Episode 12 - Two Tribal Coucils and Candice and Danielle gone

Another great episode and a bold move by Russell and it could be a great move or it could be a bad move, but either way, it may cost him the game.  Before I get to that, lets step back a little bit.

The first challenge was amazing to watch everyone step down so quickly and it came down to Parvati and Rupert and Parvati won.  The twist was a clue to a hidden immunity idol, which Sandra found, but Rupert was smart to put a rock in his pocket to cast doubt and it worked.  The girls were dumb to vote off Candice instead of Colby, because it cost Danielle the game.  If they would have voted Colby, Russell wouldn't have questioned his alliance, meaning he wouldn't have seen the need to get rid of Danielle or Parvati.  This is also where Russell's paranoia may have hurt him or may have made it a brilliant move.  By breaking up Parvati and Danielle, he prevents a possible problem later, but he has also assured that Danielle will not vote for him, should he make the finals. Also there was talk that they thought there would be a final two, but they are being observant, since the jury started with 12, which means there will be 9 jury members and 3 finalists.

Moving on to the second challenge, Russell was a beast and deserved to win that challenge.  Colby was disappointing and really not anything like the person we saw in the Outback.  The challenge worked out well though as Parvati or Russell could get immunity and only Rupert was what could have changed things.  But ultimately Russell won and then pitted Danielle and Parvati against each other and Danielle dug her own grave at Tribal Council, as I believe that Jerri wasn't planning on voting for her.  So was it a good move by Russell, let's analyze it:

Keeping Danielle and not making the waves would have kept the peace and assuming that Parvati wouldn't have turned on Russell (something I think she would do eventually), then they had their final 3.  I think Parvati would have won in that scenario.

Getting rid of Danielle, Russell splits up the dynamic duo of Parvati and Danielle, which I think was something that needed to happen at some point, but the way it was done has cost Russell one vote for sure.  I will be really shocked if Russell get's Danielle's vote, should he gets to the end.  I'm not sure how the rest of the jury feels, but I don't think they like Russell either and it really depends who he brings to the end.  I really don't think that Russell will go with Rupert and Colby, at least longer than one vote, if at all.

So I think that Russell's best bet in the finals is to sit next to Parvati and Sandra because I think if Rupert or Colby make it to the end, with the Jury consisting of mostly Heroes, they will win.  With that said, I don't think Russell will be able to win.  I don't think the Jury is going to care that Parvati and Sandra have won previously, if sitting next to Russell.

My personal preference is that either Russell or Parvati would win this game, because I think they are the best two players in the game and in the history of Survivor.  I really think Parvati is a better player, so I really hope she wins again.  For some reason though I think Sandra may get to the end and may end up winning again.

The previews make it seem like all hell is breaking loose, but I think that is more editing than anything.  I think Russell is playing Rupert and Colby and one of them will go home.

So until next week... the Tribe has spoken.