I can't figure out if Russell is damn smart, or if he is just surrounded by complete idiots (the policewoman being the exception; she seemed to have pegged him as someone to keep at arm's length--good girl). Maybe things are different once you get down there. We audience do have the advantage of omniscience, after all.
Marissa, also, should have kept her mouth shut instead of airing her suspicions (in front of Russell, no less) that do nothing whatsoever save for alienating her tribe members. Whatever happened to what she said at the beginning interview about Russell? Scary bulldog-looking guy, should stick with him, and all that? It was like she had a personality transplant midway in the show.
But what surprised me was not who got voted off, but how easily Russell led everyone on like cattle to his triumphant conclusion. Just a few words here and bold-faced lies there, and voilà! Hopefully, everyone was humoring him. The alternative is just too worrying to think about.
This is going to get confusing, having two Russells on the show.