Russell Should Have Won Survivor!
All right, I don’t normally write about TV shows. But this season’s Survivor: Samoa should have been won by Russell. Natalie didn’t deserve it at all. She rode Russell’s coat-tails throughout the whole game. I think the jury voted for her because Russell out-witted all of them, and they were pissed off.
One player, Eric, said he felt Natalie’s qualities as a player were more virtuous than Russell’s. To which I say “who cares?”
Memo to Eric – Russell kicked your ass. He outsmarted everyone out there.
When TV viewers voted for their favorite player, Russell won. But when the jury of his peers – the people in the game who he outsmarted and outplayed voted – Natalie won.
Sorry, Eric and all the other jury members. But that’s just lame. Without Russell, Natalie was nothing. Without Russell, this season would have been boring. Russell was the man we tuned in for every week. Russell played the game with vigor, while the rest of you just wanted a love-fest of friendliness. How is that playing the game?
It sort of reminds me of Ayn Rand’s book Atlas Shrugged. Without a man taking charge and running things to his own advantage, everyone else in Survivor would have been content to lay around getting a suntan, as if they were in Club Med. (Go watch the tape – that’s what many of them were doing.)
Russell – you kicked ass. You deserved to win. My kids and I were rooting for you up until the end.
Natalie – you rode Russell’s coat-tails. You don’t deserve one penny of that million dollars. You owe everything to the man – Russell.
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Comment by Jeremy
| December 21st, 2009
Dude!! No friggin doubt! You are spot on correct in everything you said, sounds like you recorded what I was saying when I watched last night. Russell nailed them all before they voted when he said they were right there ‘high fiving’!
Natalie wouldn’t exist without Russell, but Russell would still have been badass without her. She was completely irrelevant on this show, kinda like, say…Stacy King was on the championship Bulls from the early 90s. Stacy who you say? Exactly…..
Jeremy´s last blog ..Make your own coffee at home
Comment by Jay
| December 21st, 2009
You guys are both very right it literally makes me wanna vomit when I think about Natalie winning a million dollars. It is just all together wrong Russell to me was the funnest player to watch ever as well as the best player. All those people on the jury especially Jaison need to learn how to put personal issues aside and vote for who is really deserving. Russell -Very Upsetting
Comment by Nicki
| December 21st, 2009
Wow. Tell me how you really feel.
Now, you’re making me wish I had television. Thanks for that. And to think I was congratulating myself on all the quality time I was having with the kids and how much more productive I was without the magic box blaring 24/7 in the living room.
Guess I have to rethink my priorities.
Nicki´s last blog ..Finally, another Gwen Bell 2009 Blog Challenge Post…
Comment by Pete
| December 21st, 2009
Natalie does not deserve it at all. Russell outplay, outlasted, and outwitted. He got immunity idols without clues! Russell also told the jury that he played each and everyone one of them and because the jury had personal issues with Russell 1 million dollars is taken away from him. That was bad on the juries part.
Comment by Mindy/Single Mom Says...
| December 21st, 2009
I don’t watch the show but it’s funny to see you get so worked up about it!
I also haven’t read the book you mentioned but to counter what you implied, you know the saying about what’s behind every successful man, right?
Just sayin’.
;)
Mindy/Single Mom Says…´s last blog ..Crumb-Babies, Christmas & Creepiness
Comment by Joe
| December 21st, 2009
Could not have said it better:
1. Secret alliances with everyone – Brilliant
2. Kick-off anyone who suspects you
3. Enter merge down 8 to 4 and carry 3 of the 4 to the final
4. Find Individual Immunity Idols with no clues – Never done before
5. Finally win individual immunity when it counted most resulting in Brett hitting the jury chair
Russell could not have played this game better and he established a new set of rules in many areas. He is the best player I have seen in this game in many years and without a doubt should have Been the Sole Survivor.
Natalie? Really? Just a commentary on today’s American society where no one wants anyone too much better off than they are, and etiquette and political correctness are valued much more than strength, intelligence and perseverance.
This is the No Survivor Left Behind Program, sad :’(
Comment by Just Me...
| December 21st, 2009
Such is life.. The guy who works hard and wins is envied and trashed, rather than lauded, for his accomplishments..
Pretty much a statement on society in general today. If you work hard and succeed, you simply “won life’s lottery” or were some how lucky.. It’s the way the lazy and dull justify to themselves their failures.. C’est la Vie..
