Going Down in Flames

Going Down in Flames is the tenth episode of .
==Story==
===Day 25===
The Heroes grow restless at their camp, all hoping for a change of pace or a merge after twenty-five days in the game.
Amanda Kimmel and Rupert Boneham travel to Tree Mail and discover a locked chest with a message telling them to expect company soon with the key, indicating a merge. Parvati Shallow and Danielle DiLorenzo retrieve Tree Mail at the Villains camp, bringing back a key and a note containing a map to the Heroes camp for the merge. The Villains all meet together with the exception of Sandra Diaz-Twine and talk about how Russell Hantz should explain to J.T. Thomas how Parvati is still in the game, especially since J.T. gave his Hidden Immunity Idol to Russell the previous day and wrote a note saying that Russell should send home Parvati. After talking, they decide to come up with a story where Russell played the idol to save himself, but at the same time, Parvati played her own idol and also avoided being voted out.
The Heroes see the Villains walking up the beach to their camp and go out to help the Villains bring in their supplies. The Heroes immediately observe that Parvati is still in the game, but are thankful to at least still see Russell too.
Russell is given a warm welcome by J.T. and Colby Donaldson, and the rest of the Villains are also greeted by the Heroes tribe. The key the Villains brought opens up the chest the Heroes recovered. Inside the chest reveals the merge, feast, buffs and all. When deciding a tribe name, several suggestions are thrown out, and Jerri Manthey says they should just name the merged tribe 'Villains' since everyone is deep down a villain in Survivor, a statement that offends Rupert who would rather keep things positive.
As the Heroes and Villains mingle with each other for the first time together, it is apparent none of the Heroes want to talk with Parvati. Parvati sits on the outside feeling somewhat rejected as no one will talk to her at all. Eventually, she goes out to sit on the beach and is joined by Danielle, who tries to talk to Parvati about how she is feeling. After talking together, Parvati agrees to just play along with the Heroes' overconfidence and tolerate her isolation for the time being.
J.T., Rupert, and Russell all talk with each other together in the shelter. J.T. greets Russell and is glad to see him still in the game. Russell tells them that now is the first time he's felt comfortable in the game since Day 4, trying to get the two Heroes to believe he's going to go with them and betray the Villains. Russell tells them the cover story for how Parvati is still in the game by describing the fictional Tribal Council scenario where he and Parvati played Hidden Immunity Idols at exactly the same time. After Russell finishes his story and affirms his allegiance to the Heroes by swearing on his kids, he leaves and J.T. confidently assures Rupert they made the right call in saving Russell since J.T. is sure Russell will keep with them. J.T. even goes so far to say that Russell's a 'good ol' country boy' and will stay loyal. As Russell eats some fruit by the ocean after the conversation, he remarks to the camera that J.T. has completely fallen for his cover; hook, line and sinker.
Later, Sandra walks along the beach and talks with Rupert as they walk together. Sandra attempts to tell Rupert that she is the last of her alliance, and that there never was an all-girls alliance on the Villains. She tries to tell him the truth about what really happened on the Villains tribe by saying Russell and Parvati were the leaders. Sandra tells Rupert to not trust a word that Russell says, and Rupert appears to believe what he is being told.
===Day 26===
The following morning, the Villains remark that the Heroes have a lot more food than the Villains camp had. After breakfast, Parvati and Danielle go eat some plantains which causes the Heroes to privately become upset about some of the Villains eating habits. Rupert remarks in a confessional that food is in abundance, coconuts, papayas, fruits, everything except for bananas which are split equally, and that the Villains have disturbed this balance.
All of the Heroes except for Colby meet in the jungle later, where Rupert warns the others about the possibility that Russell has been playing them. Rupert is worried that Russell did not play a Hidden Immunity Idol and that the idol could be then turned against the Heroes. J.T. refuses to believe what Rupert says and stands behind his decision and behind Russell, dismissing Rupert's information. Amanda agrees with J.T. that Parvati would not be in the game if she had not played an idol and to not worry about that. Rupert responds by telling them to not be so quick to trust Russell, telling them that he was placed on the Villains tribe for a reason. Despite this disagreement, all the Heroes agree that they might need to change who they're voting for right before the vote so no information can leak to the Villains side.
Amanda and J.T. try to talk Rupert down from his paranoid state by telling him again that Russell is with them, and to not trust anything Sandra tells him.
===Day 27===
The following day, Parvati and Amanda talk to each other about how their respective tribes might be targeting them because of their past history. Amanda says the Heroes are very nervous about Parvati's connections and admits they want Parvati out. Amanda claims that her only way to keep Parvati around is to convince the Heroes to get rid of Sandra. Parvati asks for Amanda to at least tell her when the time comes whether or not she will be the target of the Heroes and voted out. At the end of the conversation, Parvati admits to Amanda that she has an idol.
Amanda and Parvati talk about forming an alliance to work together, Amanda deceptively claims she will do everything she can to keep Parvati in the game. The two women shake on their new partnership despite neither woman truly trusting what the other one is saying.
The tribe arrives at the Immunity Challenge where host Jeff Probst asks what name the Heroes and Villains have decided on for the name of the merged tribe. Russell announces that they have decided to name the tribe Yin Yang to keep with the spirit of Heroes vs. Villains. Parvati and Danielle are the final two left competing in the challenge, and the two of them whisper to each other and decide for Parvati to step down to let Danielle win individual immunity since Parvati already has an idol. The move sets off red flags for the Heroes, believing something suspicious is happening with Parvati.
Returning to camp, J.T. talks with Colby about the Immunity Challenge. Both men are nervous about how Parvati stepped down in the challenge and think she might have done it because she already had protection in the form of an idol. They agree that the Heroes should write either Sandra or Jerri's name down so that the Heroes can avoid a Hidden Immunity Idol.
Sandra and Jerri talk to each other in the water, where Sandra says she doesn't care who goes home, as long as it isn't her. Sandra says that after tonight's vote is when the real chaos will begin, since she thinks a Hero will get sent home and the overconfident bubble the Heroes have been living in will burst. Jerri says the Heroes are very overconfident that they will come out on top, which tells her that Russell is doing a good job convincing them he's on their side.
Russell goes out into the jungle and digs out his Hidden Immunity Idol from its hiding spot and gives it to Parvati so that he can protect her at Tribal Council.
Parvati takes a walk with Amanda down the beach, where Parvati asks Amanda to tell her the truth of whether or not the Heroes are going to write her name down. Amanda tries to dodge the question and says she doesn't know what to do. Amanda says she wants to play with Parvati, but doesn't see how that will work out because of how their separate games have progressed on different tribes. Amanda does insist Parvati to play her idol, "just in case". However, Parvati can tell that Amanda is trying to deceive her.
As the sun goes down, the tribe gets ready to attend the first Tribal Council of the merge. Parvati struggles over whether or not to play an idol on herself or to play them for her tribe.
The merged Yin Yang tribe arrives at their first Tribal Council and watch as the first two jury members, Coach Wade and Courtney Yates walk in. At Tribal Council, Rupert begins to immediately complain and goes off on a tirade about the lack of banana etiquette with the new Villains. Russell says the vote at this Tribal Council is the most important one of the entire game so far and will dictate the outcome. He says that if a Hero goes home, the Villains will go to the top five, and vice versa. J.T. mentions that the Villains aren't talking to him, which makes him nervous that they plan on voting for him. Jerri responds by saying that J.T. appeared to have a wall around him and didn't seem open to talking. Idols are a big topic of discussion on whether they will appear and who has them. The tribe goes to vote, and the Heroes decide to cast their votes for Jerri in hopes no idol will be played for her. As planned, the Villains vote for J.T. As Jeff prepares to read the votes, Parvati declares she would like to see all of the Villains survive to see another day and pulls out an Immunity Idol and hands it to a surprised Sandra. The Heroes share smiles among themselves until Parvati pulls out a second idol, her personal one she found with Danielle, and gives it to Jerri. The second idol shocks everybody, including Russell and the rest of the Villains with the exception of Danielle. All of the Heroes' votes against Jerri are negated and J.T. is eliminated 5-0, putting the Villains into a majority.
==Challenges==
Immunity Challenge: Get a GripThe castaways must hang onto a pole as long as they can. The last person left hanging without touching the ground wins immunity.Winner: 
==Tribal Council==
colspan="2" 	
VotedAgainst	Voter
 	
