Survivor: Samoa

[amazingfantasy15]

All the better to stay under the radar and make it to the final 2.

Has anyone actually won with the fly under the radar strategy? Sure, they may make it to the final 2 or 3, but I don't think I've ever seen them win. Despite their bitterness, the jury always seems to vote for the person that played the game, rather than the person that rode the coattails.

 

[SuperT]

Vecepia in Marquesas, Amber in All Stars, Danni in Guatemala and Bob in Gabon were all UTR winners. Although I think grouping Vee with the other three is questionable since I think she played a better game than the other three combined.

Bob is easily the worst winner we've had EVER, he did jack squat the entire game.

On another topic, what does everyone think about this crazy crap going around saying Russell could be the best player ever on Survivor? Uh, yea no. I wouldn't even put him in the Top 15 of best players ever.

 

[Marx]

Vecepia in Marquesas, Amber in All Stars, Danni in Guatemala and Bob in Gabon were all UTR winners. Although I think grouping Vee with the other three is questionable since I think she played a better game than the other three combined.

Bob is easily the worst winner we've had EVER, he did jack squat the entire game.

On another topic, what does everyone think about this crazy crap going around saying Russell could be the best player ever on Survivor? Uh, yea no. I wouldn't even put him in the Top 15 of best players ever.

Russell is not the best player in Survivor history. He's overhyped and not nearly as good as he, or the producers, think he is. Sure, he has found immunity idols without clues, and he was able to convince people to vote a couple out. He is arrogant, careless, and needs a better poker face. Just because the rest of this year's cast aren't the sharpest tools in the shed doesn't elevate him to the best player in Survivor history.

 

[SuperT]

If I personally had to choose my top fifteen best players of Survivor, they would be (This is in no particular order):

1. Cirie Fields (Exile Island & Micronesia)
2. Richard Hatch (Borneo)
3. Todd Herzog (China)
4. Tom Westman (Palau)
5. Johnny Fairplay (Pearl Islands)
6. Tina Wesson (Australia)
7. Rob Mariano (All Stars)
8. Vecepia Towery (Marquesas) **Soo underrated**
9. Brian Heidik (Thailand)
10. Peih Gee Law (China)
11. Rob Cesternino (The Amazon) **Although he is a bit overrated**
12. Twila Tanner (Vanuatu)
13. Jenna Morasca (The Amazon)
14. Kathy Vavrick-O'Brian (Marquesas)
15. Toss up between Colby Donaldson and Kelly Wiggleworth

 

[Matt]

In my opinion the best player ever is Rich Hatch, simply because he laid the ground work for all over Survivor strategists.

And Vercepia is the worst player to ever win, and Cirie is ridiculously overrated.

 

[POWdER-man]

Vecepia in Marquesas, Amber in All Stars, Danni in Guatemala and Bob in Gabon were all UTR winners. Although I think grouping Vee with the other three is questionable since I think she played a better game than the other three combined.

Bob is easily the worst winner we've had EVER, he did jack squat the entire game.

On another topic, what does everyone think about this crazy crap going around saying Russell could be the best player ever on Survivor? Uh, yea no. I wouldn't even put him in the Top 15 of best players ever.

I would add Tina from season two as Colby should have won it that year and she litterally did nothing but rode his coat tails and played the "I'm old and I got through it" card with all her answers to win it.

The thing with Bob was that he actually won challenges (tied for most consecutive wins - 5), built good relationships with his tribemates which secured his win later on, created a fake idol and worked hard through it all. The guy is 58 and was holding strong against 20 year olds in challenges. I would rate Vecepia, Amber, Jenna Morasca, Tina and a few others well below him.

 

[POWdER-man]

In my opinion the best player ever is Rich Hatch, simply because he laid the ground work for all over Survivor strategists.

And Vercepia is the worst player to ever win, and Cirie is ridiculously overrated.

Agreed on all three points. I forgot about Cirie, ugh.

 

[Trigger]

The thing with Bob was that he actually won challenges (tied for most consecutive wins - 5), built good relationships with his tribemates which secured his win later on, created a fake idol and worked hard through it all. The guy is 58 and was holding strong against 20 year olds in challenges. I would rate Vecepia, Amber, Jenna Morasca, Tina and a few others well below him.

This. It was hard not to root for Bob during his season. He doesn't really count as an UTR contestant since he made his presence known in each challenge.

 

[SuperT]

Bob was awful. The only reason he won was because that crappy alliance he was apart of (Marcus, Corinne, Randy, and Charlie) didn't want to accept the fact that the other alliance outplayed them.

