Survivor Heroes vs Villains - February 18, 2010 Episode Recap

It’s getting the best of me.

Villains – Night 3

The episode opened in a torrential rainstorm and the Villains still have no useful shelter built – it sounds like Tyson says, “Paradise my ass. The only paradise in this hell hole is leaving it. The luckiest person in Survivor 20 got voted out.” They are all huddled together and soaked and miserable.

Rob says it’s making him physically sick that his tribe is doing nothing to make a proper shelter; they’re all whining but not doing anything. “Again I’m on the buffoon tribe – Again.”

Villains - Day 4

The next morning Jerri & Coach are talking – Jerri – “This is rough, people are freaking out and it’s only the beginning.” Coach is still trying to be cool in front of her – he taps his temple – “It’s all going to come down to what’s in here.” (Well, you’re sunk then.)
Jerri – “Yeah, that’s what Rob said.” (Oh Burn!)
-They are all trying to build the shelter, kinda. Randy is bitching to the camera that this is the 5th design and they keep getting worse.
-Rob – the builder – is telling them what to do and Parvati (ditz) is questioning him. He gets frustrated and just does it himself. “Nevermind, I got it.”
-Courtney says Rob is the one shining star and he gets so frustrated with these fools. “I hope he doesn’t drop dead cause we’ll all die.”
-Randy is bitching about Courtney – Sandra says they’re taking 2 steps forward and 4 steps back. Jerry just mutters, “Good God” and walks away. This tribe seems to have too many lazy chiefs and no Indians.

Heroes – Day 4

-They’re all working together, Tom & James cutting down trees, they’re working on their shelter or working around camp.
-Stephenie is cooking some coconut “popcorn” and Rupert going on about how nice it is to be in a working tribe then he tells the camera he wants to get rid of Stephenie next – she’ll side with anyone to get on day further (whoa, where did that come from.)
-Stephenie finds Rupert annoying – he’s telling her how to cook the coconut but when she asks if she should take out the burnt stuff he says, “I don’t know, you’re the cook.” (Arggh, that would drive me nuts.) She says he’s got an opinion about everything and he’s overdoing the ‘good-guy’ act, it’s only day 4.

Villains – Day 4

-Rob’s trying to build the shelter – Randy refuses to work – no one can do anything. Rob said he didn’t want to be the dictator; he wanted to be the diplomat but look where that’s got him – running in circles. He’s not feeling well and says that’s it, he’s had enough and he takes a break.
-Parvati, Courtney & Danielle are on the beach bitching that the other team got all the awesome guys (Colby, James) and they got Randy. (Hello? Villains.)
-Jerri asks Coach why Rob walked off. Coach, “I think everyone’s having a melt down – well, not everybody – I’m not.” (Still trying to impress her - I know… build the shelter.)
-Jerri follows Rob and finds him passed out – he just dropped in the jungle. She’s trying to get him to open his eyes asks him what he needs her to do and he says (sick man warble) “get help.”
-Jerri’s worried if Rob goes that they’re just going to spiral down into a big pit of negativity and it’s only going to get worse.
-Medical and Jeff Probst come in and check Rob out – they’re prying open his eyes and checking pupil reaction, get him sitting up and trying to drink water – he’s having problems holding the bottle. Medical tells Probst that he looks worse than he is; they think Rob is going to be fine.
-Jeff asks Rob how he’s doing and again, dramatic sick man warble, “I think it’s getting the best of me.” Rob has a little cry and apologizes to Jeff, he says he respects the game too much to quit, “Watch, I’m going to win this.” They have a laugh and Rob says he’s had a moment of clarity – he’s going to stop trying to be the good guy it’s making him sick, he’s going to do what everyone expects and be the Villain. He’s got a touch of the flu and some crybabyitis but he’s ready to smack his tribe into shape.
-Rob comes back to camp and they are all relieved. Even Russell says he may be a villain but he still worries about stuff like that – plus, Rob is strong and he gives them a better chance at winning challenges. (Oh, he was almost human there but he saved it.)

