Tonight we watched the season finale of “Survivor.” We were a little apprehensive about who would win, because for however many weeks this Heroes vs. Villains season lasted, we sat and waited and crossed our fingers and yelled at the television for somebody, ANYBODY, to wise up and vote out Russell.
But it never happened. Even though he called people names and strutted around like a rooster and threatened the other players and came across like he wouldn’t know humility if it stood two inches in front of him and SPELLED OUT ITS NAME, nobody ever made a move to get him out of the game.
I can usually take my TV with a grain of salt, but I vowed and declared that if Russell was this season’s winner, I was done with “Survivor” forevermore. He wasn’t just manipulative in the game – which, truth be told, is pretty standard “Survivor” fare – he was a bully. And I don’t like bullies. I don’t like them in real life, and I don’t like them on TV, either.
(You may have picked up on the fact that Russell got under my skin a little bit.)
(For all I know he’s the nicest guy in the world in real life and the Russell we saw on “Survivor” was just a persona he created.)
(Regardless: I don’t enjoy the arrogance. All the horn-tooting gets pretty shrieky and ear-piercing after awhile.)
****SPOILER AHEAD****
ANYWAY, given all of our misgivings about Russell, we were tickled by the final results. Russell didn’t get a single vote, and while you could certainly argue that Pavarti played a stronger game than Sandra, I think Pavarti’s partnership with Russell failed to win the respect of the original Heroes. Sandra played a quiet game – but I think she played a smart one. And she proved that the game isn’t just about strategy and physical strength; there has to be a social game at work, too. People have to like you and respect you. Russell is a brilliant strategist, but in the context of the game, at least, he’s a jerk.
And it was just sort of refreshing that, for once (or for twice, in Russell’s case), the jerk didn’t win.
What did you “Survivor”-watchers think? Did the right person win?
Yep!!!! I agree!! I’m so glad he didn’t win!! I still really wish a hero could have won but at least he didn’t win!!
I COULDN’T AGREE WITH YOU MORE!
EVERY WEEK I would rant and whine to my husband, “Why doesn’t anybody tell Russel he’s not the boss and vote him off?!?! Why do they keep letting him call all the shots?!?!”
I am delighted that Sandra won. Survivor continues to lure me in every season – there’s just something about that show that I love. =)
Boy, do I agree with you on the Russell deal. (My youngest called him a troll. I know. Not nice. But so true!) We have missed many seasons of Survivor but my all time fave will always be Colby. I have said for years if I ever had a boy that I would have wanted to name him Colby. Yes, I will agree that this season wasn’t a good one for him. Seemed like he was in a complete funk. Still liked him.
As far as the winner, I actually think that Parvati deserved it. She was a very strong physical competitor and it seemed like she always had such great focus on the mental challenges. Also, since she had played more days than anyone else and the fact that Russell and Sandra had already won.
Could not agree more! I couldn’t watch the last 4 or 5 shows just in case he won.
I didn’t even get to watch much of this season but that Russell…eeewww, he epitomizes arrogance….seriously it was all the time, never breaking from it…right down to bringing the writing out on the live finale….wish JT would have succeeded in tossing it into the fire just to see Russell freak out!! :)
And I’ll have to say, Colby is always my fave, just because that’s the Survivor that held my intrigue the most of anytime….and that little Elizabeth was so precious, still is in fact. :)
I so agree with you. I’ve been just having a fit, wishing something would happen to let Russell be voted off. That bossy arrogance was so maddening!
I think the right person won. I felt like Paverti was a little too full of herself also.
Oh My. Stars. I was squealing with glee when Russel realized he wasn’t going to win after the jury questioned them. GLEE. I was happy with either of the girls winning, but in the beginning I was rooting for Boston Rob (I really don’t know why, maybe his cute baby), Tom, Colby, and JT. I love JT – just a nice, nice guy. A little stupid this time around (wasn’t that funny!), but super nice. My new word for Russel is NARCISSISTIC!
