Survivor H/V: Week 14 - Finale

Week 14 - Finale:
''Russell's keeping me around because I'll never get a single vote. But I don't know about that."

That was a pretty good finale! It was a lot better than I thought it would be. Usually you can predict how things will go but by the end, I honestly didn't know who was going to win between Parvati and Sandra.

Ok, let's get to it...

* It was finally good to see Colby compete in that immunity challenge. Although he didn't win, I think he may have saved his reputation a little bit. His little speech about throwing in the towel was pretty convincing, but his "strategy" to go to Russell was not. This move was a little too late and why does everybody go to Russell??? Even though they teased that Russell would change his mind, I didn't buy it and Colby was sent packing.

* I already shared my thoughts on Colby in the last email, so I won't go further. It was funny to think that if he had won that immunity challenge, he would've been really close to winning a million dollars.

* I thought that the last immunity challenge was very interesting. It was unlike any that they had before, and when it started, I didn't like the set up. Well, that certainly changed as I started yelling at the T.V. screen when Russell, Jerri and Parvati were all so close to grabbing that necklace! The producers lucked out on that one because it could've gone a completely different way.

* Russell's choice to vote out Jerri was very interesting and quite unexpected. I would have thought that for sure Parvati was a goner. This showed to me how much Parvati had him wrapped around her finger (I don't know why she didn't bring this up in her final argument). I wonder how much he regrets that decision? Maybe she was more liked than I thought. Plus, she was not a guaranteed vote like he imagined (more on that later).

* I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think Jerri played a really good game. Not win-worthy, but by the end, I don't think she has anything to be ashamed of. I don't think she made any huge strategic decisions, but she flipped to the correct alliance, and she held her own in challenges. It really looked like she was having fun out there, and for being labeled a Villain, she was way more heroic than a lot of Heroes this season. She got really far in the game and she stayed quiet, yet effective. Thanks Jerri for not letting me hate you this season.

* Sandra throwing Russell's hat in the fire was priceless! Hilarity aside, I think that really affected Russell and he even admitted that it rattled him a bit. How funny is that? Sandra was the only true person in Russell's past two seasons that talked down to him and could rattle his bones a bit.

* The last tribal council was pretty good and I thought from a editing stand point was done very well. I thought everybody asked some pretty good questions and for the most part didn't come off too pretentious (minus Coach, but that goes without saying, right?). I thought Parvati and Sandra did amazing with their answers. Both stayed true to how they played the game, but without being condescending. Unlike somebody else, ha ha.

* I'm going to go back to the final three and break down their gameplay, but I LOVED this final three. Not only was it unexpected, but I loved that there were actually three players that deservingly could've won the million dollars. You don't always get that with a final three, and that's a testament to how great this season was.

* What a fun reunion show. This could've been two hours and I would have been thoroughly entertained. Probst talking down Russell, Sandra's lip, J.T. almost throwing his letter into the fire, Rob and Russell getting into it... It was good live television that actually felt live.

* For the record, I don't think J.T.'s move was the stupidest ever. It might be if Russell would've won, but it just won because it was the most relevant. In my opinion, it was Eric giving up his idol at tribal council. And although it's not as entertaining, Colby taking Tina did cost him a million dollars.

* I can't believe people like Rupert as much as they do. I know I talk about this way too much. I apologize.

* The ultimate survivor morph did not go over well. That poor graphic designer's hard work was mocked by the silence of the audience.

Okay, now to the final three survivors:

* Russell - I could go on and on about his gameplay. Yes, everybody knows his cockiness is as much as a downfall as an attribute to his gameplay , so I won't go into that too much. I was the first one to say that he should've won his first season. He was against very weak players and he clearly played the hardest. But, after seeing this finale, I may have changed my opinion. You can not, and I repeat, canNOT be the ultimate survivor when you fail to think about the jury members on the other end. That's just how the game is played. Dan Marino is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play football, but what's one thing that he lacks? A superbowl ring. You can match up his stats against Aikmen, Brady, and Manning, and they may be better, but those guys will always be above him because they have the title. The same correlation can be made to Russell. He doesn't have the ability to see through other people's eyes, and that's why he hasn't and won't ever win this game. I'm not discounting how hard he plays, and has a valid argument that it's the only way he can play this game. But to think that others will give you a million dollars because you are true to that is just ridiculous. His whole gameplay is based on lying and deceitfulness, yet he doesn't bring that when it comes to the end. He thinks that if he gets to the final three he's golden, when in fact, he ditches the one strategy that has gotten him to that point.

* Parvati - I really feel bad for her. She played an AMAZING game and if I was voting, she would've got my vote for the million. I think that the Heroes did not quite grasp how much she controlled Russell. They should have not faulted her for aligning herself with such a hated person. She used him right from the beginning. She perfectly played the game in all three categories. Outwit - Russell took her to the final three, 'nuff said. Outlast - The first vote for the Villains was between her and Randy! Then, after the merge, all the Heroes were gunning for her. Outplay - She was the standout in most of the challenges, especially for individual immunity. She won when her butt was on the line. If Colby would've won that next-to-last one, she definitely would've been on that jury.

* Sandra - All that said about Parvati, I absolutely have no qualms about the fact that Sandra won. I was thrilled and very surprised when she was announced as the winner. I in no way think she was a coattail rider. Jeff Probst has always said that she always plays with the strategy that when it comes to deciding who is being sent home, she plays the "as long as it's not me" card. She knows when to play hard and how to vote, and that's why she won. She's vocal enough for people to know that she's around and she's never been tagged as being lazy around camp. Although she said her strategy from day one was to get rid of Russell, I think in code that means, "From day one I was set out to survive past Russell." The only time she really conceded to Russell's ways was when he was deciding who to take to the final three, and by playing the, "No one will vote for me" card, he took her. She played him just as much as Parvati at that point. And another thing that was a huge play was the fact that she strategized with the Heroes, but not enough for the Villains to fault her for it. All five heroes on the jury voted for Sandra. There were four Villains on the jury and Courtney was the only one of them to vote for Sandra. Unlike Russell, Sandra knew where the numbers lied on the jury. And that was probably Parvati's slightest fault was that she didn't socialize with the Heroes more. Sandra absolutely deserved the million dollars and I hope Russell despises that fact until the day he dies. Something tells me that he will.

