Survivor 20: Sandra and Parvati Set Survivor Records!

A GREAT final episode!

Sandra Diaz earned the majority of votes to become the first person in the history of "Survivor" to win two seasons! An incredible feat considering that this was only the second season she participated in.

Parvati Shallow took the runner-up position, and arguably should have won it all. Parvati won three Immunity Challenges, including back to back crucial immunities near the end of the game. She masterminded the first double idol giveaway, saving her team members Jerri and Sandra and ensuring the ouster of former Hero J.T. She schemed and plotted, made friends and enemies, and outplayed, outlasted and outwitted pretty much the entire cast!

The Russell Factor
Why did she lose? In a word, Russell. Unfair but it's a game! The jury saw her as riding Russell's coattails and I wonder how the vote would have gone had they been privy to the details of Parvati's game play. She was responsible for more key moves than Russell, who thought he was the original puppet master of "Survivor." The jury also fostered a lot of resentment toward Russell's game play which negatively impacted Parvati.

The Greats!
Both Sandra and Parvati could legitimately claim the title of "Greatest Survivor Ever." Sandra laid claim to the title of "Queen" and probably deservedly so! Both women chose decidedly different paths to the finals but undeniably, these two former winners most definitely are among the best players the game has ever seen.

Targeted by both Heroes and Villains alike since the first Tribal Council, Parvati managed to finagle her way to the end. Granted she received some help from Russell with a well timed idol gift early on, but by and large she maneuvered through the game implementing her own strategy throughout.

Sandra clashed with Russell from the very start. His mantra "If you cross Russell Hantz, you are gone," never really came into play where Sandra was concerned. Oh, he huffed and he puffed, but he never followed through with it because he gave little credit to Sandra's game play. In fact, more than anyone, Russell wanted to sit next to Sandra at the end. What votes did she have? He also thought the jury would never reward her with a second win. He was wrong.

Fatal Flaw?
While Sandra celebrated, and Parvati showed that she could be gracious in defeat, Russell stubbornly clung to the belief that the game was flawed and he should have won. The flaw, in his mind, is that America has no vote. As Jeff pointed out, that''s not how "Survivor" is constructed, and if he wants America's vote he should try out for that show.

Russell underestimated a lot of people in this game. He underestimated the strength of Parvati when he urged her to ride his coattails. He underestimated Sandra's social game which she extended to pretty much everyone but him. He underestimated the attitude of the jury regardless of the fact that they sat only a few feet from him on several occasions.

Probably his biggest problem is overestimating his own game. Russell basically told the jury that their only option was to vote for him. No one wants to reward a blow hard. His ego got in the way, not to mention the fact that he played dirty. Like his first season, Russell played hard but in doing so, did some really unnecessary things. Why hide the machete? Was it necessary in the overall game?

Some fans may love Russell's game play and say that he deserves to win, but they did not have to suffer through 39 days with him. Russell is the school yard bully. He's the boss that terrorizes his employees. He's the person who in real life you would cross the street to avoid. Yet, in the game of "Survivor," people cheer on his over-the-top behavior.

Last Hero Falls
All in all, it was a great conclusion to one of the best seasons!

Colby finally showed a glimmer of fight as he made a last ditch effort to save himself following a disappointing Immunity Challenge. He performed better during that challenge than any other Immunity Challenge this season. I guess when his butt's on the line, Colby digs a little deeper.

Parvati demonstrated her prowess as she claimed the Immunity Necklace once again. A tremendous physical player, she showed her strength in outlasting Colby. So Colby played an interesting hand. An initial bluff that he was conceding the game, followed by an attempt to oust Sandra from the game.

Russell listened but in the end, the last Hero was sent home. Actually, it was probably the only real choice as Colby likely would have won with four of his former teammates on the jury.

Homage to the Fallen
A day later, the Survivors conducted their walk of remembrance. A few words for each contestant that did not make it to the finals: Sugar, Stephenie, Randy, Cirie, Tom, Tyson, James, Rob, Coach, Courtney, JT, Amanda, Candice, Danielle, Rupert and Colby.

It's always interesting to see how the survivors remember their former teammates. Surprisingly, Jerri remembered Randy as someone who made her smile every morning. Sandra recalled Boston Rob's words that they would get along because Puerto Ricans and Italians were loud and ignorant. Not surprisingly, Russell had very little good to say about any of them; however, he did call Colby the only true hero.

Photo Finish
Finally, it was time for the last Immunity Challenge of the game. Blindfolded and relying on pedestals with directional carvings, the survivors made their way around a roped course collecting necklaces along the way. In what can only be described as a photo finish, Russell edged Parvati and grabbed the necklace for himself.

Promising safety to Jerri, and approaching Sandra to vote out Parvati, it seemed like the final three was struck.

The really peculiar thing was how certain Russell was that he owned the game. He felt that Courtney was Sandra's only vote. He also felt that he carried Parvati, and she would get no votes. Russell is unable to remove himself from the game long enough to view it from someone else's prospective.

In the end, it probably did not matter who he took to the end, because Russell ultimately was not rewarded with a single vote! As Boston Rob put it during the reunion which followed, Russell does not play to win, he plays to make it to the finals.

After Jerri left, Russell, Parvati and Sandra spent some time gathering their thoughts for the final Tribal Council. As a parting gesture, Sandra threw Russell's hat in the fire. Flashback to the socks Russell threw in the fire during his first season. Karma is a bitch.

It Is What It Is!
Facing the nine member jury, Sandra and Parvati made great cases to vote for them. Russell, meanwhile, approached the jury with the same finesse he did during his previous season. No one likes to be told what to do, and "Survivor" juries are no different.

Moments in, it was clear that none of these past players of the game respected Russell's game play. I actually liked Rupert's speech when he acknowledged the game play of both the women. Sandra and Parvati arguably had very different strategies, yet no less effective. Sandra played a quiet game and after Rob left, survived on her own by her own wits. Parvati survived by winning challenges and playing strategically!

Surprisingly, the viewers were shown six of the nine votes prior to Jeff's reveal. It was clear that it was a race between only Sandra and Parvati.

Russell did manage to take home the Sprint player of the game, and used that as justification for America having a vote.

In the end, a great season, and can't wait for the next!

Greatest Survivor Ever!

And the winner is …

Actually, it's kind of a tough call without some hard and fast parameters, and by whose standards will those parameters be identified? Ironically, this topic would likely only be a blip if not for Russell's constantly bringing it to the attention of the viewers.

In his mind, Russell is the greatest survivor to ever play the game. In another blog, I reviewed the question, but this season has made me rethink it entirely.

The final five included two past winners: Sandra and Parvati; two runners-up: Colby and Russell; and Jerri, who made the jury during Australian Outback, but came up short during All Stars.

Legitimately, the Greatest Survivor candidates should come from this group of five, but were they the most competitive players this season? For whatever reason, few of the Villains and most of the Heroes actually did not come into the game in a competitive mode.

Heroic Gamers!

Based on the shows, the gamers for the Heroes were limited. JT obviously came to play and left his good guy image at home. He played all sides and was instrumental in weakening his tribe by voting out Sugar, Stephenie, Cirie, Tom and James. A pre-game roll in the hay lead to a secret alliance with Sugar which he quickly dismissed in the first round. But it was his ridiculous Immunity Idol gift to Russell that will standout as one of the biggest mistakes in game history.

Stephenie may have come with a game plan but her strength and likability posed a threat to James and Rupert. So, she went too early to know what her game impact might have been.

Amanda's game plan was to stick close to James and Rupert. After James left, Amanda had little choice but to stick with the less athletic Rupert as her strongest ally. She showed some game when she convinced Parvati she was on her side, and also when she grabbed the Immunity Idol from Danielle. Her biggest deficit was her teammates that couldn't have found a way to win if they were the only ones playing!

Candice seemed like the woman without a tribe for so long that when she finally made her big game move by switching to the Villains, she was faced with distrust all around.

Villainous Gamers!

The bigger gamers were, in fact, among the Villains. Rob Mariano came in with a plan to switch his game persona. His successful transformation made him a threat to Russell. In spite of everything, Rob seemed to have lost his edge and he wasn't quite the same player he was a few years ago. His advice, however, was pure gold!

Randy, Coach and Tyson were non-factors or maybe better yet, placeholders on the team. Courtney fell into the same category.

The Real Players!

But the real game players were: Parvati, Sandra, Russell and Danielle — in that order! Of that group, only Danielle was eliminated prior to the final five. So who deserves the crown of Greatest Survivor Ever?

Colby eliminated himself from the title. How many times did Colby concede the game and consider himself gone? Hardly, a trait one would look for in the Greatest Survivor Ever. He showed little fire and less strategic planning.

Jerri lucked into the final five. Sorry Jerri! She actually turned out to be one of the more personable survivor contestants and I'm happy to say she became one of my favorites but she was simply not on the same level as the others.

You Don't Know Who You Are Dealing With...

Then we have Russell, the self-proclaimed "Greatest Player Ever." Not to rain on his parade, but Russell made many mistakes. Too many for him to remain a contender for the title!

His first, and biggest mistake, was his belief that no one played the game better than him or, for that matter, was smarter than Russell Hantz. His second mistake was his incredibly one-sided loyalty to Parvati. Russell ran every game move by Parvati, who was then privy to his strategy. Other mistakes littered his game play, but his final mistake was his emotional involvement. Whether it was his desire to be the best in the history of the game, or his desire to be everything to Parvati, Russell's emotions were most definitely in the game!

"I'm Against You Russell!"

Next there's Sandra, who played a devious and underhanded game, and looked Russell in the eye and told him she was against him and still survived. She may very well win the entire game, and this would do much for her selection as "Greatest Survivor Ever." Sandra would become the first person ever, to win the game twice.

