What was with that Reward Challenge on Survivor: Cook Islands?

What was with that Reward Challenge on Survivor: Cook Islands? by Roxanne McDonald

I’m no expert, but was that two on one reward challenge, in and of itself, fair?

Survivor has held the idol for reality TV show challenges, most of which have been original, physically and/or mentally challenging, and oft-imitated. But how was October 19th’s Reward Challenge equitable? What chance did the individual on the pole have against the two aggressors wrestling to yank him or her from the pole?

Let me back up: the challenge was set up, as Probst explains, so that there are three poles on Aitu’s side and three poles on Raro’s side.

To each pole clings a member. (Some sat and held on with all their might; others stood and held on for dear reward.) Opposing team pairs rushed each pole and pried and yanked and throttled (supposedly not allowed)—to remove the opponent from the pole, drag said individual across the marked out sand plot and pull at least one body part over the finish line.

Whichever team successfully displaced and dragged their three victims to home line first was the winner. In this one, the winner was Aitu.

Okay, okay, I get the plan: to stimulate and excite men (and gay or bi women) as they watch the writhing and sweating, as they witness the slip of clothing parts or odd body positionings wherein a crotch opens to the cam or a set of teeth go to a boob or what have you. And I get that the contest was in the speed. I even appreciate how physically grueling a challenge this was, making the reward at the end that much more appreciated by the winners and that much more begrudged and coveted by the losers. (The winners got roasted lamb shanks they got to scarf down in front of the hungry losers at the double tribal council—where both teams had to vote off someone.)

But in isolation, where was the challenge? Two people, regardless of size, would inevitably tear the single person from his/her post and just as inevitably drag him/her kicking and resisting (which many, like Cristina, for example, did).

Usually, aren’t the challenges—

reward or immunity or other—more realistic, more reasonable, more balanced and fair? Oh, well, what do I know. My idea of exercise is walking to the mailbox for the next installment of TV Guide.

SirLinksAlot Survivor: Cook Islands Links

No Comments »

No comments yet.

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.