They were spoiled, hypocritical brats, but even after the show was over they trashed Bob and said they only voted for him just out of bitterness towards Susie and Sugar and that Bob didn't do squat the entire game except lay around camp. I remember Corinne saying that whenever strategy talk would come up Bob would just leave and never talk to anyone. He was the worst.

Vecepia, Tina, and Jenna are so underrated it's ridiculous. Tina was the leader of that entire alliance with Colby and Keith for the entire season and ran that entire game. She had Colby wrapped around her finger and got him to make the biggest blunder ever of taking her to the F2 instead of Keith, which would have given him a sure win.

Vecepia is another underrated one. She was very sly and worked the alliance hopping strategy to perfection. First creating the alliance with Sean R. and Rob M. that controlled Maraamu. After the switch, she distanced herself from Sean R. and Rob and cozied up to the Rotu 4, then she flipped back and helped create the counter alliance that took out the Rotu, than she made that last ditch effort the final IC throwing Kathy under the bus and getting Neleh to take her to the F2. Not to mention her great foresight in bringing the notebook/pen that lead to her F4 immunity victory.

Jenna, truthfully during the season I didn't like her at all, but looking back her win was a big turning point for Survivor. It essentially changed Survivor from just being survival of the fittest to being a hardcore social game. She built up the relationships with every single player that made the jury that season then went on to the end game winning two straight immunity challenges tying Kelly Wigglesworth for women with the most immunity challenge wins (four). She swept the votes against Matt because he was a social dude and she gave a great performance at her final TC. I really respect her game looking back at it.

If I had to pick the worst winners I'd definitely say they were Bob, Chris (Vanuatu), Amber, and Danni.

As far as Cirie, seriously. She owned both seasons she was on, there's just no way around saying she isn't a damn good player.

 

[POWdER-man]

Bob was awful. The only reason he won was because that crappy alliance he was apart of (Marcus, Corinne, Randy, and Charlie) didn't want to accept that fact that the other alliance outplayed them.

They were spoiled, hypocritical brats, but even after the show was over they trashed Bob and said they only voted for him just out of bitterness towards Susie and Sugar and that Bob didn't so squat the entire came except lay around camp. I remember Corinne saying that whenever strategy talk would come up, Bob would just leave and never talk to anyone. He was the worst.

Vecepia, Tina, and Jenna are so underrated it's ridiculous. Tina was the leader of that entire alliance with Colby and Keith for the entire season and ran that entire game. She had Colby wrapped around her finger and got him to make the biggest blunder ever of taking her to the F2 instead of Keith, which would have given him a sure win.

Vecepia is another underrated one. She was very sly and worked the alliance hopping strategy to perfection. First creating the alliance with Sean R. and Rob M. that controlled Maraamu. After the switch, she distanced herself from Sean R. and Rob and cozied up to the Rotu 4, then she flipped back and helped create the counter alliance that took out the Rotu, than she made that last ditch effort the final IC throwing Kathy under the bus and getting Neleh to take her to the F2. Not to mention her great foresight in bringing the notebook/pen that lead to her F4 immunity victory.

Jenna, truthfully during the season I didn't like her, but looking back her win was a big turning point for Survivor. It essentially changed Survivor from just being survival of the fittest to being a hardcore social game. She built up the relationships with every single player that made the jury that season then went on to the end game game winning two straight immunity challenges tying Kelly Wigglesworth for women with the most immunity challenge wins (four). She swept the votes against Matt because he was a social dude. I really respect her game looking back at it.

If I had to pick the worst winners I'd definitely say they were Bob, Chris (Vanuatu), Amber, and Danni.

As far as Cirie, seriously. She owned both seasons she was on, there's just no way around saying she didn't.

The fact you say the players who lost have bitterness towards Bob and then say he did nothing is ridiculous. You only had to watch the episodes to know he basically built the camp himself with his know-how, and he still won 5 challenges. He made it to the finals because of it and if he did it without talking about strategy every minute then good on him as he played the challenges well enough to get himself and no one else to the end.

The rest I think we are just going to have to disagree as I have a completely different view point of those players and players who should have won instead.

My god Tina was no mastermind, the only thing she lucked out was to hang on to someone who is truly nice to carry her and didn't want Keith in the finals.

 

[SuperT]

I think Survivor is so much more than just being a brute force in challenges or knowing how to survive out in the wilderness or who can build the best shelter or what not.

Some of my favorite, and probably some of the best players on Survivor, are players that are no where near physical threats but make up for it with their brains and off the wall strategic gameplay.

