Survivor Heroes vs. Villains- Week 1

After the season premier of Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains I have one immediate thought on the game play of these supposed All-Stars and plenty of immediate thoughts on the players themselves. Let's just start with this...

"Sometimes you gotta go retrieve dragon eggs," Coach Wade, the Dragon Slayer.

It was quite an exciting moment watching all of the past players come to Samoa via the choppers. I, being someone who has only seen the past three season, can't imagine what it must be like for someone who's been watching for the past ten years. As for the contestants themselves; many of them are looking around, amazed to be in the same company as so many Survivor Greats.

Immediate Game Play Thoughts

Right from the announcement of this All-Stars season, I was looking forward to watching a game get played by plenty of people that want to actually play. Last season it was fun watching Russell toy with everyone on the entire island of Samoa, but I also think it would be fantastic to see a multitude of people playing just as hard. That is exactly what I thought we were getting as this two hour episode progressed.

Maybe it was only the first day, but I was completely wrong. After the Villains won the immunity challenge, the Heroes had to make their first decision on who to send home. The obvious first choice that everyone came up with was Sugar. She's terrible at challenges, doesn't do anything at camp and is ridiculously annoying. Then one by one (or so the producers wanted us to think) different members of the Heroes tribe came up with alternative choices for who should get sent home first. Whether it was splitting up a Tom/Stephanie alliance, getting rid of Amanda because she's made it to the final two twice before, or stepping on Cirie's mind games early, almost everyone came up with a better idea than voting out Sugar.

What happened at Tribal Council? Of course the editing was a misdirection, as Sugar got every vote but her own. Is not one of these so-called All-Stars brave enough to make a move early in the game. Sure Sugar's not going to help in the challenges, but some of these other girls (I include Rupert in that) might not either. Why not get rid of someone that could vie for something meaningful down the road? I expect this from a bunch of novices, but I really didn't see it coming with these guys. Disappointing.

Immediate Player Thoughts

Boston Rob and Parvati- These are two players from older seasons that I had never seen before, but had heard great things about them and picked both of them for my fantasy squad. After two hours I am thoroughly impressed with the both of them. Boston Rob just seems like a guy that gets things done. He only showed a glimpse of his game playing skills, but I liked the move. When Probst inquired about how camp was for the villains, he portrayed it to be much worse than it actually was, failing to mention that they made fire without a flint. Speaking of...Boston Rob made fire by rubbing two sticks together! I've never seen it happen before so that is automatic stud status.

Parvati seems really awesome so far. Her conversation with Russell this week was fantastic. The self-proclaimed 'best Survivor player of all time' did his usual thing, going up to a number of people right at the beginning and telling them he wants to go to the end with them. After it seemed to go over well with Danielle, he went right to Parvati. Although a couple of people from last season, Betsy? in particular, realized he was full of it, none of them embraced it the way Parvati did last night. She knew he was lying to her, and that he was doing the same thing to plenty of people around camp, but it didn't stop her from enjoying it.

"I definitely feel like with Russell, I'm making a deal with the Devil, but I want the Devil on my side," Parvati.

Rupert- At the beginning of the episode Probst mentioned that this dude was one of the most liked contestants in Survivor history...pause...Is he kidding? I hate this guy more than anything. I didn't think he could get any worse than his two minute intro video, but I believe he did last night. Referring back to Boston Rob making fire with no flint, this dude couldn't even do it with a flint. Terrible.

Coach and Russell- These are the two guys that I look at with the fondest of memories in recent Survivor history. After last night's two hours, they are in two completely different boats for me. Russell's schtick has worn off for me. Maybe it was just last night, but it seemed as though he was saying the exact same things as he did the first time. Ohhh I'm the best player ever. I'm gonna manipulate all these people. Is that all you got? 'Cause if so, I'm a little over it.

Coach, on the other hand, did not disappoint. His schtick may be the same, but he at least comes up with new things to say. What comes out of his mouth might always have to do with being a Dragon Slayer, but that in turn leads to new quotes such as the one used above, "Sometimes you gotta go retrieve dragon eggs." The other underrated aspect that Coach brings to the table, is that he brings out the best in Jeff Probey Probst. Probst loves to make fun of Coach to his face, and everyone, including Coach, loves it. He embraces it. They combined for the best line of the night when the Villains were on a boat in the water Probst exclaimed, "Coach leading the villains, using all of that life experience in a kayak."

Punch Face Champions

Russell (Villains)- W1 (1), Im (8)= 9
Danielle (Villains)- W1 (1), Im (8)= 9
Sandra (Villains)- W1 (1), Im (8)= 9
JT (Heroes)- W1 (1), Reward (4)= 5
Tom (Heroes)- W1 (1), Reward (4)=5
Week 1= 37 Total= 37

DJ Roomba

Tyson (Villains)- W1 (1), Im (8)= 9
Randy (Villains)- W1 (1), Im (8)= 9
Jerri (Villains)- W1 (1), Im (8)= 9
Rupert (Heroes)- W1 (1), Reward (4)= 5
Amanda (Heroes)- W1 (1), Reward (4), Votes (-4)= 1
Week 1= 33 Total= 33

Kick Puncher III

Coach (Villains)- W1 (1), Im (8)= 9
Courtney (Villains)- W1 (1), Im (8)= 9
James (Heroes)- W1 (1), Reward (4)= 5
Stephanie (Heroes)- W1 (1), Reward (4)= 5
Cirie (Heroes)- W1 (1), Reward (4)= 5
Week 1= 33 Total= 33

Redwood Original

Boston Rob (Villains)- W1 (1), Im (8)= 9
Parvati (Villains)- W1 (1), Im (8)= 9
Colby (Heroes)- W1 (1), Reward (4)= 5
Sugar (Heroes)- Reward (4), Votes (-36)= -32
Candice (Heroes)- W1 (1), Reward (4)= 5
Week 1= -4 Total= -4