What a great season! It's going to be extremely hard to beat this one. It'll be a while before another season comes close to it. 10 years and 20 seasons of Survivor. I'm so curious to see how this new decade plays out. Will it really last another 10 years? It'll be fun to see what new villains, heroes, and favorites will emerge and if another all-star edition is even plausible.

Before I sign off, a big congrats goes out to Ashliegh Whiteman for winning! I'll let you know what the prize will be. Like this season, nobody really had Sandra on their radar and you are one of the few that picked her.

I thought I did pretty well with the recaps this year. I only missed one week. It's a lot of fun to do, but a lot of work. Thanks for reading and I look forward to doing it again in the fall with Hallie doing all the typing for me :)

Until then!

Survivor H/V: Week 13

Week 13:
This Recap Is Brought To You By Sprint

Today's recap is fresh off the presses. Aren't you proud?

* I thought it was hilarious that Russ was still telling Parvati that Danielle was plotting against her. I was a little surprised by how forgiving the girls were of his move. Of course they said, "I don't trust him anymore," but they definitely weren't running to Rupert and Colby.

* I was proud of myself, this was the first time I did not tear up during the loved ones segment. Well, I take that back. I did form tears... tears of laughter as Colby constantly was berating his brother. That was hilarious and his brother was not fazed in the least by Colby's constant screams.

* The shots of Rupert and his wife making out were a little bit too close. It looked like she was making out with a bear. You should have seen Whitney's face... she was practically gagging. You could practically smell him through the screen.

* On the surface, Jerri's move not to take Russell along to the reward seemed like a bad move, but she was in a tricky spot. It was a little surprising that she chose Sandra so quickly. I wouldn't have done that, but I wonder if she was worried that Sandra might make an alliance with Rupert and Colby. The smartest thing was probably to keep Russell away from those two, but I guess it's all a mute point. Russell didn't hold on to his anger like I thought he would. She's too much of a good pick for Russell to take to the end.

* I was just waiting for one of those coconuts to crack open on one of their heads.

* I might even hear Rupert cracking sticks when I fall asleep tonight. He was that loud.

* You've got to hand it to Parvati... She's not only a strong strategic player, but she dominates in the "focus" challenges. I'm not sure how Rupert was moving his arms around so much and still stuck around as long as he did. I really wonder if he had won if Russell would have gone through with getting rid of Parvati.

* Now, I don't blame Rupert for going straight to Russell when Sandra whispered her secondary plan. But did he really have to do it in front of Sandra and Parvati? Rupert has no discreteness to his strategy, or lack thereof.

* How strange and funny was that exchange between Russell and Sandra? I think her and Parvati went loopy after all those burgers. It was hilarious that Russell was SO serious and the two girls were SO not. It did provide some intrigue going into tribal council, but my only thought to why Sandra was acting that way was because she knew she was playing the idol. I think she was just playing with the cameras when she said she wasn't going to play the idol. She is too smart to make a boneheaded move like that. She was brilliant not to tell anybody about it. She knew that if Russell and Jerri did turn, Rupert would still be gone and then she would expose Russell's faults even more so. Then she would come out looking like the hero... I mean the not-so-bad villain.

* Russell actually was a little more restrained on this vote. He knew that it wasn't going to do him any good to go with Rupert and Colby. He had to stick to the girls this time around.

* Let's talk about Colby for a sec. Did you see him at tribal council? He had his face buried into his hands like he was a pouty kindergartner. Here is a guy who has lucked into being in the final five, and he could care less. By far he's one of the most disappointing players this season. Who would've thought that the Villains wouldn't be pining to get him voted off because, "He's not a threat in challenges." Colby has become the coattail player that I so often get frustrated at. I would have never expected that.

* Now about Rupert's departure: I can't stand the man. Why did he glare at Russell like he had betrayed an alliance that had been going on since day one? I hated how self-rightieous he was about being a Hero and how evil the Villains were. But as soon as anything benefited him, he would switch to a Villains side immediately. I don't care that he did that, just don't act surprised when blindsides happen in the game of SURVIVOR. I might forgive him if this was his first time, but this is his third time to play the game. His last statement to the camera sums up how aware he is of his celebrity status, "I don't need Survivor to know that I'm a winner." I beg to differ Rupert, I beg to differ.

There's one more final episode to probably the best season out of the 20. Hopefully it'll live up to the suspense of all of these other episodes.

My bold prediction:
Colby is gone next.
Then, if Parvati wins immunity, she takes Russell and Jerri to the finals. Parvati wins.
If Sandra wins immunity, she takes Jerri and Parvati. Parvati wins.
If Russell wins immunity, he takes Jerri and Sandra. Sandra wins.

Of course if they keep Colby, this prediction is all a bust, ha ha.

What do you think? Happy viewing!

Survivor H/V: Week 12

Week 12:
Double the Trouble, Double the Surprise!

What a bizarre episode! I would have never guessed that Candice and Danielle would be the next ones to go. I thought for sure Colby and Rupert were goners, but with the way this season has been going, I shouldn’t have been surprised.

Some thoughts...

* As predicted by me, Candice was automatically on the outs with both sides. Totally disgust from the Heroes and total disrespect from the Villains. Her swing vote had more dire consequences than I would have predicted.

* Another correct prediction from me was saying that Rupert and Colby needed to stir up some trouble. Although it wasn’t very effective, Rupert did a nice job of trying to throw Russell underneath the bus. It didn’t faze Russell though. It was like trying to convince a bluebird that in fact, it’s blue.

* I loved the first immunity challenge. Having them stand on those little ledges was a good bonus. Now, I know I have no idea what it’s like to experience hunger like these guys are, but I’m always amazed at how quick people ditch these challenges for food. I thought it was stupid for Russell and Sandra to bail so early because you know that Jeff is just going to bring out bigger and better food. I was really shocked to see Colby leave the challenge so soon. His competition level is at Lebron’s playoff performance (does anybody get that reference?). Also, I bet Candice wishes she would have stayed longer as well.
I’m so glad Sandra found the idol and finally did the smart thing that no Survivor does... She didn’t tell anybody about it!!! Sandra can easily win this game at this point.

* From now on, all Survivors will carry rocks in their pockets. Thank you Rupert.

* I was pretty shocked that Rupert wasn’t gone after the first immunity vote. I guess that the girl Villains (does Jerri deserve credit for this move?) just didn’t feel good about what Candice might do in the game. Maybe they saw that Russell was trying to suck her in. They probably should’ve been more on the same page on this vote, but maybe in the Villains eyes they were still ousting a Hero.

