Survivor China - Episode 4

Day 10 and all is not well in paradise. At Fei Long, Courtney dislikes Jean-Robert so much she gives him shit for raising his voice to warn her not to touch a pot that he fears is hot enough to burn her. At Zhan Hu, Sherea despises Dave so much she has stopped listening to him at all and ignores him when he tries to tell her the shells she is about to throw out are ones he has set aside to take back to his mother.

Tree mail calls the tribes to the Tribal Council set for Survivor’s first nighttime challenge. Two tribe members must use a pair of giant chopsticks to move a fire ball 30 feet to a chute. The ball rolls down to a wok and sets off a sky rocket. Three rounds, the chopsticks (they look like the lances jousting knights used) getting longer and more awkward to handle each time. First tribe to get all 3 balls into all 3 woks wins. The prize: a fisherman and his family will arrive the next morning with fish, spices and vegetables. Fei Long has to sit one. Guess who? Yes, it’s Courtney once again. Is she useless or what?

It’s close but Fei Long wins, ending Zhan Hu’s 2-challenge win streak. Their choice for kidnap is Zhan Hu leader Dave. Jeff gives Dave the hidden immunity idol clue tube.

Next morning Dave enjoys the break from the tension with Sherea. He lets the camera know that he is on a spy mission for himself, as he senses his tribe might dump him if they get the chance. He intends to use the clue tube in a tit-for-tat strategy: he will get Zhan Hu to kidnap whomever he gives the clue to and they will give him the clue they bring with them.

Oh gee, who will Dave pick? Why, it’s alliance magnate Todd! What a surprise.

Back at Zhan Hu the tribe struggles to get the camp work done that Dave usually took care of. All work but Sherea. “I’m conserving my strength for the challenges,” she tells the camera. “I’m gonna ride the workhorse till the tail falls off, ‘cause I ain’t doing anything till I have to.” Scary to think that this is a woman who teaches our children for a living.

The fisherman, wife and their 2 pre-teen kids arrive, bringing vegetables, eggs, spices and cooking oil. Turns out Jean-Robert spent a few years in Taiwan when he was “a little kid” and learned some Mandarin. He acts as translator. Denise and Dave go out with the fisherman, who uses trained birds (you had to see it) and a net. Mrs. Fisherman, with the help of the tribe, cooks a feast. We do not get to see what, if anything, was caught with the net.

The immunity challenge is played in traditional Chinese armor. Surprisingly, Todd is not the one they sit out – it’s Jean-Robert. Players use a bolo-like weapon called a meteor hammer to knock down pottery on pedestals behind the opposing team. All players are armed with a staff that is used to block their opponents’ throws. Despite the handicap of having to use Courtney (she is so weak her throws don’t even make it to the pottery), Fei Long wins.

Back at camp, Dave senses Zhan Hu has turned against him in his absence. From the others we learn that it is going to be either him or Sherea. Sherea is aware her laziness is hurting her, but tries to justify her behavior rather than sucking it up and getting to work. For his part, Dave at least promises the others he can change and be less condescending.

At tribal council Sherea seems to sink herself by insisting she shouldn’t work around camp in order to be strong for the challenges, but it’s clear the others aren’t buying it. Nevertheless, it is
Dave who gets voted out. Will this help Zhan Hu? I don’t think so. The tribe will not be able to replace his competence around camp without everybody pitching in, and it's clear Sherea is not on board for that.