Day 5 – IMMUNITY CHALLENGE

On Jeff’s go, 2 members from each tribe will race out to roll a coloured crate back to their platform. Once all 6 crates are back at the platform the tribe must stack the crates into a staircase with their tribe name written correctly on the side, then they have to have all tribe members climb to the top and the first tribe done wins Immunity… and reward of a tarp, rope and nails.

Villains have to sit out 2 people, Courtney and Randy, and Heroes have to sit one – so they decide Rupert because of his broken toe (he doesn’t seem happy about it.)

I remember this challenge – JT has done it before and the Heroes say they will all listen to his One Voice on this one.

They’re off – the Heroes get ahead on the crate retrieval and start on the puzzle/staircase building a crate ahead of the Villains but the Villains are right behind. Rob’s leading the Villains and throwing his back into getting the crates up into a staircase formation. Heroes falling behind – arguing about the blocks – supposed to have one voice, listen to JT and Stephenie thinks she know better – James tells her to shut up – uh oh, she says you don’t talk to people that way (you do when they won’t listen.) Villains are on the last crate but it has to go all the way up – Heroes have totally fallen apart – and the VILLAINS win Immunity and Reward!

Stephenie doesn’t understand why James is blaming her and she can’t really say anything cause Rupert already has it out for her.

James says Stephenie’s the only one in Survivor history to lose every single person in her tribe so she’s the only one left – she’s obviously the problem. “There is no other source of Kryptonite in here sucking all the superhero power – wow, you have got to go home.”

Heroes – Back at camp – Day 5

-JT says the challenge sucked – it would have been a lot easier if people had listened instead of telling him what to do.
-They’re all in the shelter hashing out the challenge - JT take responsibility and James goes on a total rant, in point form: One voice – shut up and listen – I ain’t never lost this much in my life – If you defensive, you wrong – gotta focus.
James gets up and walks away through his whole tribe who are shocked into silence or unwilling to confront him at this point.
-Tom is unimpressed with James behaviour – “You’ve been a winner all your life – I doubt that. I’d like to tell him where he falls between winner and loser.” Tom frustrated that he has to hold his tongue in response to that, it kills him. (I think it’s harder to have the patience for the social game when you’ve all played the game before but I hope they don’t all stay so cautious, bring on the drama.)

Villains – Day 5

-Coach says winning was awesome – not only for immunity but we got a tarp.
-Boston Rob worked his ass off in the challenge and he goes and finds a giant clam, “Who loves ya baby?” He tries to get Jerri to touch his clam. Eww.
-Russell – “Boston Rob is starting to think he’s in charge – this isn’t working out – I didn’t think his personality was that strong.” Russell grabs a spear and goes after a chicken. “Know what, I’m in charge – King Russell from Samoa.” He kills the chicken and lords it over them, he provided real food!

Heroes – Day 5

-James talking to Candice – Still riled up from the challenge and ripping down Stephenie – “Something ain’t right and it’s got to be her.” (Is this part of his new strategy? To be the talker to win – I don’t think he’s got the smarts to pull it off.)
-Tom looks put out by James’ behaviour – he tells Stephenie she’s in a bad spot – she knows it.
- Amanda, JT and Cirie have come and joined James and Candice and he’s still pushing for Stephenie to go, “she’s the only one to nullify a whole tribe, it’s got to be her.”
-JT tells the camera this vote is a whole different ballgame – they were all on board with Sugar but this vote is going to divide them. JT needs to choose - he can vote with James, Rupert & Amanda and bring Cirie & Candice along or he can vote with Tom, Colby, Stephenie and bring Cirie & Candice along… (hmm, apparently Candice & Cirie don’t rate other than tag-alongs, JT better not underestimate Cirie, she’s sharp.)
-JT talking to Rupert (just about the challenge, out nice-guying each other) and Colby is watching from the shelter, telling Tom & Stephenie that they can’t count on JT. Tom knows they’re the 3 on the outs; he doesn’t have any false illusions of loyalty from JT at this point. He strategizes with Colby & Stephenie that they have to convince Cirie & Candice to send Amanda home – if they can do that, they’re controlling this game.

