Let's Get Rid of the Weak Players Before We Even Start

Let's Get Rid of the Weak Players Before We Even Start
Episode Information
Version	United States
Season	Tocantins
Episode Number	1/15 (260)
Original Release	February 12, 2009
Viewership (in Millions)	13.63
Ratings/Share (18-49)	4.4/13
Episode Chronology
Previous	"Reunion" (previous season)
Next	"The Poison Apple Needs to Go"
Subpages

Let's Get Rid of the Weak Players Before We Even Start is the season premiere of Survivor: Tocantins.

Story

Day 1

Sixteen castaways already split into two tribes, Timbira and Jalapao, were dropped off by truck in a clearing. The game started immediately with Jeff Probst announcing that the tribes will only have 60 seconds to gather as many supplies from the back of the truck as they could. Timbira hoarded all of the water and food supplies, leaving Jalapao with only some melons and few supplies. Jeff then announced that the tribe's campsites were about a 4-hour trek by foot away, that one person from each tribe "would not be making the journey" and a vote would take place immediately. Jalapao voted for Sandy and Timbira voted for Sierra. Sandy and Sierra thought they were being voted out the game, but Jeff announced that they would only not be making the trek to camp, and instead, they would be flown to their respective campsites by helicopter. When Sandy and Sierra arrived at their respective campsites, they were given the option to start setting up camp or follow clues to a disposable Hidden Immunity Idol that can only be used during their tribe's first Tribal Council. Sandy opted to follow the clues, but did not find the idol before her tribe arrived. Sierra opted to start setting up the camp in order to improve her impression with her tribe. Carolina was upset that Sandy did not work on the campsite. Timbira's trek did not end until dark, by which time Sierra had built a shelter big enough to house the entire tribe. Despite her hard work, Coach's view on Sierra did not change and he still wanted to vote her out first.

Day 3

Sandy resumed her search for the Hidden Immunity Idol, but was stumped by the second clue. At the Reward/Immunity Challenge, both tribes were relatively even as going up and over the sandy hills and trudging through water took its toll on them, including Carolina who struggled to keep up, but Sandy gave Jalapao a big lead by building the staircase quickly. However, Spencer and Sydney ran into problems at the table maze, and Brendan and Erinn quickly solved it for a comeback victory for Timbira. Back at Jalapao's camp, Carolina's bossy personality irritated the others, while Sandy's effort at the challenge impressed her tribemates. Still concerned about being voted out, Sandy went searching for the Hidden Immunity Idol before Tribal Council, but was again unsuccessful. Carolina approached Sandy before Tribal Council, presumptuously apologizing once again that Sandy would be voted out that night. At Tribal Council, Sandy returned the favor by writing "sorry" on her vote for Carolina. Jalapao decided that Carolina should leave and she was unanimously voted out 7–1. Before sending the tribe back to camp, Jeff gave them flint.

Challenges

Reward/Immunity Challenge: A River, Run Through It
Six members of each tribe would race across a series of sand hills and into a river to retrieve a raft with puzzle planks tied to it. When all six members of the tribe returned to shore with the raft, the puzzle planks could be untied and taken back to the start line. The two remaining tribe members would assemble the planks into a staircase. Once all of the tribe was at the top of the staircase, two tribe members would work together to navigate a peg through a table maze, which would release the tribe's flag, giving that tribe victory in the challenge.
Reward: Flint
Winner: Timbira

Tribal Council

Tribal Council 1: Jalapao
Voted Against	Voter
Carolina (7 votes)	J.T., Joe, Sandy, Spencer, Stephen, Sydney, Taj
Sandy (1 vote)	Carolina
VOTED OUT: Carolina Eastwood

Voting Confessionals

Carolina's confessional and an edited version of Sandy's confessional were shown in the episode. Full confessionals were posted on Survivor Shrine.

J.T. “ (voting against Carolina) Just playing too big of a social game way too early. ” Taj “ (voting against Carolina) We love you, girl. We just can't live with you. ” Spencer “ (voting against Carolina) Tonight, you talk about being demanding, you think? That's why you're getting my vote tonight. You surpassed my irritation threshold and I think you have everyone else's. ” Sandy “ (voting against Carolina) Carolina, if not, um, if all of my tribemates have been honest with me, then you're going to be the first one voted out of Survivor 18 and not me. I hope this is true. ” Joe “ (voting against Carolina) This is a vote of respect. You're very capable of getting what you want. ” Carolina “ (voting against Sandy) Sorry Sandy. ” Stephen “ (voting against Carolina) If you want to play a social game, you have to be subtle. You've made about 50 moves in 3 days. For the sake of the tribe and my own sake, you've got to go. ” Sydney “ (voting against Carolina) Beautiful inside and out, but I'm voting with the tribe and everyone thinks you're bossy. I'm sorry. ”

Final Words

	Carolina	“	I just got completely blindsided. I'm the first person voted off. I'm not gonna lie like I'm pissed off, like, this sucks. Embarrassing. However, I'm gonna be the bigger person and wish them well. I think initially what got me voted off was my mouth. You know, It's a lesson learned. But I totally got duped. You guys are good. Good.	”

Still in the Running

Carolina 16th	Brendan Timbira	Candace Timbira	Coach Timbira	Debbie Timbira	Erinn Timbira	J.T. Jalapao	Jerry Timbira
Joe Jalapao	Sandy Jalapao	Sierra Timbira	Spencer Jalapao	Stephen Jalapao	Sydney Jalapao	Taj Jalapao	Tyson Timbira

Trivia

• This episode marks the first use of the First Impressions twist. It would later be used again in "Blood Is Thicker than Anything" and "Hot Girl with a Grudge".
• The name of the Immunity Challenge, A River, Run Through It, references either the 1976 Norman Maclean novel, A River Runs Through It or its 1992 film adaptation.