Sandra impresses me. A former winner flying under the radar, yet making subtle, yet important, moves when she has to. Plus, not only did she find the hidden immunity idol she did something virtually no one does: she has kept her mouth shut about it. No one knows she has it.
Which leads me to Rupert: putting that rock in his pocket so that people (especially, as it turned out, Russell) would think he had the idol was a bold move, since it would make him a target to flush out the idol; yet, he was the target anyway, so he knew, if it worked, that the tribe would split the vote between him and another person. Worked out perfectly. It also benefited Sandra: no one suspected she actually had the idol; indeed, at the second tribal council it seemed that a few, even then, thought he may have it.
At that first immunity challenge, what was the deal with Russell giving up after one minute for food? That shocked me. However, as Jeff mentioned on his blog, Russell was playing back-to-back seasons and it was obvious (to Jeff) that the toil was taking an effect on Russell. I have read elsewhere that after Samoa Russell was able to go home for just two weeks or so before heading back. Anyway, I was shocked that such a focused, strong player such as Russell would quit an immunity challenge for food. He must have been very, very hungry and tired. He obviously was in better spirits for the second immunity challenge where he played with his usual intensity.
As for the second tribal council: I love it when a player shoots him or herself in the foot like Danielle did. I believe it that Jeri switched her vote to Danielle after hearing Danielle yap about how close she and Parvati are, with Russell then leaning over and looking meaningfully at Jeri (See? I told ya you are not considered part of their alliance!).
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