by Gina Scarpa

 

Tonight, on Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains, JT tries to save face after flipping at the last tribal council and sending Cirie home. He promises Amanda that it was nothing against her and that he would never do that to her but she questions where he stands in this game... and rightfully so.

 

Over at the villains' camp, Coach leads everyone in some Dragon Slayer Chi, his own version of meditation/martial arts. Most everyone participates, though they giggle at him whenever he's not looking, which makes me feel like they were better off just saying no to him instead of mocking him. Say what you want about Russell, but at least he's not a BS artist. He doesn't participate and instead, goes looking for (and finds) the hidden immunity idol. Of course he does.

 

In tonight's reward challenge, three players face off against each other on a playing course while three members of each tribe stand above on a platform. The players in the pit must retrieve a ball and get it to their teammates, who must then make a basket on the other side of the course. The first tribe to 2 points wins.

 

James falls early in the game, injuring his knee, and has to be taken out of the competition. That leaves the heroes down one player, but Amanda scores for her team first. In the next round, Tyson scores for the villains but not before Rupert knocks Jerri face first into a post. No blood, she's still in. She repays Rupert by scoring in the next round. Villains win a chocolate feast and a swimming trip in a pretty amazing cove.

 

Probst was involved in two great moments in tonight's episode and the first took place during that reward challenge. He passed around a plate of samples of chocolate to motivate the teams but none of the men on the heroes wanted any. Colby snapped that he just wanted to get to the challenge and Probst fired back, "We'll go when I'm ready." You tell him!

 

The medical staff takes a look at James and, after wrapping it and checking him out, determine that he's okay to stay in the game. He's got about 5% of his physical ability so naturally, members of his tribe are looking to get him out should they lose the next immunity challenge.

 

In that challenge, one players calls out to blindfolded tribe members, who must retrieve giant, heavy puzzle pieces. Once all 10 puzzle pieces are brought back to the mat, everyone can take their blindfolds off and get to work on solving it. Because James is out of commission, he calls for the heroes, while Jerri calls for the villains. The heroes get a head start on the puzzle, thanks to James (who manages to lose his voice before the end of the challenge) but the villains, who seem to be unstoppable at puzzles, make a comeback and win. They've won 4 of the last 5 challenges. What is wrong with the heroes?

 

Back at camp, Tom and James are on the chopping block, though Candice's name is thrown around. Candice joins forces with Tom to lobby to get James out. They feel like the strongest team needs to move forward from here. Amanda fights to keep James in the game, in order to have an ally and the numbers on
her side.

 

Second great moment involving Probst takes place at tribal. He tells James that his niece couldn't beat him in a race right now and James immediately smirks and says, "YOU couldn't beat me in a race." That I'd like to see.

 

At tribal council, James and Tom exchange some heated words. James feels Tom needs to shut up and Tom thinks that James is of no use to the tribe with a busted knee. When the votes come in, it's Tom that's going home and I died a little inside as his torch was snuffed...

 

Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains airs Thursdays at 8/7c on CBS.

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

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