~ SURVIVOR Samoa ~ Season 19 ~

[Amy]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand any of you who keep saying that Russel is the better player.

What is the goal of Survivor? To win or to insure getting to the finals? It's to win, and Russel didn't win.

Natalie outplayed Russel because she made him her bruiser to eliminate people and get immunity idols. Meanwhile, she started working the jury IMMEDIATELY after the merge. She was a much better social player than Russel. While Russel was being stupid and burning his bridges by lying to everyone on the jury, Natalie was being friends with them and trying to get them to like her. That's the most important part of the game for a jury like Galu who is a very social tribe. Natalie recognized that and Russel didn't.

On some seasons of Survivor, the jury is looking for the hardest player like Russel, but this season they weren't and Natalie recognized that early. Russel didn't. This is a perfect example of "Don't burn your bridges." Russel did that and this jury didn't like it. So he failed. And didn't win.

Not only didn't Russel win, but he also said he wouldn't have changed a thing. He is totally OK with lying that he was in Katrina, which is VERY disturbing to me. Russel acts like he is such a great guy and great father ... maybe the guy should try teaching his kids humility. Russel is the least humble player I have seen in a while on Survivor. It's not like he jokes around about it like Tyson from Tocantins, he HONESTLY believes that his own crap doesn't stink. The guy worships the ground HE walks on. Teach your kids humility, dude.

Russel just feels like a complete idiot because Natalie was playing the social game while letting Russel look like the dumb Silverback Gorrila who was lying to everyone and eliminating everyone.

ALSO folks, Foa Foa would be gone if Natalie hadn't gotten rid of Eric. That was the biggest move of the game. Eric was the leader of Galu and she was social manipulative enough to get him eliminated. Sure, Russel manipulated later on after that, but he wouldn't have been able to if Eric had not been eliminated, thanks to Natalie.

The last thing I have to say about Russel is that he did not do what he did during the game just because it was a game. That's pure BS. Notice how during the game when he was being evil, he would laugh the who time and have a big smile on his face about it. He laughed after lying about Katrina, laughed after dumping out his tribe's water, etc. Notice how on the live Reunion special, he didn't laugh except for when he won the $100k. The guy obviously gets off on being evil and must lock it up during his normal life and let it all out during Survivor.

Anyway, the season was very interesting and I enjoyed every minute of it. Natalie deserved to win in my opinion because she played the jury the best. People neglect that Survivor is not just about getting to the finals. The most important part is gaining the favor of the jury ... PERIOD.

Yeah, maybe so. But as the jury that is their right.

Jeff often emphasizes it. The power switches to the jury. THIS is where the social aspect comes into play. The jury gets to make whatever decision they feel like making and it is NOT only about who outwitted them. It is also about the social aspect and no jury in the world is going to give a million bucks to someone who is a complete A$$ just because he outwitted them.

Players in this game have to carefully balance all aspects of this game and Russell did not. he played an awesome strategic game, probably one of the best ever. But his social game SUCKED, and that was his downfall, IMHO.

I agree with both of these, and that's why Russell lost. To be soooo cocky about everything, I'm sure that ticked off a lot of the jury, even if they were willing to admit that he outplayed everyone else.

What Jaison said about it being like an office and the diff. personalities working on a team.......THAT's why Russell lost and Natalie won.

 

[Amy]

Just watched Russell and Natalie on the Morning Show. Russell again was stating that he was the better player and that Natalie did not deserve the win. I actually felt sorry for Natalie: why, in her moment of glory (getting the check for one million) did CBS bring in Russell?

Because they always have the winner and runner-up. Russell was so ticked off last night that he didn't win, and I guess he still hasn't gotten over it. He had such a sour look on his face during the entire reunion show. You'd think with as much as he seems to have studied past Survivor seasons: the cocky ones are the ones that get voted off.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I agree with both of these, and that's why Russell lost. To be soooo cocky about everything, I'm sure that ticked off a lot of the jury, even if they were willing to admit that he outplayed everyone else.

What Jaison said about it being like an office and the diff. personalities working on a team.......THAT's why Russell lost and Natalie won.

 

[dejr_8]

I agree with both of these, and that's why Russell lost. To be soooo cocky about everything, I'm sure that ticked off a lot of the jury, even if they were willing to admit that he outplayed everyone else.

