Did the Columbus and Cincinnati players make it past the 'Survivor' 44 premiere?
Spoiler alert! Scroll down to see who was voted off this week.
The 44th season of the long-running reality competition show “Survivor” returned to CBS and Paramount+ Wednesday at 8 p.m. And this year, there’s double Ohio representation: Josh Wilder, a 34-year-old surgical podiatrist from Cincinnati living in Atlanta, and Matthew Grinstead-Mayle, a 43-year-old barbershop owner originally from Pickerington but now living in Columbus.
Columbus Dispatch features editor Erica Thompson and Cincinnati Enquirer News of Now reporter Emily DeLetter (both “Survivor” fans) sat down and watched live. Here are their thoughts from the first episode.
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Emily: 44 seasons of “Survivor.” Can you believe that number? And that I’ve seen all of them? I don’t know if I should be embarrassed or proud. Proud, I think.
Erica: You should be proud. I’ve probably seen 90% of the seasons...many of them in a marathon watching session during the pandemic.
Emily: 10 minutes in and already medical has been called! That cut on Bruce’s head looks nasty, though. If there’s one thing Jeff (Probst) loves, it’s a dramatic moment.
Erica: Right? The slow-motion effects and close-ups in this new era are undefeated! I’m happy Bruce recovered. Why did I start tearing up? This darn show...
Columbus 'Survivor' contestant Matthew Grinstead-Mayle gets injured
Emily: Also, very proud of Josh for making that winning throw for his tribe. Hopefully that means he’s off to a good start. And his tribe (Soka) got a machete, pot and flint! Do you think Matthew’s tribe (Ratu) is going to finish the physical coconut challenge?
Erica: Of course, I do! I have all the faith in the world in Matthew! After all, he secured the second-place win for the tribe. I respect his decision to step up and prove himself, given he is the oldest on the tribe and could unfairly be labeled an easy target. I would not have attempted the brain teaser.
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Emily: Oh no, I feel so bad about Bruce! It must be so devastating to prepare for so long to go on the show and immediately get pulled from the game, and in the very first episode, too. I can’t imagine what that must feel like. And that means the tribe is also losing a major physical threat, too. That won’t be good for any upcoming challenges.
Erica: It’s heartbreaking. And just as I was getting ready to brag about Matthew, who was making himself invaluable around camp by being a provider (a strategy he shared with the Dispatch), he dislocated his shoulder and cut his toe. What is going on?!
New 'Inheritance Advantage' introduced on 'Survivor' 44
Emily: If you ever found an immunity idol and a fake idol to use however you’d like, would you use it? Do you think it was a smart move for Brandon to open it in front of the group? It could be a useful tool with his in-tribe alliance and possibly used against other tribes going forward. I’ll be honest, it would be a dream to find an immunity idol, but I don’t think I would tell anyone about it. There’s too much at risk there.
Erica: The answer is yes and yes: I’d use my idol and fool someone else with the fake idol. I’ve been getting frustrated with cast members revealing their advantages in recent years. Brandon probably had to tell Maddy because he was terrible at hiding the idol, but that should have been it. And speaking of advantages, looks like there are more secret boat trips this season. I was getting tired of them, but the new Inheritance Advantage (a player can claim all other advantages at a tribal council) seems really interesting. And Lauren gave us great TV by cheating to go on the boat trip! What do you think of these advantages and how Lauren, Matt and Sarah handled telling their tribes?
Emily: Props to Lauren for both lying to get on the boat and lying to her tribe about the advantage. She’s proving herself to be a cunning and strategic player, and if she plays her cards right, she might be able to remain under the radar. I think Matt seems like he’s going to be the kind of player to blab his (and everyone else’s) secrets. As for Sarah, we’ll see what she does this season.
Also, going into the first tribe immunity challenge, this immunity sword and shield combo is extremely hardcore. I’m not surprised Matthew is sitting out due to his shoulder—that’s a smart decision. These immunity challenges have gotten more and more complicated and physically exhausting, and it makes me tired to watch from the comfort of my couch! And with the heat, humidity and lack of food, it’s got to be difficult to get done.
Erica: Agreed! I’m worried about Matthew, though. If you’re viewed as useless in challenges, you’re in trouble. And with Tika and Soka winning immunity, I’m praying to the “Survivor” gods right now.
Emily: From what I remember, the last time we had three medical team interventions in a single episode was in season 32 (Kaoh Rong), where they had multiple castaways go down in one challenge, including one who was medevacked. Tonight’s challenge was brutal, and I could tell Brandon was fading fast. I’m glad he’s alright, though.
Spoiler alert: Who got voted off on 'Survivor' season 44, episode one?
Back at camp after Josh’s tribe (Soka) won immunity, Matthew is working hard to make sure he’s in a good position with his tribe after the information he got from a castaway from another tribe also sitting out. And it’s a bad look for Maddy to be so chaotic (on trying to vote Brandon out) for the first vote. That big-game move could come back to haunt her later.
Erica: I’m just glad no one’s saying Matthew’s name right now, though I’m not sure why given that he’s injured. But it speaks to his social skills. I really like Brandon and Lauren (the other target), though, and don’t want to see them go. But I’ll be ok because Matthew will get to play another week.
Emily: Jeff saying at Tribal Council he’s “never seen an easy vote.” There’s been 44 seasons now, so I don’t know, I feel like some of them had to have been easy. But people are volatile, and you sometimes truly never expect what will happen. Like Jaime and Matthew playing their shots in the dark (losing their votes but drawing for the chance opportunity for immunity.) And Lauren is banking her vote, the advantage she received during the boat journey earlier in the episode. I don’t understand in what world the shot in the dark would make sense to play, but Jaime is safe and Matthew isn’t. And Brandon playing his immunity idol! What a busy Tribal Council.
Erica: It’s insane! The paranoia is out of this world. With most votes cast for Brandon and only one cast for Maddy, she was evicted by default. Can’t say I’m shedding any tears, though. All of the players I like so far are still here, including our Columbus and Cincinnati guys! We did it, Emily! (Well, we just cheered them on from our couches.) See ya next week!
Emily: Keeping our fingers crossed until next Wednesday, but I can’t wait to see where Josh and Matthew go from here! TTFN!
ethompson@dispatch.com
@miss_ethompson
edeletter@gannett.com
@EmilyDeLetter
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Survivor 44: How did castaways Josh, Matthew fare in the premiere?
