Survivor Heroes vs. Villains: Sandra, Russell, and how to deflect a target

Sometimes, all it takes in Survivor is a well-placed conversation to change the course of the game. It helps when you’re Sandra.

Sandra put on a one-episode how-to in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains‘ eighth episode, “Expectations,” and we’re going to look at it in detail.

J.T. kicked off day 19 by finding the hidden immunity idol at the Heroes’ camp and being discovered by Amanda and Candice in short succession, so he just showed it to everyone on the tribe, which had people starting to plot against J.T.’s control.

The Villains were fooled by the clue summoning them to a reward competition, and ended up bringing their items with them just in case. Jeff Probst quickly disabused

Before the reward even kicked off, Rupert said two words that would come back to haunt him, J.T., and pretty much every other Hero: “women’s alliance.” Russell sold it by looking forlorn and sad.

Coach made the call to let Courtney and Sandra not participate in the name of winning pizza by bowling. It did not pay off, and the Heroes took the pizza.

And so, back at the Villains camp, which was not in great shape anyway, a fight broke out between Sandra and Jerri because of the sitting out issue.

Sandra’s confessional here is epic:

"“The worst tribe ever put together is the Villains tribe. I should not even be here. I should be with the Heroes, ’cause I can’t stand Jerri, I hate Coach, I hate Danielle, I hate Russell even more, so any of those four — I’m not gonna pick one above the other ’cause I equally hate ’em all.”"

Fueled by verbalizing her hate, Sandra decided to get rid of Coach by tricking Russell into thinking that Coach was against him. Now, on the surface, it seems easy just on one level because, as Sandra told Courtney, Russell’s paranoia was high at the time. It worked on a second level because Coach had been acting pretty upset after Rob’s elimination.

Now, eliminating Coach worked for Russell as well. He said as much to Parvati, thanks to Rupert being unable to resist saying “women’s alliance.” But voting for tribal strength and loyalty would still dictate trying to take out Courtney or Sandra first.

Sandra, however, was not about to have that. It mattered since the Villains lost the immunity challenge racing through mud and obstacles for flags. Courtney even twisted her ankle.

And thanks to Sandra’s machinations, Russell and Danielle even had a fight over who to vote out. He did try to shift back to Courtney. The acrimony continued at Tribal Council, but Courtney only got three votes. Coach got four and joined the jury.

Quick notes:

• Colby once again used his Texas flag as a tarp, as he did in The Australian Outback.
• More accurately, Jeff Probst said, “Everybody drop your … expectations” to name the episode.

Next: Survivor's best actual athletes

Whenever Survivor puts in clips from old seasons to hype the next episode, you know it’s about to be good.

And oh, is it going to be good. “Women’s alliance,” remember?