‘Survivor 40: Winners at War’: Why Sophie Clarke and Parvati Shallow Would Make Great Allies
Even though Survivor: South Pacific winner, Sophie Clarke, and Survivor: Micronesia winner, Parvati Shallow, seemingly played very different games during their seasons, they could still make great allies based on similar experiences and common goals.
Sophie Clarke and Parvati Shallow returning for ‘Survivors: Winners at War’
Even though South Pacific is remembered for characters like Coach Benjamin Wade and Russell Hantz’s nephew, Brandon, the winner, Sophie Clarke, played an under-the-radar dominating game.
She formed a five-person alliance on the first night, which lasted throughout the entire game. Clarke then won her third individual immunity at the last challenge to earn her spot at the Final Tribal Council and won in a 6-3-0 vote.
While some disregard Clarke’s win as the result of the bitter jury, she made several strategic moves and saved herself by convincing Coach Wade to send his closest ally, Brandon Hantz, to Redemption Island.
Micronesia winner Parvati Shallow, became known as a flirtatious character during Cook Islands which resulted in her elimination at the Final Six. The Survivor community loved her, and she returned for Fans vs. Favorites (Micronesia) only a few seasons later.
She made a Final Three deal early on with Cirie Fields and Amanda Kimmel, and they, including Natalie Bolton, pulled off one of Survivor’s greatest moves by convincing Erik Reichenbach to give up his immunity at Final Five.
The Final Three lasted until the end, but in a Final Two Tribal Council twist, Kimmel chose Shallow to sit next to her. Even though jury members accused Shallow of being a mean person, they awarded her the title because of her impressive aggressive gameplay.
Both Clarke and Shallow will return for the all-winners season.
Potential allies of Sophie Clarke for ‘Survivor: Winners at War’
On an episode of Rob Has a Podcast, the host, Rob Cesternino, along with three other Survivor lovers discussed the gameplay and potential allies of returning winners Sophie Clarke, Yul Kwon, Danni Boatwright, and Ethan Zohn.
For Clarke, podcaster Taran Armstrong suggested she could ally with anyone as the SP winner allied and got along with four other religious people, even though she is not.
Parade writer Mike Bloom thinks she would be able to “map the personalities” of those she worked with in SP onto the returning winners. For example, she may be able to find similarities with her former ally Rick “Cowboy” Nelson and Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers winner, Ben Driebergen.
Bloom also suggested a potential partnership between Clarke and Shallow because both have “played up and down facets of their personalities to please egos around them,” and they’re both vocal about women empowerment.
Also, both ladies have faced criticism concerning aspects of their character and could connect over being misunderstood in similar ways. For example, Ozzy Lusth referred to Clarke as a “pretentious brat,” and Shallow’s tribemates made unsavory comments about her flirtatiousness.
Additionally, some viewers felt like Clarke only won because the jury felt so betrayed by Coach Wade. On the other hand, others thought Shallow deserved the two-time win over Sandra Diaz-Twine for Heroes vs. Villians.
Therefore, both women may come into the season with something to prove and could ally over that common goal. Clarke and Shallow have shown they’re incredible strategic minds and can win individual immunities when it matters.
With their different, yet similar gameplay styles, these ladies could get far if they teamed up. Watch Survivor: Winner at War on February 12, 2020, at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.
