Take inactive ally to the final 3 over THREE active allies
Should be shot. Tbh.
Lamest thing ever and really pathetic. Making an alliance in the first few minutes and going inactive for the rest of the game. Pathetic strategy that shouldn't be rewarded.
The people who did that to me (and two other people I respect) in a fastings.
I like you two, but I can't support that.
Also know that the three players you backstabbed for your inactive ally are far superior players than you'll ever be.
Just finished rewatching it with my full attention.
1. Natalie is a top tier winner. Her social game was flawless. She had a solid alliance with a strategic player from Day 1. And with one word of "Why can't we vote Erik?" sends Galu into self-implosion.
2. Russell is not only a terrible social player, but at best an average strategist. Of the Foa Foa vote offs, he can really only claim complete credit for 2. Liz and Marisa.
Betsy- Tribe wanted her off for being the older chick
Ashley- Tribe wanted her off for being 'the weakest'
He tries to downplay the importance or presence of luck in his game. Lucky moments for Russell
Russell S's unfortunate medevac
The Galu/Shambo rift (I refuse to acknowledge her ridiculous idea that the alienated her). She would not have been ripe to flip otherwise.
He capitalised on those lucky moments, for sure. And he made some good moves. But here are some overrated moves
Idolling Kelly. Galu didn't predict he was like a truffle hunting pig and found an idol right after the Tribal he just played one. Big fucking deal.
Getting John to flip on Laura. Would not have happened if not for Natalie's getting Galu to turn on Erik, giving John the entitled "my tribe are idiots" attitude (despite being the biggest idiot himself)
The Foa Foa overcame an 8-4 deficit. Somewhat impressive, but they had idols to help.
Maaramu overcome a 7-3 deficit in Marquesas, after losing one of their own first. So in fact, Sean and Vecepia (or rather, Vecepia herself) overcame a 7-2 outnumbering by original Rotu.
WITHOUT AN IDOLS.
So Russell is not that impressive. And those who think he is, need to look further back than Micronesia.
Which brings me to people who claim he was robbed.
Please understand survivor. There are two simple goals for a survivor contestant.
1. Make Day 39
2. Win a Jury vote.
That is it. There is no "one best strategy" to do that.
You make it to the end, you convince a jury to vote you to win. You're a better player than everyone else in that particular season. You had the right combination of luck and strategy to win.
Russell can do number 1. Fairly well. He did it 2 of 3 times. Samoa, he had luck on his side. Heroes vs Villains he had some luck to. There's nothing wrong with that. As Colby said, you're delusional if you think you can make it to the end of Survivor without any luck. Russell would get more respect from real Survivor fans, and Survivor veterans if he admitted that luck played a role in his game. But he's too delusional and arrogant to do that.
He's not the best at number 1, by far. But he is good at it.
Now, he fails completely at number 2. Which is why he can never be in the top tier of Survivor contestants.
Let's look at how many jury votes he could have won in his two trips to the final 3.
Samoa- 9
Heroes vs Villains- 9
And he won? 2 in Samoa, 0 in Heroes vs Villains.
Those who say "the jury was bitter, the jury was butthurt." No, you're wrong. There is NO defined criteria as to who the jury has to vote for. The jury can vote for whoever they want. And if that's the person they LIKE the best, and who they WANT to have a million dollars. Guess what? They can do that. What did he do to Monica when she said she could wreck him on the jury? He laughed at her and called her stupid. Way to win her jury vote Russ. He makes a deal with Brett he never plans to keep. Bye Bye to that Jury vote. Gloat about blindsiding Erik? Bye to his vote. Rub idoling Kelly in her face? Bye to that Jury vote. Blindside Jaison, your own tribe mate? Bye to his vote too. And so on, and so on.
Guess what people who deride Natalie and Sandra? Natalie. Achieved Goal 1 and Goal 2. Made it to day 39. How? By aligning with Russell. What else did she need to do? Why would she need to make a move against someone who wanted to take her to day 39. Because they were allies from day 1. Did Natalie know that Russell called her "the dumb long haired blonde from his dumb girls alliance" behind her back? No. But you can tell they had a genuine alliance. Despite the shit Russell talked in his confessional. Natalie initiated one important move without Russell. Voting out Erik. And Russell showed he didn't even trust her by playing his idol. He underestimated her.
Natalie won SEVEN jury votes. She convinced seven people of the nine person jury that they would want her to win a million dollars. How did she do this? By making friends around camp. By being gracious when someone won a challenge. By not rubbing it in the person's face when they got voted out. By not running around making deals that she can't keep.
Sandra (who Russell calls a terrible player). Achieved Goal 1 and Goal 2 not once, but twice. There is some luck, yes. But not ONE single winner made it to the end and won without a SINGLE shred of luck. Name one and I will tell you how luck helped them get to the end and win.
Sorry for the long rant, but I'm so sick of seeing in fastings discussions re: Survivor, and in Survivor group games applications "Russell Hantz is the best player ever and was robbed of two wins by 'butthurt' juries.
To those people, grow up and learn how Survivor works. I'm 22 years old and have watched since the first season when I was 9 years old. I have seen every season except one (Marquesas) pre season 20 (HvV), as they aired. I've only not seen Nicaragua and Redemption Island.
Just finished rewatching it with my full attention.