Survivor – Recap & Review – Going Down In Flames

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Survivor: Heroes vs. Villain
Going Down in Flames

Original Air Date: Apr 22, 2010

Ryan O – Two Cents Reviewer
ryan@thetwocentscorp.com

Here’s the low-down for this episode:

Pre-Credits: We start the Heroes’ Beach on the morning of Day 25. They’re talking about how they hope there’s a merge and how they want to see Russell and four “girls” the next time they see the Villains. The tree mail that both tribes receive does indicate a merge. He discusses with Parvati and Danielle that he has to explain to JT why Parvati is still around.

Meanwhile, Sandra was listening in to their plans. Russell solo-views that he’s sure he’s the only one that has an immunity idol and the only ones that know about it are the people he wants to know (i.e., every Villain except for Sandra).

Pre-Reward Challenge: As the Villains walk to the Heroes Beach, Parvati solo-views that she and Russell have the hidden immunity idols, which puts them in a good spot. However, no one except Danielle knows about Parvati’s and she’s not going to tell anyone just yet.

JT solo-views his assessment of the situation when looking at the tribe and guesses Russell played his idol, Parvati must’ve played an idol since she’s still around, and therefore, Parvati has to be the next to go, “it’s a known fact.”

As the everyone talks and eats, Parvati sits off to one side, by herself. She solo-views that it’s pretty clear the Heroes don’t want her there and are going to vote for her next. She talks with Danielle about how the Heroes must think she’s stupid (which, if you’re a Hero, you have to at least try to make her feel welcome).

Rupert and JT talk with Russell in the shelter. Rupert asks when did Parvati use her idol and Russell tells a nice story about how the two of them stood up at exact same time and they looked at each other. JT and Rupert are not thinking that through. Why would Parvati use an idol? She had no reason to feel threatened.

At least Rupert asks who voted for Courtney and Russell tells (close to the) truth about how Russell and Parvati couldn’t be voted for so Courtney voted for Jerri and everyone else voted for Courtney. Russell tells them he’s on board with them and it’s going to happen. He gets up and leaves and JT tells Rupert that Russell is solid and with them. JT calls him a good old country boy. He solo-views that giving away the idol could’ve blown up in his face and that Russell could be the leader of the “girls” but he doesn’t think there’s a chance in the world. JT and Rupert declare they are in it for the long haul.

Sandra approaches Rupert and tells him that she’s the last of her alliance. Oh, this should clear up everything because Rupert will be able to assess the situation rationally and logically.

Sandra solo-views that the Heroes don’t know the situation at all and she needs to explain it to them. She wants revenge against Russell.

Sandra explains to Rupert that the rest of the Villains didn’t want Sandra or Courtney to make it to the merge.

Rupert solo-views that Sandra just gave him some really good information. He actually seems to believe Sandra, probably because it IS Sandra and not someone else. He says he has to believe her and is now thinking that Russell is playing them. Well, good for you, Rupert.

Morning, Day 26. Everyone is cooking eggs and they eat breakfast. What appears to be soon after that, Parvati and Danielle decide to eat some bananas and they have no idea about the banana etiquette. Can’t you hear James laughing as he watches this scene? It kind of rankles Rupert. He solo-views about how the coconuts are there for the taking but with the other fruit, they divide it up equally. He “can’t wait to start throwing some of these fillies out of [his] camp.” Oh Rupert, you had a good moment back there when you believed Sandra, why did you ruin it?

Rupert takes the rest of the Heroes into the jungle and talks with them. He essentially tells them what Sandra told him. JT can’t think it through and says that Parvati wouldn’t be in the game if she didn’t play her idol. Rupert finally says the thing they should’ve been saying all along: “Don’t trust Russell, he’s on the Villains side for a reason.” They decide to lie to Russell and tell him they’re voting for someone but then change it immediately after that.

Amanda solo-views about the plan and how they don’t want to make a dumb decision and lose their lead, which would be awful (except, they don’t have a lead).

JT solo-views, essentially, about how dumb Rupert is being. JT, it’s Irony on line 1 for you (and foreshadowing on line 2). JT wants to know if Rupert believes what Sandra told him or the “obvious truth”? He says if Sandra is telling the truth, then he’s probably going home the next Tribal Council.

Amanda and Parvati walk into the woods and talk about how the Heroes want her gone. Amanda says she has no power in her tribe. Amanda tells her that she’s working really hard to get rid of Sandra, so that she can keep Parvati.

Parvati solo-views that she’s not sure if Amanda is telling her the truth.

Parvati asks her to at least tell her how the Heroes are voting and if she’s being honest with her. Amanda smiles and says she just told her all of that stuff. Parvati reveals to her that she has an idol.

Amanda solo-views that she told Parvati enough to so she would trust her. She says she likes Parvati and everything but that if Parvati makes it to the end of the game, she’s going to win again.