I guess that's why it sometimes puzzles me how James (China), Ozzy, Amanda, Terry, Rupert, Stephenie and other big physical people are so popular yet suck so bad at actually playing the game. I mean, jeez Amanda! Ugh! Will we ever get someone that made it all the way to the end and lose back to back again? Pathetic.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Vecepia in Marquesas, Amber in All Stars, Danni in Guatemala and Bob in Gabon were all UTR winners. Although I think grouping Vee with the other three is questionable since I think she played a better game than the other three combined.

Bob is easily the worst winner we've had EVER, he did jack squat the entire game.

On another topic, what does everyone think about this crazy crap going around saying Russell could be the best player ever on Survivor? Uh, yea no. I wouldn't even put him in the Top 15 of best players ever.

I don't think Amber was an under the radar winner. I consider and under the radar player as one who no one ever talks about voting out. Amber had a target on her back more than a few times. Sure Rob may have helped to save her, but there were also times where she won the immunity challenges at just the right time. I don't think she should've won the season though, Rob was a true mastermind in All-Stars and truthfully ranks was as the number one contestant for me. I'm sick of seeing Richard Hatch being touted as number one, the only reason for that is it was the first season, how about running the game with a group that's already played the game.

Russell is good, but no where near great. Most the votes he "masterminded" haven't been really big game changers, it's just been switching from one obvious target to the next to take some heat off him. It's never been a totally off the wall choice though, it's just voting someone out one maybe two votes earlier than the audience would've thought.

 

[SuperT]

I agree with that point on Amber. She was targetted quite a few times for being Rob M's second in command.

I specifically remember that episode where the tribes were switched up and she got placed on a tribe with Lex, Kathy, Shii Ann, and Jerri so she was clearly outnumbered. Lex and Kathy could have easily voted her out, but Amber worked her little heart out and convinced them to keep her and boot Jerri.

That was probably the stupidest move ever and cost Lex/Kathy the entire game that season.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

I agree with that point on Amber. She was targetted quite a few times for being Rob M's second in command.

I specifically remember that episode where the tribes were switched up and she got placed on a tribe with Lex, Kathy, Shii Ann, and Jerri so she was clearly outnumbered. Lex and Kathy could have easily voted her out, but Amber worked her little heart out and convinced them to keep her and boot Jerri.

That was probably the stupidest move ever and cost Lex/Kathy the entire game that season.

Well, Rob did whisper that little lie to Lex that helped save Amber too.

 

[Matt]

Bob was awful. The only reason he won was because that crappy alliance he was apart of (Marcus, Corinne, Randy, and Charlie) didn't want to accept the fact that the other alliance outplayed them.

They were spoiled, hypocritical brats, but even after the show was over they trashed Bob and said they only voted for him just out of bitterness towards Susie and Sugar and that Bob didn't do squat the entire game except lay around camp. I remember Corinne saying that whenever strategy talk would come up Bob would just leave and never talk to anyone. He was the worst.

Vecepia, Tina, and Jenna are so underrated it's ridiculous. Tina was the leader of that entire alliance with Colby and Keith for the entire season and ran that entire game. She had Colby wrapped around her finger and got him to make the biggest blunder ever of taking her to the F2 instead of Keith, which would have given him a sure win.

Vecepia is another underrated one. She was very sly and worked the alliance hopping strategy to perfection. First creating the alliance with Sean R. and Rob M. that controlled Maraamu. After the switch, she distanced herself from Sean R. and Rob and cozied up to the Rotu 4, then she flipped back and helped create the counter alliance that took out the Rotu, than she made that last ditch effort the final IC throwing Kathy under the bus and getting Neleh to take her to the F2. Not to mention her great foresight in bringing the notebook/pen that lead to her F4 immunity victory.

Jenna, truthfully during the season I didn't like her at all, but looking back her win was a big turning point for Survivor. It essentially changed Survivor from just being survival of the fittest to being a hardcore social game. She built up the relationships with every single player that made the jury that season then went on to the end game winning two straight immunity challenges tying Kelly Wigglesworth for women with the most immunity challenge wins (four). She swept the votes against Matt because he was a social dude and she gave a great performance at her final TC. I really respect her game looking back at it.

If I had to pick the worst winners I'd definitely say they were Bob, Chris (Vanuatu), Amber, and Danni.

As far as Cirie, seriously. She owned both seasons she was on, there's just no way around saying she isn't a damn good player.

You can't say Cirie "owned the game," if she could not close it. The very fact that all she did was stir **** up and in doing so put a huge target on her back in the final stretch was a fundamental flaw in both of her strategies and is proof that she is not nearly as good as her fans thought. She had no end game strategy which allowed smarter players to easily out play her.

