Survivor Heroes and Villains Finale - May 16/10

We begin our season finale on night 36 as the remaining Survivors straggle back to camp having just voted Rupert off. Knowing his odds as sole surviving hero aren't good, Colby tells the others that he wants to enjoy day 37 and that he is not going to hustle. He has given them what Colby himself describes as his "surrender speech". He also tells us privately that he can never really give up and we soon see him approaching Russell to see if perhaps Sandra should go home instead of him. Russell sees some merit to this idea, reasoning that Sandra has too many friends on the jury. On the flip side, Russell doesn't feel comfortable standing beside Colby in the final three. As they head off to Tribal Council Russell tells us that he will make his decision at Tribal Council and not before. When the votes are cast and Dimples has tallied them it is, indeed, Colby who is heading over to the jury. The very last of our heroes also took Donna out of our pool.

Back at camp, Parvati tells us she didn't realize how much of a threat she was seen as, until Colby commented on it at Tribal Council (helooo, you just won back-to-back immunity challenges!). There must be some truth to it though, because Russell tells us he is thinking of sending Parvati, his oldest ally, home next.

The remaining four go on the required sentimental journey, collecting masks representing each of the Survivors who has already been sent home. Then, as if these cast-offs haven't been through enough, they put their masks in an ugly building shaped like a scary man and burn the whole lot. It's not how I would choose to be honoured but this is Survivor.

This brings us to the final immunity challenge - a Survivor maze. Survivors are blindfolded and required to negotiate a maze in order to collect four necklaces. The only assistance they get are guideposts with raised symbols providing information about the location of the necklaces. They must find these guideposts and use their sense of touch to figure out where to go next. Russell takes an early lead but Parvati and Jerri soon catch up. In the end all three are racing to the finish (in a blindfolded slow-mo kind of way) and it is anyone's race. Russell come out as the victor though, assuring his place in the final three. Parvati is quick to tell us that she needs to talk to Russell to see if she is still "his girl". Back at camp Jerri has been assured that Parvati is going home and she tells us she isn't going to be crying about it. Russell wants Sandra in the final three because he is sure he can beat her. The two speak frankly about this and Sandra admits that the jury won't pick her. She assures Russell that she never expected to win, and that she is fine with the $100,000 consolation prize. Meanwhile Parvati has been told that it is Jerri who is going home. At Tribal Council Parvati tells Russell she has been protecting him. Needless to say Russell doesn't like that comment. But when the votes are counted it is Jerri and not Parvati who is sent to the jury. With Jerri goes Jan from the pool.

Back at camp, the three finalists find a box of food. Russell is ecstatic that he has played Survivor twice and made it to the final each time. Wahoo. What he neglects to consider is that the other two have also been there before. When Russell wanders away from camp briefly, a spiteful Sandra takes his hat and throws it in the fire. When Russell returns and asks about his hat, nobody has seen it. They then proceed (as is Survivor custom) to burn the rest of their camp, before heading off to their final Tribal Council.

At Tribal Council each gives a statement to the jury, stating why they deserve to win. Sandra's angle is that she had to do it on her own, with no idol and with shaky alliances. Russell tells the jury that Survivor is not a game of luck and that he played hard. He also apologized to anyone he may have offended. Parvati tells the jury that she kept Russell as her pet, and that she played the best social, physical and emotional game. The jury then has a chance to ask questions of the three finalists and it becomes clear that there is not a lot of support for Russell. Sure enough, when the votes are cast and we are whisked off to a New York studio for the count, it is Sandra who is the million dollar winner. Parvati (Georgia) comes in second and Russell (Grace) gets no votes. Cheryl from our pool is the winner of the $150.00 grand prize, and Rick wins a Survivor buff for correctly picking Sandra to win. Russell, of course is indignant believing that he is the ultimate Survivor.

At the Survivor reunion show we learn that Russell has won the Sprint Fan favourite award. My loveable JT was awarded a special prize for the Dumbest Move in Survivor History for smuggling his immunity idol over to Russell who then used it to get rid of JT. We also see Boston Rob and Amber Brkitch's new baby girl, learn that Candace has recently been married, and get to hear a lot of ranting from Russell (to the point where Dimples has to intervene on several occasions).

I had questions about this edition of Survivor. A lot of things seemed like they might have been staged which made me wonder if there was an attempt to increase ratings. But that aside I enjoyed the skullduggery immensely.

Until next season
Outwit, Outlast, Outplay
Pat (aka Courtney I clean up real good Yates)