What Jaison said about it being like an office and the diff. personalities working on a team.......THAT's why Russell lost and Natalie won.

But as I posted earlier. If Russell was such the Jerk why didn't Jaison lead an effort to oust Russell???? Why Didn't Mick, Natalie and Jaison try???? They all road the coattails of Russell. No if, ands or buts about it.

 

[jrmasm]

But as I posted earlier. If Russell was such the Jerk why didn't Jaison lead an effort to oust Russell???? Why Didn't Mick, Natalie and Jaison try???? They all road the coattails of Russell. No if, ands or buts about it.

The only thing I can come up with is that none of them were very bright. There were chances to get Russell out and they only tried once. I guess if you keep that in mind, it would make sense that their final votes would be stupid too.

 

[hucifer]

That was the BEST Survivor with the absolute WORST outcome ever. Russell was robbed, plain and simple. He led his team and dominated that game. No one else came close. If he wanted you out, you were gone. He played it like no one else ever has. I imagine after all-stars everyone will suddenly start looking for hidden idols without the clues. That will become the norm.

I "like" Natalie. But she was not worthy of winning. She could not even tell the jury what she had done. She cried and she said she killed a rat, rode coat-tails. That is not enough, IMHO. She never even mentioned getting Erik out. She was stupified!

I agree with your post. I know Russell's social game wasn't good, but man he played the game like no one I've ever seen. I loved watching him work the others. Pure genius. My husband and I are very sorry that he didn't win.

 

[Sorsha]

But as I posted earlier. If Russell was such the Jerk why didn't Jaison lead an effort to oust Russell???? Why Didn't Mick, Natalie and Jaison try???? They all road the coattails of Russell. No if, ands or buts about it.

And THAT is how THEY outwitted HIM.

hmmm.... too many pronouns. Let me revise.

And THAT is how THEY (Mick, Natalie and Jaison) outwitted HIM (Russell).

They let Russell be the henchman. They let him keep doing the things he were doing because it was in their best interests. The Foa Foa four ended up the victor, but really only Russell seemed to be the bad guy. THEY played the social aspect, HE did not.

If you want to call it "riding his coattails" that's fine, to an extent they did. BUT that is still a justifiable strategy. They played a strategic game too, by knowing who to align themselves with, and when to keep quiet and let the henchman be the nasty one.

 

[dejr_8]

And THAT is how THEY outwitted HIM.

hmmm.... too many pronouns. Let me revise.

And THAT is how THEY (Mick, Natalie and Jaison) outwitted HIM (Russell).

They let Russell be the henchman. They let him keep doing the things he were doing because it was in their best interests. The Foa Foa four ended up the victor, but really only Russell seemed to be the bad guy. THEY played the social aspect, HE did not.

If you want to call it "riding his coattails" that's fine, to an extent they did. BUT that is still a justifiable strategy. They played a strategic game too, by knowing who to align themselves with, and when to keep quiet and let the henchman be the nasty one.

The only "outwitted" him because the Jury was a bunch of sore losers. If they would have been able to man-up like Shambo and say "Russell you played the best game of Survivor ever and you deserve the money" then Russell would have rightfully won.

I like to flip arguments over to see how valid they are. Let's say for an instance Russell did win. Would there be ANY discussion that Natalie was robbed? I think not.

 

[suzannen]

Another one who was totally disappointed in that ending. I'm sorry, riding coattails is not a strategy - it's letting others play the game for you. Natalie did not do one thing to deserve winning. In the very first Survivor, the entire jury HATED, hated, hated Richard Hatch (the snake), but the jury all voted for him because they knew he had played the best game. That jury got it right - this jury acted like school children and forgot what the "game" was - 'outwit, outplay, outlast' - not 'play nice, make friends and don't do anything'. At least America got it right!

 

[Jennasis]

The only "outwitted" him because the Jury was a bunch of sore losers. If they would have been able to man-up like Shambo and say "Russell you played the best game of Survivor ever and you deserve the money" then Russell would have rightfully won.

I like to flip arguments over to see how valid they are. Let's say for an instance Russell did win. Would there be ANY discussion that Natalie was robbed? I think not.

