Survivor 20: Episode 6

Okay, so this last episode was amazing. I don't think it rates quite as high as the Edgardo ousting or when Erik gave up his immunity necklace only to be voted out immediately afterwards, but this was definitely a top 5 episode. Russell is quite probably the best strategist in Survivor history. He's not the best at making alliances or getting people to like him, but his strategy is genius.

We were a little confused by what happened initially, so I'm gonna break it down here, just to explain the awesomeness that transpired and how it counted for our teams:

The challenge was an individual challenge for separate tribes, and then a heads-up between the winners for hot dogs and an inside look into the other tribe's dynamics. So, I scored it so the two winners each got individual immunity, and the Villains won a team reward challenge.

At the Villains camp there was a LOT of conspiring. What ended up happening is that the majority alliance decided to split their votes 3 for Parvati (Courtney, Jerri, and Coach) and 3 for Russell (Boston Rob, Tyson, and Sandra). Russell, Parv and Danielle all decided to go for Tyson, Boston Rob's assistant coach. That way it'd be a 3-way tie, so even if the immunity idol was played, the majority could still vote out either Russell or Parvati in the re-vote. Russell knew that his immunity idol could only protect him or Parvati, and I honestly don't know if his talking to Tyson was a last ditch effort to make what happened happen, or if he really thought he was going to sacrifice Parv so that he could survive. But he managed to convince Tyson that he was going to save his own skin and vote for Parvati. And Tyson figured that he could then vote for Parvati as well, so that he wouldn't have to stress about a tie vote where his name would be written down.

Now here's the astounding thing - Russell gave his immunity necklace to Parvati. He KNEW that there was a huge likelihood that he was going to get voted out by doing this, but he wanted to stay loyal to his alliance, and a woman he respects more than possibly anyone else. Could Evil Russell really be Chivalrous Russell? So the votes ended up being 2 for Russell, 3 for Tyson, and 4 for Parv, which didn't count because she played the necklace. Note that SHE played it, not Russell, so she gets the points for a successful play. This rule was created for just such circumstances. Courtney, you may be sad, but the alternatives were either Russell getting voted out, or Russell losing 5 points for incorrectly playing the idol to save his own skin. So it's not as bad as it could've been!

Does this count as a self-blind-side? Tyson's vote is what triggered him to be voted out, and he certainly didn't see it coming. I can hear Jeff saying it now: "For the first time in Survivor history..." I also think this ranks in the top 5 of stupidest plays of all time. Obvious winners are James not playing 1 of 2 immunity idols that he had, and Erik giving up his immunity idol. Also in the top 5: that guy who messed up the last challenge because Schemer Rob told him he'd win sympathy votes that way, and subsequently gave Jenna Morasco the win.

Unfortunately this insane awesomeness was followed by the extreme stupidity of the Hero's tribal council. It's not just JT who is wishy-washy, it's the entire team. They are so inconsistent and are managing to completely ruin any chance they have for survival. Last week they decide to stick to their alliance and so they voted out Tom, who is obviously stronger than an injured James. Then this week, after demonstrating that James with only 1 leg is still more physical than Colby in challenges, they decide James is a liability and vote him off. PICK A SIDE HEROES. You either have to go alliance or strength, you can't alternate between the two! There's an obvious poker analogy here, but I'm not going to go there. The only upside I can find to this team's idiocy is that I somehow managed to keep my player Colby around, and his frank honesty actually made me like him for the first time all season.

What does the future have in store? I think that the Heroes, Parvati, Russell, and Danielle need a merge desperately. Boston Rob's super-alliance should probably throw a challenge if they don't merge though, because they're not going to be able to vote out Russell any other way. I think this may be the only time that I think throwing a challenge would be a good strategy - but I don't know if Boston Rob would be able to lose a battle to win a war - I think he's too proud. And even if they tried to throw a challenge, Evil Russ probably could smell it coming from a mile away and then somehow manage to win the challenge all on his own. Or find another hidden immunity idol - he can scent them out like a bloodhound.


What If?

Candice had a big night! 6 points that no one earned for her individual immunity, so Courtney would be at -4 for the purchase - almost out of the hole - and Bag, Moon, and Doug would be at -9.

