Final thoughts on this season

[rose]

He actually seemed to indicate that Natalie was pretty well off also...at least it seemed that way to me.  So he was just telling the jury to use other criteria for their vote...whatever that might be.  It just seemed like a ridiculous comment considering he could have asked something relevant.

[5Crocodiles4U]

(Strategy1st @ Dec. 22 2009,20:29)

QUOTE

Apparently Mick and Jaison were butting heads in the last few days, so I think there was more to his eye-rolling than Mick voting him out.  It was probably still petty stuff, mind...  I get the feeling that they'd all been living together too long. He explains in his interview why he asked that question.  Despite him saying that nobody should use who needs it as their criteria, he actually wanted to show that Mick and Russell both had better jobs than Natalie, so the jury would be more likely to vote for her.  Reverse psychology.  Who knows whether it actually worked, but it amused me.

Either way Mick or Jaison were destined to be finals goats.  And it's their faults they didn't do anything the whole season.
 
Jaison actually did outwit and outplay Mick by a little, he was part of the strategy in Erik's boot.  Mick only outwitted and outplayed Shambo's dead chickens.
 
If Jaison had been in Mick's spot he would have got the same "donut" from the jury.

[tribal elder]

Well folks I haven't been here for a while.  But after the past week, I thought I'd return to see how the past season went over with you and to post my final thoughts as well.

I've been dismayed by all the savage, absurdly reverent indignation being expressed throughout the web by those who were gullable enough to drink the Russell cool-aid that, for whatever reason, CBS served up this season.  I expect such nonsense from the more tasteless and less enlightened sites of Survivor banter.  I knew I could count on seeing many sensible comments here.  Yet, I also see that the cult of Russell has contributed to the dumbing-down of "Survivor Skills" as well.

I haven't posted here since the China season.  So in that respect, I will give credit to the Russell seed for rejuvenating an interest in and perhaps helping extend the run of a series which, according to Jeff Probst, is "still going strong."  (But judging from some of the "Previously on..." intros he's been doing the past few seasons, Jeff's been known to lie.)

It seems Russell and his devoted army of the asinine have been projecting their own bitterness onto the jury, a jury that made an entirely sensible decision.  It was at least sensible for a jury composed of human beings.  I've always thought it was a bit silly of Survivor to refer to them as juries anyway.  Tribal Council bears no resemblence to an actual court of law.  Frankly, considering Russell's demeanor and wardrobe preferences, I doubt he'd have much success in that venue either.  

Survivor is at it's core a social game.  To claim otherwise is to completely dismiss a decade of evidence to the contrary.  Not a social game?  Then why does Jeff Probst always start off a season talking about strangers coming together to form a society and the importance of first impressions?  The social game is how alliances are formed in the first place!  Ultimately, Survivor is not a sporting event.  It's not football.  It's not the Tour de France.  It's not even figure skating.  It more resembles a political campaign and Russell lost the election in a landslide.

When your personality is so unappealing that 7 out of 9 people (who, unlike the willingly manipulated masses, actually had to live with you 24 hours a day for weeks) would rather blow their brains out than live with the knowledge that they gave you a million dollars, there is a serious flaw in your game plan, and a serious flaw in your character.

Oh, and don't tell me Survivor is not about character, not about personality, not about class, not about grace, and much as I hate to use any words from the mouth of the "Dragonslayer", even a tiny bit of honor and integrity.  Survivor is about whatever the jury damn well wants it to be.

Seriously people.  What were you thinking?  Did you actually think CBS would dare hype a winner as the most evil contestant ever?  You think a victory for evil would win them that elusive Emmy?

I do give Russell credit for one thing:  In episode one he said he was going to show us how easy it is to win a million dollars.  That's exactly what he did, on Natalie's behalf.

I want to avoid engaging in what might be revisionist history or speculation.  But it can't be all that more absurd than the pro-Russell revisionism throughout the season, much of it coming from the mouth of Russell himself.  We need not make Natalie a strategic dynamo for saddling up an insufferable jackass and riding him all the way to the promised land.  No, I certainly won't claim Natalie was some sort of genius.  But neither was Ethan.  Neither was Vecepia.  Neither was Jenna.  Neither was Bob.  In fact, few sole survivors have actually been worthy of mastermind status.  Even those who could be considered as such had to have some lucky breaks along the way.  Yul certainly benefitted from Ozzy's challenge dominance, a well-timed double boot blindside and a hidden idol offer Jonathan couldn't refuse.  Hell, Frodo couldn't have done it without Gollum.  But that's another story.

Honestly, with only a basic knowledge of Survivor editing and storytelling, by the end of the first episode, I knew Russell could not possibly win.  That's what made the hype so perplexing and infuriating.  It was as if Probst and CBS were promoting a story the editors did not intend.  

Russell seemed to break every rule in the book of Sole Survivors.  He obviously skipped the chapter about helping the jury make a decision that wouldn't make them sick to their stomach.  He so disregarded these rules that Natalie only had to obey one:  Pretend to be nice.  And she wasn't even pretending.  

