Survivor: Fans vs Favorites Finale

After a season filled with injuries, blindsides, and stupid moves, the final four ladies of Survivor still have a tough road to travel to make it to the end and win the million dollars. Which of them has what it takes?

Parvati, Amanda, Cirie, and Natalie were in good spirits when they returned from tribal council after blindsiding Erik and who could blame them? It was a moment that will be hard to beat. Their glee was short-lived though because it was time for another immunity challenge the next day. Each of them had to stand on a pole, gather water with holes in it to raise a set of keys in a bamboo shoot, use the keys to unlock a chest filed with sixteen ladder rungs, and then climb the platform and raise their flag to win immunity. Natalie and Parvati were the first two to grab their keys and swim to shore to work on their ladders. They were no match for Amanda though when it came to her puzzle-solving skills. She wiped the floor with them and claimed immunity for herself.

Natalie knew she was the odd one out and tried her best to work some magic with Cirie and with Parvati to stick around a little longer but it just wasn't happening. She became the seventh member of the jury that evening and blew them a kiss on the way out. When Cirie, Parvati, and Amanda returned to camp that evening, a heated discussion began between them. Cirie had revealed to them at tribal council that she'd always felt like the low man on the totem pole and never felt safe. Amanda and Parvati took offense to that and called her out on it. But the argument didn't last long and the three women ended up hugging it out.

The next day they released Gloria, the last chicken standing, and went to retrieve treemail. They fully expected a fabulous dinner to be waiting for them -- the final three. That was not to be. Instead, they were told they had to go to Exile Island and pay tribute to those that had gone before them before meeting up with Jeff for another immunity challenge. It was a lovely moment watching those three realize that one of them would be leaving.

The fallen survivors tribute was just as hokey as always but the final immunity challenge wasn't. Each of them would have to balance a small silver ball on a slot carved into a wooden cylinder. Sections would be added to that center cylinder in five-minute intervals making holding things together much harder. It was all about endurance and focus. Parvati lasted only two rounds and was the first one out. Cirie and Amanda lasted the four timed rounds and then started a fifth round that would last until only one of them was still balancing their ball. Amanda outlasted Cirie and won the final immunity challenge. She would be the sole woman casting a vote that evening for tribal council. Would she be choosing Cirie or Parvati to go with her to the finals?

It really was no question as to who she would take with her. She voted out Cirie and completed filling the jury. Either Amanda or Parvati would win the million dollars this season. Both of the girls woke up the next day giddy as all get out that they lasted this long. After enjoying a picnic provided via treemail and burning down their shelter, it was time for their final tribal council. The power would now be in the hands of those they'd booted out.

The jury questioning was hilarious. First up was Eliza and it was obvious she was still holding some ill feelings towards both of them. Eliza told Parvati that she can't respect her talking bad about her behind her back and making fun of her. Eliza then told Amanda that listening to her talk made her want to kill herself sometimes. She asked both ladies to be honest with the jury this evening. Jason then asked Amanda if she would have told Ozzy about the plan to blindside him if she had known and she told him yes. Jason asked Parvati if she had any redeeming qualities in the game and she told him that she was loyal and an animal lover. Hahaha!

Alexis wanted Parvati to tell her what makes her a better role model for young women than Amanda. Parvati said that she was independent and bold unlike Amanda who liked going with the flow. Alexis then told Amanda that she thought her "performances" at various tribal councils had been fake and asked what part of her game had been genuine. Amanda said that she hadn't been faking anything and doesn't want anybody's sympathy votes. And then there was Natalie. I swear I think that girl is whacked out. She basically asked Parvati how her flirtiness translates into the bedroom in a weird roundabout way that caused confusion among everybody including Jeff himself. Parvati told her that being flirtatious is a big part of her personality and that she'll flirt with anybody, men and women, to get what she wants. Natalie then told Amanda that she's a beautiful woman but was her strategy in the game to play, "the zombied pretty girl not really knowing what's going on pageant queen cliche" or was that who she really is? Amanda basically said that it was neither and that she's a strong woman who just happens to be reserved sometimes. Again, Natalie is a WEIRDO.

Erik told Amanda that he feels thrown under the bus by what Amanda said about him at his last two tribal councils and Amanda apologized for hurting his feelings. He told her he didn't buy her apology and walked off without asking Parvati anything. James told Amanda that she had this game in the bag and asked Parvati what she really would have said to him the day after Ozzy had been blindsided. She didn't give him the answer he wanted and told her all he wanted her to basically say was that it was a game. Cirie congratulated both of them and couldn't help but involve herself in her questions to them. She wanted them to tell her why Parvati deserved to be in the final two more than herself. She was obviously still a little sore at them.

Ozzy told Parvati that he was hurt by what she did to him and couldn't believe that she put a price on their friendship. Ozzy told her that he didn't want a response from her and then told her that the hardest part was that she took away fourteen days he could have spent with Amanda. He then told Amanda that he wasn't faking his feelings towards her and feels like he has begun falling in love with her. Well we know Amanda has his vote!

After the jury voted, Jeff walked off into the jungle and then appeared before a live studio audience. It was time to find out who the winner of this season's Survivor would be.

Parvati received the first vote to win. Amanda. Parvati. Amanda. Parvati. Amanda. Parvati. The winner of Survivor: Fans vs Favorites is Parvati Shallow.

Parvati and Amanda hugged and then Parvati thanked the jury before running out into the audience to hug her family.

The reunion show was a fun one. Could Amanda say the word "like" any more and what was up with those big green flyswatter earrings? Natalie said she has plenty of haters on MySpace. Everybody's healed up from their injuries.
James won the Sprint Player of the Season and a cool $100,000. Ozzy and Amanda are still together and Mary has fallen in love with Ryan from Survivor: Pearl Islands thanks to Jonny Fairplay. Could you believe Ryan asked her to marry him just three days after meeting her? Next season on Survivor, they return to Africa but this time to the country of Gabon. 18 contestants and the season will be shot in high-definition for the very first time. Yay!

So, what did you think about Survivor? Were you happy that Parvati won it? What did you think about the jury questioning? Are you as excited as I am that they'll be back in Africa this next time around? Spill it!