*** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: *** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

-And so there's only 1 episode left. Assessing each player's chances at winning:

Colby: Slim chance. The Villains won't let him near that jury. If he finally starts winning challenges, though, and snakes his way into the final tribal, he wins. Simple as that. And it's probably not even close. So, for Colby, it all comes down to challenges. If he can win 2 immunities in a row, he's a millionaire. If not, he's voted out. As they say in the sports world, he controls his own destiny.

Russell: No shot. He's stabbed too many backs, and I don't think he gets to play the "I played the best game" argument this year. This jury would've given him the money in Samoa because they could probably appreciate his domination that season (and Natalie's lack of doing anything relevant to the game at all), if he gets to the end he has no shot here.

Jerri: Slim chance. It depends what the jury's voting criteria ends up being. If they vote based on who played the best game, she can't realistically make that case. She followed Russell all the way to where she is now. If the jury votes on who they like the best, though, she could win. If she's up there with, say, Parvati and Russell, I like her odds a lot. If she ends up with any say in the matter, she needs to bring those two with her. They're the only ones she can beat. Sandra's more likeable and less connected to Russ, and Colby will win if he gets there. Jerri's issue is that I think the jury appreciates the game and will vote for who they think played the best game.

Sandra: Decent shot. If she gets to the end, she gets to play the lesser of the evils argument unless Colby is there with her. She could make an effective argument against Jerri, who flipped once and was generally Russell's puppet. She could make an effective argument against Parvati, who was co-mastermind of all the backstabbing with Russ until recently. And she'd beat Russell going away pretty much no matter what.

Parvati: Great shot. A few things at play here. She made the requisite huge move to prove that she didn't just ride coattails when she gave up 2 immunity idols to save her alliance. I think that will play big. She also played a pretty decent social game. She doesn't have a lot of enemies on that jury. She pretty much laid in the weeds, let Russell stab the backs she wanted him to stab, and sort of silently ran the show. I don't know how you beat someone that played a great strategic game and played a pretty darn good social game. I think the game she's played this season is quite a bit better than the other 4. Colby did nothing and doesn't deserve to be rewarded. Sandra didn't really do anything strategically. Russell was way too arrogant and blunt and his social game gives him no shot. And Jerri just rode coattails. If I had to pick, Parvati is my odds-on favorite. She'd get my vote.

In terms of winning, I would rank them:

1. Parvati

Made a game changing move by giving out 2 HII. Her strategy and social game have been top notch. She's made major moves without really pissing off the jury like Russell.

2. Sandra

Good social game. There were points in the season where she could have tried to vote Russell out but she didn't which has helped her.

3. Jerri

Well liked by the jury. She kind of reminds me of Natalie. If it wasn't for Russell, she wouldn't even know what to do.

4. Colby

I'll give him credit for getting out of a bad situation when it was Tom and him vs. the rest of the tribe. He reminds me of Jaison minus the attitude. Based on physical appearance, you would think he would have dominated most of the challenges but it didn't happen. Colby has just kept his mouth shut.

5. Russell

My favorite Survivor player of all-time but he has no social game just like last season. To make matter worse, he's more blunt this season in front of the tribe. Based on the post-show interviews, the jury is bitter towards Russell. Russell's biggest downfall is his ego.

At this point I feel like if Parvati is in the top 3, she would win over everybody else.

The most interesting Final 3 for me would be Jerri, Colby, and Russell. Besides keeping their mouths shut, Jerri and Colby haven't done much. Russell on the other hand has made major moves in the game but the jury hates him.

[Slymm]

Re: *** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

Damn. Another Russell screw job is in full effect

[Bruins]

Re: *** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

Damn. Another Russell screw job is in full effect

He's played the best game the past two seasons only to get screwed.

[Bruins]

Re: *** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

Bull****!

Spoiler

Sandra

did not deserve to win.

[Michael321]

Re: *** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

The world is full of haters! Russell is clearly the best player.

[Bruins]

Re: *** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

At least America knows what's up.

Spoiler

(Again)

[Brian_OS]

Re: *** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

[QUOTE=Michael321;2041067828]The world is full of haters! Russell is clearly the best player.[/QUOTE


BINGO!!!

[Whitesox]

Re: *** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

My thoughts after tonight are:

You could put Russell in the game 20 times. He would make it to the end every time, and not win. He would also have 2 million in America's favorite prizes.

[Bellsprout]

Re: *** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

-Parvati was absolutely robbed and deserved the dough. She had the trifecta. Good physical game, good social game, good strategic game. If that doesn't garner you the mil then the right person can't possibly ever win. It was pretty much the most well rounded game I've seen in the few years I've been watching, but she wasn't rewarded for it for some reason. Damn shame. She'd have been more than worthy of the first two time winner tag.

-Sandra was basically a louder Natalie this year. She did nothing, won nothing, and still somehow gets a mil. Case in point, Probst asks her point blank to point to a big move she made during the game and she had nothing. Some bullhocky about taking previous seasons and incorporating them into her game. I don't think she's the best Survivor ever, but I do think she's the luckiest ever. How the hell she won this time I have no clue. Should've taken Jerri, then at least Parv probably would've won.

-I didn't like that last immunity challenge. Sure the end was exciting, but it was too much of a crap shoot and too little skill for the final immunity challenge. Having just finished Micronesia a couple days ago, I really liked that last immunity challenge they had with the sticks and the bead. Something with endurance and less luck. Something where the winner actually earned their way into the final tribal.

