"Rupert Revives Morgan, Returns To Drake"
Posted by Grimme on 2003-10-17
Chosen by the Morgan team as part of their immunity win, Rupert, in the words of Ryan, AKA “Rhino”, was indeed “the smartest thing this tribe ever did was to get a hold of Rupert.” Rupert saved the Morgan shelter from its impending doom by motivating them to move it, much against an obstinate Osten’s wishes.
And Rupert taught the Morganeers how to use their spear to catch fish. Ryan fumbled and couldn’t even put the fish in the bag without losing it but what he has learned he will not forget and it will benefit Morgan.
Rupert was still on the Morgan team at the Reward Challenge involving a puzzle ladder plus a golden Spanish idol and was instrumental in Morgan winning it by a big margin.
In fact, Episode 5 was so very much Rupert’s show that I felt sure he was going home at Tribal Council tonight. When he matter-of-factly stated that it was a dangerous position being the leader of two tribes, I really thought this was “pride before a downfall” but several, very deft, diplomatic steps by Rupert has ensured his future, at least in the short run.
Rupert has made a very favorable impression on the Morgan tribe by feeding them, saving their shelter, being the reason that they won the reward challenge and by, sympathetically suggesting to a “looting” Andrew that he take rice (“I’ll give you as much as you want.”) for his almost-out-of-food tribe.
Every Morgan would no doubt prefer to help Rupert over any other Drake when the merge comes. Rupert probably wisely didn’t tell the Morganeers that he had stolen their shoes in the very first episode but, even so, they probably would have forgiven him on the spot.
But Rupert knows that the goodwill of his fellow Drakes is essential to ensuring his survival as he himself said, “I must bond with my tribe.” Very smartly, Rupert declined to share the reward challenge shower with Morgan and opted to return, unhesitatingly and at once, to his own team, where he shared knowledge of what he had learned during his three days with Morgan.
And by steering Andrew into taking rice, Rupert was able to spare the Drake tribe any major inconvenience such as a lost fishing spear would have been. Another dividend for Rupert, mentioned by him in the confessional but not to his tribe, was that he wanted them to see that it was he who was the key to their winning challenges.
This was certainly proved during the reward challenge when Drake proved totally inept in steering their boat---Jon even used the rudder as a paddle! Rupert was definitely needed.
But others on Drake were not so needed and, indeed, found themselves in a precarious situation. Michelle saw her quadruple alliance with Shawn-Burton-Jon go down in flames at the previous Tribal Council. She lost Burton, and found Shawn and Jon to both be unreliable, unpredictable allies and made a real enemy in Christa by being the only one voting to evict her.
Shawn was in almost as bad shape as Michelle. Not only did he buckle under Jon’s pressure to vote against his good buddy Burton, but he dissed Burton to everyone after the Tribal Council. Plus Shawn has been, and will be according to next week’s previews, criticized for being lazy around the camp.
Drake lost the strange foods drinks Immunity Challenge due to Sandra who therefore considered herself on shaky ground as well. In fact, no one on Drake seems to really bond with anyone other than with Rupert.
Jon has previously revealed that he has an alliance with Shawn but, at least two times, these two has been in arguments over work needing to be done in the camp. Rupert and Michelle both discussed Shawn’s laziness also before Michelle was voted off 6 to 1.
Morgan won both the reward (primarily with Rupert’s help) and immunity challenges(by their own efforts) and their morale soared. They now know how to fish and their shelter is safe and they are moving toward the merge with probably a stronger alliance structure than any that exist in the more numerous Drake tribe. At least four of them, perhaps all five, will make it to the merge.
Interesting moments from tonight’s episode and next week’s previews.…….Darrah saying “no way” would Jon ever be her boyfriend……..Rupert adopting a little snake named Balboa and mending its injuries….A pelican invading the Morgan shelter and upsetting Osten…..Learning that Drake definitely did throw the Immunity Challenge in Episode 4……Sandra’s comments and her facial expressions at the IC tiebreaker….and again, so sue me, Ryan’s beautiful, sweet smile……
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