* I think Candice could’ve totally been in a position to win this game. She has the potential of being a great Survivor, but she lets paranoia get in the way of strategy. She had a good ally in Cirie and she let that go, and then she had a good alliance with the Heroes and let that go. Now, I don’t blame her at all for swinging to the other side, she just did it at the wrong time. She is physical enough and smart enough to win this game, but obviously not in an All-star edition.

* So, Russell comes back to camp with the mindset to gain back control, and boy does he ever. And somehow Colby and Rupert are still alive. How ironic was it that all the girls were cheering on Russell to win immunity and that it turned out to be their worst nightmare.

* Okay... So now about the biggest thing about this episode: Russell turns on his alliance. This once again to me is a brilliant but dumb move. Can you ever remember a Survivor moment where the obvious strongest alliance turns on each other so soon? The girls were obviously gaining control over Russell and everybody saw it coming. It’s as if lightning struck him when Candice was voted out and he said to himself, "No more!"

* Why this was a smart move: He could make this move because he had immunity. So if there was any better time to do this, this was it. He obviously has “real” control in the game now and he took out a person who could easily had won the million dollars.

* Why this was a dumb move: At this point he will get no votes from the jury. It may be a repeat of last year’s finale. Russell may still get to the end, and in my opinion is totally justified in winning, but if Sandra or Parvati are there at the end, he has no shot. His moves are so mean-spirited and are in such a bully-like manner that it will cloud the jury’s opinion of his strategy.

* I’m so glad Parvati stood up to Russell. Parvati has never been my favorite, but she gained a lot of respect from me for not letting Russell throw his male ego on top of her.

* One of my favorite moments of the season was this exchange; Russell to Rupert: "We're voting off Danielle." Rupert, with no hesitation, "Okay!" What a god-send for Rupert and Colby.

* I felt really bad for Danielle. She has played a really solid game this season and literally out of nowhere, she was stabbed in the back. She made a solid alliance, was in the background at the beginning of the game, and then she knew when to get aggressive. That would usually result in a million dollars, but she did allign herself with the most evil troll to ever walk this earth. She talked WAY too much at tribal council. I don’t fault her for crying, but she was falling more and more into Russell’s verbal trap. If I were Parvati, I would’ve hit her. I’m not sure what made Jerri change her vote, but she did, and now it’s once again a completely different game.

If I saw the commercial correctly through the fast-forward of the DVR, I think we only have two more episodes left! Thursday and then the finale on Sunday.

So, I think the overwhelming questions are... How shocked were you to see Candice and Danielle go? Does Russell have any chance of winning? Who is your favorite to win right now?

Survivor H/V: Week 11

Week 11:
No Fighting In Robert Louis Stevenson’s House!

* Russell and Parvati’s alliance won’t be the same. I would have never played that idol unless it was to get Russell out of the game. That is the only way he should’ve known about that.

* I’ve always liked the shuffleboard challenge. It’s a good reward one because anybody can win. Colby’s last shot was pretty clutch.

* I’ve never experienced so much awkwardness as Amanda and Danielle fighting over that immunity clue. I felt like I was watching Jerry Springer for a second. Colby’s reaction was priceless. Now, here’s the thing... in life, that clue was Danielle’s, put did Colby and Amanda give up too easily? Should they have forced Danielle to read it out loud? When you are trapped in a little room like that, how do you get that clue for yourself? What would have you done?

* Danielle should’ve known that Russell had that idol after not finding it. It seems like she had no choice to tell the rest of the group about the clue, but why were only her and Russell looking for it?

* Right when I think that Russell shouldn’t be as celebrated as he is, he pulls a brilliant move by swaying Candice. He is amazing at finding other player’s weak spots. He did it with Tyson, and now he did it with Candice. I can’t reiterate how brilliant this was. His trust in Parvati and Danielle had swayed, so he just goes and renews trust in a whole new girl.

* I like Candice. She’s my pick in this game, but she infuriates me sometimes. I understand that she was at the bottom of the Heroes alliance and that is why she swayed towards Russell. She saw more potential in him. There is a point though where you loose a lot of respect in this game, and she just screwed over all her Heroes alliance. At this point, even if she gets to the end, which I still think can happen, she will get no votes. The vote against Amanda didn’t show her strategic side, it just showed Russell’s.

* Poor Sandra. She must’ve known that Candice wasn’t going to switch, so why burn bridges with Russell and the other Villains. I think she is still somebody to watch out for. If she makes it to the end, which she can by being in the middle of the Heroes and Villains, she’s played a strong enough game not to be seen as “riding coattails.”

* It’s funny to think that Probst had never snuffed Amanda’s torch before. It’s pretty amazing that she still got this far in this game. I liked Amanda from China, but as the seasons went along she didn’t become my favorite. I don’t know if I got tired of her puppy dog looks all the time, but she has been one of the stronger female players in Survivor history and I’ve always liked that she played pretty strategically and always knew who to align herself too.

* Even though Russell played his idol in vain, he should have. At this point, I am SICK of all these hidden immunity idols. I can’t keep them straight anymore. I know that they make for some dramatic tribal councils, but it somehow cheapens the game of Survivor in my opinion. I don’t mind if there are a couple here and there, but it’s gotten pretty ridiculous this season.

* So, at this point, you’d think that Rupert and Colby are the next to go. I don’t know if they can do much to get back into the game, but I would start to make some strong moves. There are some cracks in that Villains tribe, so I would do everything I could to cause distress and tension there. If they did that and won immunity, they MIGHT have a chance to make it to the end, but I doubt it.

I rambled on way too much. Maybe I am making up for missing last week.

What do you think of Parvati’s move of playing two idols? What did you think of Russell pulling in Candice? Who is your favorite to win: is it possible that it’s not going to be Russell, Parvati or Danielle? Are you sick of immunity idols? How awkward did you feel when Danielle and Amanda fought over the clue?

Be on the lookout for an immunity idol hidden somewhere at your house. They are a dime a dozen this time of year.

EW's summary: CLICK HERE
Jeff Probt's thoughts: CLICK HERE
Courtney's exit interview: CLICK HERE

Survivor H/V: Week 10

Week 10:
For Once, Rupert Was Right!

I know, I know... I was doing soooo good and I missed a week. A big week at that. The merge week!