Immunity Challenge: Time for the first individual immunity. It’s the challenge where they have to hold onto a pole. There are knotches cut into it all the way up it’s 10 feet.

As the challenge starts, it seems as if some of the poles are in the shade and some are in direct sun, which doesn’t seem quite fair but I don’t think that plays into the outcome.

Colby and Sandra step down pretty quickly. Russell steps down off his pole. Then Rupert is out.

After 20 minutes, Amanda steps down. A few minutes later, JT drops. After 90 minutes, Jerri steps down. Candice steps down. Danielle and Parvati whisper to each and they decide that Danielle should win because Parvati has the immunity idol, so Parvati steps down.

Rupert solo-views that he thinks that Parvati is going to come up with a hidden immunity idol tonight because she wouldn’t have stepped off the pole otherwise. That’s a nice bit of reasoning, Rupert. Kudos.

Post-Immunity Challenge: JT solo-views that it was strange for Parvati to step down at the end of the challenge since she knows she’s in danger. He says the plan is to tell Russell they’re voting for Parvati to see if he votes with them but for the five of them to actually vote for Sandra or Jerri.

Jerri and Sandra talk in the water about the Heroes thinking they have it in the bag, which means Russell has done a great job of convincing them.

Sandra solo-views that she’s only talked with Rupert that one time. She doesn’t want her big mouth to get her into trouble; she still wants Russell out but right now she’s stuck with him.

Russell solo-views that his Plan A is to give his idol to Parvati and vote out JT. He says he doesn’t have a Plan B. He says he has to keep his four “girls” so he can vote out JT.

We watch Russell give the idol to Parvati and Parvati plays up her appreciation.

Parvati solo-views that Russell just gave her his idol, which makes her safe for tonight. She holds up that idol and the one she found. She says everyone wants to vote her out because she’s so dangerous and she didn’t believe them until just then.

Amanda talks with Parvati about how she wants to play with her but doesn’t see how that’s possible.

Amanda solo-views that the plan is for Parvati to play her idol but to vote for Sandra or Jerri. Amanda doesn’t want idols floating around because it’s just dangerous.

Parvati wants to make sure she doesn’t go and Amanda tells her to play the idol, “just in case.” Amanda might’ve been a little too forceful with that.

Parvati solo-views that she knew Amanda was lying when she said they were voting for her.

The two of them decide the best thing is for Amanda to vote with the rest of her alliance for Parvati.

Parvati says it’s really hard to know who they’re voting for and whether to play the idol.

Tribal Council: Coach and Courtney come in. Coach, again, is not wearing a shirt but is wearing a kimono. Courtney, looking fantastic, air fist-bumps Sandra.

Russell says that tonight’s vote will dictate the rest of the game. He calls it the most important vote he’s ever been a part of.

JT says none of the Villains wanted to talk to him after the challenge, which makes him believe they are voting for him.

Parvati says she feels like everyone has been avoiding her and Probst asks her if that’s because she’s used to getting lots of attention all the time in life. She says, no, it’s because everyone thinks she’s a threat. Colby says maybe they haven’t talked to her yet because they know she’s going to be around for a few days and they’ll have the chance to talk to her later.

JT says he doesn’t know who has idols but it’s a topic of discussion.

Votes: We see Russell, Parvati, and Jerri vote for JT. Rupert votes for Jerri. Candice explains they’re voting for Jerri because if the Villains have an idol, she’s the least likely person to get it.

Probst says it’s time to play idols. Parvati gives Sandra an idol and then gives her other idol to Jerri, whose eyes get really wide with surprise. They’re both pretty blown away by the gesture and give the idols to Jeff.

Rupert whispers to Amanda that they shouldn’t have trusted Russell. Jerri’s eyes go wide again as Probst reads off vote after vote for her. JT gets a vote, then another, then a third, and he’s out. Russell whispers to Parvati that she has some explaining to do. Parvati just says, “Secret.” Hey, she told you that she doesn’t ride coattails a while ago.

JT says he feels foolish but still doesn’t get it. He still thinks Russell was on his side, “It’s pretty terrible to be voted out by your own ally.” Then he follows it up with, “Worse than that, don’t ever trust women. Ever, ever, ever.” Way to go out on a classy note, JT.

Who Should’ve Been Voted Out: JT. With the conclusion jumping and assumption making he’d done over the last two episodes, he was more than due. He completely misread the situation and then ignored evidence about what was really going on.

Bubbling Under: What will Sandra do next? Will she flip to the Heroes or was Parvati’s idol gift enough to keep her on that side? What about Russell and Parvati? What will he do once he realizes he isn’t, and hasn’t been, in control of the game?

What do you think about the episode? Let us know in the comments below!

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