-If Russell ever wants to win this game, and I'm sure he's going to try again just as soon as they'll have him, he has to realize dealing with people is part of it. He won't win the way he plays now, which is a shame because it's entertaining as hell. His only shot would be a year where the whole jury is made up of people who are voting on strategic play only and don't hold grudges, and that simply will never happen. Probably needs to improve his final tribal skills too, because he got crushed by the other two during that.

-I'd be totally fine skipping the Rites of Passage and making the finale a half hour shorter. Just a thought. These finale episodes seem to drag.

-No asking about a potential Jerri/Coach romance during the reunion? That's a rare fail, Probst.

-I don't care what you say CBS, giving up an immunity necklace is dumber than what J.T. did. Erik, you still win (or lose, depending on how you look at it) in my book.

-Another season that proves that the journey is more fun than the end. A fantastic season all the way through, from the Boston Rob/Russell stuff early on to everything post merge, it was entertaining as hell from start to almost finish and I loved it. Would've been cool if the right person had won for once, but once again that didn't happen. Either way, of the 5 seasons I've seen, this sits firmly in 2nd behind Micronesia.

[jeremym480]

Re: *** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

My thoughts after tonight are:

You could put Russell in the game 20 times. He would make it to the end every time, and not win. He would also have 2 million in America's favorite prizes.

I don't know if Russell ever gets the chance to come back for a 3rd season he will have a HUGE target on his back. Everyone playing with him will know his MO and no way would someone want to align themselves with him. I definitely wouldn't put money on him getting back to the finals.

I'm not sure if Russell was just bitter on the Finale or if he truly doesn't understand how the game is won but, he looked like a big sore loser (again). I mean, it's not about doing whatever's necessary to get to the end. It's about getting to the end by pissing the least amount of people off. I found it funny that he kept saying there's a flaw in the game. The flaw he kept mentioning is called having a social game in which he has none.

[jeremym480]

Re: *** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

-Another season that proves that the journey is more fun than the end. A fantastic season all the way through, from the Boston Rob/Russell stuff early on to everything post merge, it was entertaining as hell from start to almost finish and I loved it. Would've been cool if the right person had won for once, but once again that didn't happen. Either way, of the 5 seasons I've seen, this sits firmly in 2nd behind Micronesia.

I have to say that I enjoyed the season however, it was kind of tainted (imo) with all the immunity idols. I miss the days of people finding them and saving them until they really needed immunity. Rather than one being used at every other tribal. I'm sure theres others out there who disagree with me but, to have them being played so much just took something away from the season as far as I'm concerned.

[Bellsprout]

Re: *** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

I would agree that they overdid with the idol. It doesn't feel like a game changer anymore. It feels like a who's getting eliminated that week changer. I'd be willing to bet they were so readily available because Russell was there and they like it when he has one. I bet the number of HII's goes down in Nicaragua.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: *** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

I'm tired so I'll save some of my thoughts for tommorow.....

- The reunion show just proved how clueless Russell is about the social part of the game. Even when Probst explained to Russell how the social aspect is part of the game, Russell still didn't get it. To make matters worse, he was even more blunt this season in front of his tribemates.

- Despite being the only 2 time winner, I have a hard time crowning Sandra as the best player of all-time. She's awful in challenges and let's other players make most of the major moves. In both seasons she has also clashed with a mouthy male (Fairplay and Russell). She's in my Top 10 list, but I don't think she's number 1.

- Parvati deserved to win and for her to make it until the end is a big accomplishment. People were trying to get her out from Day 1 and everybody knew how dangerous she was before starting the game,

- Rupert is a jackass. I did crack up when he called Russell a disgusting person. The bitter jury members always crack me up. I also wish CBS.com would show the whole jury QnA. A lot of stuff gets cut out. I want to see every jury member ask a question to the final people instead of just ranting.

- Damn Amber has aged. I still remember how fresh faced she looked in Season 2 and even in the first all-stars.

- They are tweaking the HII next season. The producers are going to make it harder to find. I hope they also reduce it so there's no more than 1 per tribe area. I understand they need to keep the game fresh but there were too many HII's this season. I also hope they don't bring back Exile Island.

- The ratings are still strong. IMO there has only been one really weak season and that was Season 3. At this point, I don't see Survivor slowing down. I wouldn't be surprised if we get to Season 30. Even if Probst leaves, I could picture Boston Rob or Hatch hosting the show.

[Bellsprout]

Re: *** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

Recap just went up on EW.com. Like a dork I've been periodically checking since the finale ended.

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20354695_20369851.html

It reminded me of the composite photo of a Survivor winner. I can't believe they wasted precious question time on that. And if you're using a piece of Parvati in a photo, it's not the earlobes. Eyes, probably. I have no idea what it is, but I'd gladly take whatever disease that woman would like to give me.

You're right, that was gross.

[The Chef]

Re: *** Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians (Season 20) ***

- Good season and while Im not terribly upset that Sandra won, I think Parvati should have taken it home tonight easily. She played a better game from every standpoint. Giving Sandra credit for saying she would turn on Russell is different then her actually doing it and while I understand why she didnt in the end, because she felt like she didnt have the support from the heroes, things change when you get to that voting block so I cant give her credit for something she merely offered.

- Russell clearly was tired from playing the game so long and it showed throughout the season. He couldnt control his mouth at all, while he could during the last season, he failed miserable at it this time around. Sometimes I feel bad for Russell because hes so clueless at the social aspect of the game and clearly is letdown by the outcome but I dont think he can play the game any other way then the way he is playing it.

- JT's move was not the dumbest but whatever.

- Cant wait until next season already as I love Survivor. Like others have said though, they need to cool it with the HII as its losing its importance almost since they are a dime a dozen these days.