Episode 5 - Better late than never.

Sorry I didn't get this online sooner, but since Survivor isn't on tonight, I figured I'd take the opportunity to post on last week's episode.

First of all JT is a snake and should not be trusted and I'm so glad Amanda realizes this. He may need to be the next to go, after James. They may need to keep JT though, since if they lose James, they will need JT's strength.

"Here it goes again" says Russell after finding the idol, but I don't think he realizes that his whole tribe is gunning to get him out of there, so I expect that idol to be flushed out at the next TC for the Villains. After the reward challenge, Russell brings Coach into his alliance with Parvati, which is smart of Russell, since Coach is a horrible player and will probably do what Russell wants.

With James getting hurt in the reward challenge, I think the Heroes were stupid to keep him in the game. One he has been a cancer with all his talk about one voice, etc, two he won't be able to compete in anything remotely physical and three is a liability in the game. Granted he is not a social threat.

Once again the Heroes prove to be inept at solving puzzles and the Villains once again come from behind to win immunity. The Villains certainly have controlled this game in challenges and are putting themselves in a great position for the merge.

So now that Tom is voted out, the Heroes will be even more inept at challenges, because I don't think Tom was the reason they lost all of them. I really hope Rupert goes home soon too, as he is getting annoying this season and I really hope Colby and Amanda find a way to stay in this game longer.

So until next week, remember it is on Wednesday, have a great week.

Question (Informal Poll)

Do you think that the Survivor challenges have gotten too physical?

I'm curious to see what everyone thinks.

Episode 4 - Finally, Somebody is Playing this Game!

Well this week's episode shows that people still know how to play this game and while Cirie had a great plan to get out Tom or Colby, she got beat at her own game. Her reputation of being able to manipulate people was her demise, but it is also why she is a great player and threat.

What was up with Coach, my goodness, the Dragonslayer is a wuss. If you watch Sandra in Pearl Islands, you know that is her game, she will say anything to stir things up. I give Tyson props for telling him how it is and to tone back some of the things, but I don't think it will happen. Rob giving Coach reassurance and then telling him to man up, was also a side of Rob that is different this time around. I still like Rob and would love to see him win, but he is different. Interesting how having a family changes people's perspectives on things.

I thought the reward challenge was cool and I don't think that exact challenge has been done before, even though most of the other challenges have been, so maybe I'm just not remembering it. Funny at how inept some people are at the slip and slide. It's also interesting to see what 10 years have done to Colby, while he is still a great competitor, he doesn't dominate like he did before.

Rob once again steps up in the immunity challenge and did an amazing job. While the editing made it look like Tom got the Heroes very close to winning, I'm not convinced it was really that close. Either way it was a good performance and the villains are the team to beat.

Hidden immunity idols have really changed the game this time. It is funny how the villains said that if anyone goes after it, they are marked, and what does Russell go to do, find the idol. He did it the wrong way, because he announced to everyone that he was taking a walk... duh, he should have just said I'm going to look for the idol. I don't think his antics will work for him this time, but only time will tell, because he is a very persuasive player. The difference this time is there are lots of persuasive people playing with him. It is also funny how it really worked it's advantage for Tom & Colby, by showing JT that they mean business and I think they may have radically improved their stock in this game, but will it last.

It will also be interesting to see the fallout from JT switching sides, but I think it was a smart move. I love Cirie's game and she was one of my favorites, but I do love a good blind side to the player that has a lot of control (or at least thinks they do). While Cirie's strength is that she leads without the other people really thinking she's leading, because she talks to them in terms they understand. My guess is that she is a great nurse.

Well that's all I have to say about this episode and this season by far is so much better than the All-Stars season. So until next week...

Episode 3 - James vs. Randy... Puuhhlleease!

A physical immunity challenge and the Heroes dominated. I thought one of the best matchups was Rob and Colby, but I feel sorry for Randy having to go up against James. No prayer at all of winning that one.