Her skills were not in winning challenges, although she did outlast Colby in most of the challenges. Her skills were mainly mental. She focused on the game and threw people under the bus when it suited her. Ultimately, she never lost sight of the end game. The only thing which would have made her a stronger candidate would have been the elimination of Russell.

Survivor Queen!

Finally, there's Parvati. Three times a "Survivor" contestant, Parvati proved that she was a winner, and she also could be the first to win the show twice. Not only does she have the mental skills to win, she also has the physical skills to win the challenges. Time after time, she outlasted the men who seemed to be real wusses when their backs were against the wall.

She consistently outwitted her male ally, Russell. One of the best blindsides ever was Parvati handing over not only the Immunity Idol she received from Russell, but the one she had found herself to Sandra and Jerri. Russell was visibly shocked by this development and it was the beginning of the end of their close relationship. For the first time, Russell realized that he wasn't among first-timers.

Of all the past players of "Survivor," Parvati has earned the title of "Greatest Survivor Ever." Her game skills are unmatched and hopefully will not go unrecognized!

Survivor 20: One Less Hero!

Like a guest who has overstayed his welcome, Rupert finally went home.

Ironic that someone so likable during his first season could evolve into this crusty parody of himself. Early on in the game, it was apparent that Rupert truly believe his "heroic" status as he constantly reminded people that he was a HERO.

Heroic Deeds?
But really, what heroic deeds did Rupert accomplish during this season of "Survivor"? Was it heroic to plot the untimely demise of Stephenie and potentially weaken his tribe? How about his full body check of Jerri during a challenge? Or maybe it was his mistaken belief that the Villain women were targeting the men?

Whatever the reason, Rupert strongly believed that he was, in fact, a hero the likes of which the game of "Survivor" has never seen before. His weekly confessionals, not to mention Tribal Council statements, focussed on his singular claim to fame —his appointment to the Heroes tribe.

Unfortunately for Rupert, his strongest game move was pretending to have found the Hidden Immunity Idol. It does not bode well for him (or Colby for that matter), that Amanda, Candace and Danielle were considered bigger threats.

Sandra attempted to hand Rupert the keys to the game on several occasions — most recently just before the last TC. How did Rupert repay her gesture? He tattled to Russell! What an idiot!

Side note: Why did producers feel the need to bring back Rupert for a third time? More than 300 previous survivors and they could only find those 10 heroes? Really? Rupert, Colby, Stephenie, Cerie, James and Amanda were all three-peats.

Running Scared
On the other hand, Russell is running scared. He's a control freak who can't accept that the game is beyond his control. So his game play is erratic at best.

Having successfully evicted Danielle during the last Tribal Council, Russell was certain that his bond with Parvati would be restored. Instead, he found that she was concerned about her own safety, which he perceived as a betrayal by Parvati. Note to self: Russell has a low "betrayal threshold." Russell being Russell, he over-reacts and decides that Parvati needs to go home. So he begins to work on a plan to get rid of his closest ally.

Since week two, I anticipated the arrival of the family members. I wondered how Russell would handle meeting his wife after his obvious crush on Parvarti! Fortunately for Russell, recent events caused him to remove his rose colored glasses and finally see Parvati for the player she is.

Enter the Wife
The Reward Challenge was simple enough. Survivors used a bucket to get water from the ocean and throw it toward their family member's bucket. Not too difficult — part skill, part luck.

Colby's lack of skill coupled with his lack of luck worked against him in this challenge. So, in true Colby fashion, he blamed everything on his brother, Reed. It was Reed's fault for not talking to him and Reed's fault when Colby's aim was off. Colby probably even blamed Reed for his performance in the Immunity Challenge a day later!

Jerri and her sister eventually filled the bucket and won the challenge. Russell sustained another slap in the face when Jerri selected Parvati (and her dad) and Sandra (and her uncle) to join her on a trip to see the blowholes. According to Russell, he dragged Jerri through the mud to keep her in the game. I wonder if Russell knows that dragging someone through the mud is a derogatory phrase?

I'm Going to Win a Million Dollars!
Russell, of course, does the predictable and hustles to dumb and dumber (Rupert and Colby) to align with them to take out Parvati. Stunned by their good fortune, the former Heroes jump aboard the Russell Express.

Giddy with excitement and envisioning the million dollar prize as his own, Rupert gushes over his new alliance.What an idiot. Did Rupert really believe that the self-proclaimed biggest villain in the history of the game would stay true to his word? Apparently!

The women, meanwhile, bonded at the blowholes. Sounds a little dirty but truly a once in a lifetime experience. Jerri was a little concerned that Russell might be upset about not being included in the reward. You think? I mean, this is Russell Hantz we're talking about, right? He doesn't hold grudges, does he?

Upon their return, Jerri talks to Russell and downplays the reward while making sure they are still okay with one another. Russell comes away feeling like Jerri is his puppet but it seems to me that's a bit premature given the fact that she just spent several hours with Parvati and Sandra.

And the Immunity Necklace Goes To....
The Immunity Challenge featured the survivors holding a pair of poles up against a board with arms extended. Strength and focus. While Colby lacked skill and luck in the previous challenge, he proved that he also lacked strength and focus in this challenge as he lasted a mere 15 seconds. Maybe his strategy is to appear so weak that he's no threat to anyone. That's hardly the best strategy for winning the game, though.

One by one the survivors dropped out, leaving only Rupert and Parvati facing off for the win. Rupert must not have felt entirely safe given the effort he put in. Or maybe he wanted to be the "hero" and take Parvati out of the challenge. Either way, Rupert lost and Parvati donned the Immunity necklace once again.

Back at the camp, Sandra tried once again to rally Rupert. As mentioned earlier, Rupert went like a five-year-old and tattled to Russell putting him on the same level as Candice in my book. Rupert will contend that he played honorably, but did he?How does tattling fit into the character of a so-called hero?

So Russell confronts Sandra — are you for me, or against me? Sandra, of course, tells him straight out, "I'm against you, Russell." A great moment in a good game. Ironically, Russell does not demand her dismissal, instead, he sides with the women and blindsides his newest ally Rupert.

If you are keeping track of the boot order so far, they are spot on. My only hope is that they continue to be accurate!

Survivor 20: The Unpredictable Russell Hantz

Russell proved tonight why he will never be known as the greatest survivor in the history of the game. How? By dropping out of the first immunity challenge during the first temptation.

Obviously, hunger is a huge factor but do you risk your safety to eat? I don't know. Russell knew he was safe, but it seems like he's always expecting his teammates to come through in the challenges. To me, that's just not a quality you look for in the Greatest Survivor Ever.

Where Did All the Heroes Go?
Heroes vs. Villains! No one has seemed tremendously heroic this season. There were a few villains that seemed not to fit in with the rest of the team: Jerri, Boston Rob and Courtney, among others. There were a few heroes that would have been better suited as villains: Candice, JT, James and even Rupert.

What's really strange is that this far into the game, the titles of Heroes and Villains remains a point of contention. The argument between Russell and Rupert was a little humorous as each man defended his role of either hero or villain. Rupert wears his appointment to the hero tribe like a badge. While Russell, considers his membership in the Villains tribe an honor.

Either way, the two men went toe to toe with Russell promising Rupert he would go home. Two chances to send Rupert home, and he's still around!

Decisions! Decisions! Food vs. Immunity!
Candice was a fool. She felt safe when no one is really safe. So, she too, went for the food instead of the idol. She must have known she would have two votes (Rupert's and Colby's) against her. Parvati, Danielle and Jerri did not hide their dislike for her, so her safety was really questionable.

Her best hope was the immunity idol or the hidden immunity idol. Finally, the producers took a chance on fairness and read the clue to the hidden idol with everyone. The mad dash for the idol made for great television. They scattered and searched. Thankfully, Sandra found it and managed to keep it a secret from the rest of the tribe.

On a side note: I'm still waiting to find out what the note said.

Rupert, on the other hand, did not find the idol but was successful in giving everyone the impression that he did have the idol. It was a great deception and one that paid off big time during the tribal council.

Russell made another error of judgment in splitting the votes on the assumption that Rupert had the hidden immunity idol. As a result, Candice went to the jury. And Rupert lives to see another day.

It's All in the Game Play!
Colby has been the most interesting non-factor in the game as a whole. On the radar since week three, he manages to hang in there simply because he's a non-threat. He barely tries in the challenges, and his strategizing has been almost non-existent. It's almost an embarrassment that he has made his way into three seasons of "Survivor."

On the other end of the spectrum, Russell and Parvati have not quit strategizing. Because of this, Russell attempts his own coup when he goes to Danielle and tells her he wants to get Parvati out. Then, Russell being Russell, goes to Parvati and tries to pin it on Danielle. His goal is to turn them against each other. The biggest threat to his plan is that they might compare notes, which they do.

Parvati is not stupid. There's a reason she was included on the Villains tribe. She went straight to Danielle and confronted her about what Russell said. The two realize that Russell is hardly the ally they hoped he was. The tension between the three of them was palpable.

Even though Parvati was the bigger threat, Russell's focus was getting Danielle out of the game. Why? So that he could be closer to Parvati again? Why did Russell assume that getting rid of Danielle would translate into better relations with Parvati? His logic is confusing at best.

The final Tribal Council was very telling. Jeff, of course, asks the questions that he knows will get the best responses. As a result, Danielle reveals just how close to Parvati she really was, ultimately sealing her own fate. Still not sure why Jerri flipped. To me, the women should have stuck together to eliminate the men and then fought it out at the final four.

Russell burned a lot of bridges this time around. It looks like next week he plans to join forces with Colby and Rupert. I wonder what they will call themselves. The Heroic Villains?

Survivor 20: Let's Make a Deal!

