Survivor 20**HvV**No SPOILER THREAD**

[declansdad]

I don't think he's soley responsible but I do think that he'll get blamed more than some of the other villians that are left because he's more abrasive.

And there is no one left that played the game and hasn't screwed someone over. Rubert and Colby have done nothing other than whine and over celebrate when they were on the winning team at challenges.

This is very true, no one gets through this game by themselves. I think if he gets to the final, it will be a repeat of last season. I don't think this is necessarily a good thing. Last season's jury definitely voted on personal feelings and not game play. It sure looks as if this year will go the same way.

 

[Nancyg56]

If it were me I would want to take Russel to the end. I don't think he would take any votes away from me.

I agree that taking him to the final three sounds like a plan but there is still a long way to go and at this point in the game players need to focus on getting to the final three. With Russell there is no way to really know where you stand. IMO last night proved that he cannot be trusted to remain true to an alliance. Just becasue he promises does nto make it so.

I also think that he showed last night that in challenges, he can win when he wants to. So far he hasn't needed to have that immunity so he hasn't competed as hard as he could, he always held back a little. In the second challenge last night, he was determined to win and he did. I think he could do this at any time.

See, I did not see it that way. He generally does not win and he usually seems to try. The ones he walked away from were when he was sure he would not be going home. He relies on the idols to keep him in the game as well as that intimidation that he smothers players with.

I don't buy that about Russell winning challenges when he has to. Russell is an immunity nut. He always wants immunity, and there are times when he's thought he needed it but didn't win the challenge. I'm not saying he can't win any challenge, but I don't think just because he decides to try means he's automatically going to win.

ITA with you. If not for the idols and how well he plays them he would be toast.

 

[damone]

I think if he gets to the final, it will be a repeat of last season. I don't think this is necessarily a good thing. Last season's jury definitely voted on personal feelings and not game play. It sure looks as if this year will go the same way.

See, I think it is a good thing. Anyone can try and manipulate and lie to everyone out there to get to the end. No one else does that because they realize in order to win they have to have a social game. It almost feels as though Russell has never watched this show before and thinks that all he needs to do is get to the final 3, and have played better than the other 2. It's as if he's completely unaware that the jury will be voting for the winner.

I personally like Russell. I think he makes for great TV. But defending his inevitable losing by saying other players are bitter just doesn't make sense to me. His losing is due to him not having any kind of a social game.

 

[declansdad]

I agree that taking him to the final three sounds like a plan but there is still a long way to go and at this point in the game players need to focus on getting to the final three. With Russell there is no way to really know where you stand. IMO last night proved that he cannot be trusted to remain true to an alliance. Just becasue he promises does nto make it so.

There are very few players in Survivor history that haven't betrayed an alliance somewhere along the line. It is part of the game.

 

[declansdad]

See, I think it is a good thing. Anyone can try and manipulate and lie to everyone out there to get to the end. No one else does that because they realize to win is having a social game.

I personally like Russell. I think he makes for great TV. But defending his inevitable losing by saying other players are bitter just doesn't make sense to me. His losing is due to him not having any kind of a social game.

Why doesn't it make sense? They are bitter and it clouds there judgment. They are not looking logically or analytically at how people have been playing. They simply say he is evil and needs to go. There isn't a person on the jury that hasn't betrayed someone in the game. the difference is that they got voted off and now they are bitter. They blame their entire loss on Russell but Russell only has one vote.

 

[jrmasm]

There are very few players in Survivor history that haven't betrayed an alliance somewhere along the line. It is part of the game.

But Russell did keep Natalie until end and it bit him in the butt.

I think what he did last night was smart. Danielle and Parvati were more loyal to each other than him. If push came to shove, I don't think they would have hesitated to vote him out.

 

[liamkelly]

look's like russell has no jury votes so far, he would have to have a really good jury speech to get some. They really need to get the heroes out, if colby or rupert got in the finale they have a huge chance of winning.

on the next week episode preview russell goes with rupert and colby? this probably won't end very good with jerry, sandra and parvati

 

[damone]

Why doesn't it make sense? They are bitter and it clouds there judgment. They are not looking logically or analytically at how people have been playing. They simply say he is evil and needs to go. There isn't a person on the jury that hasn't betrayed someone in the game. the difference is that they got voted off and now they are bitter. They blame their entire loss on Russell but Russell only has one vote.

That's part of the social game. Of course everyone has betrayed someone. But Russell has manipulated everybody, and has no social skills. Call it bitter all you want. The fact is, Russell has no one but himself to blame.