Perhaps the jury were sore losers, but Russel was the KING of sore losers. What a total lack of grace, dignity and honor. You got beat dude. LOTS of people play hard, play a great game and still get beat. that's life. He is a poor sport, a sore loser, filled with sour grapes, and so on.

There is more to the game of Survivor than scheming and conniving and last night proved that. In fact, I think, in 19 seasons of the show, the schemers and connivers ALWAYS got their comeuppance (with the notable exception of Hatch and that used car salesman guy). Russel played a great strategic game, but ultimately got beat by his attitude and arrogance.

 

[DisneyKing82]

Perhaps the jury were sore losers, but Russel was the KING of sore losers. What a total lack of grace, dignity and honor. You got beat dude. LOTS of people play hard, play a great game and still get beat. that's life. He is a poor sport, a sore loser, filled with sour grapes, and so on.

There is more to the game of Survivor than scheming and conniving and last night proved that. In fact, I think, in 19 seasons of the show, the schemers and connivers ALWAYS got their comeuppance (with the notable exception of Hatch and that used car salesman guy). Russel played a great strategic game, but ultimately got beat by his attitude and arrogance.

Was his attitude and arrogance any worse than Ritchard Hatch? Boston Rob?

 

[Jennasis]

Was his attitude and arrogance any worse than Ritchard Hatch? Boston Rob?

Worse than Rob by far. On par with Hatch. That's why I said there were a few notable exceptions.

 

[asta]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand any of you who keep saying that Russel is the better player.

What is the goal of Survivor? To win or to insure getting to the finals? It's to win, and Russel didn't win.

Natalie outplayed Russel because she made him her bruiser to eliminate people and get immunity idols. Meanwhile, she started working the jury IMMEDIATELY after the merge. She was a much better social player than Russel. While Russel was being stupid and burning his bridges by lying to everyone on the jury, Natalie was being friends with them and trying to get them to like her. That's the most important part of the game for a jury like Galu who is a very social tribe. Natalie recognized that and Russel didn't.

On some seasons of Survivor, the jury is looking for the hardest player like Russel, but this season they weren't and Natalie recognized that early. Russel didn't. This is a perfect example of "Don't burn your bridges." Russel did that and this jury didn't like it. So he failed. And didn't win.

Not only didn't Russel win, but he also said he wouldn't have changed a thing. He is totally OK with lying that he was in Katrina, which is VERY disturbing to me. Russel acts like he is such a great guy and great father ... maybe the guy should try teaching his kids humility. Russel is the least humble player I have seen in a while on Survivor. It's not like he jokes around about it like Tyson from Tocantins, he HONESTLY believes that his own crap doesn't stink. The guy worships the ground HE walks on. Teach your kids humility, dude.

Russel just feels like a complete idiot because Natalie was playing the social game while letting Russel look like the dumb Silverback Gorrila who was lying to everyone and eliminating everyone.

ALSO folks, Foa Foa would be gone if Natalie hadn't gotten rid of Eric. That was the biggest move of the game. Eric was the leader of Galu and she was social manipulative enough to get him eliminated. Sure, Russel manipulated later on after that, but he wouldn't have been able to if Eric had not been eliminated, thanks to Natalie.

The last thing I have to say about Russel is that he did not do what he did during the game just because it was a game. That's pure BS. Notice how during the game when he was being evil, he would laugh the who time and have a big smile on his face about it. He laughed after lying about Katrina, laughed after dumping out his tribe's water, etc. Notice how on the live Reunion special, he didn't laugh except for when he won the $100k. The guy obviously gets off on being evil and must lock it up during his normal life and let it all out during Survivor.

Anyway, the season was very interesting and I enjoyed every minute of it. Natalie deserved to win in my opinion because she played the jury the best. People neglect that Survivor is not just about getting to the finals. The most important part is gaining the favor of the jury ... PERIOD.

I wondered if anyone else noticed this (the bolded part). Eric has to go down as one of the stupidest players ever on Survivor. Natalie was the one who engineered getting rid of him. Then he gets up and gives his cry baby speech at the final tribal counsel and says that he would only vote for Natalie. What a bad player!

 

[Kirby]

I too am disappointed in the outcome. But I feel that Russell truly thought the jury would vote for the best player and they didn't. They deliberately did not vote for Russell because they did not like him. Remember when Jeff asked who they would vote for if Russell had taken Shambo and Jaison to the final three? Laura and Erik said that they would have voted for Shambo.