Some weeks of "Survivor" are kind of a let down and episode 11 did just that, in my opinion. Sure, there was some drama and intrigue, but it kind of fell flat after the hugely climactic tribal council last week.

I was expecting fireworks after Parvati used two idols during the tribal council but it turned out to be more like a firecracker.

Loyalty vs. Betrayal
Instead, Russell was left licking the wounds of betrayal caused by Parvati keeping her Immunity Idol a secret from him. His feelings were hurt by the fact that the woman in whom he has confided EVERYTHING, failed to reveal her find to him. For the past several weeks, Russell has followed Parvati around like a puppy dog. Maybe he was in over his head where she was concerned.

Russell took time to digest the information that not only did she have the idol she found, but the one she accepted from him as well. Russell's grand gesture of sacrificing his idol for her fell flat when Parvati orchestrated the double-whammy!

Seducing the Enemy!
At this point, I have to believe that Russell felt that he was outwitted by Parvati because, well, he WAS outwitted by her. So, Russell retaliated by going to Candice and securing her as a possible fifth vote in the event that Sandra flipped. Russell does have a knack for figuring out who is approachable in terms of flipping.

Candice was the perfect target in so many ways. She's been an outsider among the Heroes since the beginning. She's quiet but perceptive. She is also confident in her athleticism and probably certain that she can win Immunity Challenges when necessary. The added fact that her former tribe would likely vote her out fourth contributed to her discontentment with them.

The only puzzling thing was that Russell went right back and told the others that he was trying to get Candice to flip. Why? To me, one of the greatest attributes to being a survivor is the ability to keep some elements of strategy a secret. Candice could have been his "ace in the hole."

How to Back a Teammate -- Colby Style
The Reward Challenge was one of luck as much as skill. The red team of Rupert, Russell and Sandra, lead for most of the way, but Colby managed to wrap it on the final play of the game.

So Colby, Amanda and Danielle went off to the reward. Amanda was on the lookout for the clue to the idol but Danielle happened to find it in the bowl of popcorn. Colby, watching "Treasure Island," sat oblivious to everything but the movie and even looked a bit perturbed that it was interrupted by a showdown between Amanda and Danielle.

To me, Colby showed exactly why he will never win the game of "Survivor." Danielle found the clue and dropped it on the floor. Amanda noticed her do it and went around the bed to check on it. She found the clue lying on the floor and picked it up. A furious Danielle followed her and tried to get it back. Eventually, Colby intervened by siding with Danielle. Why? Who knows. But it was a dumb move that capped off a series of dumb moves. The clue was not in anyone's possession when Amanda found it and should have been up for grabs.

It's My Idol and I'll Share If I Want To
Danielle returns to camp and shares the clue with Russell, Jerri and Parvati. Together they look for the idol by the stream. Russell finds it, sits on it, pockets it and decides to keep it a secret from Danielle and the others of his alliance. Instead, he shares his find with Candice who, in turn, shares the plans of the former Heroes tribe with Russell.

Now at this point, Rupert trusts Sandra completely. He knows that the Heroes had an opportunity to embrace the information she gave them prior to the last Tribal Council, and chose not too. His only hope of turning the game is to woo Sandra back again.

This time, Sandra talks to Colby, who is not entirely certain that she's not playing them. Still, the Heroes move forward with a tentative plan based on Sandra's information.

Candice is the perfect double-agent. She eventually shares the information that Sandra is sharing information. Russell, being well, fanatical about loyalty, confronts Sandra and lets her know that Candice has flipped so she's inconsequential to their plans. Sandra, of course, goes back to let the former Heroes know what's up.

Stupidly, the Heroes confront Candice who assures them she's on their side and they swallow it. Sandra tries in vain to convince Candice to vote for Parvati but for whatever reason, Candice is convinced that Amanda needs to go.

What Could Have Been
During the Immunity Challenge, Jerri edges Russell for the win. It's quite telling that the Heroes target Amanda or both Colby and Russell. Their goal is to get rid of the threats in the game. Obviously, neither Colby or Rupert are perceived as posing much of a threat, either physical or mental.

During Tribal Council, Russell plays the idol he found for himself without realizing that the Heroes are targeting Parvati. So close. If Candice would have remained with the Heroes and Sandra would have felt safe, it could have been a season-changing vote! Instead, Amanda left in a vote of 6-3.

Parvati looked none too thrilled realizing that this week Russell had played strictly for himself. Should be interesting next week as it looks like anger and distrust are getting the best of the Villains' alliance.

Parvati Makes Move for Greatest Survivor Honors!

I have a nominee for "Greatest Survivor Ever" and it's not Russell.

Parvati owned tonights episode! What's really strange to me is that I have never liked Parvati, and still don't but I respect her game play. Something that Russell probably does not.

What Not To Do!
Russell's first mistake is "implicitly" trusting his alliance of three women. Well, maybe not his first mistake, but his biggest mistake so far. He shares everything! Diarrhea of the mouth! Russell loves to hear himself talk and he's making a fool of himself. He goes to the group that he perceives on the same level as his harem and tells him his strategy, plans, future goals.

To his credit, Russell knows that he needs to invent a story to explain Parvati's presence in the game. Fortunately for him, JT is playing the game for everyone and comes up with his own reasoning. Obviously, if Parvati is still in the game, she must have used an idol too. Gotta hand it to JT. He's so changed his image from his first go-round, that he now seems to the stupidest winner in the history of the game.

Russell's second mistake is underestimating the game play of the women. In both his seasons, Russell has gotten rid of the people that he perceived as being against him and decimated his tribe in the process. Last season, he kept Jayson who was smart but not a threat to Russell because he ultimately kept most of his opinions to himself. Russell's mistake was keeping Natalie in the game. She too, played hard and made a game changing move in the process. He underestimated her, and he's doing the same thing this season.

Parvati the Player
Parvati is no virgin to the game of "Survivor." In fact, she knows exactly what she's doing. Parvati could give lessons on how to play a man, and she's playing Russell for all he's worth. She bats her eyes at Russell, and he falls for her like school boy. In her past two experiences, she learned exactly how far she could go with her charm — all the way to the end!

She's also massaged Russell's ego by allowing him to think he's in charge of the game. Parvati wanted to keep Courtney over Sandra, but did not press too hard because Russell wanted Courtney out. Why? Probably because she insulted him but in the end, but Sandra is a more dangerous player.

Strategy Makes Their Heads Hurt
The Heroes are at least trying to play the game but when Amanda said her head hurt from the strategy talk, that's exactly the impression I get from Colby when I see him in a challenge or at Tribal Council. Colby seems genuinely puzzled by this new game of "Survivor" that relies heavily on strategy and less on physical prowess.

Sandra hands the keys of the game to Rupert. He goes to his tribe and informs them that all is not what it seems but he's up against the ego of JT, who can't admit that he is wrong. Rupert brings up a great point about Russell's obvious attempts to win them over. Following the merge, Russell swears on the lives of his children. Who does that? Only someone who is so anxious to drive his point home would be that over-the-top.

Rupert suggests not voting out Parvati but voting out someone else in an attempt to get them to show their cards. It's a good strategy, but why not go for Russell instead?

What Were They Thinking?
The Immunity Challenge favored the women but I did not understand the logic of so many. Colby bowed out simultaneously with Sandra. Even Rupert, with a broken toe, outlasted Colby. What!?!

Also in the "Makes No Sense" category, was Candice bowing out during the final three. The only possible explanation was that she wanted to find out what Parvati would do. Still, Jeff even took a moment to point out how illogical her decision was. Her explanation was lame: they looked like they could stay awhile. Again, what!?!

When Parvati slid down the pole it was obvious that she was feeling safer than she should have, and the Heroes picked up on that fact. Even JT was wondering what was going on by this point but remember, he "explicitly" trusted Russell.

Worst Liar of the Game!
Amanda. She's had the most interesting game of the Heroes so far. Befriending Parvati was a stroke of genius but she should have stopped when she was ahead. By telling her that she was on her side, Amanda got Parvati to spill the information about her idol — something she had not even told Russell!

When she lied to Parvati that she was still a potential candidate for their votes, Parvati saw right through it. Amanda is simply one of the worst liars to date.

Amanda's best choice would have been to go back to her tribe and convince them to go after Parvati again. She had to have sensed that Parvati was not that worried after they talked. Amanda must known how bad the lie came off but the Heroes proved that once their minds are set, they are set in stone.

What's a Girl To Do With Two Idols?
Russell was still feeling in control of everything. He was so sure that Parvati was in danger that he passed her the idol for the second time in the game. Parvati, on the other hand, was already aware that she was no longer a target but accepted the idol anyway. Now with two idols in her possession, the possibilities were limitless.

The Tribal Council was epic — far better than Russell saving Parvati in a last minute gesture a few weeks ago. Parvati arrived with both idols in her bag and passed one off to Sandra and the second to Jerri. The best game move ever! In one moment, she trumped Russell's previous moves.

Parvati showed that she was willing to go out on a limb to not only save a close ally in Jerri, but someone who would most definitely flip if she had to, Sandra! You could literally see the Heroes team deflate! You could almost sense that the Heroes threw in the towel.

The Heroes have no one to blame but themselves. They heard Sandra's information and chose to do virtually nothing about it. Why didn't they invite her to join them and act as a mole during the initial Tribal Council after the merge?

Parvati's move came at an opportune time. The two tribes have merged, two members of the jury who witnessed Russell's previous Tribal Council coup are just feet away, and Parvati makes a huge game changing play. Those jury members and potential jurors will remember this night when it's time to cast their votes. If Jerri and Sandra are part of the jury, they will remember that Parvati saved them.

Russell needs to be asking himself why everyone from the start of the game has been worried about Parvati. Why has everyone been wanting her out? She's a player Russell. A better player than you!