 	
 	None
colspan="2" 	
===Voting Confessionals===
===Final Words===
===Still in the Running===
									
									
==Trivia==
===Life at Ponderosa===
J.T. walks out feeling disappointed for his fellow Heroes, and he feels defeated for being the direct cause of their upcoming downfall. In the car ride to the weigh in, J.T. gives credit for the move pulled at Tribal Council, calling it one of the best ever. At the weigh in, J.T. finds out he lost 13 lbs. J.T. arrives at Ponderosa and is greeted by Coach and Courtney. J.T. tells them the second Hidden Immunity Idol that Parvati pulled out was his that he had given them, Coach and Courtney are completely speechless and stunned. Coach and Courtney are happy to be with J.T. and enjoy a meal by the resort chef before going to bed.
The next day, the three jurors talk about what will happen next, and whether anyone will turn on Russell. Bad weather strikes, and the three play the game Rock Band, playing together in the game as "The Dragonz".
The following day, Coach, Courtney, and J.T. have all officially decided to seriously start "The Dragonz" for real as a real life band, and they begin writing and singing music. J.T. is surprised that the unlikely trio of himself, Coach, and Courtney have bonded so well. Before leaving for Tribal Council, J.T. says he hopes Russell is the next one out, and looks forward to giving him the silent treatment.
===Other===
* This episode was voted the 3rd best Survivor episode of all time in the "Top 25 Greatest Episodes of all time" poll by Survivor Oz in 2015.
* On Day 25, Parvati becomes the second contestant to reach 100 days during their ​ career, following Amanda Kimmel.
* This episode marks the first time one contestant played two Hidden Immunity Idols at one Tribal Council.
*This episode marks the first time J.T. receives votes against him as well as the first time he is voted out.
**This episode marks the first time a former Sole Survivor serves on a jury.
* The Tribal Council was inducted to the Survivor Hall of Fame in 2014.http://xfinity.comcast.net/blogs/tv/2014/12/17/survivor-hall-of-fame-2014-inductee-heroes-vs-villains-episode-10-tribal-council/
==References==
Category:Episodes
Category:Heroes vs. Villains Episodes
Category:Survivor (U.S.)
Category:Survivor (U.S.) Episodes
Category:Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains