I wouldn’t say that Sandra is the “nothing”'s you proclaim her to be.
She has a very good game plan. She doesn’t go about pissing people off, she keeps her allies close and she doesn’t go out of her way to make it seem as if she’s a threat.
She hasn’t done anything in this version of Survivor because she couldn’t. She’s been actively trying to get Russell out once her alliance was being dismantled. She’s got a keen sense of who people are and why they behave and how they react to certain things and uses it to her advantage. Just like when she threw Coach under the bus by saying to Russell that Coach had doubts about him. She couldn’t pull off the big switch to the heroes because of the fact that Candice flipped to Villains negating her numbers to get Russell off, and shrewdly she stayed with the villains (Russell) as not to ruffle feathers. She may not have liked Parv/Danielle/Russell alliance mainly because Russell was in it.
She doesn’t seem to resent Parv at all, just that Parv is playin her game and Sandra is the victim to Parv’s game. She doesn’t pout and bitch and cry that she’s not in the dominant alliance, she just goes with the flow. Altering her game play with what is happening dynamically. If things change, she changes. Her general motto.
“as long as it ain’t me” (referring to being on the chopping block) is probably what makes her the best at the low-key game. She’ll manipulate people to make sure the vote doesn’t go against her. As long as she knows she’s safe then that’s all she needs. The extra few days that buys her, she’ll come up with a new and different plan to stay another few more days and so on, till she gets to the end.
And having not pissed off too many people by being an asshole or jerk, she’ll say she did whatever it took to win. Changing her gameplay as the situation dictated. The jury will eat that shit up and be like omg she’s awesome, then they’ll be like omg I love her Latina ways, so funny, so smart, so all that.
But sandra probably has all the Heroes on her side. All she has to say is “i told you so”, you coulda used me but chose not to believe me. Parv is too much of a threat and wily that I doubt she’ll garner too many votes. People wanted her out from the beginning and they might have that negative view of her still, unless she uses that very idea to sway the jury into giving her the million.
I loved the moment during Tribal Council when Parvati did a very accurate impersonation of Sandra saying, “I’m against you” to Russell. Probst was even chuckling at that.
Also, when Sandra handed her HII to Probst, you could tell he was really amused by her.
Oh, and regarding the family members and sweaty hugs from the Survivors–what squicked me out more than anything was Rupert’s wife burying her face in his nasty-ass beard to kiss him.
I have to take back a couple of statements I made.
I didn’t remember the details of Russell’s arrest. But it was wrong for me to say he had beaten on someone if he didn’t.
Also, it was wrong for me to insinuate that Russell hadn’t learned anything from two seasons since he never got any feedback from his first season before playing the second season.
I don’t think these were very major errors. But I do want to acknowledge that I was wrong for having made those statements in the way I did and I want to thank the people who pointed that out.
As far as Sandra goes, I just can’t see my ever coming around to liking her. I really do believe she makes for extremely boring gameplay and that we will see the most boring gameplay imaginable from now on as people begin to understand that Sandra’s personality is the winning formula for success in this game. I know you all have the right to like her style or not like her style as you will and I just don’t see any possible way for us to come together on this.
how can u say Sandra is playing a boring game when in fact she makes strategic moves when she has to, whether they pan out or not, she’s doing strategic plays.
The people that are boring are people like Colby who checked out ages ago. Rupert, who still thinks the game of Survivor is about honor and integrity. Or even people like last season’s Shambo who I despise with a burning hatred, that think they’re some sort of martyr figure. I can root for even the people who are killing the challenges like JT did in his season. But once a person brings in morality and playing clean, I begin to chalk them up to being a bad Survivor contestant.
Red Barchetta, thanks for your remarks - they were much appreciated.
BMada, I don’t know what to say about Sandra. I think I just won’t ever be able to agree with people about her. I just can’t stand watching her. I don’t want her in my living room. I’m sorry but that is just the way I feel.
But, as far as people like Colby and Rupert goes, I get a huge laugh thinking about them. I just can’t understand what is going on there. And Shambo? Holy Crambo! For the love of Whambo!
I just have no words to respond. There are just no words that will do. What can anyone possibly say about her? Ummm … Whaa??? … Huh??? … WTW??? (What the What?)
She just does not register on my radar. Every time she comes by, it just kind of beeps a few times and then shuts down. It just can’t figure out what is going on.
Don’t know why Sandra is getting burned. Yeah, she does not have quite the same sass when not paired with Johnny Fairplay, but I think she’s probably one of the flat-out smartest players around. She toes the line between not being a threat and being a savvy player so closely that it’s really hard to put together people to vote her out. She never got a vote against her in the Pearl Islands- and those were the first votes ever cast against her tonight (and they didn’t count!).
She plays low-key strategy, but she makes extremely effective subtle moves- she completely nailed it when she voted against Rupert- she was voting against him, but she was still going to get his vote in the finals. Sandra plays well. Just because she doesn’t bother with Russell’s bombastic strategy-for-the-sake-of-strategy doesn’t mean she doesn’t know what she’s doing. Is she going to win? Eh, probably not. But she got damn close another time- a final three is not going to be as kind to her as a final two against Lillian (ugh).
I am completely rooting for Parvati. If she makes the final three, she completely deserves the win again. She is a complete natural at this game.
Colby and Jerri are going to go home next unless Colby wins two immunity challenges in a row.
Sandra, Russell and Parvati all know that their best chance at winning in the final three is with each other. Russell can argue he’s the only one who never won a million dollars, and he’s the only one that can lose making that argument from Sandra’s and Parvati’s perspective. If Jerri is in there then the Jury will give her the reward over the other two former winners.
Sandra, Russell, and Parvati are all pretty smart so I’m sure they take each other to the final three.
Did many of you see Colby when he was in the second season? Almost like a totally different person. He seems to be on the verge of breaking apart. Has something happened to him in recent times that took some of the glow from him? He was one of my favorite players ever.
I hated to see Rupert go. He’s my all time favorite. I wasn’t alone it my liking of him either. He won a million bucks just for being likeable even though he was voted off.
Anyone but Russell is fine with me. (I can’t believe how petite and cute his wife is.)
Too much of a threat of what? Winning the million? If so, yeah, exactly. The only reason people ever wanted her out is because they think she’s likely to win the million. Which she very much is.
Agreed 100%, and even better she pokes the bear. She went and blatantly manipulated Russell to get rid of Coach, and then flat-out told Russell to his face “I’m against you.” Boring is the last adjective I’d use to describe Sandra’s gameplay. She’s one of the more interesting players.
Still, she does blend into the background too much to win the million against a strong, charismatic player like Parvati.
I’m sorry I have to disagree with you about Sandra and Parvati.
I don’t think Parvati would have a chance in the F3 if she was against Sandra.
Sandra is the kind of player who will get all the votes from the jury. She never really threatened anyone. She never spoke harshly to anyone. Heck! She never hardly spoke at all! She never hardly did anything at all. She is the epitome of being under the radar, behind the radar and … oops! where did she go? What do you mean, “The tribe has spoken?”. I’m’ voted out? Yikes!!! Where is Sandra?
Do you know what I mean? No one has a chance against Sandra. She is just invisible and you don’t know that you’ve been given the boot until you notice that you are holding Sandra’s boots. No chance. No chance for anyone against Sandra.
Parvati on the other hand has said and done many things that you may think makes her have friends who will support her (like Danielle). But that is the perfect case. Who would Danielle vote for? Her friend Parvatit? Or someone who is completely neutral (or perhaps who could even be called completely zero? instead of completelyl neutral?)
I think Danielle would vote for Sandra and I guess you think she would vote for Parvati. I think there is a real good chance we might find that out. But a player like Sandra who (with very few exceptions) never says anything or does anything (at least in my opinion) will just scoop up all the votes.
I respect your right to disagree and I have a feeling you will be doing that in Spades. But, IMO, Sandra is just totally unstoppable - a completely irrestible force and an immovable object - both at the same time!
She just blends into the background so completely, she just can’t be confused with anyone having a position or a point of view.
Have you not watched much Survivor? For 18 seasons, the “invisible” player has never gotten a single vote at the final TC . Only last season did an invisible player (Natalie) finally win, and that was only because she was up against the most loathsome player in history. (Russell)
It is pure insanity to imagine Danielle would vote for Sandra over Parvati. Under no circumstance is that even remotely possible.