Next week looks like another great episode! Can't wait and maybe there will be a second female nomination for "Greatest Survivor Ever!"

History Making Stupidest Move Ever!

Who would've guessed that the single stupidest move in "Survivor" history would occur during a season of veterans?

The Heroes' male members determined that the Villains' camp was being run by the women. So sure of it, Rupert took it upon himself not once, but twice, to mention it in hearing distance of the Villains! As a result, JT hatched a plan that will most certainly be the beginning of the end for the Heroes tribe. JT's plan involved secretly giving Russell the Hidden Immunity Idol if the Villains lost the Immunity Challenge.

First, how stupid!

What the Heck was in the Water?
Second, did I mention, how stupid? Did the Heroes feel themselves clairvoyant at that point? Did they really believe they were "all knowing" as to what was happening on the Villains side?

Apparently! I guess winners, and near winners of the show are blessed with some super secret inner knowledge of what the other team is thinking and doing. Or, at least they think they are!

Colby, Rupert and JT were completely set on the idea of the women's alliance wiping out the men. Only Amanda questioned it, but she and Candice were anxious to get the idol out of the hands of JT, and into the hands of someone — anyone — else! Ever since Russell and Coach showed up as the last two remaining males, JT has been casting reassuring words, glances, nods and whatever else he could toward Russell. So insistent was JT in his reassurances, I really began to wonder what was up between him and Russell. A pre-show "bromance" perhaps?

To cap it off, JT decides to write a letter to Russell to accompany the idol. About as heartfelt as any letter on "Survivor" could be, JT dictates that it should be read in complete privacy. At the same time, it was incredibly simplistic and I kept wondering how JT could ever pen something so delightfully strange! Parvati suggests that JT was giving away his heart, and in many ways he was, and for what? By the way, anyone else wondering where JT got pen and paper to fulfill his desire to include a letter with the idol?

If that isn't strange enough, you have Colby, who also buys into the plan, out on the raft telling Russell to make sure he talks with JT because he has "something" for him. He even tells Russell to vote off Parvati without any knowledge of who Russell might be aligned with. What if Russell's only ally was Parvati? Dumb, dumb move, Colby. Russell, for his part, plays the role well and accepts with gratitude. He hustles off the raft and makes a pretty good showing as if he truly is in fear of being voted off, but really he was probably just in a rush to pocket the idol!

Happy is as Happy Does
To top it off, it was a bit odd how incredibly pleased with themselves the Heroes were after the successful completion of passing over the idol! They really felt like they pulled off a major coup and JT can't stop patting himself on the back for his "history" making moment. In a way they did pull off a major coup but it was a coup of stupidity. The Heroes will indeed make history, but I doubt it's the history they were hoping for! I almost wish we could fast forward to the finale right now!

On the other side, Russell, Parvati and Danielle were laughing at the situation. They giggled at the letter. They laughed at JT's naivety. Suddenly, it seemed that Russell's prediction of JT handing him $1 million was close to realization. They were tickeled to death by the gesture and Parvati voiced what must have been on the minds of millions of "Survivor" viewers: How did that boy win his season?

Idol Will Dismantle Heroes!
I predict that the newly acquired idol is going to bite the Heroes in the butt next week after the merge. Personally, I feel like they deserve to lose after their "history making" stupidest move ever tonight. I hope they have several moments of open regret in the coming weeks!

Who will be the first to go? If they are smart, the Villains will get rid of JT first, who is physically more of a challenger than Colby or Rupert.

Second Dumbest Move
On a different note, I think the Villains were stupid to keep Sandra this week. She's got at least five more challenges before she will resurface on the radar. By then, the Villains alliance will likely be on shaky ground, and anyone could be first out. Sandra is smart and leaving her in the game could be Russell's undoing. Personally, I think Jerri needs to win some immunity challenges because I see her as being the odd person out in the alliance of four.

After two seasons in a row of watching, Russell decimate his team physically, the only conclusion I can draw is that it's part of his plan to go into the merge with a smaller group that really needs to stick together. Large teams have too many variables and it's too easy to exploit the weaknesses.

If the Heroes are smart (I know, big if!), they will try to woo Sandra who seems like she's trying to get Rupert to understand how misguided their "women's alliance" theory really is.

Truest Statement of the Game
Parvati found a clue to the Hidden Immunity Idol. Instead of sharing with Russell, she shares with Danielle. The self-proclaimed "Queen" of "Survivor" declares that the "King" (Russell) does her bidding. When you think about it, that's exactly right. Every move Russell makes is run by the Queen. He could have kept the idol to himself (like Parvati), but instead he runs directly to her! He's like a little boy constantly seeking approval!

So as Russell and Colby are on the rafts, and Colby orders him to vote out Parvati, Russell replies: "She's running the whole show." She is indeed, Russell! She certainly is!

How to Slay a Dragon Slayer!

If you can say one thing about this season of "Survivor," it's that it's predictably unpredictable!

Hard to know where to even start! So I will leap in with Russell.

The ego on this man is huge — bigger than any ego I've seen on "Survivor" and that's saying something. He spends so much time touting his own accomplishments that he virtually ignores the obvious. In this case, the obvious is Sandra, who is smarter than he gives her credit. Of course, Russell's ego prevents him from seeing that anyone else is capable of scheming and playing the game of "Survivor."

If Sandra pulls off what appears to be a coup, she might very well be the greatest survivor in the history of the show. Russell managed to fall for the oldest ploy in "Survivor" history — the lie! Sandra preys on Russell's most glaring insecurity when she tells him that Coach is out to get him. It's like dangling a fresh piece of meat in front of a hungry lion. Russell pounces on that bit of information with single-minded focus. He must eliminate Coach before Coach eliminates him!

Now to me, it would have been just as advantageous for Sandra to hook up with Coach/Jerri and vote out Russell. But my feeling is that Sandra wants Russell at the end of the game to offer comparison/contrasts to her own game. Whether he realizes it or not, Russell's biggest mistake of the game might very well be allowing Sandra to remain in the game.

What's JT's Word Worth?
The Heroes, on the other hand, seem to have jelled, at least on the surface. But then there's good old JT whose word this time around is about as good as Russell's. Last week, JT declared that the search for the idol should not come between them and they should hunt for the idol as a group.

So much for JT's word as he goes off on his own, finds the idol and is discovered by Amanda as he attempts to conceal his find. JT is duplicitous at best and a down right pathological liar at worst. He decides to come clean with the idol, but thanks to Candice, JT's character is seriously in jeopardy of being disclosed.

Then you have the Heroes, who, as a team, determine there's an all girl alliance among the Villains. Rupert voices it and JT promptly offers whispered support to Russell. (Another pre-show alliance for JT?) I suppose the fact that three of the five men were voted out would suggest that fact but still, Rupert was premature in stating it out loud. Kind of set the stage for Coach's exit in many ways.

Drop Your Expectations!
Thankfully, the Villains are not the sharpest tools in the shed. Assuming merge, the team packed up their entire camp, dismantling their only successful shelter to date, and arrived at a Reward Challenge. It's a numbers game and the jury has never started prior to 10 people which was, at that point still two people away. A little premature and a lot foolish!

The challenge was the old bowling game which on "Survivor" is simply a game of chance. Coach wanted a win without a thought toward what happens in the Immunity Challenge. He turned to Sandra and Courtney and questioned them whether they want to play. Sandra leaves it up to the group, and Coach sat them out.

Russell scores the only point for the Villains, while Coach is defeated by Amanda. Heroes win again, and suddenly it seems like Stephenie was not the bad luck member of the group, but James. File this under the category that makes me go hmmmmmmm.

Bad Decision?
While the Heroes dine on pizza, the Villains go back to their camp and the sniping begins. Jerri targets Courtney and Sandra for not stepping up to the challenge. She's started to look ahead to the Immunity Challenge and knows there's no reason to celebrate a potential victory.

Jerri seems to be reflecting a little — make that a lot — on her decision to vote out Rob. It's starting to become obvious that Russell will do anything to advance himself in the game, including weakening his own team. Too little too late on Jerri's part.

The Immunity Challenge is down and dirty and once again the Heroes come out on top. Courtney is the weakest player, and Sandra is not too far behind physically. To top it off, Courtney is injured and still, Russell decides to send Coach packing. Why? Because he heard that Coach was out to get him.

More Questions Than Answers...
So this episode raised some interesting questions for me:

Who is Courtney? I don't remember her from her earlier season and can't for the life of me figure out why she's a Villain. Up until this past week, Courtney barely uttered a single word, and her only distinction this week was a few whiney confessionals and addressing Jeff as Jeffrey.

Why is Sandra a Villain? Sandra and I are equally confused by her designation!

Just how much did JT rely on Stephen for strategy during their season? My guess is, a lot. JT is all over the board and is making promises to whomever comes along. If next week's teaser is any indication, JT has completely lost it! Slow down and think!

At the finale, what will Jerri say to Rob about voting him out?

Why is Coach more likable this season than during his first season? Come on, you know you've thought about it. Coach is much less annoying than his first season, yet he's the same guy spewing the same "Dragon Slayer" crap. Maybe it's the fact that Russell makes Coach seem like the voice of reason?

When will Danielle realize she's the expendable part of the three-way alliance?

What will Sandra do next to stay in the game?

Why does Russell feel that he is a "Survivor" god? Seems to me that winning the second half of the game against players like Rob would mean more than eliminating him when his team still needs him.

Goodbye Boston Rob!

So Russell did it. He got rid of Boston Rob but not without the help of a couple of players who should have known better.

Russell has been courting Coach for a few weeks now, and Coach has been responding like a teenage girl in love. He loves to be appreciated for his "integrity." So, no surprise when Russell pressed Coach for a vote against Rob. To his credit, he tried to talk Russell and company out of the vote, but it was a weak argument — even for Coach.

