Inconceivable: A comprehensive analysis of Dan Foley's parallels to Vizzini from The Princess Bride
There's been a lot of discussion in the past week about Dan's perception of himself and the actual role he played in terms of the game and the editing. Was he, as he considers himself, a hero (lolno)? Was he a villain? A misogynist? A tragic figure, betrayed by his onetime loyal ally Mike? I believe that Dan Foley was something else entirely: A season-long homage to one of the greatest supporting characters in cinematic history: Vizzini from *The Princess Bride*, played by the incomparable Wallace Shawn.
The comparison starts out easily enough: Despite size and facial hair differences, the two men look remarkably alike.
[Dan and his Sicilian cousin](http://i.imgur.com/efpr4oS.jpg)
Let's take a look at their introductions in the first episode. Dan's first few confessionals are all about how much he loves Survivor and the Blue Collar tribe's work ethic. Having a positive, heroic bent, if you will. Meanwhile, Vizzini's introduction is stopping Princess Buttercup on her daily horse ride and asking if there are any towns nearby. The picture of innocence...
...which is then immediately subverted. Upon receiving a negative answer from Buttercup, he and Inigo Montoya and Andre the Giant immediately move to kidnap her. And as for Dan?
**Mike:** We need a tribe leader. Let's make a decision.
**Lindsey:** (proposes reasonable plan)
**Dan:** That's stupid. That is the dumbest thing you could do.
[Dan exhibiting his traditional style of diplomacy](http://i.imgur.com/kZeyuRi.jpg)
Right in Episode 1, the editors are immediately alerting us to the connection between Vizzini and the Danimal. Both men start out with initially innocent - potentially heroic - introductions, which are almost immediately subverted and their true colors are revealed. We will not be rooting for either of these two men to succeed.
However, the comparisons don't end there, not by a long shot. Over the course of the season, we are treated to several more personality similarities, from over-inflated opinions of themselves...
**Dan (in John Cochran [interview](http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/news/1004219/survivor-s-dan-foley-is-snuffed-after-two-vote-advantage-works-against-him-to-have-fun-to-be-remembered-and-to-win-/)):** Probst couldn’t believe it, but two weeks ago he said in an interview that I am the most interesting character they have had in all thirty seasons.
[Vizzini:](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18ulbI9k5eA)
...to [over-used catchphrases...](http://i.imgur.com/IRCd1jb.jpg)
Flippers never win. I suck at life. I'd rather go down swinging than watch strike three go by. Heroes can win this game. [I had no idea about Shirin's past. None. Zero.](http://www.reddit.com/r/survivor/comments/36263l/if_you_are_wondering_why_so_many_of_spoilers_exit/cracr2c) Etc.
[Vizzini:](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D58LpHBnvsI)
...to briefly touching on their heritage...
[Vizzini:](http://i.imgur.com/nzVNzGE.jpg)
"Never go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line!!"
[Dan, putting on a fake Irish accent in his secret scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3M3O-59X4E)
(the last name Foley is of Irish origin)
...to dishonest treatment of women.
**Vizzini:** If you swim back now Highness, I promise, no harm will come to you! [meanwhile, Prince Humperdinck wants to kill her and frame the neighboring kingdom of Guilder for her murder]
**Dan, to Shirin:** For what it's worth, I'm sorry about what happened during Tribal Council.
**Shirin:** Which part?
**Dan:** The part that made you cry.
[Meanwhile, in confessional...](http://i.imgur.com/84KST4T.jpg)
**Dan:** Apparently, there's violence in [Shirin's] history. If that's the case, I feel very bad for her. [long pause] HOWEVER, that being said, Shirin is a drama queen, she is a two-faced liar, she loves to play the victim.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By this point in the game as well as this post it should be perfectly clear that Dan Foley and Vizzini are two peas in a pod, personality-wise. But the comparisons don't even stop there! The true beauty of relationship between these two titans of the screen is that even their character arcs mirror one another.
