The penultimate episode of Heroes vs Villains featured shifting alliances as the final six started positioning themselves for the very end. My full recap (complete with updated rankings of every Survivor season from first to worst) will be up at midnight (UPDATE: Click the link to jump to Dalton’s complete Survivor recap), but if you have already watched and can’t wait to sound off, then read on after the jump for more. [SPOILER ALERT: Read on only if you have already watched Thursday's episode of Survivor: Heroes vs Villains.]
In an episode brought to us by the fine folks at Sprint, the contestants were reunited with their loved ones for a reward challenge. There were tears, cheers, and lots of jeers courtesy of Colby, who showed more interest in yelling at his brother than he has shown in this entire game. Jerri won a trip to the blowholes with her sister, and brought along Parvati, Sandra and their loved ones. Guess who wasn’t too happy about that? Feeling snubbed, Russell made a new final three pact with Rupert and Colby and they vowed to get rid of Parvati. One problem: Parvati the endurance queen won immunity. Russell then slid back over to the Villains, Sandra pulled a hidden immunity idol out of her bra, and Rupert was voted out, staring Russell down on his way out. (How intimidating!)
That leaves five contestants left heading into Sunday’s finale. For a complete breakdown on how they’ve played and their chances of winning, and to find out where Heroes vs Villains ranks when compared to other seasons, check out my full recap at midnight. In the meantime, enjoy the special pep talk below that Rupert recorded before the game to cheer himself up in the event he was voted out. Also hit the message boards to let us know whom you think has played the best game this season. (My vote: Parvati.) And for all the Survivor scoop, follow me on Twitter @EWDaltonRoss.
finally… that annoying crybaby is gone
He took his label as Hero way too literally. He seems like a nice guy, but not swift enough for this game.
I agree – I think that had he just played the game like he did in his first season things would have gone much better for him – can’t say that I am sad to see him go
He didn’t seem that dumb, actually. His main problem is that he was aligned with a bunch of dumb, stubborn people (cough JT cough).
Sandra is by far the most strategic player out there. Rupert, of all people should have known someone had the Hidden Idol! The reason why Colby has made it so far this season is because he is a very weak player, even the villains discussed keeping him around last week because he is so useless. Remember James lay it down on him and called him a superman in a skirt or something to that matter? Anyhow, I am rooting for Sandra all the way. She is the only Survivor who has stood up to the two worst villains of all time, Johny Fairplay and Russell and has beat them. I bet she will win. Yes she might be weak at challengest, but all challenges do is give you immunity from being voted off, not the title of sole survivor. And if we go on who is weak on challenges, Russells team lost most of them last season, so that would make him weak as well.
she just rides coat tails every time she plays the game!!!!!!and she hasnt beat russell
JR, you obviously do not know how to play Survivor or what it would take to win. Sandra has not been playing a strategic game from DAY 1. She knows the right moves to make and when to make them. She knows what she is doing and honestly has had control of the game without being in a real alliance. She really has been out there by herself, pretending to be with the villains and everytime she wants to span out and make a move to get rid of russell a hero has stepped in with stupidity and ruined her plans….She will win this game I bet it will be 5-4 her and Parvati….they have played the best game but, Sandra has played it mostly by herself. Think about it weak physical players usually never make it far but, she has why? because she knows how to play. give credit where its due.
sorry, “has been playing”
JR, can you please tell me who’s coattail she’s been riding? NO ones, she has been playing at it alone. People who ride coatails are people who form an alliance! Think about it, if you have the greater number, ofcourse you are going to get rid of the others. You don’t really need to strategize for that, just pick who is next. If you just stick to an original plan, there you have it. NO reason to discuss anything else. Just get rid of them one by one. Here is something Russell should learn, since you are getting rid of them, and you know you have the numbers on your side, be nice to them, you’re still going to beat them. Why not be nice and get a jury vote or two.
I’m on team Sandra now, too. The last few eps, she’s been playing a hard and shrewd social game and seems to be having a lot of fun doing it too.
I agree, Sandra didn’t deserve to win Pearl Islands & sure hasn’t done a damn thing to win this season. Parvati is the best VILLAIN out there!
Sandra has done NOTHING. The only thing she can brag about is finding an idol & getting Russell to vote Coach out instead of Courtney. She sucks at everything else. Parvati is the one who has played a good game. She deserves to win NOT Sandra!
amen to that! if i had to listen to one more patronizing speech about heroes i would have choked myself.
Awesome awesome season. I dunno about Rupert–he won some props last week and totally lost it this week. He, of all the players, should have known someone had the HII–and seeing how confident Sandra was should have alerted him. On the other hand, the ladies are kicking a$$!!
At least he tried to make a move in tattling on Sandra and he did well in the immunity challenge. The immunity idol was irrelevant…Rupert was going home regardless, and Russell would not turn on Parvati.
But had he figured the odds were Sandra had the HII, he could have worked with her (after all she did try do the heroes a solid by warning them about Russell), rather than tattling to Russell. I agree, though, at least he went down swinging
Rupert was totally outwitted, outlasted and outgunned. Epic Fail.