There Must Be Something in the Water!
But Jerri! What was she thinking? Obviously impressed by Russell's "devotion" to Parvati, she took the first opportunity to jump from Rob's alliance to Russell's alliance. But the difference in Russell's devotion to Parvati and his clumsy alliance making attempts with Jerri, is that Russell is indeed, smitten with Parvati and has shown he will do what he needs to keep her in the game.

Russell's biggest asset is that no one really saw him play his entire season. They probably learned how far he got in the game and maybe saw some of the footage, but all the episodes? Definitely not. They had not aired prior to the shooting of Heroes vs. Villains. The editing was probably still underway just days prior to their airing last fall. So, a move like he made last week came out of the blue and stunned his teammates.

The Villains began splintering as a team with the unceremonious departure of Tyson. Russell let his arrogance show a bit more as he, Parvati and Danielle celebrated their victory. Rob bristled at their openness knowing that his own alliance might be fragmenting. The two men postured as if they were in the ultimate wrestling match for the title of alpha male.

Boston Rob Offers Insight
Rob knows the game and understands it as well as anyone out there. During the All Stars season, Rob made a name for himself playing a down and dirty game. This season saw the entrance of a more mellow, somewhat less fit Boston Rob. He was going to be the diplomat rather than the dictator. But his confessionals have been incredible.

This is Rob's last attempt at "Survivor". You can feel it, and it's for the best. I think Rob knows it and wants to pass on some of the knowledge he gained. His confessionals have been incredible for those who might be considering "Survivor" in the future.

During this episode, Rob advised people to get to know their fellow contestants and find out what they hold dear as a way to gain their confidence. In this case, the person in question was Coach, and he values loyalty above all else. Boston Rob understood this, and so did Russell. Unfortunately for Rob, Russell got the jump on exploiting Coach's fatal flaw.

For some reason, Rob is sounding a bit like the grandpa of the tribe. The voice of reason, if you will. Rob was the person who took it upon himself to make a fire without the assistance of flint. He saw the need to get better shelter. He's tried to bring the tribe together. He also recognized the threat that Russell was long before any of the other tribe members.

Russell, on the other hand, is coming across as the precocious teenager who refuses to listen and flouts authority at every turn. I'm not sure why Russell feels that sowing discontent in a tribe is the best way to gain the title of sole survivor but it's the path he's chosen, not just once but twice.

How to Win the Game, Russell Style!
This week Russell suggested sending home Courtney or Sandra. (BTW, I nearly forgot about Courtney until I saw her in the immunity challenge.) Okay, I can agree with either of those choices, but they are sitting just a few feet away and listening to Russell's entire conversation. Rob thought Russell's strategy of talking about the person he wanted to vote out in front of them was ridiculous. But Russell does not care because, in his mind, his game play is so superior he can't help but win.

Russell's arrogance is his biggest detriment. He expects people to bow at his feet and say, "Great job! Well played!" But in the end, this jury will likely be as bitter as the first he faced. If he makes it to the end, he will likely be sitting with tears in his eyes at the finale trying to buy the title one more time.

Despite what some people think, games like this are social in nature and many of the jurors feel that, if they can't win, they at least want to like the person who does win.

Back to Jerri. She threw her vote to Russell, as she swallowed his story about wanting to go to the end with her and Coach. Hey Jerri, he gave up the idol for Parvati, do you really think he will throw her over at the end of the game for you and Coach?

As for Coach, he's already semi-aligned with Russell, partly aligned with Rob, and fully aligned with Jerri. Makes me wonder how he thought he could remain loyal to that grouping of people. Still, when Jerri throws his name in the mix with Russell, he gets upset. Maybe because she was making a decision without him, or maybe because in her own way, she called him out. Who knows?

So initially, it seems like Russell wants to get rid of Courtney or Sandra. Anyone from Rob's alliance. Courtney actually has not done much in the game and had her first confessional of the game (that I can remember) during this episode. Sandra is stronger mentally than any of the women on the team, and can't be underestimated.

How to Lose a Game, Coach's Style
But when talk turns to Rob, it's Jerri who ultimately turns the tide by asking what impact Rob's absence would have on the team. Coach half-heartedly tells them it's not time but the deal has been cut and Rob becomes the target.

Rob, sensing that something is up and already beginning to suspect that Coach and Jerri might be aligned with Russell, decides that it's time Russell goes.

Jerri does provide the fourth vote, but it's Coach's ignorance and unwillingness to choose a side that really seals Rob's fate. If Coach had voted for Russell, it would have forced a tie. At that point, I think Jerri would have switched sides again simply because she would know that Coach would stick with his vote because of his "loyalty" and she would not have wanted to risk a second tie and the potential for random elimination.

Instead of seeing Russell for the player he is and going with his first alliance, Coach votes for Courtney. Rob said it best when, as he was leaving and Coach stood up to hug him goodbye, he called Coach a "little man."

His move made Coach the man without an alliance. I doubt if Russell will want him back now, and Sandra and Courtney likely won't trust him. Based on the previews for next week, Coach seems like an angry, thwarted man. To me, his vote sealed his fate and my feeling is that he has very little time left in the game. Coach's vote likely cost him the game as Russell's words echo: "If you're not for me, you're against me."

Old School
So Rob's departure left me feeling a little nostalgic. Sure, he did not make it far during his first round on Survivor, but he made it to the end and should have won the All Stars season. Jerri pointed out that Rob was old school, just like her. He was pre-Immunity Idol when you survived based on her wits and not a hidden advantage. The game has evolved and some of the players have not evolved with it. A part of me wishes that Rob would have aggressively searched for the idol and embraced the new aspects of the game. Instead, last week he was beaten by a part of the game that he really did not even want to acknowledge. I think it took a lot of fight out of him.

On the other hand, the Heroes actually came together as a team, and Colby managed back to back challenges that showed the competitor that he really is. Maybe Colby too was wishing for the purer, simpler version of "Survivor" when a top competitor was rewarded for their efforts and it had nothing to do with a little wooden doll hanging around the neck. Somehow or another, Colby turned his game around and the Heroes hit their stride. Makes you wonder what would have happened if Colby had been on his game from the start!

Coach: The Man Behind the Man?

Tyson definitely took home fool of the week honors! I can't even begin to understand what he was thinking! If Russell was serious about voting for Parvati, Tyson's vote would not have been needed. He could have voted for Russell, and let Russell's vote oust Parvati. Tyson was clueless and it ended the game for him.

The real story here though is Russell. Is he really that smart? Or, did her get a phenomenal edit? I vote for the latter.

Greatest "Survivor"Ever?
Russell is a good player and I think the producers would very much like to shed the idea that the best "Survivor" player was the first winner of the show. After all, it's been 10 years since "Survivor" debuted and that's a long time for Richard to hold the top spot. So, along comes Russell, a player who thinks outside the box. Producers reward him with an edit that suggests he's a one man army. But is Russell really that good or is it mostly in his mind and the minds of the producers?

He might have anticipated a split of the votes by Rob, but how would he have know who was voting for who unless he had some inside information. Rob could have divided the votes any which way and it would have been impossible to know just who was voting for Parvati and who was voting for Russ.

So how did he figure it out? How did he know to go to Tyson and tell him of his plan to flip flop and vote out Parvati. It was perfect in every way but a little too perfect. We see about 15 seconds of a conversation followed by a Tyson confessional saying he thinks it's a great opportunity to change up his vote. Really? I did not think Tyson was quite that gullible.

The Man Behind the Man?
I think the key ingredient to Russ's sudden vote intuition is Coach who mentioned that he's part of two alliances, and his "sense of loyalty" may have lead him to disclose Rob's plan to Russ. At that point, Russ probably took over and after a few shrewd questions, managed to narrow down the votes. Coach's biggest problem is he thinks he's smarter than anyone out there but he's not a match for Russ.

Hard to prove this theory unless there's a secret scene but I don't really care how smart someone is, they would not know the breakdown of the votes on their own. Sure, the alliances are pretty plain, but Russell was not even counting on Coach's vote who he supposedly swore allegiance to a few days before. Russell knew the split was 6-3.

There is another interesting question though regarding Rob. I know Rob has played the game before, but how did he even consider that Russ would hand his idol to Parvati? To me, that move defied explanation. Sacrificing himself for a person who's already won a million dollars is not even an option in my book. Unless… he really is nursing a tremendous crush on her.

It's pretty obvious that Russell "likes" Parvati. His teammates must have known that Russell was definitely crushing on her, so maybe it was that knowledge that Rob drew on. Or, maybe it was Coach feeding bits of information back to his "other" alliance. I can see Coach justifying it in his mind that he treated both alliances the same by sharing equally.

Theories, all of them, but I think they are much more likely than just random luck or superior wisdom.

I will hand it to Russell for selecting Tyson, regardless of how he got the information. He certainly chose the best person to target with his lie. Tyson ended his game by giving kudos to Russell. Unfortunately for Russell, Tyson won't be on the jury though.

Superman in a Fat Suit!
One last thing to address for this episode. Colby. What's up with Colby? He volunteers to sit out of challenges, he does poorly in the ones that he participates in. He fell behind Candice, JT, James, Rupert and maybe even Amanda. James called him, "Superman in a fat suit" which is saying that Colby may look the same but he's not acting the same way. He's got no drive and desire to win.

Last week I thought James should go home but this week, I really think that Colby should have gone home. He's conceded the game, and more than James, he's dead weight. Makes a person wonder!

Where Did All the Heroes Go?

Aren't they on the same team?

Right up front, I will say that I don't like to see someone hurt. That being said, I will add, the heroes have suffered more than there share of injuries but they aren't learning from them.