As for the rest of the jury, Parvati can point to big, bold moves she’s done that everyone has witnessed. She can point to multiple immunity challenge victories. She can point to a good social game and effective manipulations. And she has actual honest to god friends on the jury. (Danielle, Amanda)
Everything Sandra has done Parvati has done better, and Parvati has done extra things that Sandra has nothing to match. (eg: Challenge wins, actual friends on jury.)
If it comes down to Parvati, Sandra and Russell, I wouldn’t be surprised if Parvati gets every vote but Courtney. (Solidarity for her fallen alliance with Sandra.)
Note that Russell has been Parvati’s lightning rod; all the animosity will fall against him. And Parvati will rightfully claim credit for this intentional strategy.
I don’t buy Colby being a threat at this point in the game at all. He’s basically given up on the game long ago. He’s given up immunity challenges for a food reward, done terribly in challenges, and he made that idiotic move of telling Amanda to give the Idol clue to Danielle. Additionally he made an even bigger fool of himself bitching at his brother in this episode’s challenge. It seems obvious that he’s given up a long time ago, and doesn’t really want to be there. Is there a single person left he could still win against with the possible exception of Russell?
I don’t think Russel has a chance to win against anyone anymore. Parvati and Sandra are the strongest candidates for the win right now. I think Parvati will be voted out next as a strong threat if she doesn’t get immunity. Russel wants her gone as he sees her as his strongest competition, and Jerri would be seen as a too weak player compared to Parvati in the final.
Jerri would have a good shot at winning with a Colby/Russel/Jerri final. Russel has pissed off almost every jury member, so they won’t want to give the milllion to him. Jerri can also make the argument that Colby hasn’t been playing the game at all this time, and you shouldn’t decide the winner based on past seasons accomplishments.
I think one of my favorite moments was Coach rolling his eyes at the realization that they would now be subjected to three days of Rupert at the Ponderosa. Speaking of which - Rupert and Russell supposedly got into some monumental fight at the Ponderosa after final tribal council. I wish I could give an exact cite, but I’m posting from my iPod, and I can’t scroll thru the spoiler sites and find them. But really, would that surprise anyone?
You are almost certainly correct about Danielle’s vote at the FTC. I think I was just being overly optimistic.
But I have to wonder about your saying that Parvati has made big bold moves. You say that as if it is a good reason that juries use to vote for people.
I guess my opinion is different again. I think the jury really doesn’t much care about big bold moves. I must admit that I could easily be wrong. But I think the main thing that motivates people on the jury is whether or not they like someone. Whether people in the F3 have ever tried to screw them over. Whether they have treated them nicely or treated them poorly.
IMO, that is what matters to people on the jury. I don’t think they care one little bit about how many challenges people in the F3 have won and how many big bold moves they have made. I don’t think they care about that stuff at all!
I may not have watched as many seasons as you. (I’ve only watched 17 seasons).
But, before I forget, there is one thing I must tell you. I really enjoyed when you called Russell the most loathsome player in history. That was a great quote. I hope you won’t mind if I quote you on that. It was terrific. He really is a stinker, ain’t he?
It’s so sad to know he has no chance to win. It would be so much fun to have him come back every single future season just to see him get his smack down. Ain’t that fun? No one deserves it more. I’m sitting here right now with a huge grin on my face.
What struck me about Russell was his complete lack of tenderness when visiting his wife. Rupert, for all his flaws, smooched on his wife and repeatedly told her that he loved her. Russell, on the other hand, whispered threats to Jerri for not choosing him in the Reward Challenge.
My daughters are I were rolling at Colby during the water challenge, blaming his brother for his suckage. Our new favorite line is to try to do a simple task, such as folding the laundry, and screaming out, “Tell me what to do!”
I could have lived my entire life without seeing Rupert groom his beard.
I’m impressed that even post-million bucks, Sandra’s husband went to serve in Afghanistan. I have to say that I didn’t like her before, but I love her now. Even Parvati was grinning when she pulled out that HII. You go, girl.
I’m kind of sad that neither Jerri nor Colby had anyone in their life more special than their dad/brother to make the trip out. I remember when Jerri made a play for Colby a few years back only to have him reject her soundly. Seems to me that you have two lonely, attractive people… and being on “Survivor” should count as at least one of the 27 points of compatability on e-harmony!
I can definitely understand the logic behind getting rid of the Heroes because they have too many people on the jury. They’d be stupid not to get rid of Colby before the final 3. He HAS to be throwing challenges, no? No?
