First Impressions Mean Squat on Survivor: Tocantins

The 18th season of Survivor is down to 15 contestants after a season premiere with a twist

By Natalie Finn Feb 13, 2009 3:05 AMTags
Survivor CastMonty Brinton/CBS

The castaways' first challenge: Pronounce Tocantins correctly.

Not really, but true to form, the 18th-season opener of Survivor: Tocantins—The Brazilian Highlands presented the 16 new eager-beaver castaways with a twist within the first few minutes.

But instead of voting their early nonfavorites off, the Jalapao and Timbira tribes were actually giving the losers of the first-impression contest a comfy helicopter ride to camp. And those quick-to-judge tribemates had to trek through the heat for four hours, hauling all their gear.

The early outcasts, "older woman" Sandy Burgin and sore-throat sufferer Sierra Reed, reacted quite differently to being shunned: Sandy thumbed her nose at her tired team by spending her free time searching for an Immunity Idol, while poor, sniffly Sierra decided it was more important to "look good in the eyes of [her] crew" and built a camp for her tribe to come home to.

It was Jalapao, which singled out Sandy, that earned a trip to Tribal Council tonight. But it was ultimately misunderstood bartender Carolina Eastwood—"sometimes my directness comes off as being whiny"—who became the first person voted off of Survivor: Tocantins, 7-1.

So it all begins again. Is Sandy the new Randy? Does Benjamin "Coach" Wade have a clue? Will Sierra prove to be as fragile as her last name implies? 

Feel free to share all Survivor-related predictions, praise and grievances in the comments.

Poll

Survivor Begins for the 18th Time

Was the right person voted off of Survivor: Tocantins tonight?
Jalapao should have stuck with the original plan and cut Sandy loose
30.4%
Yes! Carolina needed to be silenced (symbolically) for good
63.1%
No, the blindside should have gone to [insert unwitting tribe member here]
6.5%