Now it's a weird buying round this week. Since two teams lost a player, what we're going to do is this - Dachui and Moon have been notified that if they are interested in buying Candice they need to let me know. If neither of them want her, then fine, no one gets her. If only one of them want her, then they can buy her at the standard price of 15 points. But if BOTH teams want to buy her, then we will do an auction, Survivor style. I will find the grossest stuff I can at the grocery and whoever can hold it down will win her. Okay, just kidding, the auction will be based on points not food - but isn't my idea so much more entertaining?


Current Standings:

"Douchey" Dachui: 64 points
[1. Tyson (18 pts)]
2. Boston Rob (26 pts)
3. Coach (20 pts)

"Beauty & 2 Beasts" Doug/Bri: 60 points
1. JT (7 pts)
[2. Tom (27 pts)]
3. Parvati (26 pts)

"New Rookie" Courtney: 46 points
1. Evil Russell (30 pts)
[2. Stephenie (2 pts)]
3. Sandra (14 pts)

"All Blacks" Moon: 32 points
[1. James (7 pts)]
[2. Cirie (7 pts)]
3. Danielle (18 pts)

"Gorbag" Bag: 31 points
1. Rupert (5 pts)
[2. Randy (6 pts)]
3. Jerri (20 pts)

"Always the Bridesmaid, never the bride" Me: 24 points
1. Colby (5 pts)
2. Amanda (7 pts)
3. Courtney (12 pts)


Rankings:

It feels like the entire game has changed after this episode. I think everything now depends on how quickly they merge. If they merge next week then a Team Russell defection would put the two alliances in a blockbuster 8 v. 8 showdown. If a few weeks go by though, the Heroes and Team Russell might be annihilated. So these rankings really don't mean to much, but I'm going to speculate anyways.

6. All Blacks - it's easier to start from the bottom, which is where Moon is firmly planted. His "all black" team now consists of one busty white woman. (He's already working on coming up with a new team name.) Medical evacuations are a nasty part of Survivor and our pool, and it hurts when one of your ponies gets taken out this way. We've all been there. Maybe we should add a rule next season where the player gets some pity points thrown their way? Although really James wasn't going to make it THAT much farther anyways. I think that his biggest problem is that he doesn't listen... and that is a fatal flaw in a social game.

5. Gorbag - Gorbag did well with poker this weekend, but his lot was not improved much in the Survivor pool (congrats again Bag!). I just don't see Jerri or Rupert going all the way with this one, and that's what it's going to take for us bottom-three to have a chance against these other power-houses. Interesting side note - Moon and I had a very interesting conversation about who the bigger bitch was, Jerri or Parvati. I would love for comments to include who they would vote for and why.

4. Bridesmaids - the Bridesmaids are really adept at not getting voted out, but they really suck at earning points. My small consolation this episode is that everyone competed in the challenge, so I didn't lose any points. I think my team got a lot more intersting this episode too. Will Colby have an amazing comeback after the last tribal? Will he give 125% now that he feels like he's a part of their alliance and help turn the Heroes around? How has Courtney managed to fly under the radar this whole time, and how far can she really go? (I'm hoping all the way!)

3. New Rook - The top 3 teams I think are all neck and neck... but I put Courtney in 3rd place just because Russell's position is so precarious. He's seriously outnumbered, and while he has been in this situation before, his opponents are much smarter this time around. If anyone can get out of this mess though, it's Russell. Sandra is a serious threat too. She's put herself in a perfect position - close to Rob but not in charge.

2. B2B - Doug & Bri have two very strong competitors, but they both happen to be in the minority right now, and Parvati in particular has been voted for every time they've gone to tribal council. But these are two of the most charming people to ever play the game, and their alliances, while small in numbers, are very strong. I can easily see one or both of them making it to final tribal.

1. Dachui - Losing Tyson has hurt them for sure, but ultimately they still have 2 Villains on their team who are currently in very secure positions. I think Boston Rob needs to win a LOT of immunity challenges on the way to final tribal, or else they will vote him out, but that is a possibility. Coach I could see getting there as well by riding coattails, but I don't think he would win.