I am SOOOOO excited that Russell did not win! I wasn’t sure I could watch the next season if he did. But, sadly his ego is still HUGE … why oh why did America give him the Sprint Win? Oh I dislike him!!
I am convinced Sandra won because she pointed out to the Heroes that she tried – again and again – to get them to join forces with her to vote off Russel. Only they never did, and he picked them off one by one.
It irks me that America gave that man $100K. If American actually had to live with that man for more than one hour a week, it never would have happened.
Just got finished watching here in Guam…So agree with you! Russell is a troll. So glad he did not win…too bad he got that 100K.
But love the game….looking forward to the next seaon….about as much as the next season of college football (Go Rebs! Yeah…couldn’t resist!)
We have watched EVERY single season of Survivor. I agree about Russel- he is so cocky and prideful. I wonder what his wife thought when she saw him flirting with Parvati throughout the game?
I LOVED Sandra, and I was thrilled she won. She deserved it because she flew under the radar and played smart.
On a side note, I was REALLY glad Coach learned a good lesson to be HUMBLE and not so annoying. I ended up liking him after his comments last night- after wanting to poke my eyes out with a fork every time the “Dragon slayer” talked. :)
AGREE !!! Simply cannot believe they did not get rid of Russell. Glad Sandra won and not Parveti. Coach makes me shake my head.
Oh, Boomama, I couldn’t agree with you more. I read your blog every morning but have never posted. You generating a response out of me this morning shows how strongly I felt about Russell not winning. I was torn between Parvati and Sandra – would have been happy with either of them because they deserved it. They were so fun to watch. I giggled so much watching them the past 2 weeks.
No. No. I have watched all twenty seasons of Survivor and I totally disagree. Russell was annoying and I agree they should have voted him off.
BUT, he should have won. The last two seasons have been run more like popularity contests instead of Survivor. It doesn’t matter who you like- it matters who played the best game. At bare minimum Parv should have won- she had a target on her back from minute one and managed to work her way to the top nonetheless.
Your jury vote isn’t for you to judge the character of a person or to punish someone for bad behavior. It is for logically deciding who played the best game.
I don’t really like Russell, I just think think he played a fantastic game. Sandra admitted that every time she tried to make a move, it failed. That isn’t being “good” at Survivor. That is being “bad” at Survivor and getting lucky that people thought they could beat you so they never got rid of you.
I think the last two seasons will make me quit Survivor.
I’m so glad he didn’t win and so bummed that he got the 100,000!
And PS- he’s not a nice guy in real life either. He got arrested in April for attacking someone at a street fair.
I love Colby, just sayin…….
Don’t even get me started…I agreed with EVERYTHING you just said. And Sandra DID try to get him off continually. It’s just that nobody listened. Or I think it was really that they were just too afraid to try it. That’s another reason I liked Sandra all along…she WASN’T afraid to stand up to Russell. I just hate that he was selected as Sprint’s player of the season. I’m so disappointed in America right now. How that many people can say they agree with him..??? I may have to move to Europe.
We are big survivor fans, too. In fact, my three year old almost cried when she realized that it wasn’t going off before her bedtime! I was thrilled that Russell didn’t win, but I was secretly hoping Parvati would pull it off. Although she partnered with Russell, I thought she played the game the best. Congrats to Sandra though, she was definitely a great player and deserved the win!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who was yelling at the tv this season. I really didn’t want either of the final three to win (I was hoping for Rupert or Colby), but I was glad that Sandra won out of the three! Parvati got on my nerves this season, she was right up there with Russel on the arrogance factor…
How awesome was it when Rupert questioned Russel? I loved that!
This is exactly how I felt last season (Russell’s first). But now, I love Russell. I really think he played the game the best.
He could have a better social game, but he made it to the end, didnt he? He was putting all of his hope for the million in the fact that he was playing with all-star players and that they would respect his game play, but because of his social game and what he said to the jury, that didn’t happen.
I really think he is the best survivor, at least of the seasons that I’ve seen.