 

[SuperT]

I don't see how either instance where Cirie didn't make to the endgame was due to the fact that got outplayed by smarter people. They were strictly circumstances of the game.

In Exile Island, she went from potential first voted out to eliminating all her immediate threats and stuck to her alliance with Danielle and Aras all the way to the end. At that final four Tribal Council, Aras had immuity and Terry had the hidden immunity (which had different rules back then) so neither one could be voted out so Cirie and Danielle had no choice but to vote for each other. It went to a tie and Cirie unfortunately lost at the firemaking challenge - wouldn't say she was outwitted there by any smarter players. She went as far as the game would take her.

In Micronesia, she owned that entire season and again went all the way to the Final Three with her solid alliance with Amanda and Parvati she had from day six. They then threw that random change up at the last minute of changing it from a F3 to a F2 just because James got hurt and they had an extra challenge they HAD to do. Once again, I wouldn't say she got outwitted by any smarter players.

Both seasons, Cirie played solid games. She is up with some of the best players ever on Survivor, no question about that for me. Of course, next season I expect her to not do nearly as good as she did her first to seasons just for the simple fact that she played impeccable games the first two times.

 

[CELTICPRED]

[BLACKOUT]The balls on Russell for not using the idol tonight, I thought for sure he was gone.

Monica finally got hers, I wasn't too happy about Dave leaving though. [/BLACKOUT]

 

[Marx]

I didn't realize how haggard Dave was looking. Yikes!

 

[LEX]

Russell, you idiot.

That said, props to him for having the balls not to play the idol. I, too, figured he was a goner for sure. However, that was far from being to the editors' credit. Disappointed not to see more strategizing.

This episode felt kind of like a filler, serving only to get the no-brainers out of the way so as to get to the real game next week.

I hope next week, or any week before the game's end, will be Brett's turn to leave. If he gets anywhere near the final three... well, landslide jury votes are just so boring.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

I didn't realize how haggard Dave was looking. Yikes!

Dave looked like he had just been liberated from Auschwitz.

Monica looked like the bride of Skeletor.

Even Natalie doesn't look so great anymore... kinda like those heroin chic models who purge too much. All bones, no meat.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Russell, you idiot.

That said, props to him for having the balls not to play the idol. I, too, figured he was a goner for sure. However, that was far from being to the editors' credit. Disappointed not to see more strategizing.

This episode felt kind of like a filler, serving only to get the no-brainers out of the way so as to get to the real game next week.

I hope next week, or any week before the game's end, will be Brett's turn to leave. If he gets anywhere near the final three... well, landslide jury votes are just so boring.

Brett doesn't have a winner's edit. Brett may indeed have the worst edit of all time. I've never seen a player who got this far with less airtime. This was the first episode he said more than a sentence. I would bet my car on him not winning the million dollars (sure, my car may be a lemon, but that's besides the point).

 

[SuperT]

After tonights episode, I have a sinking feeling in my gut that Mick is going to be our winner this season. One of the most worthless winners ever? I'd have no argument against that.

I don't think Russell has a shot in hell of winning after tonight. He was mean, cocky, arrogant, and they know he made two million dollars in his business last year. There's no way the jury is going to vote for that to win.

I hoping Natalie or Jaison are the actual winners, but I won't hold my breath.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

I thought Dave's pitch to vote out Shambo was great, no one on the jury is going to vote for her. The fact that Russell even entertained that thought proves he isn't nearly as good at the game as the people would have you believe. I'm gald Foa Foa kept to the original strategy and booted the Galu's, don't turn on each other just yet, that's how Galu was put on the jury.

 

[SuperT]

Voting out Shambo or Russell would have been stupid. Ideally, Jaison, Natalie, and Mick shoud be fighting over who gets to sit next to those two at the final three.

I know Natalie is probably thinking this which is why she's stuck with Russell for the entire game - because she'll beat him up against the jury, no questions asked.

 

[Dugath]

After tonights episode, I have a sinking feeling in my gut that Mick is going to be our winner this season. One of the most worthless winners ever? I'd have no argument against that.

I don't think Russell has a shot in hell of winning after tonight. He was mean, cocky, arrogant, and they know he made two million dollars in his business last year. There's no way the jury is going to vote for that to win.

I hoping Natalie or Jaison are the actual winners, but I won't hold my breath.

They know he made two million dollars? How so? Because someone told them? They have no proof. Just because someone tells you something doesn't make it true (even though in this case it is)

What on God's green Earth has those two done to deserve to win anything besides ride Russell's coat tails? The only move Jaison has done was make up a story how he is the brains behind all of Russel's moves. And really that is a pretty unbelievable story.