Ouch.

That’s a good word to describe tonight’s Survivor episode.

In a particularly insane reward challenge, bodies were a-flyin’.  Coach was put down hard and Jerri’s face took a flying tumble at Rupert’s hands.  And, in the greatest shock of all, James, the rock and picture of fitness, tweaked his knee.

Ouch.

Couldn’t walk.

But then, he walked right back into camp.

At tribal, James stayed around.  The tribe voted out Tom instead, keeping James and his knee brace.

Ouch.

Interesting choice.

But what is behind it?  Pity?  Votes?  Gamesmanship?  Probably all three.  But then again, that’s what Survivor is all about.  When the Heroes tribe returned to camp after losing their challenge, the scheming started, and the famous Survivor watercolors started to run.  J.T. let the way, double and triple-timing his way to a Tom vote.

Ouch.

And then, Coach placed his trust in Russell.

Yikes.  (Don’t worry…that one will eventually be an ouch).

And isn’t it all about trust?  The reason Heroes vs. Villains exists in the first place is because of trust issues…and trust leads to the biggest ouchies.  Generally, I believe America considers the Villains those who have schemed and breached, and the Heroes those who have been true and valiant.

Ah, how wrong they are.  And how it smarts.

Folks, human nature is human nature.  It isn’t that we are all liars and schemers, but here’s the thing…there’s A MILLION DOLLARS AT STAKE.  Did you hear that?  A million.

Now, some have played the game quite honorably, and some (Coach?) have said one thing and done another (he’d argue with me on that, of course, but again, I refer you to the episode where he said he would go down defending Randy, right before he voted Randy off…although in fairness, 90% of ‘em have said one thing and done another at one point.  He’s not alone).

But at the end of the day, people generally get caught in group-think and catch Lord of the Flies syndrome.  Some are in.  Some are out.  Some are safe.  Some are blindsided.

They all get the boo-boo, unless they’re the last one standing.

Once again, Survivor doesn’t disappoint.  It just keeps on showing us life, whether we identify with it or not.

Ouch.

-josh