Just Me…´s last blog ..Saturday Shopping..
Comment by BigLittleWolf
| December 21st, 2009
Pffft!!! I’d rather watch Top Chef. Plenty of testosterone – put to better use.
BigLittleWolf´s last blog ..Light in the morning
Comment by Honey
| December 21st, 2009
I’ve never been able to get into Survivor, despite all the tv (reality and otherwise) that I watch.
Haha, Mindy, Ayn Rand would TOTALLY disagree with that saying. She was an objectivist (which, among other things, means every man out for themself).
Honey´s last blog ..How to say “Bad Motherf**cker” in a job interview and get the job
Comment by Sandra
| December 21st, 2009
I am a complete reality show whore. However, I can NOT stand survivor. I’ve tried watching a couple of episodes and no can do.
Sandra´s last blog ..The Sunday Scoop
Comment by Mike
| December 21st, 2009
Russell got hosed. Absolutely one of the best players ever and he doesn’t win? The “jury” is really just a panel of pissed off losers, maybe they need to re-think that. Natalie has to be one the weakest “winners” ever, can somebody tell me what she did to deserve the title- seriously, I watched the whole series, she never did anything, ever.
Comment by CaptJack
| December 21st, 2009
Absolutely agree that Russell should have won. We hated him in the beginning, but cheered for him in the end. He demonstrated that you should never give up.
Comment by Coachdad
| December 21st, 2009
Ditto, Ditto, Ditto! I was pissed last night watching that BS.
Coachdad´s last blog ..Break needed so I can work again
Comment by Pua
| December 21st, 2009
Russell lost because of Erik’s speech (and for the reasons articulated by Jaison later — that he is the guy at work that you detest). Russell looked like he was livid with rage and like he was going to cry. He looks like a defective person and narcasist, and it was very telling that he was willing to BUY what he could not have, the victory. If he was willing to buy it, rather than earn the votes, it goes to show that his value system (if any) lacks substance.
He also lost because of his arrogance in not being able to resist bragging to Mick how rich he was. If he had not done that (but he couldn’t help it, he is such an jackass) he might have won even though he is a dark, ugly person.
Richard Hatch was clearly a kinder person with more integrity and his strategy earned the respect of the jury. Russell displayed contempt (e.g. you are just my pawns… not people). I think we should cheer for Russell’s loss heartily
Comment by Jeannie
| December 21st, 2009
Russell deserved to win, HANDS DOWN. Anyone that denies that is being ridiculous. The jury was bitter, so they voted for Natalie. She did nothing in this game, she was least deserving out of all of them. This article is absolutely on point, and I agree that Natalie didn’t deserve ONE PENNY of that million dollars!! My husband and I were so mad watching that last night. He swore to never watch Survivor again.
Comment by Vanessa
| December 21st, 2009
I have watched Survivor for the past 8 years, and never have I been this disappointed in the jury’s decision. Everyone on that jury knew Russell deserved to win. Who cares if he deceived people to get to the top? It was a GAME, the game is to win. He played the game 100 times better than them all, and he deserved the title and the money. I was shocked that Natalie won, she didn’t deserve it at all!
Comment by Travis
| December 21st, 2009
Survivor, eh, I’m not into it, but Amazing Race and all the cooking competitions. Bring it on.
Travis´s last blog ..This Thought Brought To You By Nutella
Comment by jason
| December 21st, 2009
dad
ayn rand’s books may be popular, but as a life philosophy it is empty
perhaps, much like the show survivor. actually i have never watched survivor but i saw the 2 final contestants interviewed on morning news for a minute and i thought, does anyone really care?? i guess people do
thx
Comment by dadshouse
| December 21st, 2009
Jason – ha! I actually agree with you. I read the Fountainhead when I was in college, and at the time I thought Ayn Rand’s egotist philosophy was spot on. Atlas Shrugged was more of the same. But then I worked in Silicon Valley, and I realized success didn’t happen to companies due to one leader who cared. It took passion by every employee. So I agree – Rand’s philosophy is empty.
That said – I did see a parallel with Russell and everyone else on Survivor Samoa. The others flat out weren’t playing the game. He outwitted everyone. And he was loyal to a fault in the end. He should have dumped Natalie and Mick, and kept Shambo and Jaison, and he would have gotten the million. But he stayed true to his earliest FoaFoa alliances.