Did anyone notice Shambo's face when Laura was talking about forgiveness? It was like, you got to be kidding, when did this happen? I like Shambo. Sure, she's on the quirky side but I think that she has a big heart.

I thought that yes, Russell was a sore loser but still feel that he should have won. He did outwit and outplay all the others. He went into the game hard and fast. America did get it right and I hope that Russell can come to terms that while he was not the Sole Survivor, he was America's choice.

It will be interesting to see what kind of stories he tells the other Villians about his time in Samoa.

I too would like to know who the other person was that voted for Russell and if he got any other votes. They only showed seven and weren't there nine on the jury? I don't think Jaison voted for him but I could be wrong. I think that Jaison still held it against Russell for voting him out.

One other thing that Russell should have brought up at the last Tribal Council. When he said that loyalty was important to him in response to something Erik said, he should have brought up that he was loyal to the end to the Foa Foa Four until he was made to vote one of them off.

I wonder why they weren't allowed to make a final speech once the jury was done? Haven't they been allowed to before?

 

[DisneyKing82]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand any of you who keep saying that Russel is the better player.

What is the goal of Survivor? To win or to insure getting to the finals? It's to win, and Russel didn't win.

Natalie outplayed Russel because she made him her bruiser to eliminate people and get immunity idols. Meanwhile, she started working the jury IMMEDIATELY after the merge. She was a much better social player than Russel. While Russel was being stupid and burning his bridges by lying to everyone on the jury, Natalie was being friends with them and trying to get them to like her. That's the most important part of the game for a jury like Galu who is a very social tribe. Natalie recognized that and Russel didn't.

On some seasons of Survivor, the jury is looking for the hardest player like Russel, but this season they weren't and Natalie recognized that early. Russel didn't. This is a perfect example of "Don't burn your bridges." Russel did that and this jury didn't like it. So he failed. And didn't win.

Not only didn't Russel win, but he also said he wouldn't have changed a thing. He is totally OK with lying that he was in Katrina, which is VERY disturbing to me. Russel acts like he is such a great guy and great father ... maybe the guy should try teaching his kids humility. Russel is the least humble player I have seen in a while on Survivor. It's not like he jokes around about it like Tyson from Tocantins, he HONESTLY believes that his own crap doesn't stink. The guy worships the ground HE walks on. Teach your kids humility, dude.

Russel just feels like a complete idiot because Natalie was playing the social game while letting Russel look like the dumb Silverback Gorrila who was lying to everyone and eliminating everyone.

ALSO folks, Foa Foa would be gone if Natalie hadn't gotten rid of Eric. That was the biggest move of the game. Eric was the leader of Galu and she was social manipulative enough to get him eliminated. Sure, Russel manipulated later on after that, but he wouldn't have been able to if Eric had not been eliminated, thanks to Natalie.

The last thing I have to say about Russel is that he did not do what he did during the game just because it was a game. That's pure BS. Notice how during the game when he was being evil, he would laugh the who time and have a big smile on his face about it. He laughed after lying about Katrina, laughed after dumping out his tribe's water, etc. Notice how on the live Reunion special, he didn't laugh except for when he won the $100k. The guy obviously gets off on being evil and must lock it up during his normal life and let it all out during Survivor.

Anyway, the season was very interesting and I enjoyed every minute of it. Natalie deserved to win in my opinion because she played the jury the best. People neglect that Survivor is not just about getting to the finals. The most important part is gaining the favor of the jury ... PERIOD.

I completely disagree with your logic that Foa Foa would have been eliminated if Natalie hadn't conjured up a plan to get rid of Eric. Russell would have made some other moves to stay in the game and if he couldn't, he simply would have found immunity idols all the way to the end and just use each one he found at tribal.

And just for the sake of argument, if you're correct about Foa Foa being eliminated if Nat doesn't get rid of Eric, you also need to acknowledge that if Foa Foa would have been completely demolished if Russ doesn't find and use the hidden idol when his name was on the block.

 

[DisneyKing82]

Worse than Rob by far. On par with Hatch. That's why I said there were a few notable exceptions.

