(S20E09) Oh my. JT looks a bit disturbed in this image from tonight's 'Survivor,' doesn't he? Did he crack another tooth? Not to be posting spoilers in the first paragraph, but I don't think we'll see JT cracking teeth and being a one-man war machine this season. We've seen his whacked-out game strategy for the season already. He went from the nice guy, loved and admired by all, and winner of his original season to ... I don't know.

His own tribe doesn't trust him to the point of Amanda declaring him the "slimiest" person on the tribe last week. He's flipped, he's flopped. But tonight he has an epiphany and a brilliant idea. We'll see just how brilliant it is soon enough.

We had one really smart move in the game tonight -- Parvati found the clue to the hidden idol in their camp, only told Danielle and they found it. No one, especially Russell, knows the idol exists other than Danielle and Parvati. You see, that's the kind of game Parvati plays. She thinks ahead. She's sticking with Russell for as long as the ride lasts, but she's keeping her options open. She knows he's a snake oil salesman.

Then we had one incredibly dumb move tonight. Oh, JT, where is your mind this season? I understand why he thinks there's a female alliance over on the Villains. Yes, it looks that way. I cringe whenever anyone tells another person they have a hidden idol. JT took it ten-fold. He gave the idol to Russell at the immunity challenge. In 'Big Brother,' the move would be called a "Marcellas." In 'Survivor,' the closest would be that quickly forgotten blond kid with the curly hair who gave the idol to another and promptly got voted out.

Rupert and Colby are on board with JT's Great Plan. They think that Russell was going to be voted out by the female alliance and he'll be eternally grateful that they invited him into their little tribe of misfits. After all, that's what these guys are this year. Colby only just started to play the game and is nothing but a follower. Rupert is a caveman who observes, but doesn't think. Plus, he has a broken toe. And JT is just befuddling me with his "stepped-up" game strategies this season. I guess he didn't have to really think in his original season. It's definitely not his strong point.

So, the villains actually won reward this week, all kinds of promotional product placement for Outback Steakhouse. I was wondering if Sandra was getting some kind of bonuses for repeatedly mentioning how she and her husband (who is serving the country in the armed services) always go to Outback Steakhouse and how Outback Steakhouse is their favorite restaurant. There. I said it three times. Can I have a bloomin' onion?

Although JT's thinking was all kerflooey in regard to giving Russell the hidden idol, he was right about the smaller and weaker people doing better in the reward challenge. The balancing barefoot on those itsy-bitsy platforms is definitely easier for people with less weight and smaller feet. I can't even think how much that must hurt! With Russell sitting out that one and all the women (alliance!) playing, reward was a cinch for them. Not so with immunity.

Once again, the physical weakness of the current villains called the shots as they had to lug tied puzzle bags through an obstacle course in water. It wasn't any kind of challenge at all with the heroes already almost through building their puzzle while the villains lagged way behind. JT's plan was coming to fruition -- give Russell the idol, he uses it and Parvati is voted out.

Heh. Instead, Russell and Parvati had a good laugh over the letter which accompanied the idol. Then they shared it with Danielle and Jerri. Again, if I were Russell, I think I'd actually not say anything about having it. But he's the king, y'know. It was back to the Sandra and Courtney targets. Parvati pushed to save Courtney as she has a quasi-alliance with her. However, in the end, the vote was unanimous with the exception of Courtney's own vote (Jerri). Courtney, the tribe has spoken.