There are many different facets to this game. The jury vote just happens to be one that you don't like.

 

[jrmasm]

look's like russell has no jury votes so far, he would have to have a really good jury speech to get some. They really need to get the heroes out, if colby or rupert got in the finale they have a huge chance of winning.
on the next week episode preview russell goes with rupert and colby? this probably won't end very good with jerry, sandra and parvati

I'm curious about something, for those that are not fans of the villians, are you ok with Colby or Rupert winning? I realize that the villians as a group are not that likeable but the idea of either of those 2 winning really bothers me because I think they have done nothing to deserve to win.

Just curious.

 

[Kirby]

Someone mentioned earlier that Russell doesn't stay true to his alliances. He stayed true to Natalie, which cost him the million. And so far he has stayed true to Parvati. I think that he might have even referred to it last night at TC.

Russell took Danielle out because he suspected that they had an alliance that was stronger than his with Parvati. Danielle confirmed it when she slipped up in TC stating that they were closer than realized.

Russell is messing up by discounting Sandra. Didn't they tell each other last night that they were against each other?

I like Russell because he's entertaining. It was like watching a train wreck last night.

Russell may not get the title of Sole Survivor but he definately will get the title of Biggest Survivor Villain. As the seasons pass, we tend to forget the winners but we'll never forget Russell.

 

[declansdad]

That's part of the social game. Of course everyone has betrayed someone. But Russell has manipulated everybody, and has no social skills. Call it bitter all you want. The fact is, Russell has no one but himself to blame.

There are many different facets to this game. The jury vote just happens to be one that you don't like.

You're putting all the stock in the social game and there is more to it than that. This is the same thing the jury is doing, which is why I say they are bitter and are letting personal feelings cloud their judgment. I'm not saying they should vote for him but Russell doesn't seem to even get any consideration yet many people, Probst included, seem to think he is a great players.

 

[damone]

I'm curious about something, for those that are not fans of the villians, are you ok with Colby or Rupert winning? I realize that the villians as a group are not that likeable but the idea of either of those 2 winning really bothers me because I think they have done nothing to deserve to win.

Just curious.

What has Sandra done?
What has Jerri done?

Colby has helped his team win a couple of challenges. So has Rupert.

 

[damone]

You're putting all the stock in the social game and there is more to it than that. This is the same thing the jury is doing, which is why I say they are bitter and are letting personal feelings cloud their judgment. I'm not saying they should vote for him but Russell doesn't seem to even get any consideration yet many people, Probst included, seem to think he is a great players.

I'm not putting all the stock in it, but it IS a part of the game. You have to play every aspect of the game, or you're not going to win. If I were out there I wouldn't vote for him either. I like him and think he's great at certain parts of the game, but he's a conceited jerk. Like it or not, people like that will not get votes.

Russell is great at certain facets of the game. He stinks at one major one, and that's why he won't win.

 

[legalsea]

Another very good episode last night.

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.

Shame on Colby for giving up in that first challenge. He knew he had a huge target on his back. He should not have given up. Props for Rupert and Parvati for hanging in to the end.

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!”).

I am now leaning towards Sandra and Russell in Final Two (plus Parvati if a Final Three). My dark horse is Jeri: she has done next to nothing, and some of the players may start thinking that they could well win against her (I would bet that Russell is starting to think that).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm curious about something, for those that are not fans of the villians, are you ok with Colby or Rupert winning? I realize that the villians as a group are not that likeable but the idea of either of those 2 winning really bothers me because I think they have done nothing to deserve to win.

Just curious.

I actually don't have a problem if some of the villains won either let alone the heroes.

I don't think any one player in any one season ever "deserves" to win. It implies entitlement and then we get into the "oh so and so was so good, that's why they were voted out even though we should have one" discussions.

To me, it doesn't serve a purpose.

As for the Russell debate--I believe we are seeing much more of what Russell was really like last season. Last season was edited in a manner to see if the man who believed he would win would do so. This season--his cockiness is now being shown with all the holes (and better explains his "if they are against me, I must vote them out now" complex.)

And his "one vote"--I am relishing that Pahvarti isn't allowing him to run the show--and still he isn't getting rid of her.

Anyway--no one person ever deserves to win. There is such a thing as "earning" a win and one would say that keeping themselves in the game--puts them in a position to win.

I will say--that although I'm not a "fan" per se of Russell--he is a good player in that he gets the concept of removing threats...which has plagued many a team on survivor before when they get rid of non-threats out of ego and then continue on their losing streaks.