That's not the only problem for the Heroes though. Their biggest problem is they simply suck at puzzles. I've never seen a team lose this many challenges simply based on puzzles. I don't think they would win a puzzle making challenge even if the pieces were numbered!

No More Mr. Nice Guy
JT has changed up his game the most and maybe a bit too much. During his season of Survivor, he charmed his teammates and showed loyalty, and was rewarded with a win. This season, JT is loyal only to himself and his wishes. Everyone else is second to him. Maybe that's the way the game needs to be played in the end, but it's too soon, IMO. He's showed disloyalty from the beginning, and no one really trusts him.

Coach, on the other hand, has changed his game the least. Same old, same old! He continues to push his annoying philosophies on people regarding meditation and oneness with one's self. Coach truly believes he is a leader on his team and to prove that he leads his team in "Dragon Slayer Methodology 101" as some of his teammates smile and snicker to themselves.

Russell, a few yards away, continues his search for the immunity idol, and finds it. (It seemed to me that his was "buried" a little deeper than the one on the Heroes beach. :) ) Russell's right, the idol gives him power in this game. Whether it gives him the control he is seeking, remains to be seen. Now, in retrospect, I hope Coach asks himself what was the best course of action at that point, meditation on the beach or looking for the idol.

Eventually, Russell decides to disclose his "find" to Coach, who feels privileged to hold this piece of information. On the one hand, it's a smart move to tell Coach because Russell knows he's still "Coach." he's still the guy who will reward loyalty. On the other hand, I get the feeling that Russell is just too proud of his accomplishments. Russell HAS to share because he's so happy with himself and it could come back to bite him. On a team comprised of egos, Russell's ego is by far the biggest, which, considering he has not won, is some feat!

How Far Would You Go for Chocolate?
The Reward Challenge draws two very different reactions. As Jeff hands over the plates of chocolate, the Villains drool over their bite-sized pieces, while the Heroes, led by the Colby, ignore the plate of chocolate and return it to Jeff uneaten. Their point? They are focused! Or stupid! One or the other, but mostly just stupid. Why not taste it and fuel the desire to win?

During the first match, James hurts his knee. Kind of hard to see what happens, but it knocks him out of the game and the Heroes play one person short for the rest of the challenge. I still don't understand why Colby could not step in and play.

During the second match, the Heroes get physical. JT goes after Rob, Rob goes after JT, JT wrestles Coach to the ground. It's all good. Tyson, sinks a basket and just after, Rupert slams Jerri into a pylon. Ummm. Did I type that right? Rupert slams Jerri into a pylon. Yep! I did. What was he thinking? Who was guarding Russell at that point? Amanda? Good grief man, get real! He says he did not mean to do it, but it seemed pretty clear as he wrapped his arms around her and pushed her face first into the pylon after Tyson had already scored. Seems to me that Jeff messed up on a possible disqualification for the Heroes.

During the third and final match, JT tries to knock the balls out of the air before they reach the basket. It works a couple of times, but the Villains eventually win the reward!

The Heroes just can't put together a winning strategy! James stays behind to have the medical staff look him over. Now, I know that his injury is not life threatening but it could certainly affect his mobility in years to come! He should have been pulled from the game!

The Villains, meanwhile, enjoy a great reward. They eat chocolate in all forms and then a refreshing swim while Russell and Parvati scheme. Neither one can be trusted, so maybe they have the best alliance of all.

James comes back to the Heroes camp wearing what can only be described as a partial cast on his left leg. He claims it does not hurt but obviously, by the way he is walking, it does hurt. James later claims he's fit enough to beat Jeff in a race, but I think I could have beaten James in a race that day!

For his part, James is turning into the poutiest contender to date! Candice makes a lot of sense when she talks about James as dead weight. He's almost ineffective now, and he sits there and tells them he's the strongest team member. What has he done so far except toss Randy in the mud? I would bet pretty much any man on the Heroes team could have done the same thing.

It's Puzzling!
The teams arrive at the immunity challenge for another rehashed puzzle making challenge. Okay, yet another opportunity for the Villains to show off their puzzle solving skills. Like most such challenges, the Heroes got their pieces together first and start on their puzzle before the Villains. Like most every other time, the Villains come from behind to win.

What is the key to their success? Boston Rob, plain and simple. He's without a doubt one of the strongest competitors they have for challenges. Surprisingly, the Villains follow his lead quite well.

The Heroes return to camp to discuss who should go. To me, there's one logical choice at this point: James. Sorry James, but your attitude has been poor from the start, and it went further south with your injury. But somehow or another, the talk turns to Tom. What? Again?

Have These People Played this Game Before?
Their strategy defies explanation. To me, the point of this part of the game is to reach the merge with the team as much in tact as possible. With their pointless and beyond comprehension strategy, they are setting themselves up to reach the merge shorthanded. To me, their losing strategy started week one with the elimination of Sugar. Rupert should have gone first because of his toe injury.

Faced with choosing between his two alliances, JT does what he does best. He lies to one side and chooses the other. He tells Colby that he will vote to remove James, while telling Rupert his vote is for Tom. Too many alliances too early in the game. So far, JT has been one of the biggest disappointments of the game.

When all is said and done, Tom exits.

The Heroes at this point, don't deserve to go far in this game!

On the Villains side, Russell is playing the hardest with Parvati close on his heals. Rob and the rest of the Villains need to be aware of Russell's sneakiness and his possession of the idol. Right now, though, the Villains have this game well in hand.

Dumbest Strategy in the History of the Game!

It's all in the editing and kudos to the editors of "Survivor" this week. They did a spectacular job of adding to the overall drama of the episode.

This blog might be a little backwards but it's only because certain things stand out and deserve mention up top.

Colby or Tom?
To me, some of the Heroes entered into the worst pre-merge strategy that I've ever seen — make an alliance and stick to that alliance at all costs. Rupert, James and Amanda have that strategy. Twice they voted off strong female players who would have helped in challenges. Last night, Tom or Colby seemed destined to go.

Tom or Colby? Are you kidding me? What were they thinking? It was plain to see that Cirie and Candice were going to go with the alliance they thought was strongest. They chose James' alliance because, well, it's James, and he's the Incredible Hulk of challenges.

What they did not bargain on is the hidden immunity idol which Tom secreted in his sock but not before Amanda caught a glimpse. Tom tried to use it to his advantage and gain some allies in the game but Cirie did what she does best and made Amanda doubt the deal Tom was offering.

In spite of their combined experience, the majority of Heroes are not that bright when it comes to playing the game. They headed to Tribal Council with the mentality that Tom or Colby had to go. The team is losing as it is, why not seal their fate by voting off strong members?

Here's an idea, let's get rid of Rupert. He's got a broken toe and struggles in competitions. How about Cirie? She doesn't contribute much during the challenges either. Then there's always Amanda. She could go and only James and Rupert would miss her. But no, the thought process was focused on Tom and Colby. Flush out the idol and then vote off Colby, and if Tom doesn't use the idol then he's gone.

Big gamble pays off!
So it was a gamble, a huge risk but one that had to be taken. The votes were cast. Tom used his idol and three votes were cast for Tom which counted for nothing. Rupert and James voted for Colby and thought that JT would too, but JT is obviously battling his inner hero. He chewed his lips through the entire tribal council. In the end, Cirie was sent packing with three votes and some cheers from me.

Don't get me wrong. I like Cirie. In fact, I rooted for her to win her season but this time, she seemed a little off. She was more duplicitous. Scheming a little harder and trying to "off" one of my guys. :) So she had to go.

Up until now, they voted as a block. I don't understand what James, Rupert, Amanda, Cirie, and Candice were thinking this round of voting. All they would have had to do is make Tom think they were voting for him and then everyone vote for Colby, and Colby would have been the one to go home. It would not have mattered if Tom had no votes cast against him, as long as he thought he was in jeopardy and played the idol.

Personally, I'm happy they were as bad at figuring out this strategic move as they are at doing puzzles!

Pity party for one?
Now that we have that out of the way. Time to return to early part of the episode. Did anyone see Coach's crying fit coming? Well, I guess everyone who watched the previews did but really, Coach why were you crying? Someone says you are walking off when work needs to be done and you dissolve in tears?

A little telling was who he sought out for comfort. Tyson. Not the most sympathetic guy in my book, but he definitely provided comfort to Coach who seemed to need assurance. I was surprised that he did not seek out Jerri but she might have told him to "grow a pair" or maybe she already did!

Boston Rob showed his leadership skills by not laughing in Coach's face which I might have been inclined to do. Instead, he assured Coach that he does belong and is important. Nice work, Rob!

Sears goes everywhere!
So here the teams are, stuck out on an island where the only mail they get is tree mail, and along comes a Sears catalog. Granted the catalog has only a few items, but they were thrilled to see it.

It's very interesting what they chose as the items for the reward challenge. The Heroes (or pseudo-Heroes) go for cooking items and fishing gear while the Villains go for tools, a tarp and a multi-function tool. The Villains are still hoping to construct proper shelter and this is what, day ... .

The Villains were on their game as they racked up three points to the Heroes one point. The Heroes came back scoring two points. In the final match of the challenge, Tyson took on Colby and won. It was surprising to me that Tyson managed to take this one as Colby beat him to the mat and put up a shot before Tyson even arrived. I still don't like Tyson, and it has little to do with him beating my Colby. I mean Colby.

The Villains came out on top and went back to camp with yet another win under their belts.

Side note: When I first saw the teams, I thought the Heroes had a clear advantage to every challenge. Physically, they do dominate the challenges but mentally the Villains are tougher.