Pua – yes, Russell treated people like a pawn. But how is that different than other players in other seasons? Remember the guy who gave up his immunity necklace to some woman just before the tribal vote – then his tribe turned on him and voted him off? That was vile. They treated him like a pawn when some woman used her wiles to get him to give it up. Nothing Russell did was as low as that.
Russell was smart and cunning. He outwitted the show’s producers by finding immunity idols without any clues! If he’d been voted off the show early, we would have stopped watching this season. Every other player was just so droll and boring, and not even playing the game.
Yeah, I’m worked up by this. It pisses me off that those lazy losers on the jury voted with a bitter vendetta, rather than going down gracefully in defeat and rewarding the one player who truly deserved to win.
Comment by Ava
| December 21st, 2009
why did natalie win?! i mean really. when you vote it shouldn’t matter about who you liked more it matters about who played the game the best and that pearson was rusell. he made survivor history. without him i wouldn’t even have watched the show. i hope that he comes back for the next survivor heros vs villans!
Ava´s last blog ..Russell Should Have Won Survivor!
Comment by Diane Taylor
| December 21st, 2009
I totally agree that Russell deserved to win. I didn’t like him at first,but then he kind of grew on me. At least he got the Sprint award, which I my opinion really reflects he should have won. As someone else mentioned, the jury was lame!
Comment by tigger_88
| December 21st, 2009
Russell should have won…period. He played the best game I have seen so far and I have been watching Survivor since the beginning. The jury was the worst jury I have seen since the beginning because they all voted with their egos instead of voting based on strategy. It’s a game and they lost sight of that.
Comment by Shay
| December 21st, 2009
Russell didn’t play a better game if he couldn’t get the jury to vote for him! It’s not like it was even a close vote. Haven’t you ever seen the show before? Juries vote for all kinds of reasons & being bitter is one of the more common ones.
The jury vote is PART OF THE GAME. Everyone knew it. If Natalie’s game was the social game – that is, being NICE to people and playing the social side of Survivor – and it worked better in the end game with a bunch of bitter people, then guess what, she was the better “survivor.”
There is no “deserve” in survivor. You get more votes, you win. Russell was the best immunity-idol finder ever. But not the best at getting jury votes. Deal with it.
Linda Holmes, who recapped Survivor for many years & wrote the best description of the types of jury comments/questions I’ve ever read, summarizes why Russell losing is not really outrageous:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2009/12/survivor_crowns_a_winner_offen.html
Comment by Shay
| December 21st, 2009
Here is a look down memory lane of class jury speeches:
http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/survivor/notable_jury_speeches_besides.php
I can’t seem to find where the “categories of juror questions” were first identified, but that post includes a notation about what type of “question” each classic juror was asking as well.
Comment by dadshouse
| December 21st, 2009
Shay – I do not believe Natalie would have made it to the end without Russell. You can poo-poo his finding the immunity idols, but without those the FoaFoa tribe could not have blind-sided Erik. Galu would have picked off FoaFoa members one by one, Natalie included. Russell’s impact on the game was more than just hogging camera time. He played the game. The others sat around sunbathing.
Comment by Shay
| December 21st, 2009
Russell would not have made it to the end without Natalie, because: (1) she was instrumental in getting the Galu to turn on Erik by approaching the Galus (seeing as she was the “liked” person); and (2) her vote was just as critical in FoaFoa having *4* votes as Russell, Mick and Jaison. They ALL needed each other to get that far, so it’s ridiculous to give one person more credit than the other.
As far as who was “more important” in making it to the end, Russell’s idol was critical at the Kelly ouster. Natalie’s gamesmanship was more critical in getting Galu to self-destruct on Erik. There were other votes that Russell did not get to choose his prime target, to the extent we can believe the editing (e.g., Ben, possibly Dave Ball).
People talk about deserving in survivor and it misses the point of what the whole game is – that includes winning a jury. Please read the links I posted above, especially the second one, because that’s a nice summary of the past behaviors of jurors, which anyone on Survivor would know at this point. (If you’re a fan of the show, it’s a fun trip down memory lane as well.)
“Coat-tail” riding is a strategy that sometimes works and sometimes backfires. Nonetheless, it is a strategy. It is just less impressive-looking than being a “mover and a shaker” or winning lots of challenges (it didn’t happen this season, but it’s common to hear ahout how women who have made it to the end of survivor are coat-tail riders, because they are not strong men who won challengs and group alliance decisions are attributed to the loudest person, even if everyone worked together – it’s not even always gendered, the same thing happened to Stephen vs. JT).