I'm not a fan of what he did last night--but it was a good move to break up a possible threat to him reaching a final 2. It did show what a very conniving person he is though and juries hardl ever like that--especially if there is an aura of cockiness about it.

 

[Kirby]

Jeff's blog for this week:

Rupert: “There are no other heroes.”

Oh Rupert, I still love you, but after this season concludes you need shave the beard and create a new persona. The one has grown tired. The lovable pirate who always puts integrity ahead of winning has served you very well and you will always be one of the most popular Survivors ever. But it’s time for a change. Listen, to be fair – I know I could take the same advice myself. Get me a new haircut, a different colored shirt and maybe some new dialogue, cause I’m sure the same argument could be made for me. The Probst act has grown tired.

But, I’m the one writing the blog so that means I’m going to continue to focus my attention outward on everyone else… and leaving the inward thinking for my therapy sessions.

There were a few themes this episode. Morality, hypocrisy and exhaustion. All three of them in full force.

It started with Rupert and Colby’s character assassination of Candice.

The reason we brought Candice back as a hero in the first place was because she stayed loyal to her alliance in the Cook Islands. This time she is playing a different game. Surprise, she wants to win. But to listen to Rupert and Colby you’d think she had committed treason or some other terrible crime against humanity.

Colby: “Candice is so weak. She’s so pathetic.”
Rupert: “Self centered, greedy, manipulative. She killed us. Candice is a pitiful player.”

Really? Isn’t she just playing Survivor like everybody else. This exchange really stood out to me as a stunning example of what happens when you are tired and frustrated and looking for someone or some thing else to blame it on. I don’t really think Candice is all those things anymore than I think Rupert is the savior he believes himself to be. It’s all part of playing Survivor and the game is simply taking its toll on these intrepid but exhausted folks.

Case in point…

RUSSELL & RUPERT THE ARGUMENT
There is no doubt left in my mind. The enormous emotional wear and tear of back-to back Survivors is severely impacting Russell’s game. The man is flat out tired. The kind of tired that makes you irritated just to be awake, but so tired you can’t fall asleep. The kind of tired that lets you know you’re gonna bite somebody’s head off before they even say a word, you’re just waiting for them to so much as breathe… like a snake in the grass. As a result, the microscopic filter system that Russell had been utilizing when in social situations is gone.

The ugliness that came out of his mouth while sitting across the fire from Rupert just made Russell one of the best candidates to take to the end because his chances of winning just took another nose dive. I’m not saying he can’t pull it out, but the odds are plummeting. It wasn’t even so much what he said it was how he said it. It was mean spirited, even for Russell.

I’m not making excuses for Russell when I say he’s exhausted. He’s done a very good job of showing his true colors. But I do believe that the emotional drain this show exacts is hard for the audience to truly understand.

The truly great players are “focused” on this game every single second of every single minute of every single day. That kind of intense focus is so exhausting that once the game ends, many Survivors take months to get back to normal. Think about it…you are in an environment that takes you out of your comfort zone, no creature comforts, where you cannot really trust anyone, where you have to watch your back at all times and on top of it all, you have to be thinking several moves ahead or you will lose the plot and your torch will be snuffed.

As I’ve said many times before, I’m eating and sleeping every day while we’re shooting and even I am exhausted at the end of a season. I was a disaster after our back to backs in Samoa. This game is nuts. This season has been the most intense season we’ve ever had. I’m amazed at the level of game play from these contestants. We may never see something like this again. It’s truly been a treat, but it’s taken its toll. Look at their faces, their body language.

On my list of players that are still 100% focused on the game and only the game, there are four: Parvati, Sandra, Russell and Danielle. All villains. I know that offends everybody else left in the game but here’s my rational:

Colby is certainly a good strategist but his head has been in and out of the game this season and leaves him vulnerable.

Rupert is a decent strategist, but he gets too lost in the morality of what he deems to be appropriate behavior. It’s wasted energy.

Candice is very smart but she doesn’t commit fast enough and it’s a fatal flaw.

Jerri just doesn’t have it in her DNA to only focus on the game. Jerri will take time to enjoy a moment or stare at a sunset… I mean really stare at the sunset…and though it’s a great quality in life, it’s not one that works well in this game.

This doesn’t mean Colby, Rupert, Candice and Jerri can’t make it to the end and win. I’m only pointing out that right now there are four people who are truly focused on this game and with each passing day the toll of the game will make it harder and harder for each of them to focus. Those who hold it together the longest have the best chance of winning.

