New series of Survivor

[JadeAngel]

I LOOOOOVVVVEEEEE Survivor and was not stunned at all that Russel didn't get one vote. He plays a fantastic strategic game but he just doesn't know how to win. Sandra was my favourite from the get go (after Colby, really wanted him to win) and she really earnt it.

I'm torn on his strategic game, because clearly in the last season all of Sandra's best efforts to get the Heroes to vote Russell out came to nothing because everyone had one eye on their end game and knew that if they made it to the end sitting opposite Russell their chances of winning were clearly increased. Whether this is strategy on Russells part and he deliberately amps up his obnoxious qualities and deliberately antagonizes people so they'll take him through, I'm not sure. Twice now he's been bested by a woman who set him up to take all the flack for playing such a strategic game, while she played the social game. Parvati said it quite succinctly, 'I kept the dragon as my pet instead of slaying him' and he got all the blame for villanous actions which were, half the time, my idea. She used two idols, one of which Russell gave to her to save Jerri and Sandra, which was a terrific strategic move on her part.

There's also been a lot of talk about whether Sandra should have burned Russell's hat (which I personally thought was hilarious) given that Russell burned Jaisons socks and called it a strategic move and let's not forget that it was Hero Rupert who stole all of the other teams shoes during Panama and justified it by saying that the theme of the season was Pirates. I think it did nothing to amend the outcome of the game so it was a pointless move, but really Russell had been such a doink for the last however many days that it was just a way of letting off some steam.

[Kjoy]

It baffles me that he doesn't get that in the end it doesn't matter that you played a hard game or a strategic game or a power game, because to win you have to sit there and convince nine people you helped to vote out that they should vote for you to get the million dollars. It's hard to tell what will sway a jury but I sincerely doubt that 'I'm smarter than you so suck it up' is the right choice.

I agree with you in this statement (except that I am a massive Russell fan).

I think the reason I empathise with him is that I agree with him re the flaw in the game. I am a massive Survivor fan and have watched every single season except the Marchese one that wasnt televised here. BUT in all those years the thing I have consistently hated in the stupid bitter and twisted jury system that basically means no matter how a person has played it will always come down to a popularity vote.

I wrote to the producers after the first season so many years ago and gave my suggestion for a finale (and I reckon Russell would love my idea!!!).

Basically - once its down to final 3 people they are each taken to a different part of the island and handed a map.
From there they spend an entire day locating and participating in all the various challenges they have already done through the season.
An even mix of physical and mental tasks.
Each person would be at a task alone and none of the 3 would have any idea whether they are first second or third.
They would be orienteering across the island all day - never seeing each other - never knowing where they stand.
Finally - there in the middle of the island is the final stage with all the eliminated contestants and Jeff holding a big cheque and immunity idol.
The first person across that line will be the genuine survivor.
They would have done it on skill and brains - and not a stupid high school popularity vote.

Ahhhhhhh but I can only dream !