Back to this season, there are people who would think Russell is “not deserving” on account of him not being good at challenges. There are people who would think that Russell is “not deserving” on account of him not making many friends. After 19 seasons, though, it’s pretty clear that there is no such thing as “deserving” in this game as being the reason for someone winning or losing. The only rule is you have to win the jury.
Survivor is a game, just like Monopoly is a game. As Jonathan Penner pointed out, there are no villains in Monopoly. Russell did not win, because he did not convince a jury of his castmates to vote for him.
Obviously, you feel very emotionally invested in this idea that one person was more ‘deserving’ than another here, and we may fundamentally disagree on that even existing as a concept. I do hope you’ll read the links I’ve posted though, at least to get some more analysis of this issue and a look-back at juries of the past to understand where I am coming from here. After 19 seasons, I guess I’m still astounded when people expect that the jury is “supposed” to reward the person that the viewers will find most deserving.
Comment by Pascale
| December 21st, 2009
RUSSELL TOTALY SHOULD OF WON! I JUST HOPE HE READS THIS PAGE AND THAT HE SEES THAT EVERYONE THINKS THAT HE SHOULD OF WON! natalie never should of won! she did everything that rusell told her to do. Rusell played the game, and usualy the one that plays the best wins. The jury members have problems in their little heads. They were so pissed off that rusell totaly blind sided every single one of them, that they decided that he didn’t desirve it. Oh, let,s just give it to the blond chick.. COMMON! SHE WAS LAME DURING THE WHOLE SEASON! SHE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!!!
p.s RUSELL ROCKS!
Comment by LaughingAtFanatics
| December 21st, 2009
It takes 2 things to win at survivor!
1) Get to the Finals
2) Get the majority to vote for you.
All the fanatics forget about #2. They don’t vote for you, you do not win. Russell did not get that either!
I loved to watch him play and I loved watching him lose! Win-Win!
Comment by Robin S
| December 21st, 2009
Russell should have won period! The man came through with everything he said he’d do. He survived everything and took more action and risks! He provided all the crazy entertainment and unblieveale moves with his carefully thought out plans. It totally pissed me off when Natlitle won with her “oh golly” look, what a lame Jury. Russell wins in my book. I’d just wish the Sprint prize was a cool million instead like Ruperts. At least have some justification.
Comment by Wife and Mommy
| December 21st, 2009
You are SPOT ON. It should’ve been Russell all the way. The jury was bitter that he bested them all.
I am looking forward to the next season of Survivor–Heroes v. Villains. I wonder if Russell was invited back for that?
Wife and Mommy´s last blog ..Snow-pocalypse
Comment by Dee
| December 21st, 2009
I was shocked when Natalie won last night! What an injustice! Russell is clever, skilled, focused, etc. and Natalie waited around for someone to take her to the end.She totally rode his coat-tails! I guess she is no different than so many other people I have seen in life; you know, those people at the office where one guy bust butt, stays late, takes on assignments, and is a hard worker, and the other guy that just skates by but gets the credit because he’s a kiss-butt. Natalie kiss-butt last night! She is not a game-player in any stretch of the imagination. Russell outwit, outlast, outplayed. Russell’s downfall? Getting cocky! I believe if he had not gotten so smug and had been more humbled, it might have gotten him the million. The jury? spoiled little preschoolers! someone built a better house of Leggos than me so now I’m going to be a snot and kick it down! They’re all jealous of Russell, as well as they should be. Had Russell went home early in the game, I probably wouldn’t been interested in watching the show, because the only one with any real personality besides Russ, was Shambo, and she is just wacked, whereas Russell was always thinking ahead and playing the game. It is a sorry situation when someone can play the way they’re expected to play and then lose to still lose to someone like Natalie. So now we can all go on Survivor because anybody can win! Ups the chances, but doesn’t make for good TV. Don’t give that crap that Natalie played a “social game,” Natalie didn’t play anything! I like a good game, and Russell gave to us. Do you really think people were tuning in each week and giving Survivor their ratings just to see Natalie?! I’ve watched Survivor from Season one and I’ve never seen anyone less deserving to win than Natalie, except maybe Vacepia (sorry bout the spelling, I’m not sure about it) and Sandra–both who flew under the radar and let the others do the dirty stuff and only won because of someone else taking them to the end. I think this is my last season to watch this crap. Survivor is a joke, but Russell rules!
