And The Winner Of ‘Survivor: Samoa’ Is . . .
Last night the 19th season finale of Survivor aired on CBS and a new Sole Survivor was crowned by a jury of his/her peers. In what was, yet again, a much talked about season of gameplay, Survivor managed to put on a show that was full of backstabbing, conniving, lying and other such unsavory behavior … meaning it was another successful season of gameplay — well, at least for one player:
Going into the finale ep last night, the players left were Jaison, Brett, Mick, Russell and Natalie. After the jump, find out who won the title of Sole Survivor and who managed to outwit, outplay and outlast the others to win the $1 million prize …
And the winner of Survivor: Samoa is Natalie White!
An out-of-work pharmaceuticals saleswoman is the winner of the CBS reality television show “Survivor: Samoa.” Van Buren, Ark., resident Natalie White won the $1 million prize Sunday night by outwitting, outplaying and outlasting an oil company owner and a doctor in the final episode. The 26-year-old White was accused by jury members of riding the coattails of Dayton, Texas, oil millionaire Russell Hantz, who finished second. She says she recognized early in the game that aggressive women were being eliminated and she had to maintain a low profile. Hantz was the mastermind behind most eliminations and was thought by some players to be a shoo-in for the win. Los Angeles doctor Mick Trimming was the third finalist.
It’s not very often that good prevails over evil in this world but last night, it happened. Natalie managed to beat the odds and win the title of Sole Survivor even tho Russell thought he had the game in the bag. I cannot even express how happy I was to see Russell’s gameplay NOT be rewarded with the ultimate win. The man may have believed he was the puppet-master but in the end he was nothing but an arrogant jerk who couldn’t figure out the real way to win in the end. To see him sit there with tears in his eyes was precious, to watch him him beg for a chance to buy the winning title was just pathetic (to see him be denied was delicious). In a world where people with lots of money get what they want by using and discarding people at will, it’s so refreshing to see that kind of behavior come out on the losing end of a game like Survivor. Congratulations Natalie, no matter what anyone says, you did play the better game … you won, after all. In the end, no matter who tries to buy that accomplishment from you, they can never, ever take that away from you :)
Tags: 'Survivor: Samoa', Brett Clouser, Jaison Robinson, Mick Trimming, Natalie White, Russell Hantz
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December 21st, 2009 at 6:15 am
Wooohooo!!! I hated the arrogance and plain meanness of Russell. I thought for sure he was going to win and I was pissed! He may have thought played the better game, but its not just about getting everyone kicked off. It’s also (and most importantly) about getting the jury votes in the end. I was rooting for Brett. I thought he’d be the only one that could beat Russell. I’m glad the jury saw him for what he was. CONGRATS NAT!
December 21st, 2009 at 6:16 am
I think the cry baby looks like Richard Hatch…
December 21st, 2009 at 7:08 am
He tried to buy the victory? What?? I knew I should have watched….
December 21st, 2009 at 7:13 am
@Nikki — I believe you can watch it online at cbs.com/survivor
December 21st, 2009 at 7:26 am
No. I disagree. The wrong person won. Russell did all the dirty work, created riffs between tribe mates, decided who was going and when and why. In my opinion, the show has been suffering and they need players like Russell to keep the up the ratings. Sure, he might have been arrogant and cocky but he owned the game, controlling nearly every vote. The jury let their feelings get in the way and rewarded Natalie for riding coattails. As a seasoned Survivor viewer, I wanted to throw my remote across the room. Even Probst looked like he was disappointed. Just my opinion…
December 21st, 2009 at 7:27 am
I really wanted Russell to win!!
December 21st, 2009 at 7:31 am
@Ju-Ju Bean — I totally see your point but I was very pleased to see that integrity was rewarded for once, rather than conniving. In the end, it’s a moot point. The Jury decided that Natalie was the winner, so she is the winner :)
December 21st, 2009 at 7:41 am
[...] And The Winner Of ‘Survivor: Samoa’ Is . . . (pinkisthenewblog.com) [...]