What do we know about Dan? First of all, he clearly has an over-inflated opinion of himself and likes to resort to catchphrases, both traits of which have already been discussed. But what about his status in the game? Dan obviously likes to think he's in control, displaying close bonds with both Rodney and Will ("My word is my bond", etc) and loudly proclaiming that *nobody* dictates his future but him. Unfortunately for Dan, this didn't exactly mirror reality. Everyone's favorite postal worker was not in Rodney's original core four. Sierra was keeping him around as a goat to take to the end. Tyler and Will found him disposable enough to vote for the night Mike flashed his idol. Dan wasn't enough of a player to be a threat, but he wasn't even enough of a goat to take to the end (Sierra exempted, and he would have only been one of her two).
As for Vizzini? Well, he clearly likes to think of himself as in charge, bossing around Inigo Montoya and Andre the Giant at every opportunity, but is he really? It's fairly obvious that he's just a hired gun by Prince Humperdinck to do a job. There's no future connection, no lasting relationship to be had. He is just a one-time tool, to be used and then disposed of. And as to his authority? After his death, Inigo Montoya and Andre the Giant work far more effectively first as a pair and then as a threesome with a very weakened Westley. So he was actually holding them back.
And so the two of them continue their dance, blundering their way through the world and getting visibly more and more frustrated as ~~circumstance~~ their own stupidity conspires against them.
[Dan](http://i.imgur.com/ChMnOth.gif)
[Vizzini](http://i.imgur.com/bR1I03S.gif)
As adversity mounts, and The Hero (Mike/Westley) gets closer to his destination, Dan and Vizzini start placing trust in other people to do his work for him and the pesky hero out of the way. For Vizzini, this is easy: He has a Spanish blademaster in Inigo Montoya who will surely stop the Man in Black at swordpoint. If that somehow fails, he has backup in Andre the Giant, who is Andre the Giant.
[Seriously.](http://i.imgur.com/KkOio4u.jpg)
Meanwhile, in Nicaragua, during a critical endurance immunity challenge, Dan has dropped out because of course he has. However, it becomes apparent that Mike just might win immunity, clearly not a desired outcome. So Dan decides to place his faith in a guy who can't even fucking swing a grappling hook without it clattering to the ground two feet in front of him to defeat one of the most dominant challenge performers we've seen in years.
[Dan decides to place his faith in Rodney.](http://i.imgur.com/XPs4EvS.jpg)
Obviously, Dan's faith is misplaced, as is Vizzini's in Inigo Montoya and Andre the Giant (though Vizzini can be somewhat excused for his, at least). Mike and Westley both continue to overcome obstacles.
Finally, it comes down to it: Both Dan and Vizzini's skins are now on the line. Dan because Mike has continued to win Immunity, Vizzini because he's run out of henchmen to throw at the problem. But wait, the situation is not all bad for these two! They're facing the enemy on a stage where they *finally*, for the first time in the game, have the edge. At Tribal Council, Dan has the advantage of an extra vote which he could use to devastating effect at the right moment. And Vizzini? Well, Vizzini has set up a diabolical trap.
Internet Mafia/Werewolf/etc players know this as the Wine In Front Of Me scene. For everyone else, it's the point in the story where Vizzini challenges the Man in Black to the [greatest battle of wits the world has ever seen.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_eZmEiyTo0)
So what happens? Vizzini completely surrenders his advantage, allows the Man in Black to dictate the terms of the battle, and pays the ultimate price. His strength was utterly turned against him.
And [Dan?](http://i.imgur.com/EHBRTok.jpg)
Dan plays his advantage, alerting Carolyn to the fact that she might get voted off, and thus Carolyn plays her idol. Dan's strength was utterly turned against him.
Thus ends the epic saga of Dan Foley and his numerous parallels to everyone's favorite bald, pale Sicilian Vizzini. While I'll certainly be watching the finale of Worlds Apart on Wednesday, it is my belief that the greatest and richest character arc has already concluded. Take a bow, editors, you've done quite well indeed.