Russell was all about tactics, not strategy.  Emptying your own tribe's canteens and burning socks on the first night?  That is a tactic with no rational purpose. Prancing around camp in just your soggy white poop-stained underwear?  Sure, that's a wonderful way to make a lasting impression.  Getting in women's faces in a menacing manner?  Yeah, that'll win you votes. Forming a "secret" alliance with whomever happens to cross your path at that particular moment, then turning on them the next day?  Right, that'll foster goodwill.

In confessionals, how often did we see Russell say he was going to do one thing, then seemingly before the next commercial he was doing something else?  "I told them I'm a fireman who lost his dog in New Orleans."  "Oops.  I told Mick I'm a millionaire."  "I'm not telling anyone I found the idol."  "Oops.  I told John I have it.  But I meant to screw up like that, cause I'm running this game.  I'm controlling their minds.  I just wish I could make up mine."  "I'm gonna talk to Jaison and let him talk me into doing something that was my idea all along."  "These people are so stupid they can't see what a puppetmaster I am.  But I'm controlling their minds so they'll be smart enough to recognize my genius when it's time for them to give me a million dollars."  "I'm a superstar.  I'm a real man of genius.  I'm the most interesting man in the world."  "I'm gonna kept tearing into that stupid bitch Natalie till she takes out a restraining order against me.  I'll keep talking till her boyfriend knocks out another tooth.  Then I'll sue him for a million dollars.  It's mine, my own.  My... precious!"

[Jasen777]

I agree...

[124059]

I have to say, I believe that this season was the weakest yet. I did not enjoy it at all. Although there was Russell as the huge "character". I did not have anyone I was rooting for, and I think that that was the issue. There weren't any characters that I wanted to win. And with this, I also found Jaison to just be annoying, Shambo to be a crazy woman, and Russell... well... just to be Russell.... So while I did tune in everyweek, I was not looking forward to it that much... I had NO one to look forward to seeing - it was more about NOT seeing who I didn't want to see.

I am very happy that it is an All-Stars coming up to redeem this season - because THIS was in my opinion - the worst season yet.

[Cestriano]

Dunno, to say any season can be worse than Fiji is putting things pretty far out there. I thought this season was better than Tocantins, actually. Well, least from the merge on.

[124059]

(Cestriano @ Jan. 01 2010,22:23)

QUOTE

Dunno, to say any season can be worse than Fiji is putting things pretty far out there. I thought this season was better than Tocantins, actually. Well, least from the merge on.

Well, I Know this goes against what most people feel...
BUT I thought that Fiji was a decent season. I really
liked Michelle up until she was booted...
And then I really liked Dreamz and was rooting for him..
I know it goes against how most people feel... but I did
actuallt enjoy Fiji more than this season...

[Strategy1st]

I should point out that you have Samoa listed in your favourites, but not Fiji...    Not that I'm one to talk.  I've not updated my favourite seasons since joining.

Everyone has different favourites.  I thought Fiji was weak in production design, but had some fantastic moments in it.  Gabon was ruined for me by Sugar's interference in what could have been some great gameplay, whereas she made the season for others.  I hated the result of Micronesia, but overall, it's probably my favourite season for all the blindsides and differing strategies.  This season?  I think it's been fascinating gameplay-wise, but after having Russell and Shambo shoved down our throats so much, I'm wishing we could get some new editors.  Small wonder they got the most votes for fan favourites!

[124059]

(Strategy1st @ Jan. 02 2010,10:38)

QUOTE

I should point out that you have Samoa listed in your favourites, but not Fiji...    Not that I'm one to talk.  I've not updated my favourite seasons since joining. Everyone has different favourites.  I thought Fiji was weak in production design, but had some fantastic moments in it.  Gabon was ruined for me by Sugar's interference in what could have been some great gameplay, whereas she made the season for others.  I hated the result of Micronesia, but overall, it's probably my favourite season for all the blindsides and differing strategies.  This season?  I think it's been fascinating gameplay-wise, but after having Russell and Shambo shoved down our throats so much, I'm wishing we could get some new editors.  Small wonder they got the most votes for fan favourites!

I just basically put the season on there when it starts! lo! I changed it so it actaully has the seasons I like!!!

[Strategy1st]

I have to say, whether or not this was the most bitter jury in the history of Survivor, Russell has to be the most bitter loser.  I can understand being gutted he didn't win, and not understanding why he didn't win... but he's desperately milking his fifteen minutes of fame to keep ranting about how he was the greatest player and that Natalie was a terrible one.

The game's over.  You said at the start of the Season that you didn't need to win.  Move on, for God's sake.  

I would also advise just trying to accept that other people might see things differently from you and *gasp* that their opinions are just as valid as yours, but you showed during the game that this was not a concept that comes easily to you.

The betting for how much he'll mention it in the post-boot interviews for next season (assuming he's a cast member) starts here....

[Jasen777]

If next season is Russel show part 2, I'm not watching.

[Cestriano]

If Russell's reaction at the Samoa finale is anything to go by...I somehow doubt it'll be that at all.