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 :)
[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]
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!
I think the cry baby looks like Richard Hatch…
He tried to buy the victory? What?? I knew I should have watched….
@Nikki — I believe you can watch it online at cbs.com/survivor
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…
@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 :)
I really wanted Russell to win!!
[...] And The Winner Of ‘Survivor: Samoa’ Is . . . (pinkisthenewblog.com) [...]
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
@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.co.....-gabon-is/
@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.
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).
@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 :)
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.
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.
@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.
@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 :-)
@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.
@trent
since when is riding on people’s coat tails talent?
talent that deserves a million dollars nonetheless
@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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
I think Russell outwitted, outplayed while Natalie outlasted and outniced…Russell should have won in my opinion.
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.