Marked for elimination!
One of the biggest changes to the game of Survivor has been the inclusion of immunity idols. The first several seasons did not even have the hidden idol. Some survivors have used the idols to their advantage. Yau Man was the first to make a fake idol. Bob perfected the fake idol and made it so realistic and sold it so well, that Randy took the shaft for it.

While pulling the saw/knife out of the sheath, Russell unwittingly revealed the first clue. The team, led by Rob, agreed that whoever found the idol would be marked. To a degree, this is understandable. Rob never even had an idol in his season. He's probably seen what the idol can do and would rather remove its potential from the game. Still, the idol is part of the game.

As Rob dismisses the idol with a comment about building shelter, Russ begins plotting. Of all past seasons, Russell has made the most of the hidden immunity idols. He knows their power and he's not going to be put off from finding it with the threat that he will be voted out. There's definitely no honor among these Villains.

So Russell takes a walk. Rob tells Sandra to check on him and she finds him on the beach looking for the idol. Now Sandra foolishly thinks that Russell has sealed his own fate. While they might certainly attempt to vote him off, the person with the second highest number of votes will leave instead, because Russell is hardly a virgin when it comes to playing idols. That means that everyone is potentially vulnerable if Russell chooses to vote for them, and they are voting to flush the idol.

Play smart, people!

Most of the Heroes decide to look for the idol. Tom manages to find it and hopes to use it as leverage. Unfortunately, Tom doesn't realize that it can be an albatross around one's neck too. And that's exactly what it turns out to be for him. Both teams view the person with the idol as a potential enemy instead of as an ally! Only JT recognizes that Tom's idol has significant power when it comes to the game.

Physically/mentally stronger
The immunity challenge again features physical and mental elements. This time, the Villains get to the puzzle section first which is an oversized Labyrinth game that the players play blindfolded with one person giving the directions.

Once again, Boston Rob provides the leadership both in navigating the sphere he is riding in to the puzzle location and maneuvering the ball to the finish point. His puzzle skills are remarkable!

Tom did manage to do a good job too and the teams appeared to be virtually tied as they made their way to the finish point. Both missed on their first try, but Rob's team managed to push it through in the knick of time.

The Villains are definitely dominating the challenges so far. In spite of the fact that I feel as if I'm watching re-runs at times (both with the survivors themselves who have played multiple games, and the challenges), this is shaping up to be one of the best seasons.

So next week looks like a player goes down and possibly out of the game. I hate when that happens. Here's hoping it's not one of my favorites. ;)

Greatest Survivor Ever?

With Heroes vs. Villains upon us, a lot has been said about the potential for Russell to be the greatest survivor in the history of the game. Russell, of course, is pushing that opinion. Jeff Probst seems to be siding with him, but is Russell the greatest?

Outwit! Outplay! Outlast!
From the start, "Survivor" has had the motto: "Outwit, Outplay, Outlast." How do you measure those items? Outlast is the easiest. Who is still standing by game's end? Outwit and Outplay become a bit murkier.

Can you be the best in the game and win few challenges? Maybe. Does Outplay mean scheming alone, or does it mean winning challenges?

Outwit definitely refers to strategy. One person's strategy may be someone else's idea of floating. The fact remains, it's a strategy.

Social Game
More than anything though, "Survivor" is a social game. How well are you liked by the juror members? How deserving will they feel you are to win the prize at the end of the game?

The bottom line is the fact juries (on pretty much any show) are notoriously bitter. Most jurors are not going to vote for the person who played the best game necessarily but rather the one they like the most. Some survivors "get" that, and cater to that philosophy. They might be the biggest back stabbers and orchestrate huge blindsides, but if they are friendly and nice, they will likely win the game.

Russell vs. Richard
So we have Russell, runner-up for season 19. Is he the greatest survivor of all time? By what criteria is he the greatest survivor of all time? There are certainly other great survivors in the history of the game.

Season one had Richard Hatch who cast himself in the role of the villain early on. Richard won only a single challenge, for immunity but he played an outstanding social game. His nudity kept his teammates at bay without making him seem anti-social. Oftentimes, he would plop down next to someone, more or less daring them to stay.

Richard made a few alliances in his day and basically initiated the entire concept. During the last challenge of the games, Richard outwitted his teammates, and managed to outplay them in a single move. Standing on small pedestals with one hand on an idol, Richard made a quick decision to step down. Kelly and Rudy stood amazed by the turn of events.

As the challenge progressed, Richard laid out his philosophy for stepping down basically telling Rudy and Kelly that they would be crazy not to take him to the final two. In the meantime, he enjoyed the temptations that Jeff brought for the other two. Richard's scheme was so well planned. He may have been able to hang in there and win, but this way he did not have to choose between Kelly or Rudy. He had an alliance with both and knew the loyal Rudy would stick to it. He also knew that Kelly's only chance of winning was to bring him instead of Rudy.

Did Rudy feel betrayed? I'm sure he did. I can still remember the look on Rudy's face when he stepped down but Rudy was loyal!

Kelly, for her part, won more challenges than anyone. In fact, she won the last five immunity challenges. Would Richard be remembered as a great survivor if Kelly had won? Probably not.

Still, his gameplay set the standard for villains in future seasons. Interestingly enough, not many "villains" have won since then.

The game has changed immensely since that first season in Borneo.

So does winning automatically launch someone into the stratosphere of greatest survivors. Again, not necessarily, runners-up are often times better players than the winners. Season two saw Tina Wesson win over Colby Donaldson who dominated the challenges. Without a doubt, he is one of the strongest survivors in the history of the game winning seven of 13 challenges, seven of the last nine.

The vote was a close 4-3, but Tina edged Colby because of a slightly better social game or maybe because Colby was regarded as a winner already because he took home a vehicle. Whatever the reason, Tina won the million dollar prize and title of "sole survivor."

Why Russell is not the greatest survivor
More seasons than not, the social game has played an important role in determining the winner. So back to the original question, is Russell the greatest survivor in the history of the game?

Short answer: no. Russell did a lot of things that were not necessary to the game. He dumped the water canteens and weakened his own team. He burned socks and let the chickens go. He initiated alliances with most of the women of the team and cut them off quickly.

Russell did find immunity idols well, but he used one idol in a panic when there was no jeaopardy. Natalie turned the tables on Eric, and provided a game changing move in the meantime. Can't forget Shambo's part in Russell's ability to outlast. More than once she provided the necessary vote to put out one of her former teammates.

Challenges were not his forte but he definitely got high marks for scheming.

Russell went into the question and answer session expecting people to fall at his feet and crown his king of survivor. Maybe his ego cost him the show. He basically told everyone how to vote and no one appreciates that. Better to appear humble than self-serving.

Was the jury bitter? Sure, it was but I would not expect anything else. Russell made them that way through his needless acts of treachery. If I had won the final immunity challenge, I certainly would have taken Russell with me to the end!

So, no, Russell is not the greatest survivor. He's good and may be great after this season. Time will tell.

Survivor 20: Mislabeled Survivors!

Talk about down and dirty and in more ways than just the obvious! This season of "Survivor" is proving that labels mean nothing. If labeled a hero, wouldn't you assume that person would attempt to live up to that name. Some of those labeled "villains" would probably have preferred a different moniker.

Heroes among us!
It's clear that the Heroes can hardly stand one another. Personally, I'm tired of James and JT for that matter. JT is clearly more villainous than anyone realizes it. He just manages to hide it better.

Side note: When Candice comes on the screen does anyone else scratch their head and wonder what she's doing on this version of "Survivor"? Nothing against her, but she seems bland, and one dimensional; although, I did learn more about her last night than the previous two episodes.

I still like Tom although his days in the game are definitely numbered if James has his way. Colby will likely follow shortly after Tom.

Rupert wants a rainy day so everyone will sit inside the shelter and play games all day and hopefully bond. Instead, he gets a chicken catching incident that allows the men of the team to come together and catch two escaped chickens. The men surround the shelter where the chicken is hiding and force the chicken out the back where Tom manages to catch it. Rupert is ecstatic that they were able to bond over catching the chicken. I get the feeling it will be short term though, because there is very little trust among them.

Sleeping with the enemy?
Meanwhile back at the Villains camp, we see who is sleeping next to whom. I found Boston Rob's insight absolutely invaluable. He provided an "Ah-ha" moment of the game. Boston Rob observed that if you want to see who's aligning with who, you merely have to see who they are sleeping next to.

Parvati and Russell are sleeping next to each other and cuddling with one another. The married Hantz is described as following her around with "puppy dog eyes." Seems that Russell is, at the very least, smitten by Parvati.

On the other hand, Coach is up in the middle of the night stroking Jerri's hand and making me scream at the tv, "Don't go there, Jerri! Please don't go there!"

Rob also notes that he's done the same thing. It's actually the best piece of advice I've heard because he's right, you are not going to sleep next to someone you don't trust.

Parvati and Russell's relationship is not unnoticed by others in the tribe. Coach tries to advise Russell that it's best not to appear too close to Parvati. Rob also tries. Coach observes that she gets her way by with her smile and tiny bikini. Russell listens but later describes Coach as a joke and resents the interference of both men.

The playground bully resurfaces
Russell is once again up to his old tricks. Planning on taking control of the game, Russell buries the machete. He hopes that the missing machete will cause controversy in the camp.

Here is where "Survivor" mirrors life more than anywhere else. Most people encounter a Russell in everyday life but few people have to live with someone like him. Russell is a school yard bully who enjoys tormenting others for the simple sake of tormenting others. These bullies grow up to be office or work bullies. The guys you simply can't wait to get away from. I would hate being a part of his team!

Randy, meanwhile, is on an island by himself, so to speak. He catches a giant clam and attempts to share it with his teammates. Tyson refuses. Courtney appears to have lapsed into a zombie-like state as she doesn't even acknowledge his presence.

