2. Parvati Shallow (Cook Islands, Micronesia, Heroes vs Villains, Winners at War)
Prior to Winners at War, Parvati Shallow probably would have been number one on this list. It didn’t seem like Parvati would be a legendary player after she played a pretty mediocre game in Cook Islands, but Candice declining an invite for Micronesia led to Parvati getting asked back and well – The rest is history.
Parvati completely changed her style of play in her second season, adapting a more aggressive style and forming the best alliance in Survivor history known as the Black Widow Brigade. Forming this alliance was genius because it bonded all of the women together and that was the easiest way to get all of the strong men out of the game.
Her blindsiding Ozzy and Jason were fantastic moves and she was able to maintain control of the game throughout. She was a no brainer to bring back for Heroes vs Villains and should have won that season, but unfortunately was met with a bitter jury who didn’t respect her alliance with Russell.
Parvati’s best move ever came in Heroes vs Villains when she played two Hidden Immunity Idols at the first tribal council at the merge when it was five Heroes against five Villains. She talked to Amanda and could tell her former buddy was lying to her, so she played the idols on Jerri and Sandra instead of herself. That alone would have been a big enough move to win her the game, but again, the jury didn’t want to reward her with another million bucks.
Parvati should have been the show’s first two-time winner, but she’s still one of the best to ever play the game. We came so close to her making the merge in Winners at War, but that darn swap put her on the wrong side of the numbers.
Parvati was always an early target in every season she returned in, but she managed to make it far every time. She’s easily on the Mount Rushmore of Survivor players.