I love Survivor – so although I often yell at the TV and get frustrated by the people (edits?), I love the idea of the show – taking people out of their comfort zone and forcing them to figure things out. I agree that two season’s in a row of Russell is more than enough. Goodbye Russell. However, I like what Tom (the well liked NYC fireman) said when Jeff asked him about his thoughts on Sandra winning: “The game is not only about strategy – it is only one of the elements of winning the game”. He went on to say that “it is (in his opinion) one third strategy, one third social and one third luck”. That is the one vital thing that Russell’s pride would not let him see (even after JUST getting done playing and losing on his prior season). Although I personally wasn’t a fan of Rupert this time around, I was very disappointed that”America” voted to give Russell $100,000 for his behavior. Not shocked – but disappointed.
My all time favorite moment was when Sandra burned Russell’s hat. I jumped for joy on that.
I think the last two seasons have been edited to make Russell appear a lot more powerful than what was really going on. When Jeri won the reward challenge and took everyone in her alliance EXCEPT Russell, that said a lot. The women were actually laughing and making fun of him- if he had been the puppet master they would have taken him. They were using him much more than him using them, and were smart enough to take him to the end to guarantee a win.
Well, Sandra DID try to get Russell out. She tried. The Heroes were just, just, to put it nicely–very naiive. I so wanted a hero to win.
But I’m thrilled that Sandra won in the end. Honestly, I’m not sure I would say Russell played a great game. I suppose the fact that he made it to the end speaks for itself. But he basically fed one line of bull after the other and made it all up along the way. So in the end he totally deceived his way through.
BLEH! Bleh, bleh, bleh!!!
Pavarti did play more of a strategic game but still, BLEHH!
I’m not thrilled that Russell won the America vote in the end. I’m wondering WHO voted! I’m actually thinking it was some sort of attempt to keep him from taking this thing a step further. Because he is just the kind of crazy to do it. Not to mention so FULL of himself that he would not have been able to live without making an issue over this. Did you see his face? I did not watch much at all of last season. But the clip where the winner is announced is priceless! He looks so angry! In disbelief!
I was disappointed over the heroes’ lack of strategy this season. Like you, I was wondering why everyone was so afraid to even consider voting out Russell. Everyone except for Sandra. She tried. Dang it, Rupert. But you deserved to go home after those dumb plays. After Russell said such awful things to you and you just played right into his hands. Dang it.
If you’re interested, there’s a great recap of the finale on ew.com:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20354695_20369851.html
100% Agree! Russell is a total jerk and I was so happy when he didn’t get one vote! The look on his face was enough to keep me happy for a long time.
Sandra, you had me at “I’m against you, Russell.” and later, “Did I really say that? I guess I did.” Classic!!
Watching Russell’s face when the votes were read as he received NOT ONE almost (ALMOST) made up for having to put up with him the rest of the season. He thought he had it wrapped up and not one vote (I may have done a little happy dance). Why can’t anyone see through him?? He thinks he plays this great game, and sure, he gets to the finale, but when you can’t secure even one vote? Major Fail! You can’t boss everyone around and be a complete jerk and expect people to vote for you. Strategy is important but not at the expense of failing to play the social game.
Last season I did feel a small tad sorry for Russel as I did believe he had out played the other contestants – especially the girl he lost too.
This time however he seemed to have upped his obnoxious factor. He also lied and manipulated when it was not necessary to win, but more for his emotional state.
I do believe he played hard – physically. And you never heard him complain of the conditions..ect.
BUT – he totally did not take into account the social part of the game and unless you can do all three….you don’t deserve to win.
That being said…my husband is VERY sad that Russel lost again. Funny because in some ways my Russel reminded me of my husband..not the jerky ways though.
PS. I thought it was classic when Parvarti said Russel was her pet! I would have voted for her..just for that!
I’m very happy with the results. Even on the after show Russel was still in his bully- game mood. It is over! You did not win again… It is a game! I’m even disappointed that he won the sprint $$.
i am a HUGE survivor fan, and i will go against the crowd on this one. i love Russel i think that man played a great game, and personally i might not hang out with him but i love people who will go for it 100% and put there money where there mouth is. i couldn’t stand Sandra in the last season she was in and i was hoping they wouldn’t take her to the final three that was what killed them the only thing that would have been worse then Sandra winning would have been my all time least favorite player Ruppert BARF! ok i am done now….