FIRST IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
I continued to be amazed at how quickly people will step out of a challenge for food. It happens season after season. People voluntarily stepping out of a challenge for immunity. Nuts. They always blame it on “I wouldn’t have lasted long anyway.” But after 20 seasons I believe it is simply evidence of Maslows Hierarchy Of Needs: Physiological needs – breathing, food, water – will always win out. Playing Survivor does not even make the top five.

Much like Russell can’t help himself from saying ugly things with true malice, when you’re as hungry as these guys are, the desire to eat overpowers the less immediate desire to win a game show and a million dollars.

Sometimes I understand that people believe in their alliance so strongly that they do not feel they are in danger so they take the food. But Colby was a surprise. I’m sure by now Donaldson figures I’m picking on him but I’m really not. Well, a little. But come on, this is Colby Donaldson. There are expectations that come with being the original hero. One of them is you never give up. The Colby of old would have stayed in that challenge until his arm fell asleep, then held on as it turned blue and only would have given up when the doctors pulled him out due to gangrene setting in. But the Colby of 2010 is tired. He stepped out of another immunity challenge despite knowing he is a major target to be voted out.

Rupert & Parvati were the only two that hung in there. Parvati represented the villains, and her job was to defeat Rupert so they could vote him out at Tribal Council. Rupert knew his job – win the challenge so he could stay in the game. He did an admirable job, finally falling out due to a momentary loss of concentration. Sometimes that’s all it takes. Rupert, for all of my making fun of you becoming larger than life, I admire your effort in challenges.

Parvati wins another immunity challenge. Parvati is a player. She fights hard on all levels and she always wants to win. Always.

THE IDOL IS BACK IN PLAY
After Russell played the idol at the last tribal council it was put back in play and boy what fun it was to be able to read the clue to the contestants. You could anticipate the craziness that was going to take place back at camp.

And whadaya know, Sandra the lippiest Survivor in history finds the idol. The moment just after she found it – where she is trying to hide it on her person and then ultimately hides it in the jungle – is the kind of moment that makes all of us on the production side smile with glee and jump for joy. Those real moments are fantastic.

But even better than the Sandra moment was Rupert deciding to put a rock in his pocket and pretend it’s an idol. And it worked. If not for this brilliant decision and subtle Emmy worthy performance, Rupert was a shoo-in to be voted out. This gave him life and a chance to stay in the game. Sometimes that is all you need. A chance.

Rupert’s acting was a performance that nobody could appreciate more than Russell. Ironic, given that Russell is the one that fell for it the hardest. I’m telling you the man is exhausted. But it was fun to see Russell fail, right? It’s always fun to see the guy on top… drop. It reminded me how many times Russell has been right in the past. Not this time. He is slowly crumbling and if he doesn’t get it together quickly and wake up, Russell will not make it to the end.

FIRST TRIBAL COUNCIL
Colby was on Candice again at Tribal Council. I really don’t get it. His lecture at tribal council was an admonishment. Like a parent scolding their child for misbehaving. It could be the wear and tear alone or it could be that Colby isn’t used to losing and is having a difficult time accepting it. Either way it seemed misplaced. Candice is not even top ten of the dirtiest players in this game. If she were, she’d probably still be in the game.

THE AFTERMATH OF TRIBAL
Oh-oh. Russell is not happy.

Russell: “I’m not fully in control of this game right now. But you know what, I’m gonna take control of this game so fast they’re not gonna know what hit ‘em.”

Russell …just woke up.

SECOND IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
I loved this challenge. It’s exciting, it’s big and anybody can win. Parvati continues to impress me. I don’t know that Parvati and I would ever be great friends and I’m pretty sure she’d be a tough woman to date, but if I’m in a fox hole, with the enemy approaching, I’d be very confident in our chances if she was the one who had my back. The girl plays to win… at everything she does.

Remember how I said Russell woke up. Well, he is wide-awake now. With immunity around his neck, he can now attempt to get back in control of this game.

Russell’s attempt to break up his own alliance is a huge move. Big moves can cost you the game. Big moves can also get you to the final. They’re risky, that’s why they are big moves. Russell wants to win and he’s afraid that he may get left behind. This is what you call “going for broke.” It will either work or it won’t, but there will not be any middle ground.

I appreciate the move. Whether it works or not, Russell’s game play continues to be one of the big reasons this season is so good. But he’s going up against Parvati and Parvati as stated earlier, does not back down, from anybody.