Heroes – Day 6

-Stephanie talking to Cirie in the water the next day telling her that her best bet is to vote out Amanda now because she guarantees it will be Cirie or Candice next if Stephenie goes tonight.
-Tom’s working on Candice to vote with them and she knows this vote will draw the line in the sand – one side or the other and she feels she’s on the bottom in both alliances so which way to go? Candice tells Tom she’s gotta go with what’s right for her – he says Colby, Stephenie and Tom are writing Amanda’s name down tonight – “You do what you think is right.”
-Cirie & Candice are talking alone – What’s best? Candice says she has no ties to anyone from before. Cirie says sure she played with Amanda before but Amanda chose Parvati over her and cost her a million dollars – they both need someone they can trust so they’ll join forces but still, who goes first? Cirie – “As long as it’s not us, it doesn’t really matter to me.” (Ooooh, who’s it gonna be?)

TRIBAL COUNCIL
(Jeff's comments are in blue & italics.)
JT, this group of misfit Villains is taking the Heroes to the cleaners…
JT – It’s pretty embarrassing. I stepped up today and didn’t come through so I feel bad about that but no one was listening. Maybe I should have told everyone to shut up like Boston Rob (James did that and Stephenie got offended, probably wouldn’t have done any good.)

James, you were as frustrated as I’ve ever seen you…
James points out Stephenie as the problem and she defends herself saying this isn’t about her. He goes on again about her being the only one to lose her whole tribe and the one having to defend themselves is usually the one to blame. Stephenie tries to defend herself.  She says that James said, “Y’all…” – “I didn’t say Y’all nothing”… oh boy.
Colby pipes up and tells James to give it a rest, to stop attacking Stephenie and of course she’s going to try to defend herself. James says maybe I should say ‘y’all two’ pointing to Colby and Stephenie. Then Tom pipes up, “then say y’all three” and he tells James to stop bullying Stephenie, which he denies (but he really was.) Tom says the die has been cast, alliances have been made. James again says the defensive person is defensive for a reason – Tom – "Maybe in your world but I don’t live in your world." (Alrighty then.) James finally shuts up. Stephenie – "This is ridiculous."

Colby, this is alarming, it’s only day 6…
Colby – I know. I didn’t expect it to switch from a tribal mentality to self preservation so early.

Stephenie, how worried are you about past relationships? Think your relationship with Tom could work against you?
Stephenie – Oh yeah, absolutely. I played against him, merged with him and he cut my throat in the end.
(Tom looked a bit surprised at that – maybe he didn’t realize she saw it that way.)

Cirie, you, Amanda & James all played together, how do you deflect that?
Cirie – Same thing happened with me. Amanda cut my throat in the end so if you think that’s the route I’d want to take again, obviously you don’t know me.

Amanda, how concerned are you that the past could haunt you?
Amanda – Legitimately concerned. I’ve heard my name bounced around and you get nervous – just hope you make the best choices and alliances – that’s all you can do.

TIME TO VOTE

Stephenie votes Amanda, sticking with the weakest strategy. Amanda votes Stephenie…
Candice? Cirie?  They don't show us of course.

TALLYING THE VOTES:

Steph 1, Amanda 1, Steph 2, Amanda 2, Steph 3, Amanda 3, Steph 4, 5, and 6 – the Second person voted out of Survivor Heroes vs Villains is STEPHENIE.

As Jeff snuffs out her torch Stephenie turns around and says, “Some advice -  next time y’all lose a challenge, cursing off your tribe a little less might help.”
James – “Keep your mouth shut.”
Tom – “Oh, come on.”
Stephenie – “It’s been a pleasure.”

Wow – We all know Stephenie has a high opinion of herself but James is coming off like he expects women to stay in their place and Tom seems to really not like him. It’s going to get ugly in Hero-town.

So, with Stephenie leaving that means BOB L. and Me are out of the pool – CRAP!

Stephenie’s parting thoughts – she’s upset she’s out of the game – knows they made the wrong decision. Lots of people threatened by her – division in the tribe from day one - wanted to stay longer – doesn’t think there was anything else she could have done. (She really does have to get over herself.)

Preview of next week – Muddy, physical challenge that Heroes must lose because James spirals out of control – Courtney asks, “Are you on the wrong tribe James.” Ha! She’s a smart ass, I like her.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Coleen