Comment by Justin
| December 21st, 2009
I watched everything in between customer jobs, but this one really got me upset. I actually had to turn off the TV when Natalie won.
I didn’t like Russell at first, but within a few episodes, I was cheering. I scared our two dogs when I cheered as he got the last immunity and expected him to win. Poor guy – jury was just upset they got beat so badly.
Comment by Danielle
| December 22nd, 2009
Now I know why I have never seen even 1 episode of that series of shows.
Not interested!
Danielle´s last blog ..Santa, I have been a good little girl.
Comment by Rob
| December 23rd, 2009
Yo Natalie! I’m really happy for you, Imma let you finish but Russell had one of the best games of Survivor of all time! One of the best games of all times!
Comment by angie
| December 23rd, 2009
Shay — I couldn’t agree more. Making it to the end is meaningless if you piss everyone off along the way. Everyone (on Survivor) seemed to agree that Brett would have won had he made it to the end. Why? Because everyone liked him. So they got rid of him. Not because he played a better game strategically. I can’t stand Natalie, but her stategy was just as valid as anyone else’s. Russell was definitely smart and aggressive in the game, but not taking into account that you just might be pissing off the entire jury is a MAJOR strategic flaw. It’s one thing to orchestrate ousting people, but then he rubbed their noses in it, and showed off his arrogance by not playing the immunity idol around his neck at that last opportunity. His cockiness was his downfall. I totally enjoyed watching him squirm.
Comment by Travis
| December 23rd, 2009
@Rob – Haha, way to use a meme. :)
Travis´s last blog ..My True Love Gave To Me. Fiiiive Goldeeennn Riiiings!
Comment by Sandy
| December 28th, 2009
Wow, you got some long comments with this one! Nobody was more shocked by her win than Natalie unless you count Russell. He probably did deserve to win. At least he got the $100,000 from the poll.
Sandy´s last blog ..Question……
Comment by Lou
| January 1st, 2010
Russel Hands Down Played the best game EVER! I am not even going to watch next season, unless the public vote for the winner
Comment by Blooskyy
| January 26th, 2010
Russell should have won, simple as that! I think perhaps his only downfall was he let his ego get to the finish line before he’d actually won.
Comment by Karina
| February 2nd, 2010
so so so so agree i only watch the show to see what Russell will do next. He was the soul player of the GAME he should of won Natalie NATALIE WHO!!!!!! she is no one with out Russell, he carried her all he way. GO RUSSELL WILL ALWAYS THINK YOU SOULD OF WON NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE AND HOW SUCSESSFULL YOU ARE IN LIFE. BEST SURVIER PF ALL TIME
Comment by Nelly
| February 2nd, 2010
Russeel should have won…I cannot believe this show. People forget it’s a game…and he played the game…
Comment by Ramflabr
| May 4th, 2010
Russell should have won. He was by far the best player, the most fun to watch, and only the sour grapes of the other players made him loose it…
Seriously, Natalie? Of all of the people there? Aren’t you all kidding?
Comment by Ramflabr
| May 4th, 2010
Brett was the little boy who will always get the sympathy vote. Do you really think Russell had any chance had he not played the game?
Comment by SHAZAM
| May 25th, 2010
All i can say is that it should have been the VOTERS out there to make a choice WHO they thought was the BEST!!
Yes Russell should have won there is no doubt about that!!
He was the HEAD PACK LEADER who RULED with an IRON FIST (It does ot matter on who you THINk was the nicest etc it was ABOUT SURVIVOR so what MORE can you CLASS as a SURVIVOR!!
For those who think otherwise “MABEY” we should have a show called = EMOTIONAL FRIENDS SURVIVOR lol and of course Russell wouldnt win that game “OH HANG ON” he didnt win Survivor SO mabey they should retitle it to what i just mentioned!!
SHAZAM´s last blog ..Hi All ;-)
Comment by SHAZAM
| May 30th, 2010
By the way also many of the other survivors had weak gameplay and the fact that a bitter jury went with the coattail instead of the game player just ensures future seasons will be boring. People will not want to make power plays in fear of being “Russelled” out of a million. Hello to the end of Survivor….
Like i said they should RETITLE future serious as = EMOTIONAL FRIENDS SURVIVOR (Gee i can see a smash hit here…NOT!!!)
SHAZAM´s last blog ..Hi All ;-)