First of all I think the villians made a huge mistake by keeping Parvarti because strategically it would have been the best move. She is very influential in this game, which is why she has won it once already. Randy may not have been strong at challenges, but I think he would have been a good person to have in an alliance.

Coach continues to crack me up with how full of himself he is and how he is the only righteous one out there. Yeah Right! I hasn't gotten on my nerves quite as much this season so far, but I think it may be coming.

Russell is up to his old tricks again, hidding the machette and I think it will have little effect on the tribe dynamics and since the preview shows that he may be in trouble, you know he is not. Also there is a hidden immunity idol and I'm assuming someone finds it and it would not surprise me at all if it is Russell. To this point I dont' think Russell's game is as good as last time, but then last season he was the focus and this season there are so many personalities to focus on.

So the vote so far is:
1. Sugar
2. Stephanie
3. Randy

Who will be next?

Until next week.

Episode 2 - Rob is amazing!

I am so glad that Rob is ok after his passing out, but he is the glue that is keeping that tribe together. I hope he goes far in this game and I would not be upset at all to see him win, but somehow I don't think he will. I also think Rob was lucky that Jerri was close by.

The interesting part about the villains is that around camp they seem to be disorganized and bickering but when the challenges come, they work well together. They aren't always the quickest, but they work well and they are good at puzzles, which is why they have won both immunity challenges so far. Again I think Rob was the main reason for that and to put forth the physical effort that he did after passing out the day or so before is pretty impressive.

The heroes have to get their act together. While I agree with what James was saying, he said it all wrong and was no better than anyone else. Did Stephanie cost them the challenge? I don't think so, but she didn't help either. I like that JT owned up to the fact that he should have been more assertive in getting his voice heard, but I don't place the blame on him either.

I'm glad Amanda got to stay last night, because she is one of my favorites and while I like Stephanie too, I think she was a little bit of a cancer to the tribe. Now that she is gone, who will be that next cancer, as Sugar was also one. If they didn't need his strength, I'd say James could be the next one, especially considering the previews they showed for next week.

I'm loving this season so far and can't wait to see what happens next. So until next time, the tribe has spoken.

Episode 1 - Tough first challenge

Sorry for the delay in commenting on the first episode of Heros vs. Villians. The show starts out with a bang as Stephanie dislocates her shoulder and Rupert breaks a toe in multiple places. While it makes for good TV, I think I liked it better when the challenges had less contact in them. It was interesting, but not surprising, to see that people that have played together before kind of drifted back to each other again, but ultimately I think that may just be a beginning of the game strategy and may change.

I though there were some classic moments, like when Rob started to climb the tree but said let someone with a bigger ego do it, and Coach was that person. He came to his senses too and realized it wasn't a smart move. I also liked the Coach/Jerry interaction and the Sugar/Colby dynamic. This season is definitely going to be a good one and I hope the previews of Rob going down are just to show how much he gave the challenge and that he is ok to continue, because I've always liked Rob. Russell is being himself and even though no immunity idols were found this time (and I'm assuming there aren't any this season) if they are there, I'm sure he'll find them.

In the end, Sugar was the correct choice to vote off, as she was a major disappointment this season, and I really liked her the first time around. Although voting off Cirie would have been a great move, even though I really hope she sticks around for a while, as she is one of my favs. I still haven't decided who I want to win this thing, but I will enjoy watching to find out.

So until after tomorrow's episode, have a great night.

Heroes vs. Villians starts next week

I'm sure that you are eagerly awaiting the start of the new season like I am. After watching the Surviving Survivor special last night, I am ready for Survivor to begin. Great cast and I can't wait to see how they interact with each other. Who they form alliances with and of course who will be the winner.

If Parvarti makes it to the finals again, then she will be the best player in the history of the game (win or lose), since she has won once and been to 6th place in her first season. I think Russell has an advantage because know one has seen his entire game, as they would have been filming while it aired.

So look for my weekly recaps and opinions about the show, right here.