I don’t think I will get to see it, but I hope Russell is the last person to show up and Boston Rob (or Parvati or Sandra) goes: “Who the F*** are you, and why are you on MY tribe?”
I doubt anyone would do that, I think the other known Survivors would get together and start asking “who the F*** is this guy?” and then begin Russell’s downfall. These previous Survivors would be keeping an eye on him. Ask questions like why is he a villian? what is his personality? what is his gameplay style? He’ll be under the microscope from the moment all the other Survivor alum can’t pinpoint him from a previous season. I’d like to see him go far with good gameplay. I doubt he can do it again. I think he’s burnt out. What with his pouting and all after his season’s outcome.
What was Russel’s gameplay style? I keep seeing how it was new and different and successful, but what exactly did he do differently?
He controlled a lot of the tribal councils. Not all of them, when he didn’t know he played his Hidden Imm Idols. He found 3, 2 with no clues, third with a clue and competition to find it amongst the reward challenge getters. He was brash, he took out people that threatened his secrets. For one instance he told a dude he had HII. He didn’t want him to know, but it just came out. Rather than just tell him to keep a secret, he made it so that guy will get voted out. He instilled ideas that people were doing things that they weren’t. He lied, cheated and the whole deal.
He was smug and he was pretty egotistical in his alone time interviews. Pretty much calling out all his fellow contestants as idiots that have no clue wtf they’re doing. He was also a physical force. He found food and didn’t share with his tribemates. He was in it for himself. He didn’t care to be a “provider” for the tribe, he cared for himself only.
Sure this season is being promoted as Heroes versus Villians, but do the contestants know at the time of the game that they are being pigeon-holed into a “Villain” persona or a “Hero” persona?
I think they do, they usually tell the people of the Gimmicks of the season. Like the race one, the sex one.
Probably not from the get go. They’ll know of the plans when they start off and make/form the tribes.
You could be right, but for some reason, I don’t think they will be revealing this twist.
It is a 2 hr episode tonight, so I hope they develop more than just of a couple of stories.
hey, i’m just happy there’s no Shambo in this one. Whatever they do with the Hero v Villian gimmick I’m all good with it.
Watching/reading the cast bios, castmembers were asked which player from previous shows they respected the least, and Russel’s name is mentioned by people not from his season.
Tivo spoiler:
Tivo’s blurb seems to indicate that there are several injuries that threaten evacuation before the first Challenge is complete.
Which, if true, means that it’s Game On! 
Probst said the same thing during an little preview for the season.
Russell’s season had not aired when the filming took place for H vs. V, so they must have solicited those comments recently.
IIRC, the Panama Season (Rupert) had not aired before the ASS (All Stars) was filmed.
And the China Season (James and Amanda) was not aired before the the Fans vs Favorites was filmed
I just wonder if the TPTB gives some sort of heads up to the previous contestants because theoretically they could be disadvantaged by the lack of knowledge.
I don’t think they can’t show them episodes yet because I doubt the episodes were completely edited yet.
They had both started airing (but not finished) before the All-Stars were filmed, so they at least had an idea of who these people were. Heroes v. Villains finished filming the day before the last season even started.
It’ll definitely be interesting to see if Russell is advantadged or disadvantadged by being the only unknown. I’m thinking disadvantadged, but you never know - people do weird things.
I think we’ll see a repeat of All-Stars in that all the previous winners will be the first ones on the chopping block. I think there’s 4 - Sandra, Pavarti, J.T., and Tom. Rupert and Boston Rob might also count since they’ve won money from the show (though not by winning).
I also wonder if the Villain team might be disadvantadged from the start just because the “villainous” players tend to be weaker physically, whereas the “heroes” tend to be stronger physically. The team challenges tend to be physical and not mental, so the Villain tribe could be in a hole early.
Well, I think Boston Rob was right. Their women are stronger, I think.
Well I was totally off base on my hypothesis that they wouldn’t tell the heroes that they were the heros, etc.
Physically I think the heroes are much stronger. In the match-ups below, I don’t see an obvious villain win,
Strongest to weakest IMO
Heroes v Villains
James vs Russell
Colby vs Rob
Rupert vs Randy
JT vs Tyson
Tom vs Coach
Stephanie vs Jerry
Amanda vs Danielle
Candice vs Parvati
Cirie vs Sandra
Sugar vs Courtney
Sugar!
Sugar should have been voted for the simple reason that she couldn’t figure out how to use the pen to write down a name on the parchment.
wtf for next week’s previews
Boston Rob collapses in the jungle and looks like he’s done