December 21st, 2009 at 7:48 am
natalie only won out of spite for russell..RUSSELL was the greatest survivor player EVER. the jury is just stupid and bitter and couldnt get past the fact russell OUTPLAYED OUTWITED AND OUTLASTED every single one of their lame asses
December 21st, 2009 at 7:52 am
@leighton — LOL. I would argue that there have been greater Survivor players, like Bob from ‘Survivor: Gabon’. He managed to win the game by outsmarting his fellow contestants, actually winning immunity many times (5 times in a row, I believe) and keep his integrity intact thruout the entire game. That’s the true measure of a winner. http://www.pinkisthenewblog.com/2008/12/and-the-winner-of-survivor-gabon-is/
December 21st, 2009 at 8:01 am
@Trent-I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment of Bob. He was the ultimate survivor in my eyes. He did it the right way and showed that you didn’t have to be a jerk to win. You don’t have to lie, cheat, and steal (Russell’s description of his own strategy) to win Survivor. I really hope Bob is going to be on villians vs heroes.
December 21st, 2009 at 8:11 am
The point of Survivor is not to win by being nice and ethical. There is nothing stated in the rules of Survivor that you must be honest while playing the game. The name of the show is “Survivor”, and you do whatever it takes for you to survive. I don’t think Natalie deserved to win as if Russell was never around, she wouldn’t have had the balls or smarts to make the big power plays Russell did. I agree that she assisted in these plays, but ultimately Russell took all the heat and STILL managed to make it to the final 3. She basically rode on his coat tails the entire time, which I don’t see as a respectable strategy, but it works. This game has nothing to do with honesty, its about outwitting, outlasting, and outplaying (by any means necessary).
December 21st, 2009 at 8:19 am
@photostyle85 — I didn’t say the point of winning is to be nice, the point is to get to the end and then successfully get the jury to vote you the winner — Natalie did that, Russell did not. End of story :)
December 21st, 2009 at 8:25 am
I totally agree Trent. Sure, Russell was a great strategist, and he made it to the finale, but in the end he lost the game for himself because of all of his backstabbing. Getting to the end AND getting the jury to vote for you is key, it’s not just the means but the ENDS that matter. Since he couldn’t figure out how to do that he did NOT outwit anyone, least of all Natalie.
December 21st, 2009 at 8:30 am
I did not like russell the whole game but i do believe he should have won, yes you need to get to the end and get the votes. however, the jurors were voting personally and regardless of the show i do not agree when jurors make it personal. oh no russell got me out i’m not voting for him.
December 21st, 2009 at 8:44 am
@trent
while bob was a great player, he just wasn’t as great as russell. did he find 3 hidden immunity idols WITHOUT clues? did he do it in plain sight of his fellow contestants and control EVERY aspect of voting. i think not. while bob was the best ethical winner, this is survivor, not tea time.
but since i love you and your blog so much we can agree to disagree :-)
December 21st, 2009 at 8:50 am
@leighton — finding idols = luck, since when is luck talent? but again, Survivor is more than just “playing the game”, it’s playing the game and still being able to stay likeable to win votes.
December 21st, 2009 at 8:51 am
@wrong — Jurors vote personally because they are people. I don’t understand how difficult it is to understand that a key component of the game is to play well in all aspects … winning over the jury is, arguably, the most key aspect of the whole game.
December 21st, 2009 at 9:09 am
@trent
since when is riding on people’s coat tails talent?
December 21st, 2009 at 9:09 am
talent that deserves a million dollars nonetheless
December 21st, 2009 at 9:55 am
Yeah, the wrong person won. Russell really earned it. I hope he gets another chance on another season. If that happens he’ll have to try another tactic.
December 21st, 2009 at 9:55 am
@leighton — At the end of the day, you’re not happy with the results and I am … neither of which means anything at all. The game is over. Next up, Suvivor: Heroes vs. Villains!
December 21st, 2009 at 9:57 am
Just an FYI Russell did have a clue to one of the idols. The one my wall under a rock. They got clue on the reward challenge. Granted he did find it was just one clue and the others looking for it too.
December 21st, 2009 at 10:01 am
WOW typos much?? lol Let’s try it again.
Just an FYI Russell did have a clue to one of the idols. The one by a wall under a rock. They got a clue on the reward challenge. Granted he did find it with just one clue and the others looking for it too.
December 21st, 2009 at 10:11 am
I’m so glad to see them looking a lot healthier than when they were wasting away on the island.
I was a little shocked that no one voted for Mick.
December 21st, 2009 at 10:51 am
I think Russell outwitted, outplayed while Natalie outlasted and outniced…Russell should have won in my opinion.
December 21st, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I’m glad Natalie won. Russell bothered me the whole time and I don’t really think he “controlled every aspect of the game.” I really hated how he kept talking about how no one could beat him and no one could be faster or stronger than him but he never won immunity until the end and he was on a losing tribe.