Best game so far? Tough one. Jerry, Colby, and Russell are out since they can’t win enough jury votes. Sandra and Parvati both came very close to being eliminated in the past and were saved more or less by luck (Tyson &indirectly) and Courtney eliminations). I like Sandra’s game because I think she’s done a great job winning potential votes from the heroes tribe but staying relatively loyal to the villains as well.
I agree about Parv or Sandra being fan favorite and got into a heated argument with a female who called Parvati a slut, saying that Parvati has used her body to get ahead and not her brain. I countered that she has used her brain, that’s why she is still there and told her that a slut is only a person who has more sex than you do! Do you feel it’s ok to use your body to get ahead or does that take brains as well?
huh? why wouldn’t colby get jury votes? There are a load of hereoes there. he would get rupert, jt, probably amanda and perhaps even courtney and coach. Pavarti playing a good physical game, and making good ties with everyone it seems, but her card is still most heavily a flirt card, which I’m sure many in that jury don’t respect. Sandra playing tough though weak in challenges.
courtney is a solid Sandra vote.
Colby has played the weakest, laziest game by far! I mean, he sat there and mowed down popcorn while his alliancemate was fighting for an immunity idol. What a goof!
We know Colby doesn’t make it to the final 3 since there is no way they would have given him such a lousy, useless edit the entire season.
I don’t think anyone has anything against Sandra–she hasn’t ticked off anyone personally, and I think they will probably view her game play as respectable without being hurtful to anyone on an individual level. I think Jerry is probably just happy she’s made it this far. I think we’re looking at an all-female final three.
I like Colby. Always have. Maybe he’s trying another route. You don’t know. Playin it different. And if he wins immunity in the next one, who knows. I’ll I’m sayin is that we just don’t know at all what he is thinking or what he says or does that is edited out so they can show Russ 41 minutes of the 48 in the show. jmho
so hilarious. between colby’s antics, rupert’s attempts at manipulation and intimidation and jerri’s snubbing of rupert, this has been a great comedic episode tonight.
sorry, i mean snubbing of russell…
Sandra and Pavarti rock. It’s that simple. Russell is such a sleaze. There is a major difference between being strategic and intimidation.
Sandra or Pavarti. I’d be happy with either winning.
“There is a major difference between being strategic and intimidation.” – He’s on Samoa, not cellblock 9.
ok…so tell me exactly why he cant get voted out…2 seasons, never voted out…that speaks volumes for someone who is HATED(rightly so)
b/c sitting next to Russ at the end would anyone look better by comparison. Russell’ obviously feels menacing is way to control other players but paradoxically it makes him less likely to win.
Who would have thought, the way he’s been playing this season, that COLBY would be the last Hero standing?
total luck.
Me. When one team dominates and eliminates another team, they tend to save the weakest person for last to eliminate. The surprise is that Colby is the weakest player both physically and strategically.
the only challenge he won? Shuffleboard, right?!?
I found it kinsdof sad when he pumped his fist after that … and then funny when Jerri won the immunity challenge that followed…
I think Colby’s so competitive he gets the same rush winning whether its a geriatric shuffleboard game or a major immunity challenge. Being on the losing side just totally bummed him….
Then he even manages to screw up the reward that he DOES go on. What a poor referee he was!
Probably because he’s been a total lame duck. He’s obviously not a threat to win immunity so take out the bigger threats first. What happened to Colby from Australia?
Lol, to me the Colby from Australia got lucky then too…I mean look who he was competing against for immunity….Tina, Keith, Amber! Alicia, Elizabeth Hasselbeck! hahaha he was just lucky the merged tribe in australia SUCKED!
Actually, Keith and Amber were tough competition. Amber is just beautiful and quiet. Anyhow, back in Australia Colby won 2 challenges he should not have won. The one where they were racing with their hands cuffed to the wires, at one point he had both of his hands off the wire. The other one was the one where you were suppose to knock off the competions plates with a slingshoot. the last person with an intact plate would win. Elizabeth was that person, Colby’s was already split in half but hanging by the rope. Jeff gave then another go and Colby broke Elizabeths plate. This is the episode where Amber got sent home. Go back and you will see it. It was posted all over the net when it happened back in 01.
Prior to Mike Skupin falling in the fire, Skupin’s tribe was out performing Colby’s tribe. If Skupin did not fall into the fire, Colby probably never would have gone to the finals in Season 2. Luck is always a factor in Survivor.
omg Rosalie, give it up with the colby hating, i mean that’s desperate – leave the guy alone, he’s takin a beating this season isn’t that enough
– as for Skupin fallin in the fire, that ain’t luck – not falling in the fire is one skill you really need on survivor
Sandra got this in the bag. She knows the jury will not give Russell nor Parvati the million dollar vote. Looks like Sandra will indeed be the first two-timed winner of Survivor.
SANDRA FOR THE WIN!
I wouldn’t rule out Parvati. There will be those (JT, Amanda, Danielle) that will respect how she played the game.
