Last night, I took a break from BONES and decided to check out where the contestants stood as Survivor Heroes VS Villains ticks down to the final three. Maybe it is because I’ve been watching THE TUDORS and reading history of the era that I started making some strange comparisons as you will below. My mind often goes in these types of circle.
I remember very clearly the episode of Survivor Heroes VS Villains where Russell announced that he was “King of Survivor.” Now, I know why! He’s subconsciously patterning himself after King Henry VIII. The women who are in his alliance can be aligned with his various wives. The other members of the villains team were his “court.” Russell, like Henry VIII, doesn’t mind ridding himself of excess garbage (and I’m sure he doesn’t think of them in that way). If he sees a player who isn’t toeing his line well – it’s off with their head (or exiting the Survivor island).
Let’s look at an early example. Boston Rob was definitely a leader of the Villains’’ tribe. I would, in this case, liken him to Sir Thomas More who Henry VIII had beheaded when he didn’t stick to Henry’s plan about the dissolution of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Like More, Rob decided to let Russell hang himself. In the final showdown, though, Russell managed by lying and conniving to get the votes to go against Rob before the jury was formed. Russell had gotten rid of his main competition in camp like Henry VIII got rid of a voice of reason to whom his kingdom listened. Rob led the Villains to many victories in competitions and rewards which took the spotlight away from Russell and deprived Russell of a means to work his magic of being a semi-provider.
Next up is Coach. Coach probably is best compared to Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk. Henry got tired of Howard who ended up in the Tower of London with no title, lands, and a death sentence which didn’t happen due to Henry’s death. Russell got tired of Coach and his dragonslayer ways but could live with him on the jury. Thus, Russell again worked his magic and, like Howard, Coach was banished to the “tower” (I mean Ponderosa).
Now, let’s look at the last two men standing. At first it was hard to figure out who they could possibly represent but I finally decided that Colby is similar to Lord Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, and Rupert is similar in outward appearance (but not necessarily actions and thought) to Sir Thomas Seymour, Lord High Admiral. Edward, during Henry’s life, was a shadow player who came to power as Lord Protector to Henry’s son, Edward. He always tried to do the best thing, much like Colby, but sometimes his opinions were turned others against him. Sir Thomas Seymour on the other hand was a pirate (for lack of a better term). He was often on the sea and striving to get ahead in life. Rupert is similar as we call him a pirate sometimes and he tries to get ahead in the game. The one thing that Rupert doesn’t share with Sir Thomas is his morals – ah, but that’s another tale entirely.
The ladies of the Villains team – or the ones who aligned themselves with Russell – could be broken down accordingly. Let’s start with Parvati. She calls herself the Queen of Survivor. In many ways, she is similar to Katherine of Aragon but, to me, she is more like Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn, in her youth, was described as a dark beauty. What people don’t realize is just how “learned” she was for a woman in that time period. She manipulated Henry into doing things that he probably would never have thought of on his own. Anne lost her head because she couldn’t give Henry a son. Parvati has certainly been doing her share of manipulating Russell. The double immunity idol scam is one of the best I’ve ever seen on Survivor. Also, she controlled at least one vote – one that he didn’t know about. She wanted Candice gone and achieved her ends. She is now faced with a dilemma as Danielle is gone. Russell thinks that Danielle’s absence will give him control over Parv (thus the beheading comparison) but I think that Parv is more cunning than Anne. She may fool Russell and take him out!
Candice can be compared to Jane Seymour. Jane was the queen who gave Henry his heir and died in childbirth. In many ways, Candice meets the comparison as she was the vote that gave Russell an eviction he wanted and then was just as quietly evicted as well.
Danielle could be compared to Catherine Howard, Henry’s fifth wife. While Danielle hasn’t had the affairs that made Catherine lose her head, she did go against Russell’s will by being tight with Parv. Thus, the alliance with Parv made Danielle a big threat to Russell – one that had to be eliminated. Thus she too was beheaded and sent to the jury!
Jerri is the mystery thus I’m comparing her to Anne of Cleves. Anne (or Anna) arrived in England as a mystery and spent her short reign on the outside looking in. Jerri is also on the outside looking in but she has known enough to change her allegiance when it was needed. And, much like Anne, Jerri has developed a truce with Russell thus making her so far safe. Maybe she can be like Anne and find her way to the final two or three by remaining a mystery.
Sandra of the bunch is the hardest to pin down until I realized, she knows when to talk and when to fight! To me, she could be compared to Katherine Parr, Henry’s last queen who escaped death by a wonderful job of play acting and knowing what to say and when to say it. Let’s face it! Sandra has had to play many roles. And, with the immunity idol, she may be safe for a while longer.
Yes, I know I’m an Anglophile but you have to admit, comparisons can be made. So come on – give me some of your comparisons!