Comments on: And The Winner Of ‘Survivor: Samoa’ Is . . .

By: jean

jean — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:41:16 +0000

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!

By: Haley

Haley — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:07:39 +0000

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.

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:27:22 +0000

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

By: megan.

megan. — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:24:21 +0000

I love that all true Survivor fans know Russel should have won. Russel MADE this season of Survivor.

By: Kyleigh

Kyleigh — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:34:49 +0000

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!

By: C

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:10:25 +0000

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.

By: kittkatt357

kittkatt357 — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:12:07 +0000

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)

By: kittkatt357

kittkatt357 — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:09:34 +0000

Oh, and I think Russell is on Heroes and Villains. Woot!

By: kittkatt357

kittkatt357 — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:08:43 +0000

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)

By: Ashlee

Ashlee — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:02:46 +0000

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.

By: becca

becca — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:51:48 +0000

I think Russell outwitted, outplayed while Natalie outlasted and outniced…Russell should have won in my opinion.

By: Terri

Terri — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:11:41 +0000

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.

By: strunkette

strunkette — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:01:35 +0000

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.

By: strunkette

strunkette — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:57:49 +0000

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.

By: It's Trent, Bitch!

It's Trent, Bitch! — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:55:58 +0000

@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!

By: Chick

Chick — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:55:29 +0000

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.

By: leighton

leighton — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:09:49 +0000

talent that deserves a million dollars nonetheless

By: leighton

leighton — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:09:27 +0000

@trent

since when is riding on people’s coat tails talent?

By: It's Trent, Bitch!

It's Trent, Bitch! — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:51:36 +0000

@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.

By: It's Trent, Bitch!

It's Trent, Bitch! — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:50:07 +0000

@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.

By: leighton

leighton — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:44:52 +0000

@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 :-)

By: wrong

wrong — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:30:39 +0000

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.

By: Sally

Sally — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:25:11 +0000

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.

By: It's Trent, Bitch!

It's Trent, Bitch! — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:19:57 +0000

@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 :)

By: photostyle85

photostyle85 — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:11:47 +0000

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).