If J.T. giving an idol to Russell is the most nonsensical play of Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, then what happens in episode 12 is the most ridiculous.
Here’s to hoping that you haven’t gotten tired of hidden immunity idols in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. Well, more accurately, you hopefully haven’t gotten tired of things going completely bonkers when idols get involved (or don’t get involved) in this season.
Rupert and Russell had a morning confrontation over honesty and playing the game, which set up the first portion of this episode pretty nicely even before Jeff Probst surprised everyone with the announcement that it was time for another immunity challenge: a variant on the don’t-drop-your-hand-lest-you-get-soaked, with a quite tiny place to stand on. Everyone save Parvati and Rupert dropped out for some form of food, and Parvati ended up winning.
However, Probst had one last treat: a hidden immunity idol clue read aloud to everyone. Sandra actually found the idol, but didn’t tell anyone about it and hid it in another place. Rupert, however, got an idea, and put a stone in his pocket that Russell immediately noticed and declared was the idol, for sure.
Rupert and Colby planned to vote for Candice, betting on the Villains wanting to betray Candice before she tried to stir something else up. Jerri helpfully started selling that plan to Danielle and Parvati. At Tribal Council, Rupert continued his act, and it paid off. Candice took five votes to Rupert’s three, and she went home.
This type of ploy will probably never work quite as well as it did in Heroes vs. Villains. Candice had quite the unique situation of being a recent flipper caught between two divided blocs, and the one she had joined was more than willing to get rid of her because she had switched so quickly. Additionally, Rupert had a very nice stone to use and a man who prided himself on his idol usage enough to not think his way through possibilities.
In the second immunity challenge of the episode, all three stages involved puzzles. Rupert and Parvati lost to Russell in the third stage.
To contrast his lack of thinking with Rupert, Russell played a little too hard ahead of the second Tribal Council, telling Danielle and Parvati competing stories and expecting they wouldn’t bring those sorts of things up to each other. Since two Heroes were still in camp, Russell asked them to vote Danielle out and worked to keep a hold on Jerri, who perceived his conversation as a threat.
Naturally, tension pervaded Tribal Council, until Parvati and Danielle broke it by telling Probst the story. Danielle herself broke down crying (something that a year ago I identified as an issue), but then pulled it together to say some very dangerous words: “I’m closer to Parvati than you think.”
Russell mouthed Danielle’s name at Jerri, and Jerri flipped. It went 4-3 Danielle, with Rupert snagging three votes.
Quick notes:
- Rupert dubbed the Heroes’ situation “A Sinking Ship” before the title card even rolled.
- “That’s messed up,” Parvati told Russell after the Danielle vote.
Next: The best seasons of Survivor
When we return to Heroes vs. Villains, it’s time for “I’m against you, Russell.”