After the two hour finale’s closing credits Jeff Probst ominously warned there would be trouble ahead for Berks County local Debbie Wanner. “She may have the brains,” he says. “But she is not fitting in.” Episode two reveals an obvious generational gap within the Brains tribe. Debbie and Joe Del Campo, 72, are clearly the odd ones out.
“I’d say the two most practical people here are Debbie and me,” Joe says during a confession. A former FBI agent with a military background, Joe has firsthand experience surviving in the elements. Confident in their past experiences, Debbie and Joe disagree with the younger generation’s need to boil the island’s well water. “I think they have book knowledge, but it’s not the same thing [as experience,]” Joe says.
This creates tension when the team’s fire making kit is ruined. After reckless treatment, the tribe’s kerosene has leaked away and their matches have been ruined by water damage. Blamed for the kit’s neglect, Joe’s life in the game is starting to look shaky. His brash treatment of dehydrated Liz Markham bought her to tears.
It’s clear that both Debbie and Joe are wearing on their team member’s nerves, but their positions in the game aren’t equal. Peter Baggenstos reveals he wants to keep Debbie at his side for as long as possible; to him it’s simply strategy.
While everyone went off to look for an immunity idol as soon as they hit the beach, Debbie tells BCL she was far more focused on the essentials, starting fire and building shelter. Juggling on the beach and having a long list of occupations has made it easy for tribe members to poke fun at Debbie. She’s eliminated herself as a threat and on a tribe of brainiest thinkers and strategists; this may be a blessing in disguise.
“Their goal it to get the rest of us out; it’s not happening,” Debbie says in episode three’s preview. Underestimated strategically by her tribe, does Debbie have the means to turn her luck around? Tune into CBS Wednesday, March 2 at 8pm to find out.
