๐ Advantages & Idols
Season 20: Heroes vs. Villains
Tom Westman (Day 10, Ep 3)
Day 11, Episode 4
For: Tom Westman
3 votes negated
Tom found the idol clue in a jar of beans on Day 10, but J.T. read the clue aloud and the whole tribe started searching. Tom found it first but was caught by Amanda. He played it on himself at Tribal Council on Day 11 (Episode 4, 'Tonight, We Make Our Move'), negating 3 votes from Amanda, Candice, and Cirie. J.T. flipped to vote with Tom and Colby, blindsiding Cirie Fields 3-0 (after negated votes). Tom was still voted out at the next Tribal Council on Day 14.
Russell Hantz (Day 6, Ep 2)
Day 15, Episode 6
For: Parvati Shallow
4 votes negated
Russell found the Villains' first Hidden Immunity Idol without clues, continuing his Samoa strategy. At the Double Tribal Council on Day 15 (Episode 6, 'Banana Etiquette'), Russell gave the idol to Parvati at Tribal Council. She played it, negating 4 votes against her (from Coach, Courtney, Jerri, and Tyson). Tyson had fatally deviated from Rob's vote-splitting plan by switching his vote from Russell to Parvati, resulting in Tyson being eliminated 3-2-0. One of the most pivotal idol plays in Survivor history.
J.T. Thomas (Day 16, Ep 7)
J.T. found the Heroes' second Hidden Immunity Idol after a Reward Challenge clue. He then made what many consider the worst strategic move in Survivor history: believing the Villains had an all-female alliance, he wrote a note and wrapped it with the idol, handing it to Russell Hantz during an Immunity Challenge on Day 22. J.T. assumed Russell would use it to save himself and join the Heroes post-merge. Instead, Russell kept it for his own alliance. J.T. was voted out on Day 27 after Parvati's double idol play. Jeff Probst dubbed this move 'the worst in Survivor history,' and at the reunion, Russell read J.T.'s note aloud.
Parvati Shallow (Day 22, Ep 8)
Day 27, Episode 10
For: Jerri Manthey
5 votes negated
Parvati found the clue during a Reward Challenge and shared it with Danielle DiLorenzo. The two women woke up early the next day and found the Villains' second idol near the roots of a tree, deliberately keeping Russell unaware. At the first post-merge Tribal Council on Day 27 (Episode 10, 'Going Down in Flames'), Parvati executed her famous double idol play, giving this idol to Jerri to negate all 5 Heroes' votes cast against her. Combined with the idol played on Sandra, this eliminated J.T. Thomas 5-0.
Russell Hantz (Day 22, Ep 8)
Day 27, Episode 10
For: Sandra Diaz-Twine
0 votes negated
This was J.T.'s idol that he gave to Russell. Russell gave it to Parvati as part of their alliance. At the first post-merge Tribal Council on Day 27 (Episode 10, 'Going Down in Flames'), Parvati played this idol on Sandra as the second half of her famous double idol play. No votes had been cast against Sandra by the Heroes, so the idol negated 0 votes. However, the combined double play on both Jerri and Sandra ensured all Villains were protected and J.T. was eliminated.
Russell Hantz (Day 29, Ep 11)
Day 30, Episode 11
For: Russell Hantz
0 votes negated
After the merge idol was re-hidden, Russell found it quickly. Danielle obtained the clue, and Russell located the idol within seconds by a stream ('I pick up a rock, after being there five seconds, there it is'). He played it on himself at Tribal Council on Day 30 (Episode 11, 'Jumping Ship'), but received zero votes. Candice had flipped to the Villains and Sandra stayed with them, so the Heroes voted for Parvati (3 votes) while the Villains voted for Amanda (6 votes). Amanda was eliminated 6-3. Russell's premature idol play was a strategic miscalculation.