Survivor: Panama - Exile Island - Episode 1

4 tribes, divided by age and gender: Young Men, Young Women, Older Women, Older Men

1 Exile Island, where a tribe member/s get exiled for a night

This was so entertaining from the get go.

My thoughts: the older men rule. A retired astronaut, a retired military fighter pilot, a samurai (haha) and a chain-smoker cutting the habit on Survivor of all places. These guys were like boyscouts on steroids, except for Shane, the chain-smoker who looked like he was going to pop.

Younger women. On the first challenge, the girls lost, so they had no flint for fire and had to send one girl to exile island for the night. I really thought they were done for, but come immunity challenge they smoked the competition and finished first, which was really awesome. I don't know how they will figure out shelter and all that, but apparently they are physically strong.

Younger men. Ok, they played baseball when they reached their camp and couldn't start a fire. Following the script aren't we guys? I guess Asa the yoga instructor is ok, but I find the older guys more interesting to watch. I was really surprised that they almost lost the immunity challenge, and for some odd reason they were the only team with noticeable cuts and bruises.

Older women. I keep forgetting that this is a competition and tribal council always surprises me. Anyway, even if the young men gave them an opening in the immunity challenge, these ladies still failed to finish. After literally setting up the camp on her own, Tina the "Lumber Jill", go eliminated. Boo! I wanted to see more of Tina -- her reflection on her only child who passed away recently was touching. But her tribemates saw her more as a threat than an asset -- didn't these ladies watch last season's Lydia? tribemates who cook and find fish are useful. Anyway, really looking forward to the rest of the season.