Survivor 2 - leaner, meaner schemers

It's back. This time round, the contestants look better but feel nastier. Watch 16 Americans showcase the best in deceit and manipulation.

[eastciti.com, January 29, 2001] When Jeff Probst, host of Survivor commented that the cast of the second season would eat the first bunch alive, he wasn't kidding.

The new cast is leaner and meaner. While they may look better in terms of looks and physique i.e. no tubby Richard Hatches here, the 16 survivors feel a whole lot nastier.

These people are not here to make friends; it's the US$1 million prize that they are after.

Like the first series, the situation is the same: 16 people divided into 2 tribes. Every 3 days they gather to vote 1 person out of either one of the tribes. The last survivor walks away with US$1 million.

This time, the game takes place in the Australian Outback somewhere in Northern Queensland.

The first episode opens with the 16 traveling aboard an Australian military transport plane and dropped in the middle of nowhere. Not allowed to speak prior to the landing, the contestants are complete strangers to each other as they separate into their 2 tribes Kucha and Ogakor, aboriginal words for kangaroo and crocodile, respectively.

Upon touchdown, the tribes are given 5 minutes to salvage essentials from crates and then proceed on a grueling 5-mile trek to their respective campsites.

The trek proves an excellent opportunity to establish relationships and very quickly the group dynamics begin to form.

First Impressions
A few notable characters emerge.

In the Kucha tribe, there's Debbie, the prison warden, who's irritatingly bossy and a social retard.

Jeff, the Internet project manager, whom I suspect is gay, and, like his predecessor Richard, makes no apologies for being mercenary.

Then we have Kimmi the bartender, whose irritating laugh and big mouth is just begging for a vote off.

Over at the Ogakor tribe, there's Jerri, the aspiring actress, who looks like she could manipulate her way through anything.

Last but not least we have Maralyn, the retired cop, who looks and talks like Judge Judy. I can see the soap opera unfold already.

First Challenge
The first challenge involves the same old "cross water obstacles, light torch and cross more water obstacles in raft" test, but I still sit on the edge of my seat like a sucker.

Kucha boasts with typical American brashness of kicking Ogakor's ass, so it's quite satisfying to see them trail behind early in the race. The crowning moment comes when their raft capsizes and extinguishes their torch in symbolic defeat.

In the 12 hours leading up to the tribal council, the wheels of deceit and manipulation start turning.

At the council, it is an almost unanimous decision to vote Debbie the bossy prison warden out of the tribe. No sympathy or surprise here as she is not a likable person.

I won't be surprised if she goes back to work and vents her frustration on the inmates.

Survivor the second time round looks even more riveting than the first. The cast have learnt from the mistakes of their predecessors and seemed to have been selected for their cunning and deviousness.

Top this with a simultaneous telecast with the U.S, i.e. you have no idea who's going to win, and you've got yourself a winner.

Related Sites
Survivor 2's Official Website This site offers comprehensive bios on all contestants and up to date reports on what's happening in the 2 tribes. You can also buy Survivor merchandise and play games.

Yahoo! TV Survivor's Pick'Em game This free game pits you against people all over the world on wagering who will emerge the final Survivor.

TCS 5's Survivor segment This mini Survivor site has lots of info and gossip on the scheming cast!

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