Deal or No Deal Island was down to the final five before a brutal double elimination. At Temple, Australia Survivor winner David Genat, who won immunity, sent home Phillip Solomon right away. However, that meant that either Survivor legend Parvati Shallow or Courtney Kim (CK) needed to play the Banker.
Parvati decided to go for it. Initially, she felt that luck was on her side, but the tide turned quickly. While she added $500,001 to the final case, Parvati made a bad deal and was eliminated.
During her time on the Banker’s island, Parvati was part of one of the most infamous alliances, the Family, in reality TV history. While the Black Widow didn’t win millions, she displayed her superb social and strategic gameplay and dominated the challenges.
Parvati joined Reality Tea writer Kim Stempel to discuss what surprised her about the game, if she has any regrets, and whether she enjoyed competing on Survivor more than DONDI.
Did Parvati Shallow and Phillip Solomon mend their friendship on Deal or No Deal Island?
Kim Stempel: Why did you feel like it was your time to play the Banker?
Parvati Shallow: Well, it’s called Deal or No Deal Island. I wanted to have a chance to play. I didn’t want to get eliminated without having played the Banker.
Kim Stempel: Right.
Parvati Shallow: Let’s take a chance. Let’s take luck into my own hands and give it a go. It didn’t work out the way that I wanted it to.
Kim Stempel: That was heartbreaking.
Parvati Shallow: I know.
Kim Stempel: Did you ever have a chance to speak with Phillip off-camera about his feelings regarding the comment about Dr. Will [Kirby]?
Parvati Shallow: Yeah. Phillip and I, I think what happened in the game was Phillip just didn’t trust me. He was relating to me as this idea that he had of me as the Black Widow. So, he wasn’t seeing the real person that I was, and I was relating to him as if we were friends. So, we were both just kind of mismatched in the way we were connecting on the island.
As soon as the game was over, we were cool. Phillip was eliminated that night. He was waiting in the van. As soon as I lost to the Banker, I went and joined him in the van. And we were immediately fine … like buddies.
What shocked Parvati the most about Deal or No Deal Island?
Kim Stempel: What surprised you most about the game?
Parvati Shallow: Umm … David being there (laughs). Shocker! That really surprised me the absolute most. I thought I was going to be the only known quantity. And then when David was there, I was like, What?! This is so fun! It was exciting.
Kim Stempel: It’s shocking that his identity stayed under cover the whole time.
Parvati Shallow: I know (laughs). I loved having that secret. I loved being the only one who knew and having that power because I had leverage over him. And I knew that he wouldn’t try to come after me because if he did, I would blow his whole game up. So, it felt like an important ace in my back pocket.
Kim Stempel: Which game did you enjoy more: Deal or No Deal Island or Survivor?
Parvati Shallow: Deal or No Deal Island is the most fun game I’ve ever played. It was such a blast. Survivor is very intense and requires a lot of suffering, overcoming suffering, and discomfort. Deal was just a blast. It was like a silly, fun, role-play for me the whole game. And I had the best alliance. Like, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
Kim Stempel: And you totally dominated, getting immunity nine times!
Parvati Shallow: Nine times in a row, and that helped me too because I felt comfortable the whole game. I could be free with who I was, just totally open, being myself, emotionally open.
I didn’t feel stressed … was just like, very much myself, and that doesn’t really happen in these kinds of competition games because usually, I have to play my cards much closer to my chest. And not let people see what I’m really feeling or thinking.
But on Deal, because I was safe every time, I was like, Oh. I can just say whatever I want. I can be mad at Will. Fine. Tell him how I really feel (laughs). That was … I loved that part of it.
How did Parvati feel helping David with the final excursion on Deal or No Deal Island Season 2?
Kim Stempel: How did you feel helping David pull down the drawbridge during the final excursion?
Parvati Shallow: It was kind of bittersweet because I wanted to be there, obviously. I wanted that to be me winning. But it was also very sweet because we played the game so closely the whole time, and I wanted him to win that challenge. If it wasn’t going to be me, I wanted it to be him. So, I was happy to be able to help him out.
Kim Stempel: And why did you decide to help [Alexis] Lete during the final excursion?
Parvati Shallow: You know, I give credit where credit is due. Lete gave me a good answer. I liked it. It showed that she knew a bit about what I cared about. I’m a life coach, and I love supporting people to become their best selves. So, if she wants to be the new Black Widow, so be it. Like, I’m happy to support you in doing that.
I will say though, I did slow her down slightly. When I was helping David it was full on, but when I was helping Lete, I was stopping in the middle to ask her more questions, and pausing. I was like mildly supporting her but mildly slowing her down. But I thought her answer was good.
Kim Stempel: It was. At least you weren’t pulling a Seychelle [Cordero]. (Seychelle sabotaged CK during the final excursion)
Parvati Shallow: Oh, gosh! Phillip and I were watching that through the crack and I was like, Oh my God! What is happening?
Yeah. That’s not my style. Look, I have been a victim of a salty jury in the past. I know what it’s like to be sabotaged by people when they are bitter or feel like they don’t like you for whatever reason. I don’t want to do that.
Kim Stempel: Yeah. That was tough.
Parvati Shallow: Yeah.
Parvati Shallow loved competing on Deal or No Deal Island
Kim Stempel: Are you still in touch with any of the cast?
Parvati Shallow: Yes. Dickson [Wong] is coming to stay at my house for the finale. We’re going to go bowling with him and M.G. [Maria-Grace Cook]. David will be here. He’s going to throw a big party.
Will and I have hung out. Phillip and I are in touch. Yeah … M.G., that’s it really. This cast a lot of people have stayed in touch.
Kim Stempel: So, you’re in touch with Dr. Will?
Parvati Shallow: (laughs) Yeah … yeah, I know. Surprise! He’s actually pretty cool in life outside of the game when he drops his reality TV persona.
Kim Stempel: That’s so funny! M.G. mentioned that as well.
Parvati Shallow: Yeah, he’s nice.
Kim Stempel: Do you have any regrets about the game?
Parvati Shallow: Not really. I had such a good time. It was such a beautiful experience for me, where I could be free and be myself, could play with the forces of the universe and luck and I was rewarded for showing up with an open heart. And yeah … I had a blast. With the Family, it was so fun. I wish I would have won against the Banker, but it’s not really a regret playing, because I wanted to play. So, yeah, no regrets.
Parvati is taking away some genuine friendships from Deal or No Deal Island Season 2
Kim Stempel: Is there anything else that you’re taking away from this experience?
Parvati Shallow: Yeah. I think that the biggest, like, treasure that I got from playing Deal or No Deal [Island] is the relationships that I built out there.
One of my best friends now is Amy Bean, who is a story producer out on the island. She and I started a podcast called Nice Girls Don’t Win. I wouldn’t have this podcast, I wouldn’t have her in my life had I not played Deal or No Deal. So, I’m taking some very real friendships away from the game, and that doesn’t happen every time.
But I think that’s a testament to this game specifically. It’s not as cut-throat or manipulative or devious as Survivor or [The] Traitors. So, I can really just be myself and in being myself, I could cultivate real relationships with people that would last beyond this one game.
This interview was edited for clarity.
Deal or No Deal Island is streaming on Peacock.
TELL US – ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED THAT PARVATI LOST AGAINST THE BANKER? WHO WILL WIN DEAL OR NO DEAL ISLAND SEASON 2?
