Thursday, April 1, 2010

Old School vs. New School

My lord, my lord! It was a battle for the ages tonight! Now, I don't really consider myself to be a competitive person, but I love to win. And someone in my "Survivor" betting pool went down tonight. Sorry, Jackie! I still have two picks left (Danielle and J.T.), along with Janet (Russell and Sandra). Michael is hanging all of his hopes on J.T. Here's hoping Danielle can stay under the radar long enough to make it to the merge. Here's what happened Thursday night:

"Survivor" (CBS, 8:00): It's Day 16 on Samoa and the castaways are not only restless, they are getting ruthless. After Tyson blindsided himself at the last Tribal Council, B-Rob can't figure out what went wrong. He's seething over the fact that Russell got the upper hand on him, but his brain is working overtime trying to figure out why Russ and his harem are so giddy. "It's 3 against 5," Rob rations. Tricky math, my friend. Tricky math.

Russell and Parvati are trying to reel Jerri into their alliance but she's noncommittal. Parv promises to take her to the final four, even after Jerri admits she's not fond of her. Parv thinks Jerri is jealous that Russell used his idol to save her, and Jerri has never had a man do that for her. Rewind: I got a mental flashback of Jerri chasing Colby around the Australian Outback like a needy puppy.

Over on the Heroes' beach, Rupert thinks it's time for Colby to step up, especially since they got rid of James on the hope that he'll deliver. "He's got something to prove today," Rupert says. Colby acknowledges that he's got to "put up or shut up" and I know he has to be pissing his pants with fear that he won't pull through.

It's a 3-on-3 water wrestling basketball game for reward. The winner gets a feast by a secluded waterfall. All eyes are on Colby to see if he can bring it and he most definitely does. He scores 2 of the 3 points needed to win and throws in an assist for Candace to score a point. "We dropped a hammer on the Villains," Colby says. Pause it: I don't know what was up with the Villains during this challenge. They spent so much time wrestling that they forgot they needed to score a basket. Colby says the win relieves some of the tension within the Heroes tribe and they can spend one day away from the game. No such luck because at the feast, Candace finds a clue to another hidden immunity idol. The group agrees to put the note aside and enjoy the day, but Amanda just can't wait. She reads the clue and the tribe agrees to look for the idol together then use it against the Villains after the merge. Colby says this solidifies them as a team because they are willing to work together for the good of the tribe.

Back at the Villains' camp, Russell is still trying to work his magic on Jerri and Coach. He promises to take them to the final 3 (I wonder how Parv and Danielle feel about that equation). Jerri says she's made her decision and she's joining their alliance, but she'll only go all in if Coach does too. Pause it: Wow, Jerri! You basically just told Coach to bend over and take it. He's none too happy about being pulled into an alliance without his permission and he lets Jerri know it. "I can't believe you just threw all your eggs into Russell's basket!" he says. Jerri reasons, "You can't be the good guy to everyone and win this game."

At the immunity challenge, it's an obstacle relay slash puzzle challenge. The Villains dominate the first few legs until ragdoll Courtney loses a ton of time because she's too scared to jump from the net. They lose their lead, opening the door for the Heroes to stage a comeback. Once again it comes down to the dreaded puzzle (which the Heroes are like, 0 and 36). It's B-Rob and Sandra for the Villains and J.T. and Amanda working to solve it for the Heroes. J.T. and Amanda stay calm and quiet, working together like a well oiled - and probably foul-smelling - machine. They win immunity for the first time in God knows when, prompting Russell to mumble, "We got whooped!"

It's scramble time for the Villains and Coach is the first to throw weakest link Courtney's name into the fire. Russell says it's time to weed off the weak: Courtney or Sandra - right in front of Courtney and Sandra. This is where the Old School vs. New School competition begins as B-Rob is astounded that someone would reveal their voting strategy in the presence of the people they are planning to vote for. That's not how it was done the first two times he played, but Russell has taken the game of Survivor to a whole new level; one on which most castaways can't compete. Rob still doesn't get that! Survivor is no longer about being the strongest, it's about who can control the most people. And while B-Rob proved he could outplay the Heroes, he forgot he needed to outwit his own team to get farther in the game.

It's obvious Rob and Russell are gunning for each other but Coach is the one who's caught in their crosshairs. Russell thinks he has the dragon slayer in his back pocket, while B-Rob says the best way to a man's vote is through his loyalty. His plan is to guilt Coach into voting his way by reminding him that his word is his bond. Rob plays him like a video game and Coach agrees to follow his lead. Russell has other plans for Coach's vote - he thinks it's time to blindside Rob. Coach tries to talk them into voting out Courtney, but folds under Russell's mind games. "I'm with you guys 100%." Pause it: That yellow-bellied coward isn't with anyone.

At Tribal Council, Coach says the Villains made a big mistake voting out Tyson, calling him the bridge that kept the three alliances in contact with each other. Rob chimes in by pointing out that people are more worried about keeping their alliances strong, the the greater good of the team. Coach practically begs for B-Rob and Russell to bury the hatchet, but Russell threatens with "If you're gunning for me, you're not going to get what you want."

Well, you don't always get what you want, Rob. In one of the fiercest rivalries in "Survivor" history, Boston Rob comes up on the losing end. He's voted out after Jerri sides with Russell and Coach casts his vote for Courtney. He goes to give Rob an exit hug, but Rob shoves him off calling him "a little man." At least he kept his word by not writing Rob's name down.

Do you think getting rid of Rob was good strategy, or will this be the move that causes the Villains to implode? Personally, I was kind of sad to see Rob go. It was cute watching him try to play the game like it was 2004, but we're in a day and age where Congressmen get rocks thrown through their windows for voting for a health-care bill. This ain't your daddy's "Survivor", it's Russell's.


1 comment:

Tell it like it is!