Survivor: Cook Islands, Episode 11: Parvati, Poverty, or Puberty?

Ever since I started writing for RNO way back when, my articles have been sent to a mailing list of 40-50 people, most of whom I met in online versions of Survivor. A season or so back, one such person asked to be taken off the list, claiming that I “always” bashed the younger players.

It’s a good thing she probably won’t be reading this article. Then again, maybe if the three former members of Raro would get their act together, it wouldn’t matter. From the opening scenes, all the way up to tribal council, the Raro brat pack made it harder and harder to feel sorry for their plight.

Let’s start with Parvati, who told Jonathan, “Hope you enjoy second place.” She was lucky he didn’t respond with, “And I hope you enjoy sixth,” where she’ll most likely end up, at best. In any case, it will be awfully surprising if he doesn’t finish several places ahead of her.

Was she meaning to imply that if he’d stayed with the former Raros he would’ve won? Just think about it: Suppose, for the sake of argument, the final four had been her, Adam, Candice, and Jonathan. Are we really supposed to believe the other three wouldn’t have sentenced Jonathan to jury duty, barring immunity? Parvati was just upset that he “got” her before she could do likewise to him.

She went on to say Jonathan’s actions are just vile to her and she felt sick to her stomach. Why? Because it looks as though she got not only outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted, but outsmarted? Maybe her name should be “Poverty,” because she certainly looks to be poor in a few areas, such as sportsmanship, game smarts, class, and at this point, luck.

In earlier articles, I commented on Parvati’s resemblance to Misty from the previous season, but at this point, it’s clear any resemblance is purely coincidental - and physical. When Misty got ousted by the “Boys’ Club” in her tribe, she accepted her fate with grace, though obviously disappointed. By contrast, Parvati is still in the game, and she acted as if she’d been voted out, all but stomping her feet and sucking her thumb. She claimed to be disappointed in Jonathan, probably because he didn’t make it any easier for her to have a clear path to the seven-figure check.

Of course, it was all good when he jumped to her tribe a few episodes back, because it was to her benefit, or so she thought. But since he’s left her on the Survivor version of death row, it’s not so great, is it?

Then there was her insistence that Yul didn’t have the idol. That brings us to this question: How hard has it been for her to watch this on the tube, hearing herself claim he didn’t have it several episodes after we’d all seen otherwise? It might have been different if she’d told Jonathan that Yul may or may not have the idol, but no, she was positive he didn’t. It’s a good thing she got the bath at the auction, because there was plenty of egg to be wiped off her face when Yul showed her the idol. Wonder if she got “sick to her stomach” watching the episode, thinking back to how she’d made a fool of herself.

She wasn’t finished with her pity party (or is that pity Parvati?), asserting that she felt nauseous and wanted to vomit in Jonathan’s face, calling him a filthy, miserable rat. And she claims she’s twice as mature as Jonathan? Maybe we should call her “Puberty,” as she seemed to display the maturity level of a teenager, at least in this episode.

Yeah, he’s a rat all right, because he refused to give her an easier path to the final four, and probably because she knew he was too smart to fall for the flirting she’d used, and bragged about, so shamelessly in previous episodes.

She brings back memories of Penny in Thailand, trying to find a way in with Brian, Ted, and the other members of the core alliance, only to find out they weren’t falling for it.

Later, we learned that in almost a month of being in the game, she hadn’t yet gutted a fish, prompting Jonathan to label her as lazy and selfish. Frankly, it was hard to disagree with him. If I were the Hindu deity Parvati, I’d be embarrassed at having to share my name with someone who behaves like this.

But Parvati was not the only one displaying immaturity and poor sportsmanship. What on Earth was with Adam’s comment about Jonathan sucking at life? Exactly how does Adam know? He’s known Jonathan all of 30 days, in a completely artificial environment (kind of ironic it’s called reality television), and he knows what Jonathan is like in life? Most likely, he was following Parvati’s lead and pouting that he no longer held the best cards in the game. He may think Jonathan sucks at life, but Jonathan’s position in the game certainly doesn’t, at least not compared to, say, Adam’s.

But there is a question that needs to be asked regarding Jonathan, specifically, his behavior during and after the auction. Mainly, what’s up with that? After he got the hot dog and beer, he probably should’ve stopped, or at least been a little more nonchalant about downing the pizza. Instead, he made a very public display of enjoyment, so obnoxious it ticked off even his allies.

Along those lines, what was he thinking by burping out loud, and failing to cover his mouth, right in front of Becky and Sundra? Did he feel so secure he thought he could do as he pleased and get away with it? Has it occurred to him that the former Aitu four can hand him his walking papers and still retain the majority? And was he at all embarrassed when the episode aired, seeing how much he was alienating his own alliance?

On the flip side, we know how much Parvati and Adam want to see Jonathan gone, and Sundra and Becky aren’t crazy about him either. Has it occurred to any of these people that Jonathan just might make the perfect final two partner? As Parvati said, he’s pissed off everybody in the game, which, considering his double switch, isn’t exactly an exaggeration. Hey, if I were in the game, I’d be willing to put up with some of his farts and other obnoxious behavior if it meant a great shot at the million dollars.

Let’s take a look at the now-departed Candice. When she was on Exile Island (again), did anyone notice how she said she missed Adam, but didn’t say a thing about Parvati? If nothing else, this casts suspicion on her RNO interview assertion that she did not choose emotions over strategy, regardless of whatever explanation she gave in the interview.

Then, there was her behavior regarding the fish. One question that needs to be asked is, did it occur to her, Parvati, and Adam that they could possibly improve their lot in the game by actually working? They were already in the minority, so they had nothing to lose. And in case they weren’t paying attention, it certainly hasn’t hurt Jonathan.

Here’s the irony of the Raro three: In the Amazon, Heidi, Rob, Alex, and Jenna were at one point the lazy majority, while Christy, Matt, and Butch were in the minority. The producers showed us footage of the majority sunning themselves and just generally relaxing, while the other three were working like dogs to fight for their tribal lives. This time, the situation was reversed, with the majority working to cook fish, while the minority were busy hugging and kissing each other, which only serves to make one glad they’re in the minority. As for Candice’s assertion that for the others not to share the fish was just “wrong,” did it occur to her that it was wrong for her to expect the others to provide for her when she clearly had no intention of providing for herself?

Candice also needs to understand that it wasn’t just Jonathan who didn’t want to share the fish. I wonder how surprised she was to watch the episode and hear Ozzy’s comment about no free lunch, while the other three didn’t exactly make an impassioned plea to share. Frankly, I wouldn’t have either.

Let’s end with a look at the former Raros’ attempt to stay in the game. Trying to blackmail Yul into leading the charge to oust Jonathan before them was a good strategic move, even if it didn’t work. But since their threat went unheeded, let’s end with the following question: What will happen in final tribal council if it’s Yul and Jonathan in the final two?

As the game gets closer to the end, it’ll be interesting to see who Santa decides to leave the million-dollar check and who ends up with lumps of coal. See you Thursday!

Ken can be reached with any comments, criticisms, or money orders at YourNextOfKen@aol.com.

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