'The Mole': Surprise elimination!
Just when you think you've got a good idea of what's going to happen on The Mole, a new twist leads you in another direction. I was totally caught off guard with the contestant eliminated in this episode. But I'll get to that a little later.
The show started where it ended last week. Craig said he was still recovering from hypothermia. He was totally dreading the first mission, and for good reason. The group was taken to an old, abandoned prison for the task, which required them to free themselves after being chained together. The key to their freedom could only be accessed if the group agreed to allow each contestant enough slack in the chain to reach it. The catch? Next to the key was an exemption. If any contestant took the exemption, he would then force the remaining contestants to sleep in the cold prison the rest of the night.
Craig freed himself and did not take the exemption. Kristen was next, and so on. When it came down to Alex and Mark, there was a bit of a standstill. Alex was finally able to persuade Mark to allow him to free himself. He didn't take the exemption.
That left Mark. Several of the contestants thought that Mark was going to take the exemption, but he didn't. He later confessed that he didn't take it because it would draw suspicion to himself. (Mole behavior?)
The next day, the group left the Andes Mountains and went to Mendoza, Argentina. The group split into two vans and drove to a new location, which host Jon Kelley described as "The Napa Valley" of Argentina. Paul made sure the road trip remained interesting. He started taunting Clay to the point that they almost came to blows. Clay went so far as to throw a lemon at Paul. Eventually, Clay got into the other van to get away from the always-prickly Paul. The group got to Mendoza without further incident.
In the episode's second challenge, the group was required to complete a race using different means of transportation. Craig, who was "selected" leader, was able to decide the way each competitor would complete the mission. Craig could choose from a variety of modes, including a scooter and bicycle. But Craig was tempted to handicap his teammates: If none of the contestants made it to the finish line, Craig would receive an exemption. (Craig was selected leader because he was the first contestant to say the word exemption during a conversation with Jon. Totally Mole behavior!)
Craig made the contestants use the worst forms of transportation possible. Clay had to ride a unicycle. Kristen had to use stilts. The funniest mode was when Craig selected sworn enemies Nicole and Paul to dress in a llama outfit.
Needless to say, the contestants were none too pleased. In fact, they refused to complete the mission. (Craig later said he suspected Mark of being the Mole for persuading the group not to finish.) As a result, the group did not add any more money to the pot, and Craig got an exemption. The contestants were really mad at Craig. He lost the trust and respect of most of them.
The elimination basically came out of nowhere. Looking back at it, I guess there was a little foreshadowing that Kristen would leave. There was a little clip of all the contestants talking about their strategy. Kristen admitted to focusing her attention on the same contestant each quiz. Other contestants said they used an encompassing method that didn't adversely affect them if they suspected the wrong person of being the Mole.
I'm really sad to see Kristen go. She was a fierce competitor. I liked her strength and intelligence. I also thought she had a decent shot of either winning the competition or being the Mole.
Comments
I was also shocked to see Kristen go: she was on my list of Moles.
I think Mark NOT taking the exemption points to him not being the mole. If he takes the exemption, his social game is ruined. Which means its only worth it if a)you're the mole or b)you are pretty sure you know who the mole is. I don't think Mark is either
Craig was very mole-like. His dropping of the word exemption was suspicious and I am surprised that not a single person picked up on it. Perhaps he realized it was too obvious and tried to distract them with his hillarious choices of transportation. Seemed to work as no one mentioned or discussed his behavior at dinner.
Alex continues to fly under the rader. He's playing a great game. I think he's really good at observing and reacting from there. Notice he was the only one to even try to do the transportation mission. In fact, he's so unsuspicious that he's suspicious. :)
Lastly, with Kristen gone, this leaves only Nicole as the last female contestant. Who have the girls been suspecting (or rather, who have they not) I think is going to be key to figuring out who the Mole is.
Posted by: bd | July 2, 2008 8:19 AM
I absolutley love this show! I have so many suspects on my Mole list. Each time I think I have a good sense of the Mole, I'm thrown into another direction. I can't decide.
Craig is sneaky. I don't trust him.
Mark has been so over the top with his recent antics that I'm not sure if he's a little mental or if he's the Mole.
Alex is stealthy. Nicole is Nicole. There aren't enough words to say aboout this polarizing contestant....
Posted by: john-john williams IV | July 6, 2008 10:11 PM