True but Sandra will have her five (Colby, Coach, Courtney, Jerri and Rupert)
Sub Candice for JT for Parvati and JT may vote for Russell.
I love how you included Jerri and Colby as if they have already been eliminated….I feel like your “guess for the winner” comes from you knowing the spoilers and who already won.
You are correct. I think most of us WHO is is the final three. Let’s not pretend like we don’t know. There will not be a Colby, Jerri, Russell final three….LOL…though one of those three will be in the real final three.
Parvati has played an amazing game, in large part due to her ability to manipulate Russell. Sandra has played an amazing game: she’s played the game solo and she manages to always be on the right side of the vote without pissing people off (except Russell, but who cares?!). I’d be happy with either of them winning.
I didn’t like Sandra at first, but to me, she has played the smartest game. Parvati irritates the he!! out of me, she think she is something!
That’s because she is something! She charms them all and is great in challenges. But I still love Sandra the best! She’s the ish. Hope she wins.
It’s pretty amazing that 2 previous winners are in the final 5…so different than the 1st All-Stars.
Agree – interesting how the game continues to evolve, I don’t really care this time around whether the winner has won before, that’s not a factor. HvV has been way better than all stars imo
All-Stars (oh, excuse me, THE ROB AND AMBER SHOW)was a joke. Those two made me sick. I was glad to see Boston Rob get the boot this time.
I love Sandra, she looked at Rupert and told him, “Rupert, loose lips sink ships”, and Rupert like an idiot said, “Yes they do” and Sandra rolled her eyes laughing. Sandra is the only player to have gone after Russell and still be in the game. Russell even said tonight at tribal when Sandra pulled out the idol that she was a force to be reckoned with. I just love how Sandra can play the game and nobody can ever vote her out. It’s just classic.
SANDRA OR PARVATI MUST WIN
Sandra will win because she going to remind the jury that Parvati was in cahoots with Russell from the beginning and the old saying about a rotten apple would apply.
I would love to see Parvati get the win but I agree that Russell’s stink is on her. She is a player and I’m sad I am not going to see her anymore on Survivor.
Colby was nowhere to be seen at the end of tonights episode? He was not part of any cmap discussions nor did Jeff ask him a single question? He was seen with head in hands. After yelling at his brother and failing another immunity challenge did he have a nervous breakdown? Did anyone else notice this?
I am serious here. This was not just an editing issue. I think Colby has had a breakdown. Even Sundays preview had him asking to be sent home. Very down played..
I didn’t notice that in the preview, but if he does ask to be sent home why do you think it’s because of a breakdown?
That question was meant for MJ
I wondered about that — after the immunity challenge, he wasn’t camera at all untl Tribal Council and then not a single word — what’s up with that? Very odd.
Even when Colby was called for first vote the camera angle did not even give a clear view of his face. After the immunity challenge Colby was not in camera, not quizzed by Jeff, and was seen ever so briefly with chin in hand staring blankly at the fire. I am telling you there is some smoke and mirrors to a real pyschological issue with Colby.
I hear tribal council lasts two hours real time then they edit (I guess because Russ dowsn’t get enough screentime…)
Like Russell or hate him he is fantastic entertainment for the show. I got a laugh out of seeing Rupert dip his toes on the dark side LOL
what he asked was IF they were sending him home. not to send him home.
sounded like he said to just send me home
Colby has been such a disappointment this season, and now seeing how badly he treated his brother, I would never give him the million dollars. I’d love to see Russell win, but I don’t see that happening because he has not mastered the social aspect of the game and everyone on that jury hates him and will be full of sour grapes.
I thought his brother seemed kind of amused by Colby’s irritation. He’s just a sore loser, no biggie
The Final Three is going to be Sandra Russell and Paravati. With Sandra winning it all.
As it stands Sandra would beat anyone in the final three even Parvati who has played a great game but she has stuck to Russell far too long. If she had plotted to blindside Russell she would get the win but she never pulled the trigger and so Parvati will have to settle for second place.
I am glad rupert is gone. He talked and talked but did little else.
I would like to see Pavarti win the game.
I an not too much of a fan of Sandra’s. To me she is very ennoying. Considering Russell only had 2weeks between last season and this season I give him kudo’s for telling it the way he see’s it, but yet no one voted him out. I do not think he has but a couple votes againest him.
I know there is NO WAY the jury will vote for him,but i think not many other people could be so open and rude and not get voted out.
um…what about Sandra? She tells it like it is and in two whole seasons of Survivor has only had two votes cast against her (and those two didn’t even count)! Sandra all the way!
UGH!!! Rupert is such a hypocrite….
First, he berates Candice, claiming that she was “no longer a hero” and that she was “pathetic”. Next, he aligns himself with the most evil villain in the game. Then in tribal council, he claims that it’s necessary to flip on your tribemates because “it’s all just a game” and that you need to deceive to be the best survivor.
Gosh, I can’t stand him at all.
Rupert was really annoying. It used to irritate me how slow he would talk to the camera.