THE LOVERS SPAT
Russell and Parvati’s argument in the jungle was their first lovers spat. Go watch it again. They are behaving like a couple and they are arguing. Even their language is different. It’s the language of a couple. I know a lot of you are laughing at my ridiculousness, but I’m serious. I know they’re not a real couple per se, but their bond has gotten to a point where the language reflects something different from mere Survivor play.

WHAT A LOAD OF HYPOCRISY
Russell’s decision to bring in Colby and Rupert is a perfect example of the hypocrisy in this game. Russell who moments earlier had sarcastically called Rupert, “the second coming of Christ” offered to align with him so they could take out Danielle. First he approached Colby, who had no issue aligning with Russell. Then he approached Rupert, the man who despised Russell so much he had called him a “disgusting terrible human being.” They bumped fists like brothers, without so much as a word and just like that… they’re allies.

That’s Survivor. Right there. Leave your morality at home. Save your speeches for the shower. Here’s the thing though. Russell’s move doesn’t surprise me at all. He has always said, “I’m a villain who is playing a game.” Rupert on the other hand has made his name and a decent living off being the morally superior one. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t stand on a pedestal and proclaim yourself the most moral of all only to hop off the pedestal the minute a better situation presents itself. Changing sides and changing your mind is fine – that’s basic Survivor. But you can’t have it both ways.

Let me be really clear about something. I do not root for Russell. I do not root against Rupert. I do not root for or against anybody. I merely observe and comment. Russell makes no bones about how he plays. Neither for that matter does Parvati or Sandra. They play hard and they know it could cost them in the game. What is annoying me (now I’m the one losing my mind!) is the holier than thou crap spewing out of people’s mouths. Rupert just proved the point better than any rant I could ever make. He’d team up with Russell right now if he thought it would get him to the end. To repeat, there is nothing wrong with changing strategies, but the lectures about right v wrong have grown tired.

Okay, thank you. I feel better now. I think I need to go stand in a good rain storm. Anybody wanna join me?

2nd TRIBAL COUNCIL
Wow. I have to gather energy to continue because what happened at this tribal council was damn near historic. A breakdown. The wear and tear that I’ve been talking about this entire blog showed itself again. Danielle has played so hard. She has been so focused. She has given tremendous effort. But she lost it tonight. While Parvati remained calm, Danielle panicked and it cost her. She lost focus. She took Russell’s bait and he got inside her head. If only Danielle could have hit pause on the Tivo she could have gotten it back together. But Survivor doesn’t have a pause button. It goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on. I would never criticize somebody for being tired. It’s a result of playing a very difficult game. It’s just the way it goes. There was a showdown. Russell won. Danielle lost.

She played a heckuva game but she came up short. See ya on the jury Danielle.

SOMETHING FUN
At the live reunion show in NY on May 16th, we are going to crown one Survivor the winner of the “Dumbest Move” in the history of Survivor. You will decide who wins the trophy! Cast your vote at:

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/vote/

See ya next week!

 

[PixieDust32]

What has Sandra done?
What has Jerri done?

Colby has helped his team win a couple of challenges. So has Rupert.

What they had done? Survive under the radar without making themselves a target! That's a great part of this game, when you play very strong everybody would be after you, Sandra has done a lot, she told the heroes the truth about Russell and Candice, they didn't believed and paid for it, but they know she was honest.
About Jerri well she just go with the flow and that is a good thing in the game.
The game is not only about winning challenges, about finding the idols, about backstabbing people, the game is a combination of everything including staying under the radar and make the move when is less people in the game, when the risk is less, make good impression in front of the jury etc.

 

[declansdad]

I'm not putting all the stock in it, but it IS a part of the game. You have to play every aspect of the game, or you're not going to win. If I were out there I wouldn't vote for him either. I like him and think he's great at certain parts of the game, but he's a conceited jerk. Like it or not, people like that will not get votes.

Russell is great at certain facets of the game. He stinks at one major one, and that's why he won't win.

We not going to agree on this one but remember the motto of Survivor is:

Outwit, Outlast, Outplay. Russell does all that.

 

[Kirby]

I always love reading Jeff's blog. He always hits the nail right on the head.

I can't wait until the final. I hope that we hear what all the players think about Russell after seeing him in action during his season.

 

[damone]

We not going to agree on this one but remember the motto of Survivor is:

Outwit, Outlast, Outplay. Russell does all that.

I think you're right on the 1st part.

The 2nd part, I don't agree with. If that were true, he'd have won last season, and he'd win this season. If he does win this season, I'll concede.