Survivor China: It's Been Real and It's Been Fun

(S15E9A) And, if you read the title of tonight's Survivor China episode, you know the ending of it -- "It's been real and it's been fun, but it hasn't been really fun." If memory serves, that's how the saying goes. It was very apt for tonight's show, the mid-season repeat clips and previously un-aired bits they think might interest or amuse us.

I toyed with the idea of not reviewing tonight's episode, but there were a few interesting bits and pieces amongst the retreaded clips that I'd like to mention, plus it's a good time for me to reflect back on the season so far. Oh, and CBS is counting this as a new episode, silly network.

Of course, we had to start from the beginning of the season all over again. I'm not sure why they do this each season. More of the episode is made up of a quick retelling of the events so far. Tonight's wasn't too far off that course.

We got to see a bit more about the arrival of the castaways in China. It's very possible my memory may be slipping, but I don't recall the details of their long walk to the temple in the first episode. I smiled about Chicken and Denise sitting down and resting every ten steps.

I had my "I've seen this before" smile when the Buddhist monk gave the women something to cover themselves as their clothes were too short. I think they may have been cut a bit low for the tastes of the monks, too. At least a few of the girls, not Leslie.

Another new bit tonight was the search for food. Boy, that almost makes balut look good. Er, maybe not. But I don't quite get the concept of squishing the insides out of worms. I think Erik had it right, swallowing the whole wriggling thing. Oh. And frogs are better than worms. But I already knew that.

No, I have eaten neither frog nor worm in my lifetime. But I know frogs are accepted foodstuffs in some cultures. I see them for sale in huge buckets in Chinatown. I bet they're not selling them to be pets!

We also saw Aaron don his suit -- see, they do have clothes they could have shared! -- to announce that he was relinquishing his duties as the appointed by Todd leader of the Fei Long tribe. As Todd pointed out in a confessional, Aaron then told everyone what to do.

I think the only other notable new previously un-aired bit was the impressions on the Fei Long tribe during the time Sherea was kidnapped.

I know I don't want to like Courtney, but darn it all ... she made me laugh twice tonight. The first time was at the top of the episode when she said her strength is that she doesn't play the game well.

The second time was her ongoing impression of Jaime from Zhan Hu. I couldn't believe how she got that one wide eye bit down pat! What a hoot!

Todd gets an honorable mention for his impersonation of Sherea right in front of Sherea.

Other than what I've mentioned, the other new bits were quibbles between James and Aaron, different quibbles between Jean-Robert and Todd. I'll say Todd has a lot of spunk for a skinny itsy-bitsy guy. What if Jean-Robert had just fallen over on him? Todd wouldn't survive that, nope he wouldn't!

So that was the basic episode for you. If I think back about the season so far, it's not really shaping up as my favorite season. You see, I like to have someone I solidly cheer on from almost the start. I don't have anyone like that left in the show at this point. Now that I think of it, I haven't had a solid cheer all season.

I liked James in the first few episodes. I don't dislike him now, but he's gotten way too smug. He's so sure no one would survive without him. He has both hidden immunity idols thanks to Todd, but it doesn't seem to bother him that he should have given one back once the original plan fell through. After all, he would still have the second one. But I think it's his "I'm so good and everyone else isn't" attitude that's been bugging me.

I do like Todd and have liked him from the start. However, I feel he has included too many others in his various plans and schemes. I think that could very well stumble him as time goes on. I think he's the best thinking player in the game, just has to be careful. I guess at this time, I'd pick him as my choice for the win. But I'm not all gung ho on him like I was with Yau-Man. (Which obviously didn't work out for me, eh?)

Courtney? I hate to say it, but she's growing on me at times. She can be funny. And she's so bad a player that it's funny that she's even on the show.

Amanda. Hmm ... I think she's a user. She's latched onto Todd and I don't think he should trust her. I don't think she's the thinking kind of player he is, but she might be very quietly using him for her own personal gain.

Peih-Gee -- I think her throwing the challenge so they could vote out the kidnapped Aaron will continue to haunt her. Had she not won immunity last week, she'd be sitting on the jury now. Peih-Gee, Fatal Error Gal.

Denise, the Invisible Woman with a Mullet --She just keeps on sliding through. I know she can work and she has some brute strength during the challenges, but it's almost like she isn't there (except when they do an impression of her Boston area accent). But, can I call her my favorite and cheer her on? No, not in good conscience, I can't do that.

Erik is a marked man. He ain't in with the in crowd and it will be either him or Peih-Gee targeted next unless he wins immunity. He hasn't made a great showing at any challenges yet, perhaps it will soon be time for him to go.

I'm looking forward to a new new episode next week, aren't you?