I’m not going to do a full recap like I usually do for Week 10, but here are just a couple of thoughts:

* I’ve never seen such a less enthusiastic merge. “Game On” mode started much sooner than usual. Probably due to the fact that they delayed it and that there are already two members of the jury.

* The second thought is mainly just about Parvati’s gameplay. I felt like she made a lot of mistakes, but a lot of good moves as well. In my opinion, there is no way I would’ve played both idols. I understand that she was protecting her Villains tribe, and that may pay off big time in the future (a vote from Sandra and Jerri perhaps?). But to throw the idol back into the game again was not a good move. I personally would’ve played just one and still kept the other one hidden. Also, she was dumb for exiting the immunity challenge so quickly. She really exposed to the tribe that she felt like she was untouchable. Regardless, Parvati is really taking over the game.

* Last, I would have never thought that I would say this, but the Heroes should’ve listened to Rupert! I don’t know what made them not trust his conversation with Sandra and believe Russell. I guess that J.T.’s idol handout now does solidify his move as one of the stupidest moves ever.

* J.T. will be missed. I always liked him and he will always be one of the stronger players to play this game. His fault was just playing too hard. He forgot about what helped him win the first time, being subtle. I don’t think he should have totally backed off, but he could’ve honed down his anxiousness a bit. Paranoia got him this time around, and that wasn’t a problem for him in his previous season.

Now on to Week 11:

EW's summary: CLICK HERE
Jeff Probt's thoughts: CLICK HERE
Courtney's exit interview: CLICK HERE

Survivor H/V: Week 9

Week 9:
Special for One Day Only: Free Idols!

There isn’t a whole lot to say about Courtney’s departure. She really didn’t do much except ride coattails. Towards the end we did get to see her sarcastic comments come out again, which were entertaining. If I were the Villains tribe, I personally would’ve gotten rid of Sandra, who I think is more of a threat. The other thing that I took out of tribal council was that I’m really ready for the merge. I think it’s weird that there will be two members of the jury who weren’t even on the same tribe as some of the Heroes. This just isn’t fair if one of the Heroes gets to the end. Also, I can’t help but think it was a ploy of the producers to have the tribes merge at a 5-to-5 tie. Not that it won’t be entertaining, but the way this has all gone down is a little odd.

Some thoughts...

* I liked how the producers made this reward challenge from an individual challenge, to a group endurance one. Although the Villains won by a mile (Courtney actually contributed!), this was one where I couldn’t predict who was going to win from the get go.

* Dear Outback, your new sponsor is now Sandra! She talked about Outback the way I talk about Pizza King

* So, Parvati found the other clue to the hidden immunity. She did a great job of concealing it. More on this in a bit, but I’m surprised that at this point, the others didn’t think to even look for a clue. That definitely seemed to be a trend to winning reward challenges this year.

* Right now Parvati is controlling this game. Russell thinks he is running the show, and he did, but now Parvati has taken the reigns without him knowing it. That is what makes her such a good player. She knows when to stay in the background and be quiet and then she finds the right timing to thrust herself into the leadership role. The other great move was to tell Danielle about it but not Russell. Maybe she sensed the tension between the two, but she is cementing the two-person relationship in the three-person alliance. I can’t wait to see how these two use this idol.

* Seeing that the immunity challenge was very physical, it was no surprise that the Heroes won. But was anybody paying any attention? Of course the highlight of the episode was J.T. giving Russell the hidden immunity. I loved how the transaction went down. The heist genre would be proud. The look on Russell’s face was priceless. Would you believe it if it happened to you?’

* Now, to J.T.’s credit, none of the other players got to see Russell last season. On the other hand, in no circumstance is it a good idea to give an idol to an opponent that you don’t even know! J.T. will get the blame for this (which he deservingly should), but his tribemates should’ve prevented him from making this idiotic move. J.T. is falling into the trap of over-thinking in this game, and if anybody is going to be targeted going into the merge, he will (being a past winner and being such a physical threat).

* Speaking of past winners, isn’t it crazy that three of these players will be going into the merge having won it all before?

* This sums up the Russell-Parvati-Danielle alliance perfectly: Russell told them all about his idol. Parvati and Danielle told no one else. This action alone will have a tremendous impact on this game, and in my opinion, means that Russell won’t win this season. It was unlike him not to look for another idol once he played his. And it was near a bridge, just like in his previous season!

* Parvati reading J.T.’s letter was HILARIOUS. The way she read it like the voiceover girl from Gossip Girl (I mean, from what Whitney tells me) was pitch perfect. J.T. single-handily changed from the popular jock to the geeky mathlete.

* The debate of whether or not Courtney or Sandra should go wasn’t all that interesting, but it just was another example of Parvati taking over the game as she slowly was pushing her opinion into the forefront, and Russell wasn’t seeming to mind all that much.

* I wonder if the other Villains have worked up the courage to tell Danielle about her mustache.

* If this was ever a time to voice your opinion about this season, now is the time: What did you think of J.T.’s move? This move will be talked about for a long time. What I like most about it is that we didn’t see the impact of the stupid move right away (like Tyson voting himself out). It’ll be fun to see how this mistake will fester.

Yahoo for the merge!

Survivor H/V: Week 8

Week 8:
The Dragon Has Been Slayed

I would have never thought in my wildest dreams that Coach would’ve been the target in this next episode. He was truly shocked that he was voted out, but I don’t think he really cared. The Survivor strategy and backstabbing had taken the toil on the Steven Segal look-a-like. He definitely was more effective in challenges this season, but he never made any kind of move strategically. Although I know many are annoyed by him (Whitney and my Dad), but you can’t help but admit how entertaining it was to get annoyed by his quotes, antics and poses. In a way I’m glad he is gone early because that means the game-play will be stepped up even more so with him being gone. Thanks Coach for allowing me to mock you, but if you ever come back to Survivor, I think it will be a little overkill.

Some thoughts...

* As soon as tribal council was over, you could already predict how the rest of the show was going to go without Boston Rob’s leadership being present. I thought if that they didn’t merge, we would see the Villains back at tribal council, and I was more right than I thought I would be.

* How stupid was it that Courtney and Sandra sat out in the bowling challenge? I’m not saying that it would’ve helped them much in the next challenge, but it definitely didn’t help.

