'Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains' - 'A Sinking Ship' Recap

(S20E12) I'm not usually too keen on "all star" versions of reality competition television shows. Once I see people play one season, I don't always want to see them play again and again ... and again. That said, with a few exceptions, I've changed my tune with this season of 'Survivor.'

You see, it's all about the villainous scheming for me. I'm sure getting my fill and I love it! Face it, nice people always doing nice things are boring. This show started off with Richard Hatch scheming his way to the million dollar win (and scheming afterward to avoid paying taxes on it). If we wanted Boy Scouts in the woods, the motto wouldn't be "Outwit, Outplay, Outlast" or, for this season, "Return, Revenge, Redemption."

Tonight's episode promised to be jam-packed with action -- two tribal councils, two people getting voted off. The numbers are getting down there with the finale scheduled for Sunday, May 16. The villain camp seems to rule the show, but they can't rule themselves without falling over alliances. I'm looking forward to an exciting end of the season as things are so unpredictable.

What is predictable is Russell. I still don't know how he does it. Maybe he uses the Vulcan mind meld when we're not looking. Now, he does make mistakes in his quest to wish anyone who dares cross him to the cornfield. He's working on his end game, for sure. However, we all know he lost the social aspect of the game with the same moves last season. I think he's heading that way once again.

Things should have gone smoothly for the villains tonight. Although Candice flipped to the villains' side last week, the girls consider her expendable. They used her, she can go. They want Rupert and Colby, the remaining heroes, out even more. For me, Rupert and Colby have been non-entities throughout the season. Neither should have signed up again. Colby, in particular, is ineffective and uninspired this season. Although I know I'm fighting a fan base, Rupert's actual game strategy has been no strategy every time he's played the game. Now that he's scared he's leaving, all of a sudden he's Mr. Wise, Pithy and Moral ... while roaring like a pirate.

With Parvati winning the first immunity challenge of the night -- standing barefoot on a perch holding a bucket of colored slime overhead -- everything was falling in place for the villains. I don't like cockiness and some of these folks shouldn't have been so quick to jump. Sandra and Russell went out after a minute for cookies. Colby dropped out soon after for doughnuts. (Where is the old Colby?) Soon it was Parvati and Rupert hanging in until Rupert caved and slipped.

Thrown into the mix was a clue to a hidden idol which Jeff Probst read to all. Amazingly, Sandra found the second clue and not Russell. If she's smart, she'll find the idol and just stay totally mum about it until she needs it to save herself. Rupert stuck a rock in his pocket as an idol lie, which Russell bought hook, line and sinker. While Russell ran around trying to split the vote so they could bring out Rupert's idol, Rupert sweated. And, while that was going on, the gals decided they wanted Candice out. There was no idol and Candice was voted out over Rupert 5 to 3. Russell went from fearing Rupert staying to fearing his ex-BFF Parvati running the show as much as he does. Oh no!

That just can't happen! Russell can't abide by anyone crossing him! He put on the steam in the second immunity challenge of the night and won it. Of course, that doesn't mean he has the total control he thrives on. There's still that pesky betraying Danielle and Parvati duo. One must go to the cornfield!

This is where I think he's made a major error in his game. Instead of concentrating on voting out Colby or Rupert, he switched focus to Danielle. While neither Colby nor Rupert are a threat in challenges, either would be a huge threat if they made it to the final three. The jury has often voted for who they personally liked or their alliance rather than the person who actually played the game best. But Russell "Don't Cross Me" Hantz wasn't even thinking about that. Not only should he have stayed with the original heroes' exodus plan, but if he had to turn on one of his own, it should have been Parvati. She's the only one on the show on a par with him and his scheming ways. And, she does it a lot more casually. She would win against him in the jury vote even though she's been a target all season.

Instead, Danielle was voted out 4 to 3. The three votes were for Rupert. Interesting ... Sandra voted to oust her good ol' buddy Rupert along with Danielle and Parvati. Jerri mumbled something about sealing her fate by voting Russell's wishes. Colby and Rupert, with a heads up from Russell, voted for Danielle. I guess Russell has new friends. Oh, I take that back. I don't think he has any friends. But he sure has some kind of creepy mind control thing going on!