Survivor: Samoa

[CELTICPRED]

They were talking about if Russell did play the idol, to get rid of her just in case. I think.

 

[CELTICPRED]

Laying in the swing, grabbing the flags was an interesting challenge. They even had to blur out Natalie's boobage..lol

They blur even the slightest crack of cleavage and ass.

Which survivor has a lot of.

 

[Marx]

They were talking about if Russell did play the idol, to get rid of her just in case. I think.

I'd expect Russell to play the idol soon.

 

[Ipodman]

Seeing the expressions of the people in the jury, i absolutely feel no chance of Russell winning

 

[LEX]

I'd expect Russell to play the idol soon.

Wouldn't it be quite the episode if Russell agrees to vote for whoever John chooses to vote off, as per The Deal, and Russell quietly slips the idol to that person?

One can only dream. That would work were everyone still laboring under the delusion that Russell is all honesty, zero conniving. The cat's come screaming out of the bag now. Still, I want that idol utilized in the most lol-tastic way if it must be used.

... but wait, I forget. No-one knows that Russell found the idol for the third time, right? That would be unthinkable to them. This could work...

 

[SuperT]

... but wait, I forget. No-one knows that Russell found the idol for the third time, right? That would be unthinkable to them. This could work...

They do. Laura said in her post-show interview that they knew he had found the third one because he was sitting around cheesing and gloating that he didn't need it while everyone else was still looking for it.

 

[LEX]

Ah, I am disappoint.

Subtlety is obviously not Russell's strongest suit. His gameplay is fantastic, but his going about the game after executing it leaves much to be desired. His nards call for repeated kicks for such cockiness. Gloat all he wants, but preferably AFTER the act. Would no-one think of the viewers?

... Or Laura could just be talking out of her ass and generally being unable to accept that she got one-upped once again. Wouldn't surprise me at all, considering. Honesty is not enforceable in post-show interviews, yes?

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Ah, I am disappoint.

Subtlety is obviously not Russell's strongest suit. His gameplay is fantastic, but his going about the game after executing it leaves much to be desired. His nards call for repeated kicks for such cockiness. Gloat all he wants, but preferably AFTER the act. Would no-one think of the viewers?

... Or Laura could just be talking out of her ass and generally being unable to accept that she got one-upped once again. Wouldn't surprise me at all, considering. Honesty is not enforceable in post-show interviews, yes?

I truthfully think that's the biggest problem with Russell's gameplan and why I don't think he's as good a player as some seem to think. Most of his big moves have been based on luck and just pointing out the obvious. The first two girls he "orchestrated" getting voted off, the tribe was dead set to vote off a girl both times, both already had targets on their back, he just made it larger. With Eric, everyone was upset with him for some reason. Kelly, that was luck in finding the idol and now Laura was just Galu, pissing off Shambo enough to have her defect and John not wanting to take a chance with the rocks.

 

[SuperT]

I agree, his gameplay is nothing spectacular. Like I said before, most of the moves thus far haven't been anything that hasn't already been done by past players in Survivor or just pure common sense. Especially with the immunity idol - it doesn't take a great player to use one. Hell, Amanda knew when to used hers and by my standards, she's by no means a great Survivor player.

Even at the merge episode, he had absolutely NO part in getting Galu to all turn on Erik and vote him out. That was Jaison's idea, and then Natalie worked over the girls to get it done.

I just think the editing of the show this season, and Russell himself, are giving him and his gameplay way more credit than it deserves. Twice now he's teetered on the brink of getting voted out, and if not for the idol he'd have been our first or second jury member. That's not really strategy, that's just pure luck. Of course, luck is a part of Survivor too.

I actually think, strategically and socially, Natalie is playing the best game.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

I agree, his gameplay is nothing spectacular. Like I said before, most of the moves thus far haven't been anything that hasn't already been done by past players in Survivor or just pure common sense. Especially with the immunity idol - it doesn't take a great player to use one. Hell, Amanda knew when to used hers and by my standards, she's by no means a great Survivor player.

Even at the merge episode, he had absolutely NO part in getting Galu to all turn on Erik and vote him out. That was Jaison's idea, and then Natalie worked over the girls to get it done.

I just think the editing of the show this season, and Russell himself, are giving him and his gameplay way more credit than it deserves. Twice now he's teetered on the brink of getting voted out, and if not for the idol he'd have been our first or second jury member. That's not really strategy, that's just pure luck. Of course, luck is a part of Survivor too.

I actually think, strategically and socially, Natalie is playing the best game.

Yeah, totally agree, truthfully I think the best player I've ever seen was Boston Rob on All-Stars. He made all the right moves, I don't think I've ever seen someone manilpulate a season like he did and it was even more impressive since he was playing against supposedly the best of the best veterans.

 

[SuperT]

Boston Rob not winning All Stars was such a huge let down for me but I was happy that at least his second in command, Amber, won if he couldn't.