On the beach, Randy shares it with Sandra and Parvati, who promptly spits out her mouthful. At this point, I'm wondering why they are eating the clam uncooked. I would think they would have had the ability to at least boil water at this point but also, aren't they hungry by now? Everyone has been through this at least one other time. Where's their drive to survive?

Who's the best gamer?
In the Heroes camp, JT begins to worry that Candice is more of a gamer than she originally let on. Because of this, he starts a rumor that Candice doesn't trust Cirie. Now for his part, James claims to not to get too much practice lying in real life but he's a pretty good liar in the game. File this under the heading: Things that make me say, hmmmmm.

Cirie goes straight to Candice and questions her new information. Candice, of course, denies it because she never said it! JT's lie does set in motion some interesting new scenarios as Candice begins questioning the others as to where the information is coming from.

In JT's case, his previous season's play is helping his game. Everyone assumes that, since he was basically truthful during his first season, he will continue to be truthful now. So far, he's got a lot of people feeling that he's truly remorseful about having to go against an alliance and he's also lied successfully a number of times. Possibly the best "strategic makeover" of all the players!

Down and dirty!
The reward challenge favors the Heroes by far. There are only a few close match-ups and most of them are the women. The challenge features a mud sumo wrestling match. The main rule of the game is that both hands must be on the bag at all times.

Tom takes on Russell and makes quick work of him starting the Heroes roll to victory. Next up is Candice versus Parvati. I really thought Parvati would win this one but Candice pushes Parvati into the mud.

The match between Rupert and Coach features the first do-over of the game as Coach's hand comes off the bag and Rupert goes in the mud. During the rematch, a wiser Rupert defeats Coach. I must say I was actually happy they both had an opportunity to taste the mud.

Jerri takes on Cirie who quickly finishes her off. JT knocks Tyson in the mud. Tyson emerges from the mud and gives JT a quick peck on the cheek. Is it wrong that I felt a little thrill when Tyson hit the mud?

Amanda and Danielle are more evenly matched but Amanda continued the winning ways of the Heroes and knocks Danielle in the mud. The best match-up of the day was between Boston Rob and Colby. I was hard pressed to know just who I wanted to win because I like them both but eventually Colby won.

Through the previous match-ups I kept wondering who would face off against James. As each match ended and the field of Villains dwindled it became painfully clear that Randy was going to face James. Randy? Really? The mere fact that he even made his way to the platform and stood up to face James should have been worth at least a half a point! The villains should have been able to put up Tyson with Randy just to even it out a bit (I actually wanted to see Tyson in the mud one more time. Shoot me. :) ). One shove and the challenge was over.

In addition to immunity, the Heroes took back coffee and rice and that warm fuzzy feeling of winning their first challenge since, well, the first challenge!

That's pretty much the last we see of the Heroes until next week.

1001 reasons why Parvati should go...
The Villains, on the other hand, are doing what villains do best. That's right, strategizing. I bet you thought I would say something else! Didn't you?

Parvati's charms are not lost on anyone. Coach doesn't like her and that goes double for Jerri. Add Rob to the list of people who don't like Parvati. Then there's Randy! Randy knows his head is on the chopping block because he's the oldest but he warns and he warns and he warns the people to take the threat that is Parvati seriously.

Randy is making sense when he explains that, if she makes it to the merge, she has plenty of friends on the other side. She has James, Cirie and Amanda, all of whom she has played with and aligned in the past.

Sandra could have been persuaded to vote her out. I'm almost positive Tyson would have gone with her as well.

At tribal council, Sandra points out the obvious threat of Parvati flipping to the other side at the merge. Just as quickly though, she puts Coach under the gun with her assertion that he spends his time doing nothing.

As Jeff reveals the votes, not one is cast against Parvati. Randy is revealed as the unanimous choice of the rest of the tribe. As he leaves the council area, he flips his buff into the fire. During closing credits his lone vote for Rob is revealed. Not sure why he chose Rob as his target but he did.

For some reason, this episode lacked the drama that the previous two had. Not sure why. Maybe there was not enough material or maybe seeing the Villains plotting against one of their own was anti-climatic!

Also, I'm not a big fan of the combined immunity/reward challenges. It made me wonder whether the season is abbreviated somewhat. Because of the combined challenges, no one is being exiled which is always a fun part of the game. I would love to see James and Russell exiled together. ;)

Survivor 20: Where did all the heroes go?

I'm not afraid to admit that I'm hooked on Survivor. I've watched all previous 19 seasons and had my favorites during each season.

I really liked Sugar during her season and saw her as a good-hearted person in spite of the fact that she ultimately eliminated another of my favorites, Matty. I was also disappointed that she received no votes during the finale but Bob was a deserving candidate for sole survivor that year. (Speaking of whom, I would have liked to see him in our current version of Heroes vs. Villains!)

Likewise, Stephenie was a favorite of mine in her first season. During Survivor: Palau, Steph gained distinction as the last member standing from her tribe that was plagued by bad luck and poor judgment. Somehow she managed to make it to the final seven, and might have gone further if the all-woman alliance had materialized.

Still, the following season when she and Bobby Jon walked on, I was happy to see her back. Stephenie played a totally different game during her second season. A strong alliance from the start parlayed into a final two appearance for Stephenie. She dominated her second season.

So, when I watched the premiere and saw Stephenie battling in the reward challenge, dislocating her shoulder and having it relocated, I was impressed by her strength. It was obvious that the Villains had come to play to win. It's definitely going to be a physical battle this season, and not one of the survivors was shying away from the battle.

The second episode showed the major cracks already forming in the Heroes tribe. Rupert is obviously threatened by Stephenie, one of the most popular survivors of all time. Don't get me wrong, during Rupert's first season, I really liked him although some of his actions might have better qualified him for the Villains tribe (stealing the shoes of the opposing team comes to mind). I also liked him during All Stars, but now, not so much. I'm sure he's a great person in real life but to see him plotting against a teammate early on kind of surprised me. That behavior tears a team apart.

Meanwhile, in the Villains camp, they endure a bad night with rain pouring down. They awaken to begin their fifth reconstruction of their shelter. There's a definite lack of enthusiasm on their part.

Boston Rob seems the most frustrated by the situation and likens his tribe to buffoons. I would have to agree. Part of the problem is ego, on both tribes. It's got to be a huge ego boost to all of them to be selected to a specialty season as being either one of the most memorable villains or heroes. Still, survival is the key here. They need to care about their own survival.

At camp, everyone on the Villains tribe is on a different page. Sandra says they are moving backward. As Rob attempts to take charge of the shelter building, Parvati questions the plan, and Rob leaves the area angrily.

What happens next is still a little unclear. I'm not sure whether the editing was bad or what but I could not figure out exactly what happened to Rob. He was walking through the woods and suddenly collapsed. Jerri sees his collapse and rushes to assist him. After several attempts to revive him, she goes for help. Jeff Probst and the medical team arrives. They have Rob drink water which he spills all over himself.

The "official" assessment is that Rob looks worse than he really is. On the CBS website, it's explained as a case of flu compounded by dehydration. Rob calls it "a case of the flu with a little bit of crybabyitis mixed in."

On a side note: I'm liking Jerri a lot better this season. Maybe it's because she's surrounded by people who are more "villainous" than her. She really seems to love and respect the game of Survivor and that's something that I admire in the contestants.

The respect of the game brings up an interesting point. My feeling is that there are more on the Villains tribe, Rob, Jerri, Russell to name a few, that respect and LOVE the game of Survivor! The Heroes seem more intent on winning the prize than the game itself, in my opinion.

The immunity challenge is one that was played out during J.T.'s, Tyson's and Coach's season. A moment to strategize leaves the Heroes clinging to the "one voice" philosophy. Not bad, but that one voice needs to be assertive. J.T. is the man, in this case.

Off to another great start, the Villains take a commanding lead — until the puzzle section. Rob is in charge of the Villains puzzle making, and I have to hand it to him. He's a take charge kind of guy. Plus he's good at puzzles! As the challenge continues, the Heroes meltdown. The anger increases and they make little progress.

The Villains continue at a steady pace and ultimately win the challenge. After it's over, James begins a rant that continues most of the day. He focuses his anger on Stephenie for the loss. His rationale is that she's the only person who's ever been the sole survivor of her tribe prior to a merge.

Watching the challenge, it seems to me that there were a lot of problems right from the start of the puzzle solving. J.T. did not assert himself. No one was listening. Everybody had their own ideas. Here's the thing though: all they had to do was spell Heroes. Find the cube that starts it and progress from there. Why weren't they looking at the puzzle from the start? Why weren't they examining the pieces as they came in? All the pieces were the same, they just had to roll them into the right place.

I have to say that I don't find the "Heroes" to be very heroic. I loved James during his first season, liked him during his second season, but now, I have to say it, kind of tired of James.

In fact, I liked most of the Heroes during their season. Colby is one of the best looking survivors, in my opinion but he's eons away from the guy that came in second in Australia. Maybe it's the fact that he doesn't really "need" the game. I loved Tom during his season, and the same way with J.T. I thought Amanda played great in China. Cirie did a good job during both her seasons too. But the personalities this time just are not mixing well.

Seems like the Heroes arrived with the cutthroat mentality usually reserved for the Villains.

Tribal Council was almost painful to watch! James went after Stephenie, who retaliated. Colby got in the mix. The team where you would expect goodwill to abound was disintegrating further.

Stephenie was voted out. J.T. had to eliminate one of his alliances and throw in with James, pretty sure it was based solely on the physicality of James.

Next week appears to be another down and dirty competition. From the previews, looks like James is basking in the glory of winning and probably solidifying his idea that Stephenie was bad luck to the tribe.

Ultimately, I wonder if the tribes should have been renamed Villains vs. More Villains.