* Hey kids, do you know what foreshadowing is? Look no further than the Heroes thinking that their is an all girl alliance at the Villains camp. This misperception just works in Russell’s favor every which way.

* It was so funny that the Villains tore down their camp. In a way, I can’t blame them for thinking the way they were, but I love that the Survivor producers gave them a reality check. They wanted to remind them that they will always control what happens. I wouldn’t doubt if they changed their minds about the merge just because they saw them tearing down their camp.

* You may disagree, but I thought that J.T. did well with pretending that he intended to show everybody else the idol. He didn’t do an amazing job, but really how else could you recover. I thought it was hilarious when Candice and Amanda talked about their relief of stumbling into him. What I don’t understand is why they weren’t looking all together? People get these clues and then sit on it. This is really where you have to admire Russell’s perseverance.

* How smart is Sandra by sowing that “Coach is after you” seed in Russell’s head? Without this move, Courtney would’ve been gone for sure. She definitely knows how to read people.

* Coach, please stop flexing.

* The fights back at the Villains camp were classic. Things always seem to get tense during a Survivor season, but this one seemed omnipresent. Is this all due to Russell’s presence? Quite possibly.

* The Heroes dominated the mud challenge. I’m not a big Rupert fan, but he really did put a lot of effort into that one. Coach is much more physically fit than him, and Rupert almost beat him.

* I’m really interested to see what happens to this Heroes tribe of 5. I’m not buying their alliance at all.

* Could there be a rupture in Russell’s alliance? Danielle and him sure had it out. He just can not handle any slight thinking that is contrary to his. They seemed to make amends eventually, but I can’t see this being a partnership that stays intact. I’m glad they gave Danielle some more face time here. She’s pretty much been missing from this season, but I think this episode showed that she truly is a strong female player.

* I was really confused by the voting at this tribal council. Russell ended up voting for Courtney (to get a vote from Coach?) and Danielle ended up voting against Coach (a possible alliance with Courtney and Sandra?).

* I’m curious to see if Coach will throw his final vote towards a Hero or Villain at the end since he spent no time with the Heroes. He is definitely a vote that could be swayed towards the end. His vote may be a game-changer.

* It looks like a merge will happen this time and apparently, a mistake that goes down as one of the biggest in Survivor folklore!!! I can’t wait.

Until then!

EW's Dalton Ross' summary: CLICK HERE
Jeff Probst's blog: CLICK HERE
Exit interview with Boston Rob: CLICK HERE

Survivor H/V: Week 5

Week 5:
No Chocalate + Focus = Blown Out Knee

I won’t even hide it... I’m sad to see Tom go. Unlike some people who get voted out early, he really fought hard the whole game. I think his million dollar win was a target that never quite got unstuck. Despite being, what seemed, still pretty strong in challenges, J.T. had to vote against him to earn some kind of trust back from his other tribe-mates. I’m curious to see if James, Rupert and Amanda will still hold that strong loyalty. All three of the aforementioned are followers when it comes to alliances, so J.T. will probably still be able to guide them with a leash. I don’t think it was a good move on their part, especially with James with such a bad injury. They did not have me fooled for an instant. I don’t care how strong James is, that vote was totally based on alliances. The Heroes are in deep trouble, and even if they started to win some challenges, it may not be enough to catch up with the Villains when a merge happens. I think the Heroes know that, so they are starting to prepare now.

Some thoughts...

* Another brutal reward challenge. I’m seeing a trend. Reward challenge: physical. Immunity challenge: some physical and puzzle. If this keeps up, the Heroes will never win.

* Wow, Jerri took a shot to the face. Rupert did try to help her up, but I don’t think Jerri will ever forget that move. As soon as a merge happens, I bet she guns after Rupert. Colby will be thanking Rupert later.

* James’ injury was hard to watch, especially when he got back up to walk. It was clear that the Heroes were going to loose when he went down. I don’t think it was the lack of numbers that caused them to loose, but you could see the momentum just drift away from their “no chocolate” imitation strategy.

* Speaking of, I was ready to see Jeff and Colby throw down! I love how Jeff doesn’t back down from anybody.

* You know Russell was going to find that idol. Now I’m changing my thinking about him now being a “marked man.” That was really stupid for the others not to look for that thing. He really does hold the power, and like I said last week, if they vote for him, Boston Rob may be gone. So what if he’s a marked man?

* I have to admit to something. I actually stood up for Coach. Yes, and I was proven wrong immediately. When Russell started talking about bringing Coach into his alliance with Parvati, I thought, “No way! Coach is way too loyal to everybody else. Plus, Russell clearly didn’t join in the group yoga session.” I should’ve known better because Coach now has a bigger man crush on Russell and even bowed down to him. Like Russell needed another ego boast. Watch out for these three because if a merge happens, they will quickly grab J.T., Candace or Colby.

* As for the immunity challenge, it was just sad to see the Heroes loose like that... AGAIN! If I were at camp, I would constantly be creating puzzles for everybody just so they could be somewhat prepared. And as much as I hate to admit it, James did a great job “calling” out to everybody.

* Finally, I’m glad Tom called James out on his “strategy.” Somebody finally needed to do it. I’ve never quickly changed my opinion on a player like I have James this season. He really does seem to be a completely different person.

As you probably noticed, the NCAA tournament knocked a new episode from being aired this week. Don’t forget that the next one is this coming WEDNESDAY.

Sic’ em!

Survivor H/V: Week 4

Week 4: This is my tribe, and I can cry if I want to


Our first blindside! I told you that it may be coming. Cirie has always been such a strong strategic player, so it was sad to see her go in that respect. It’s always fun to see how she can twist people to think her way or how she smacks sense into them. Nobody has been aware of it, except for J.T. I know that although the vote happened for strategic purposes, I think it was the best vote for the tribe strategically. If they want to win challenges, Cirie probably wasn’t their biggest contributor. She did always play the role as the mother of the tribe, so from a gelling standpoint, I wonder how they will be affected.

Some thoughts...

* You know that when you are going to Tyson for comfort, something may be a little loose in the brain. Coach’s breakdown was hilarious and I love Tyson’s advice to him, “Get rid of the feather, don’t tell your stories, and do your yoga by yourself.”

* The slip and slide reward challenge was somewhat entertaining, but really was anybody’s game. I do love when it comes down to one last shot. I’ve personally enjoyed just the one immunity challenge.