 

[Wyrminarrd]

Boston Rob and Amber going to the finale in All-stars said less about how well they played the game and more about how incredibly poorly some other players played.

Considering the poor game play most of the players showed that season it seemed to me that it should have been called "All-favorites" rather than "All-stars".

As for Russel, he's impressed me with his understanding of the game dynamics and for how the show is structured. His game play however really does need more subtlety since he's managed to paint a large target on his back and has now clearly become the leader of the former Foa Foa people.

 

[Marx]

Russell needs a better poker face.

 

[LEX]

Russell needs a better poker face.

Succinct. Pretty much hit it on the nail, too.

I stand corrected. Throughout the game, Russell did seem to be favored by Lady Luck and not a little common sense that the producers should've known better to nurture with way-too-easy-to-find immunity idols. Doesn't stop me, though, from admiring his no-nonsense attitude toward the game and his lack of a conscience, a refreshing change from those who would cling to silly alliances to the end of times. In that respect, he is rather like the walking, talking antithesis of Survivor cliches, and that is great TV. Unfortunately, he seems to have become a cliche in and of himself, if the coming episode's preview hints at anything. Releasing chickens, sabotage, oh noes.

Natalie: Now, that's what I call subtlety at work. Sure, I did hear in her earlier confessionals that she was playing UTR, but as I don't think too highly of that kind of gameplay (occasionally, UTR can ever so slowly turn into riding the coattails of one's betters, to my slight disdain), I paid her zero mind. Well, she's still here and for that, she's earned props. Plus, she's a force to be reckoned with in her own right, if her doggedness in challenges is any indication, which she ought to be careful not to advertise. Her getting the girls to vote for Erik, while no less lucky as Russell's gameplay (could she have known that Erik was the bad seed within Galu beforehand?), was smoothly done. Laura and her lot should've known better to vote off Foa Foa one by one first before turning on their own. Natalie's definitely the one to root for.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Boston Rob and Amber going to the finale in All-stars said less about how well they played the game and more about how incredibly poorly some other players played.

Considering the poor game play most of the players showed that season it seemed to me that it should have been called "All-favorites" rather than "All-stars".

As for Russel, he's impressed me with his understanding of the game dynamics and for how the show is structured. His game play however really does need more subtlety since he's managed to paint a large target on his back and has now clearly become the leader of the former Foa Foa people.

Just my own theory, but I think Russell thrives on being the underdog (just like the Redsox and the Democrats). Some people, for whatever reason, only shine when they're faced with impossible odds to overcome. They need that adversity to help them focus and feel aimless without it. When Russell is safe, he doesn't know what to do and he resorts to stupid stuff like burning socks and letting chickens go (just like the Redsox and the... wait), which I think is him subconsciously trying to tick everyone off so he can be in an underdog position again. My pop psych 101 take on him, anyway.

Marx also has a point about pokerface.

 

[LEX]

Sound theory. I can get behind it.

 

[SuperT]

If anyone is interested, Coby posted over at Survivor Sucks (message board) a cool contest to win tickets to the Samoa Finale.

All of the proceeds go towards Jenn Lyon. If some of you don't remember her, she was the pretty blonde in the F4 during Survivor Palau. She was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and it's reached Stage 4 unfortunately.

Here's the link if you want to read the thread at Sucks: http://survivorsucks.yuku.com/topic/60950

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

If we're talking about best Survivor player of all-time, look no further than Thailand winner Brian Heidik.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

If anyone is interested, Coby posted over at Survivor Sucks (message board) a cool contest to win tickets to the Samoa Finale.

All of the proceeds go towards Jenn Lyon. If some of you don't remember her, she was the pretty blonde in the F4 during Survivor Palau. She was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and it's reached Stage 4 unfortunately.

Here's the link if you want to read the thread at Sucks: http://survivorsucks.yuku.com/topic/60950

That's really sad. Hope she gets better.

On a semi-related note, I really can't stand the 'Sucks' forums. It's good for spoilers, but half the posters seem mentally deranged (like those that issue barely coherent death-threats against contestants they don't like).

 

[CELTICPRED]

Just wanted to get a bump in to let people know they're still airing the show tonight even though it's Thanksgiving.

 

[Matt]

Isn't tonight a clip show?

 

[Marx]

Yeah. Tonight's episode was a 'season review' episode.

 

[CELTICPRED]

Which was actually pretty entertaining.

 

[Sawyer]

It always laugh when Russell talks about chaos. He's like the Joker of the island. And I'm sure he sees himself on those exact terms.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Man, I already knew Laura was a fundamentalist d-bag who treated others like crap, but I didn't know her heart was made out of stone until tonight.

SHAMBO : "My brother and sister both died."

LAURA : "Well, that's nice. They're better off dead, y'know. Sham sweetie, could ya move a bit to the right? You're blocking my sun."