December 21st, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Lets not forget that Natalie was the one who orchestrated the outting of Eric. That in turn made it easier for Galu to vote out their own people on subsequent tribals. I thought Russell played a good game and probably would’ve won if not for his arrogance. The question/answer part is what got him in the end. After all, the juries in the past did tend to vote on gameplay rather then niceness. He screwed himself in the end when it comes down to it. If only he had said “yeah i did messed up things to get here, but I had to” while showing just a tad of remorse for his actions I personally think he would’ve gotten the votes. Instead he went in there like “yeah, I screwed you, and you, and you, and I had a blast doing it so hahaha! I’m an ass but that was the plan so there!” He came off badly in the end where if he had just kept his mouth shut he might have won it all simply based on gameplay alone. BTW the use of “feckless” by Shambo had me ROFLMAO. I love it when seeming uneducated people use 50 cent words!(sorry about the rambling post lol)
December 21st, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Oh, and I think Russell is on Heroes and Villains. Woot!
December 21st, 2009 at 1:12 pm
One more post guys, I promise. Isn’t Natalie the first woman to win up against only guys? I think all the other woman to win was just up against other woman. (maybe I’m wrong)
December 21st, 2009 at 2:10 pm
To be fair, we are talking about a game where a million dollars is at stake. I always find it interesting when we sit at home and judge someone who manipulates, lies and strategizes to get the money, when any one of us would do the same thing in the same situation. Don’t kid yourselves – the “nice” players are still playing a game, too. You put money into it and I think you lose the opportunity to make any moral judgments. It’s a game, and there are no rules in how you win – except that you need to win.
December 21st, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I was SOOOOOO disapointed last night! Love him or hate him, Russell really revitalized the Survivor franchise, which has suffered lower ratings in the past few seasons. His gameplay was mesmerizing, and almost to the point of unbelievable! This year’s jury epitomized bitterness (with the exception of Brett and Shambo). I have no respect for Natalie’s gameplay, and I think she is just lucky that the jurors chose to vote personally instead of truly looking at who played the game the best. Granted, there are no rules or criteria for picking a winner, but I think that most fans (and even most players) of the game would agree that the person who best outwits, outlasts and outplays the others is the most deserving winner. That was NOT Natalie!
December 21st, 2009 at 4:24 pm
I love that all true Survivor fans know Russel should have won. Russel MADE this season of Survivor.
December 21st, 2009 at 5:27 pm
I have been watching every season since forever (or 10 years or whatever it is) and was SHOCKED that Russell didn’t win all 9 votes! I hated Russell almost the entire season, however, respected that he was completely successful by still being an openly jerky jerk! Not until the last jury member’s comment did I ever even consider that Russell could be in trouble.
Also, it was pretty awesome to watch him be all pouty like a little kid who didn’t get what he wanted for Christmas…can’t wait to see him next season go down in flames! :-D
December 21st, 2009 at 6:07 pm
I cannot believe most of these posts. Sure Russell was a hoot to watch and I would not have been disappointed if he had won; yet I was not disappointed Natalie won. I agree that the jury votes personally because they are people but any respect I had for Shambo or Kelly (not that I ever liked Kelly) was completely gone by the end of the show. People who have a temper tantrum at the remaining players are the sorest losers and for that reason I am thrilled they did not win anything. I wholeheartedly agreed with everything Eric said during his speech. Russell’s strategy was to run the show and in turn took blame for everything. Natalie’s strategy was to let Russell be the bad guy, be nice, quiet and make it to the end. What makes Russell’s better than Natalie? Nothing. I personally liked Eric for the Million but we see how well that played out. Like Trent said Natalie won and nothing we do or say can change it.
December 21st, 2009 at 8:41 pm
It seems to me that a HUGE component of the game is how you gauge the jury members’ dispositions and what each one will likely base his/her vote on. Some Survivor juries respect underhanded tactics (“you screwed me but that means you were better at the game so you have my vote”) and others feel personally slighted (“I thought you were my friend and you betrayed me so I won’t vote for you”). The point is not whether the jury voted “correctly” or not; the jury will vote the way they’ll vote and it’s up to the players who will eventually become the final two to decide what sort of personalities they’re dealing with and how their actions throughout the game will affect the jury members’ vote. It sounds like Natalie figured out that although being a jerk could get a person far in the game, this wasn’t the sort of group that would ultimately vote for jerks in the end so she was the better player where it counted. At the end of the day, the person who deserves to win is the one who gets the most jury votes, which she did. Congratulations Natalie!