* Could the producers be even more blunt in the immunity idol clue? Well, I think it worked because it was pretty entertaining to watch everybody scramble. The Heroes nearly killed each other while the Villains of all people, decided that anybody who goes for it is immediately a target.

* Even in a villains tribe, Russell is the only one who has to completely march to his own beat. You know, even if he finds it, he will have power. Even if everybody decides to vote for him with the idol, one of them is going home (Boston Rob perhaps?).

* The immunity challenge was really fast. It was over before I knew it. Once again, it was a incredibly close and I’m glad nobody fainted and passed out this time.

* I don’t know how to really sum up what happened next, but it’s pretty amazing that Tom and Colby are still alive in this game. It’s obvious that J.T. has all the power, so it will be interesting to see what happens when they all get back to camp. He’ll probably turn on his country charm and everybody will forgive him, but I can’t help but think if he’s playing too hard too fast.
Regardless, I think this will help with Parvati’s argument on the other side of camp, because her “ally” is now gone.

* We watched the episode on that Thursday night, so sorry if my recap isn’t as detailed. If I don’t write them right after I see them, sometimes I forget the funny parts.

Until next week!

Survivor H/V: Week 1

Week 1:
Shoulders, Toes, and Bras. Oh my!

I’m already hyped up for what seems like a great season. I loved this first episode. When I saw the first all-stars, it was different because it was first time that I had seen the show. This time around, I recognize everybody, which makes it a lot more fun.

We had some power issues, so our DVR didn’t record the last 30 minutes of the show after the immunity challenge, so we missed all of of that, but it quickly became apparent that Sugar was going to be the first victim. Really, no surprise there and I never really liked her the first time, so I’m okay with more competitive people being around.

What I like so far about this season is that the past winners aren’t immediately a direct target like they were in the All-Stars season. That may change as the season goes along, especially in the last final tribal council, but this time around it seems like everybody is starting fresh from scratch.

Here are my quick thoughts, and hopefully Boston Rob will be around after the next episode. He’s too entertaining not to have around!

* Awesome opening challenge. It couldn’t have played out better.

* It’s funny how easily it is to start rooting for the heroes. They really assembled a strong group with those guys.

* Coach owned Colby. Thus, there will be millions of parents naming their children Coach in the future.

* Bras are meant for support, but sometimes they can be hindering to your ultimate goal. How great was it that Sugar won that battle?

* Stephanie dislocates her shoulder, puts it back and doesn’t complain about it afterwards. This is why everybody loves her.

* People better watch out for J.T. I like the idea of Tom and him working together. It reminds me of when Tom aligned himself with Ian.

* Rupert is not looking good so far. That toe will catch up to him and so far it doesn’t look like he is making good connections within his tribe.

* I loved Russell last season, but two seasons in a row may be a little overkill. It’s like going to high school with the guy with little-man syndrome and then finding out he is sitting next to you in your first college class. A little bit of Russell goes a long way. I do like that he has more of a challenge this time around.

* I forgot how cool Colby is. He may be my man crush like Coach has a man crush for Boston Rob.

* If Boston Rob sticks around, him and Sandra could make a lethal combination. Although she’s not my favorite, I love how comfortable she is in her own skin.

* Also, watch out for Cirie. How do people overlook her every time?

* And for my final thought.... Coach + Jeri = Ewwwwwwww

Until next week!

Survivor: Tocantins - Finale

I've been planning a certain something for Coach for a long time now when he got voted out. I thought it was going to be a lot earlier than it was, but all along I was going to write something from his point of view. But, he ended his "reign" in such a ridiculous fashion, I decided to follow suite: So, before I get to the finale, I would like to recite a poem:

My attempts to be a strong warrior and Survivor player,
were challenged even though I tried to avoid Exile island.
I endured criticism from Erinn, Sierra and all the naysayers,
But with unexpected back pain, immunity lost was unplanned,
and the wizard put the final stake into the Dragon Slayer.

(I know it's not the greatest, but give me some credit, ok?!)

The final four, which wasn't a huge surprise was J.T., Stephen, Taj and Erinn. What was the surprise that followed a spider-web challenge built just for J.T., was the outing of Taj. I'm still trying to figure out the reasoning behind this. They said it was because Taj was more of a threat to win individual immunity in the final three than Erinn was and I don't buy that at all. Besides the challenge way back when everybody played water-tackle-basketball, Taj has not been a threat at all. I don't know if Stephen and J.T. were scared that they might not hold up to their promise to be in the final two, which apparently cracked anyway. I think Taj wouldn't have been frustrated at all to be third and she would have probably cast a vote for Stephen. But they pretty much just made their only Jalapao ally very, very angry.

The regret was apparent when the final three returned to camp and Erinn couldn't shut her yapper. Then my pick Stephen decided to start a new gameplan. I think it was called "Self-implode" because from the moment him and Erinn had their little heart to heart, it seemed like Stephen did everything in his power to destroy the great game he had played up to this point. Although I wasn't the biggest fan of Erinn, I definitely knew she was smart enough to weasel herself into the final two.

I liked the final immunity challenge because it was different than the endurance ones we are used to seeing, yet it obviously tested your mental prowess. J.T. proved once again that concentration can get you a long way in winning a challenge and Stephen just let his nerves overtake him. Then after this, the bond that seemed to have no faults in it broke. Erinn made an ingenious move by pleading a brilliant case to J.T. to take her to the final two. Now, I don't blame Stephen AT ALL for talking to Erinn, but when J.T. confronted him on it, all he had to say was, "Yes, I talked to her about that, but I wanted to throw her off our game. I wanted to see if she would approach you about it..." There, all is said and done.

I honestly think J.T. was dead set at that point to bring Erinn to the final two, but his plan changed at tribal council because Stephen began to be more talkative than he ever should have been. He answered Jeff's questions so badly, I think J.T.'s plans changed. He saw a jury that would respect him for bringing the strongest player with him (which means more votes) and he now had a jury that hated Stephen at that moment more than Erinn. I do think friendship played into it as well, don't get me wrong, but J.T. was so good at reading people at this game, and at that moment he saw that Stephen would be more hated in the final two than Erinn, which had not been the case up to that point.

