Survivor Samoa

[Sgt Pepper]

Certainly Russell's game was easier to advertise, hype-up, or whatever than Natalie's, even if she played better, and deserved the win!

Thanks for the clarification, and you are correct of course. After all, if so many viewers are unable to correctly identify subtle, effective gameplay, why should we expect the producers and Probst to 1) be any different and 2) frame the narrative in a way that is unpalatable to the largely unperceptive audience?

 

[Sgt Pepper]

It will be Hilarious if Russell makes it to the end and loses again next season, and preferably to another woman. I don't think he wins next season because of his reactions at the finale, he looked like he was putting all of his hopes on this win because he didn't win next season.

As hilariously fitting as that would be, I can't stand the guy enough to want to watch him throughout an entire season again. I can't wait to see how the producers find ways to give him more advantages though. Will they just hide one of the immunity idols in his shorts at this point?

The one Reality Show maxim I am clinging to is the fact that "second chances" are usually myth-destroying for the fan favorite. Even the few who retain their popularity (Janelle on Big Brother All Stars) still manage to taint a little bit of their image from the season that made them a star. If Russell loses next season and comes out of it with more people realizing he's not a great player, while others just lose their rooting interest as part of the natural television law of diminishing returns, in other words if the Russell is the Best Player of All Time and Was Totally Robbed By a Petty Jury! image gets tarnished even a little (and I believe it will, this almost always happens), that will be satisfying enough for me.

 

[Aratron]

Because both Probst and Russell continuously show -- via their uninsightful comments and their inability to correctly process what transpired -- that they don't understand that Survivor is PRIMARILY (not tangentially) a game of social strategy. Probst especially has been annoying about this for years, favoring big manly men who win challenges and/or players who make "bold" moves (even if those moves lack benefit or efficacy). And he doesn't just favor them, he actively inserts himself into the game and tries to manipulate the outcome in favor of these chosen ones. It's his worst quality as a host.

And Russell's constant bitching over losing, and his responses to Natalie show that he's no better; he really thinks "star of the show" (a producer's conceit) and "best player" are always one and the same.

I meant the part where Russell watched every season because I read an interview of him where he said he only watched Micronesia (they all do to familiarize with the game)

 

[CoolBlue71]

This is a great article that all the delusional Russell fans should read:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2009/12/survivor_crowns_a_winner_offen.html

Thank you, so much!

 

[Sgt Pepper]

I meant the part where Russell watched every season because I read an interview of him where he said he only watched Micronesia (they all do to familiarize with the game)

Oh sorry, my bad. I misunderstood your question. I thought I'd read somewhere that Russell was a big fan of the game but I could be confusing him with someone else (he certainly SEEMS like someone obsessed with the show).

 

[TaggedGalaxy]

Russell can't accept the fact that Natalie played him and not the other way around, Natalie has said numerous times that there were many plans to vote Russell out even pre merge, but she stopped all those plans and refused to budge because she wanted to go to the end with him because she saw him for what he was a final tribal council goat, and it worked.