effort as they paddled their raft to shore. He basically sums her value up as the "two flotation devices on her chest." The cameramen needed no urging, spending considerable time ogling the rather curvacious Sarah. Sean then collapses on shore in some sort of religious fervor, followed shortly by some sort of prayer session with Peter in the surf. Ummmm... okay.

Peter quickly stands out as he alternates sharing his goofy grin or his yoga teachings to anyone willing to look or listen. Hunter also stands out in this tribe for his MacGyver impersonation. And the previously mentioned Sarah makes it clear she knows what effect her figure has on the guys by flaunting it nearly constantly.

On the Rotu side, things are a lot quieter. Kathy stands out the most simply for driving a relentless whip to get the fire lit. She and John create sparks debating the issue. Not much else to say about these folks yet except one thing. Is it just me or does Gabriel bear an eery resemblance to Nigel from Top Secret!? Does anyone know where that actor is now? He may be attempting a comeback by way of Survivor.

The show set something of a record by showing us someone in the cast vomiting, before the opening credits even. Well done boys. Nice to know that this show remains a high water mark for taste.

It's a little early to try and guage the whole alliance thing but a few things showed up right away. One is that Rob is clearly helplessly smitten with Sarah. She'll have his vote under her control as long as she can keep shaking her goods in his face. There also seemed to be a bit of a Hunter following developing. Gina and Vecepia both went out of their way to say that they liked the way he did things. Sean and Hunter can probably be viewed as rivals simply because Sean doesn't seem to appreciate the quick show of respect for Hunter.

The first immunity challenge, a water course that involved lighting torches and hauling around a canoe, was won handily by Rotu. As a result, Maraamu went to tribal council where they voted off Peter. It seems he managed to rub several people the wrong way. Patricia also received some vote attention, likely due to her age. Sarah also got a vote from her early admirer Sean.

So we've got a new season that shows considerable promise. As always, the Survivor film crew does a great job of getting beautiful shots of the surroundings. The Marquesas area is a hell of a lot more impressive visually than the Australian outback or the African savannah, so they have more to work with. The contestants are a bunch of characters, which should maximize friction down the road, which of course makes for better watching. For once, I actually don't have any serious complaints on the show. Imagine that.

Episode Rating: 8 out of 10

- John Shea

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