I've never been the biggest fan of the final tribal council. It provides for all sorts of akwardness, which I know is the point, but it usually just ends up being a jury full of resentful players getting their last two cents in and being all coy about who their vote is going to be for. Besides for Sierra who took this route, I thought the jury asked great questions for the most part and they were ones that actually made the other two squirm, well Stephen at least. Like Amanda in China and Fans vs. Favorites, Stephen did an awful job of pleading his case. Stephen did a great job in this game... he strategized well, seemed to play the social game well (until the end), and made very strong allies, but none of this shine through. For a while in my mind I had Stephen over J.T., because it did seem like Stephen made the plans and J.T. went along but diverted if it shone a bad light on him (how brilliant was it not to vote for Coach?). But by the end, I thought nobody was more deserving of winning than J.T. I was surprised that Stephen got absolutely no votes, but that's how bad he did at that last tribal council.

I thought it was great to see a final two that had the two strongest players in it, and to see somebody win that I thought absolutely played a flawless game throughout. J.T. was a provider, everybody loved him (although he played a part in everybody getting voted out), he was awesome in challenges, and he alligned himself with the right people at the right time.

Congratulations to Roger for winning this season! At the beginning, I was certain J.T. was going to make it to at least the jury, but usually somebody who is so strong gets a target on his chest early. J.T. played that Southern charm to perfection and he showed that you can play this game with intensity and strategy, but still have everybody love you at the end. By far, one of the top Survivor players ever. Wow, it sounds like I have a man-crush on him too... Great pick Roger...

We have at least two more seasons of Survivor left... it'll be a long summer, but in the meantime watch So You Think You Can Dance, you won't regret it...

Thanks for reading all my updates this spring and being patient for all my delays. I hope you love reading them as much as I like writing them. Also, I think it's time to reapply again, don't you? As always, I have to leave you with some questions...

Will there ever be a more colorful character than Coach? Did you think Taj deserved to be voted out like that? If Erinn were in the final two, would she had a chance at all of winning? Was Stephen his own worst enemy? And would you agree that J.T. is one of the best Survivor players ever...

Until the fall...

Survivor: Tocantins - Week 11

Whitney and I didn't get a chance to watch this week's episode until last night, so here are some quick thoughts. With the episode tonight and the finale on Sunday, I'll have plenty to write about.

* I don't know why Coach was so upset. He wanted Sierra gone. So funny that a person would actually say out loud, "Cowards. Cowards. Cowards. All of them."

* Debbie showed that you got to play consistent in this game. She was a little too strong with her strategizing too late.

* I want to say that Stephen and J.T. better not get bit by the overconfident bug as well, but they seem to still be making smart moves.

* A little disappointed that the auction reward wasn't longer. Those are always fun to watch.

* If you say that you didn't cry at Taj's reaction to seeing Eddie George, you are lying.

* Coach... you brought your assistant coach, really??? More and more I think that a Survivor factory created this man.

* Stephen finally won a challenge! Also, he guaranteed that it will never be used by giving away how he won it.

* I think it was a brilliant move not to tell Coach about Debbie getting the boot. So, when they come back to camp they'll say it was because she had turned on him and he will forget all.

* I know that it is still Stephen, J.T., Taj and Erinn, but I've never seen a not so solid four go so far. I wouldn't be surprised if Erinn gets voted out next because you just don't have to worry that much about Coach at the end.

* This was another great episode. I'm really liking this season. It has me guessing at tribal council almost every time.

I'll try to write another recap before Sunday... wish me luck!

Survivor: Tocantins - Week 10

Wow, I was really surprised. I thought I was going to hear him rant and complain about the vote, but instead Coach and Debbie just sweet talked Stephen and J.T. That was hilarious because people usually go nuts, but it was actually a smart move because if they had, they would have totally shot their chance of winning. It somehow did still prove loyalty to their alliance, despite losing their "leader" Tyson.

Thus came the bragging from Sierra (post-tribal), the emotional thumping of Sierra (the reward challenge), the verbal, yet totally justified bashing of Debbie and Coach from Sierra, the ultimate demise of Sierra (tribal council) and Stephen and J.T. in about the best position that I've ever seen two people be in. I think it was real smart to get Sierra out of there because you now have instilled faith back into Coach and Debbie, yet you still have Taj and I'm guessing Erinn on the other side. It's just a matter of who you think is best to compete with in the end.

By the way, from my memory, this has to be the worst Exile Island yet. It looks so miserable there. I'm glad they didn't replant Bredan's immunity idol. It's nice to not have that as the main focus point of all the strategizing. I think it's funny that the other one hasn't come up yet, but I'm sure everybody is assuming Taj has it.

This particular reward challenge is always entertaining. You always feel sorry for the person who is getting the brunt of it but usually others take some hits as well, but in this case, nobody else took it personal. Coach just laughed when he got called out for his antics. Also, they practically gave Stephen the win on this one. They either are not seeing him as a threat or they are just thinking about everybody else more. I wondered whether or not it was smart to take J.T and Taj on the reward, but it turned out to be just fine because of the fireworks that soon came from the former members of Timbira (more on that in a sec). I wonder how Erinn felt about being sent to Exile though. If I were the former members of Jalapao, I would work real hard to solidify her as "the fourth" as soon as she got back.

So, that was some intense fighting that went on. It just wasn't people getting upset at people, but you could tell Debbie was really hurt. I don't know if it was more frustration or what, but things really came to a boiling point. Especially when we got to see, *GASP*, Coach get caught in a lie. Seeing him squirm both at that point and at tribal council was, I'm sure, a huge victory for the millions who watch this show. I think Sierra will be more proud of the fact that she got Coach to lie versus not winning the game.

And how about Coach winning immunity... Just when his ego seemed to get a little bit smaller, this challenge has to come around and ruin it for everybody! I wonder if National Geographic will do a documentary about this legendary win?

As a close, I just want to point out that I'm glad that they gave some focus on Debbie this episode. From the pre-interviews, she seemed like she was more than just the older woman who rode coattails but then she got lost among the shuffle of eccentric characters this season. I'm glad to see that some of premonitions were right as we were able to glimpse that one, she does want to win, two, she is strategizing with the best of them, and three, she will continue to do so as next's week teaser seems to suggest. I don't think it will be enough for her to win, but she could easily take it like Tina did in Season 2 if things fall in place for her.

So... did you enjoy seeing Coach getting caught in a lie? Are Stephen and J.T. in the best position ever? Do you think Debbie is a strong player? Did you think they made the right choice to vote Sierra out?

And most importantly, are you going to cry in next week's family reward challenge? (I'm going to laugh if the Eddie George ends up coming back to camp).

