Friday, February 12, 2010

First Impressions: Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains


The cast of Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains

Being an anniversary season, Survivor’s twentieth, it is time to bring back some familiar faces even if Survivor All-Stars goes down as the worst season ever (well, either that or Thailand) and Fans vs. Favorites isn’t that far behind. Yet when Heroes vs. Villains was announced I was cautiously optimistic. The four tribe approach of All-Stars hurt strategic play and strong alliance building as everyone just voted out the winners first. And the season had more quitters that the previous seasons combined.

Looking over the rosters of the new seasons, it looks to be filled with contestants that would have to be voted off or dragged off by the medical team to get them off the island as shown by the first challenge with doctors being called in twice to set the shoulder of Stephenie LaGrossa and splint the toe of Rupert Boneham which was broke in multiple places. Those Villains sure lived up to their name. Although you have to wonder about how Jessica “Sugar” Kiper made it onto the Heroes after giving a topless two finger salute to the other team after winning her round.

What makes Heroes vs. Villains on paper better than the first All-Star season is the splitting tribes into two specific groups with all the schemers and backstabbers who would do anything to win on one side. On the other, you have the contestants that mostly got asked back by hard work and perseverance and not stepping on people’s backs to get them there. So on the Heroes side, who will be the first to make that first strategic move that will blindside a tribe mate (as no one was last night because for all the talk from Tom Westman and Cirie Fields of making that move at the first tribal council, the tribe still went with the easy choice of Sugar).

Then on the Villains side, who can adapt because everyone else has seen them before and know their trick. Although, did Samoa not air before Heroes vs. Villains because Russell pulled the same align with ever girl he did on his season, except this season looks to be trading brunettes for blondes this time around. Another problem with the Villains, whereas every guy on the Heroes wants to be the Alpha Male, it looks like no one wants to step up and assume that leadership role on the Villains, with “Boston” Rob Mariano only stepping up to make fire, but from the promo, it doesn’t look like he may stay on the island very long.

Danielle DiLorenzo is back and still wearing small bikinisWith all that said, it is extremely hard to give anyone the edge to win it all which should make for an interesting season so I will stick with my preseason pick of Stephenie LaGrossa. But I will be rooting for the Heroes all the way as well as Danielle DiLorenzo, who topped my list of The Hottest Token Hot Chicks of Survivor Ever, individually. And while talking about list, also check out The 25 Greatest Survivor Contestants Ever.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains airs Thursdays at 8:00 on CBS. You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download Survivor on iTunes.

3 comments:

  1. what can you say that Stephenie got voted out so early in the game? oh well, Danielle is still around, but my bet would be on Parvati...:)

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  2. Stephenie just boils down to some bad luck, who knew the Heroes would be this bad at puzzles.

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  3. you said it right McGavin...look what happened again in Episode 5?! Heroes is on a losing streak and very disappointing losses at that.. Well, I guess we're both cheering for Villains?! hehe

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