Originally aired on Thursday, 06/21/2007
Episode Rating: ** (2 stars out of 5)
Episode Overview: The Pirate Master crew adjusts to life under a new regime, but the fallout from the previous one continues.
Episode Highlights:
- A critical error puts one pirate in the crosshairs of the dreaded black spot.
- The treasure this week comes with a special twist.
- An alliance is tested by some heavy-handed threats.
No one is really thrilled about last episode’s Pirate Court. Cheryl Kosewicz resents being put up for elimination due to her association with Joe Don Norton, saying the Court has become a “popularity contest.” Jay Hatkow is ticked off that Cheryl is still there, and at Sean Twomey for going back on his word (and the bribe that bought it) that he would vote for Cheryl.
Azmyth Kaminski is rising above the fray, though, blithely continuing with the on-again, off-again British accent he’s affecting. It’s annoying and weirdo out the other pirates (and, probably, many viewers).
Ben Fagan thinks there are other problems with Azmyth, namely that he’s running the ship like a party. That’s fine, Ben thinks, for a cruise ship, but a pirate ship needs a disciplinarian to find the gold that’s at stake. Has anyone told Ben that this is all fake? There’s sort of like instructions to find the gold, dude.
Nessa Nemir, meanwhile, is using her feminine wiles with the fellas to her advantage, which is as annoying as it usually is on a reality show. Joy McElveen thinks it’s a bad idea – after all – there are more women then men right now.
After host Cameron Daddo arrives and they unlock the next set of treasure maps, the teams are divided. Once again, the captain, Azmyth, and his officers, Jay and Jupiter Mendoza, lead the the black team, which also consists of Joe Don, Laurel Schmidt, Christa Deangelo and Cheryl. The red team is Louie Frase, Ben, Joy, Kendra Guffey, Nessa and Sean.
Louis is thrilled to be on the team opposite Joe Don – he is determined to bring down the former captain. Sean, though, is concerned about the strength of the team, since Joy and Kendra are not that strong of physical competitors.
Despite this, the red team gets off to an early start rowing to shore, which they promptly lose in the foot race. This gives the black team the ability to sabotage them, and Joy, who has been injured before, was caught in the sabotage and hurt again. The black team leads all the way to the clue which directs them to the final location. The clue is learned by entering a small cave and checking a reflection on their map. Azmyth, as the leader, checks for the team and then brings them back to the shore. Unfortunately, he misses the spot and leads them on a wild goose chase.
The red team catches up and begins digging in the right area. The black team has to go all the way back to the cave, re-check the clue, then get back to the beach. They begin digging and for a moment, think they have come from behind to find the treasure. But no such luck, it’s a rock, and the delay gives the red team enough time to find the real treasure.
The red team counts its winnings – a measly $5000 and a mysterious sealed letter. The crew is bummed about the treasure, but moves on to next order of business, electing a new captain. They pick Louie for his work ethic and spirit. Louie’s not sure he wants the job, saying he prefers to be a thorn in the side of the captain rather than the captain himself. But he takes the role, and appoints Nessa and Sean as his officers. Nessa, for her speed and wit, and Sean, for his ferocious competitive nature.
Now for that mysterious letter. It’s a royal pardon. The pardon is something the other pirates can bid on. If they have the highest bid, then they can use the pardon as immunity from being voted off. If they don’t use it, they have to resell it before the next court.
This puts Louie in a bad position: his sights are set on Joe Don, but Joe Don also has the most money with which to secure the pardon.
Louie divides up the treasure among his team, then all the pirates again review the pardon business. Joe Don tries to point out that Louie has won all four treasures, but Louie says that Joe Don kept so much of the winning himself that he shouldn't say anything about anyone else's good fortune.
Joe Don corners Jay and tries to strong-arm him into ensuring Joe Don doesn’t get a black spot. Jay resents the power play and says he’ll bid for the pardon just to ensure Joe Don doesn’t get it.
Time to assign the black spots. Louie and Nessa both want Cheryl gone for her previous time as an officer. Sean doesn’t get it – she’s bright and a strong team member. Then the other two will be Azmyth and Joe Don. Louie says any losing captain should be put up in front of the Court, including himself if he loses.
The black spots are handed out, and Cheryl is seriously bummed. She feels like she is being punished for her association. Jupiter agrees, and thinks this is unfair.
At Pirate Court, Louie gives his rationale for selections, and Daddo challenges his thinking about Joe Don: should Joe Don really be punished for following the code? Louie insists he should. The pirates defend themselves: Azmyth says his pirates had fun, even if they lost. Cheryl refers everyone back to her teamwork, which Nessa disagrees with and Jupiter supports. Joe Don calls Louie an angry captain and says he has nothing against him. He tells Louie that he “loves you, bro.”
The pirates vote, but before the votes are read, it’s time to find out who won the bid. It’s Joe Don, but it turns out he didn’t need it. Cheryl got four votes to Joe Don's three, so she is cut adrift.
How will the royal pardon affect game play moving forward? Tune in next week to find out!
- Leslie Seaton, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of CBS)