Survivor: Tocantins - Week 9

I knew it! I knew J.T. and Stephen wouldn't be as loyal to Tyson and Coach! Now, I didn't know that it would be this early on, but I feel like I sorta called it, right? :) The episode began with Sierra's reaction, which in honesty drove me up the wall! I'm sorry, but I felt no pity for her. I hate it when people try to save themselves by trying to make others feel sorry for them. Why don't you instead try to approach people with, "Hey, I screwed up, my strategy didn't work. Let's see what we can do to get YOU further in the game." You being the key word there, because as soon as you start saying, "Save me!" people are going to shut you off. Just like Tyson did... my goodness, what did you think about that little confrontation? I thought Tyson was telling her what she needed to hear, but that was rough. He was basically talking down to somebody else who was about the same age. It was a little funny, but almost a little too brutal.

We had the classic "visit the natives" reward challenge which is never too interesting. It always seems that somebody ends up throwing up, whether it is drinking too much, or in this case, eating too much. And poor Stephen had to spend another three days by himself on exile island. I think you forget how rough it is out there, especially by yourself. At least last year on Gabon they had a hut and hammock they could enjoy.

The immunity challenge was interesting and a good one. Of course the rain and cold added so much more to it all, especially with the option to chow down on some pizza under a covered tarp. I totally didn't blame Stephen for going, being on Exile, but I was a little surprised that J.T. went. Not surprised at all by Coach's decision and if I were Tyson, I would have been mad too. I've always said that if it were me, I didn't care what position I was in, I would play the challenge. I know that's easier said because I've never been starving like that before, but it just throws too much limelight on you.

Sierra ALMOST won it, but Debra had a perfect shot that shattered her hopes, for the time being. I had the chance to play shuffle board this past weekend, and I admire Debra's more than clutch shot. Which led to a great post strategy session amongst everybody. Erinn created an ingenious idea to get Tyson off. If you are her, you are getting a power player out of the way who happens to not like you and you are strengthening position to go with J.T. and Stephen. Now, you have to give J.T. and Stephen the huge credit for implementing the change. I think that no doubt Tyson and Coach would've stuck with them, but they were smart enough to realize they had a better chance of winning not having to strategize or compete with them at the end.

Once again the overconfidence bug hit, and Tyson, Coach and Debra were stunned. I thought it was brilliant to not include Sierra in the plan, because who knows how she would have acted around Tyson and Coach before tribal council. I honestly didn't think Tyson was gone, but I'm glad that the overall editing of the show surprised us as much as Tyson was surprised.

Now I'm sure the next episode, if it the past ones haven't already, will be the Coach show. I bet we are going to hear the tirade of honesty and integrity being broken, and how the spirits of the land will not be so kind to Stephen and J.T. who have for certain now lost their warrior status. It'll be interesting to see what happens. Sierra will have a huge decision to make to be on the bottom rung of one alliance (Coach, Debra, Erinn) or the other (J.T., Stephen, or Taj). I don't know where Erinn plays in all of that, but she's put herself in a very interesting position to float to either side that probably won't provide too much backlash against her.

So... Were you shocked that Tyson was eliminated? Were you as annoyed as I was by Sierra's attitude? How mad will Coach be, REALLY? And who do you think has the best chance of winning right now (I think J.T.)?

Practicing my shuffle board skills,

Nathan

Survivor: Tocantins - Week 6-8

Yeah, I realize I haven't written one of these in a while. I really don't have a good excuse... but by the flood of emails I got wondering where they were, I thought I better get back into it.

Rather than trying to recap all three I'll just try to jump in. But too the departed Sydney and Joe... Sydney had the potential to go far because she was a loyal vote, but the tribe did right by keeping Taj, because she will be even more devoted and maybe possibly make a not-so-smart move that will help Stephen and J.T. (they are really playing her at the moment). Joe happened to have bad luck with the infected knee, but I didn't see him going very far. I don't see how a guy like him didn't get in better with J.T. and Stephen except for the fact that he really liked the pretty women, who in this game, happened not to be strong players.

Now to this past episode... I can't remember a tribe going into a merge with the numbers be so divided so early on. The old tribe of Jalapao didn't have to do anything at all. I think it's just plain crazy that Timbira turned on their own so quick. Stephen and J.T., especially lucked into it. They said that they are the power players right now, and it's true. I really wouldn't count on them being totally faithful to Coach and Tyson. They are in such a great position right now and you can't forget how pivitol Taj and Erinn may be for them down the road. I think Tyson and Coach will stay true to them, but think of this scenario... If Sierra goes next (which according the teaser seems like she will), you now have a situation where you recruit Taj and Erinn (who probably won't be huge factors in individual immunity), blindside Tyson, then pick off Coach and Debra. As strong as Tyson has been in the challenges, I don't think you will want to go against him at the end.

Going back to J.T., what is it about this guy that everybody loves? Obviously people aren't seeing how devious he can be, but he is just one of those guys that girls love and that other guys want to be. Coach obviously had a man crush on him and Brendan had one little boating adventure with him and he was ready to take him to the finals! I really liked Brendan. I really don't know why the others turned on him so quick. He came off as so likable in his interviews, was he just rude to everybody else? He was really smart, really athletic, and a natural born leader, but he got caught by the biggest snake in this game, overconfidence. Plain and simple. He should've taken advantage of J.T. and Stephen...like I hate to say... Coach.

Ok, no bones about it, this is the season of Coach. The producers know everybody hates him, therefore they are going to show him more and more. (I call it the Richard Hatch syndrom) I am really surprised he has made it this far, I would've never guessed that would've happen, but he has something where he does get strong players (Tyson, J.T.) to allign with him. I loved that one quote Tyson had, "Coach says one thing and everybody hates him, I say the same thing and everybody laughs). Coach will get burned in this game, I guarantee it, which means I am already dreading his jury speech.

I know I keep saying it, but this is a great season. I'm really enjoying it and they did a wonderful job with the casting. A lot can still happen, and at this point of the game, it's always exciting when that's the case.

So did you believe Coach's story (I can't tell you how much I rolled my eyes. I loved Brendan challenging him on it)? Are you finding Tyson as entertaining as me? Are Stephen and J.T. truly the power players right now? What do you think Brendan could've done better? And why is it you get depressed as soon as Sierra talks?

Trying to stay on track,

The Dragon Slayer