Wade on Birmingham

J.T. on ‘Survivor’: Splitsville

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‘Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains,’ episode 4 recap

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Wade on Birmingham - Survivor Heroes vs. VillainsMixed blessings abound. For example, having the immunity idol can give a player power, but it can also make him a target. And being the swing vote can let a player choose her destiny, but it will almost certainly turn allies into enemies.

For one tribe, it was a bounty of mixed blessings on “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.”

Meanwhile, Mobile’s James “J.T.” Thomas Jr. figures out his own strategy of who to trust and who to keep in check.

Who cried whiny tears? Who went hunting for a hidden immunity idol? And who played whom? Find out, after the jump  …

Survivor Heroes vs. Villains - Ben Wade

Sensitive sensei: Coach cries after Tribal Council,
but pulls it together the next day.

Quitters never win, or whine: Following their first trip to Tribal Council, “Coach” Ben Wade breaks down over being called out by teammate Sandra Diaz-Twine. He wants to quit and go home.

No, really.

Even the usually ultra-snarky Tyson Apostol gives him a hug, along with pointers: Don’t wear a feather to Tribal Council. Don’t tell long, boring stories. Don’t do tai chi in front of everyone.

Translation: Don’t be so douche-y.

Video: The Passion of the Coach.

The next day, even “Boston Rob” Mariano has to reassure Coach that he’s not on the outs.

Renewed and refreshed, Coach says, “I’m one of a kind, last of the Mohicans, King Arthur, legend. Confucius says the greatest glory a man can have is not in never falling but in rising again in every time he falls.”

Yeah, I got nothing here.

Survivor Heroes vs. Villains - Jerri Manthey

Slick toss: Jerri Manthey celebrates
a point for the Villains.

Reward Challenge: A Hero and a Villain careen across a giant Slip ’n Slide to each retrieve a ball, then shoot it into a hoop. First one to complete the heat receives a point, and first team to 4 points wins reward.

From a prize catalog, the Heroes picked fishing gear and kitchen gear, while the Villains picked a tarp and tools.

After six rounds, it’s tied at 3. Tyson and Colby Donaldson of the Heroes face off in the last round. And Tyson squeaks out a victory for the Villains.

Looks like the team will finally have a decent shelter.

Survivor Heroes vs. Villains - James J.T. Thomas Jr., Cirie Fields, James Clement, Amanda Kimmel

Wake-up call: J.T. reads the scroll that was hidden in the
coffee jar. Amanda Kimmel, far left, Cirie
and James Clement listen up.

Finding redemption: At the Villains camp on Day 9, the tribe unpacks its new tools. Russell Hantz, who turned up three hidden immunity idols in the previous season, unsheathes the knife and drops a scroll from the scabbard in front of everyone.

It’s the first clue to a hidden immunity idol. Sandra says whoever has it will be an immediate target. Boston Rob says they’ll find it together later and toss it in the ocean.

Russell fumes silently.

As they’re working on the shelter, Russell pretends to go for a walk. And yet, his fellow Villains already know he’s looking. Rob says Russell is a “like a hobbit on crack” and has sealed his own fate.

At the Heroes camp on Day 10, the tribe finds a similar clue in their coffee jar. Tom Westman says he and his ally Colby are on the outs and need the idol. Fortunately, as the tribe scrambles to find it, Tom locates it first. He tries to tuck it away in secret, but soon the whole tribe knows about it.

Real smooth.

Survivor Heroes vs. Villains - James J.T. Thomas Jr., Tom Westman, Amanda Kimmel

Ball bearings: Tom, inside the sphere, shouts out
directions to a blindfolded J.T. and Amanda.

Immunity Challenge: One person from each tribe — Tom for the Heroes, Boston Rob for the Villains — calls the shots from inside a giant ball. Two blindfolded teammates roll the ball to a puzzle table. Once there, the caller guides four more teammates holding corners of the table, rolling a ball through a maze.

First tribe to complete the tasks wins immunity. Host Jeff Probst points out that this challenge was the first that went unfinished, when a player went out for medical reasons before a tribe won.

It’s neck and neck most of the way, but the Villains take another narrow victory.

Video: J.T.: “I’ve got to make a big decision.”

Voted out: Cirie Fields wants to continue wiping out the macho alliance of Colby and Tom. J.T. mentioned in a previous episode that he knows Cirie can be a devious player and doesn’t trust her.

Cirie has aligned with five other tribesmates, planning to flush out the idol between Tom and Colby and eliminate the other player. J.T. could help Tom by voting with them or stick with the big majority.

Like many times on his previous season, J.T. has the pivotal vote.

At Tribal Council, Jeff takes the Heroes to task again and again for playing an individual/alliance game, rather than keeping the team strong, at least until the merge.

He even says Rupert Boneham has given the “most honest and illuminating answer” so far, when Rupert says he chooses to keep his word over keeping the tribe strong.

Jeff is stunned.

Survivor Heroes vs. Villains - Tom Westman

Tom plays his immunity idol.

Tom plays the immunity idol. The three votes against him are null.

Two votes go to Colby, but three votes (from Colby, Tom and J.T.) end the game for scheming Cirie, the mom from Jersey City, N.J.

Blindsided!

Survivor Heroes vs. Villains - Cirie Fields

Fourth out: the Heroes drop Cirie 3-2.

Video: Cirie’s final words.

Video: Cirie, the day after.

Has J.T. sacrificed himself to keep the Heroes strong? Has Russell lost his edge?

[Videos and photos to be added.]

“Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” airs at 7 p.m. Thursdays on on CBS 42.

Previous: Episode 3 – What’s the matter with misfits?
Next: Russell continues his idol hunt, irking Boston Rob. (Episode 5 – Knee-to-know basis)

Also:

  • (Mobile) Press-Register recap
  • How Jeff Probst keeps it interesting: “I stopped talking as much at Tribal Council. I really invoke the interview technique of uncomfortable silence. … I will look you dead in the eyes until you talk, and nine times out of 10, they do talk, and usually, that is when they say something they later regret.”

• • •

Back up for grabs … more “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” at survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com.

2 Yips for “J.T. on ‘Survivor’: Splitsville”

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