And Russ should have been an exception!

 

[Jennasis]

Personally I don't think Russel can handle another season of Survivor. It evidently took big toll on him to lose. But the next season is already in the can right? Maybe that's why he's so upset? Maybe he got booted early on Season 20 and knows he isn't winning that one so all of his "eggs" were in the Survivor 19 basket.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand any of you who keep saying that Russel is the better player.

What is the goal of Survivor? To win or to insure getting to the finals? It's to win, and Russel didn't win.

Natalie outplayed Russel because she made him her bruiser to eliminate people and get immunity idols. Meanwhile, she started working the jury IMMEDIATELY after the merge. She was a much better social player than Russel. While Russel was being stupid and burning his bridges by lying to everyone on the jury, Natalie was being friends with them and trying to get them to like her. That's the most important part of the game for a jury like Galu who is a very social tribe. Natalie recognized that and Russel didn't.

On some seasons of Survivor, the jury is looking for the hardest player like Russel, but this season they weren't and Natalie recognized that early. Russel didn't. This is a perfect example of "Don't burn your bridges." Russel did that and this jury didn't like it. So he failed. And didn't win.

Not only didn't Russel win, but he also said he wouldn't have changed a thing. He is totally OK with lying that he was in Katrina, which is VERY disturbing to me. Russel acts like he is such a great guy and great father ... maybe the guy should try teaching his kids humility. Russel is the least humble player I have seen in a while on Survivor. It's not like he jokes around about it like Tyson from Tocantins, he HONESTLY believes that his own crap doesn't stink. The guy worships the ground HE walks on. Teach your kids humility, dude.

Russel just feels like a complete idiot because Natalie was playing the social game while letting Russel look like the dumb Silverback Gorrila who was lying to everyone and eliminating everyone.

ALSO folks, Foa Foa would be gone if Natalie hadn't gotten rid of Eric. That was the biggest move of the game. Eric was the leader of Galu and she was social manipulative enough to get him eliminated. Sure, Russel manipulated later on after that, but he wouldn't have been able to if Eric had not been eliminated, thanks to Natalie.
The last thing I have to say about Russel is that he did not do what he did during the game just because it was a game. That's pure BS. Notice how during the game when he was being evil, he would laugh the who time and have a big smile on his face about it. He laughed after lying about Katrina, laughed after dumping out his tribe's water, etc. Notice how on the live Reunion special, he didn't laugh except for when he won the $100k. The guy obviously gets off on being evil and must lock it up during his normal life and let it all out during Survivor.

Anyway, the season was very interesting and I enjoyed every minute of it. Natalie deserved to win in my opinion because she played the jury the best. People neglect that Survivor is not just about getting to the finals. The most important part is gaining the favor of the jury ... PERIOD.

Actually the goal of Survivor is to Outwit,Outlast,Outplay---All which Russell did spectacularly!

I didn't see a whole lot of lying from Russell--He told you straight out what he was going to do and it was up to you to stop him,hell he dared them to stop him and they had no clue how to do so.

And as for Natalies big play...Who told her again to use her camaraderie with the females of Galu to oust Eric?? Oh yeah that's right....Russell.

That boy was on from day one when the others were still fumbling around in the jungle.

 

[Kirby]

Someone asked earlier about when Survivor 20 was filmed. I believe it was done not long after this season just like the All Stars was filmed back to back with the one before it. Didn't Rupert go from one to the other without a break? I also seem to remember something about the season 20 cast being evacuated at the last minute when that tsunami or what ever it was hit Samoa. Does anyone remember?

 

[wdhinn89]

Personally I don't think Russel can handle another season of Survivor. It evidently took big toll on him to lose. But the next season is already in the can right? Maybe that's why he's so upset? Maybe he got booted early on Season 20 and knows he isn't winning that one so all of his "eggs" were in the Survivor 19 basket.

That's exactly what I said.

Someone asked earlier about when Survivor 20 was filmed. I believe it was done not long after this season just like the All Stars was filmed back to back with the one before it. Didn't Rupert go from one to the other without a break? I also seem to remember something about the season 20 cast being evacuated at the last minute when that tsunami or what ever it was hit Samoa. Does anyone remember?

The new Survivor begins Feb 11th. The game has to be finished already and in editing.