While I did not like Russell and his sociopathic tendencies, I’ll have to agree with a few of the commenters – he played the best strategic mind game, but not the best social game.
I miss the first few Survivor seasons where it was more about surviving the elements rather than surviving the deception.Australia was my favorite.
My husband rooted for Russell mainly because he was smart and thought of all the angles, but I do think that he (Russell)was a troll – albeit a crafty one.
My favs were Colby and Tom because they are classy and didn’t complain. Rupert was not as enjoyable. Can’t handle Parvati one bit, and Sandra’s loud mouth about makes me want to scream at the TV.
I personally loved every time that Jeff said, “Russell, STOP!!!” Because, seriously, the guy is annoying. And I feel quite sure that he is just as obnoxious in real life. I don’t think it’s possible to be that slimy on the show and be a nice guy in real life. So glad he didn’t get a single vote. And when he told Jeff that America should be allowed to vote, I yelled… YELLED… at the tv that in fact, “You still wouldn’t win because NO ONE LIKES YOU!”
Still wish one of the ‘heroes” had won, but it’s a victory that Russell didn’t. :)
I totally agreed. I just kept telling my husband…”I don’t care who wins as long as it’s not Rusell.” I was very happy to see he din’t even get one vote. But yet it didn’t seem to humble him one bit. He just kept on with his arrogant self. I was really glad Sandra won.
I feel like Parvati deserved to win more because of her KILLER ability in challenges, but I also think you nailed it in regards to WHY she didn’t win.
I loved it.
I loved EVERY single episode this season. It was the BEST season EVER.
Oh heck yes. I was hoping Sandra would win…only because Russell is the biggest bully on Survivor…ever. And cocky. Ugh.
Parvati played a better game than Sandra, some would say, and perhaps she deserved to win it more. But the heroes liked Sandra better and, really, who can blame them? I’m so glad she won.
So glad that I threw my hands in the air and let out a happy squeal when Russell got NO votes. Woo Hoo!!!!!
A lot of people are commenting about how much they love Colby. Was anyone else bothered by Colby yelling at his brother during the reward challenge? I thought that was so embarrassing, and it really changed how I viewed him.
I am THRILLED that Russell didn’t get a single vote!!!!!
At first I was glad to see Russel get a second chance because he was so smart in the last season and really should have won, but this season he got ugly about it. He wasn’t just smart anymore, he was arrogant and mean. And the way he acted at the reunion makes me think he is really like that. I’m glad Sandra won, although she did get me riled up a few times too. She has her arrogant moments too. I would have really like to see Jerri win. I thought she played totally different than the last two times. She was changed somehow and I was actually enjoying seeing her “nicer” side come out.
Amen and AMEN again. I didn’t care which of the girls won…I just didn’t want Russell to win. Hee hee, he didn’t get even ONE stinkin vote! Ha! Still makes me smile!
I think Parvati is a better player, but being in an alliance with Russell cost her more than she anticipated.
SANDRA all the way! ! ! Russell is awful! My daughter thought he played the game well and we completely enjoyed the past two seasons. I couldn’t believe how many immunity idols that man found last season! ! ! But I am so with you BooMama about the bullying! Horrible! I loved it on one of the last episodes when he asked Sandra if she was for him or against him and Sandra, so calmly, said she was against him! As was I, Sandra! ! ! I started off as a Boston Rob fan but had to change to a different player when he was voted off. I just loved watching the game unfold for Sandra the way it did! So glad you wrote about this. By the way, you looked very spiffy yesterday afternoon!
Agreed! Could not STAND Russell…and you could tell even Jeff was frustrated with him. He could not even understand that NO ONE voted for him…and why!
was disappointed that he won the Sprint money. Didn’t want him to get ANYTHING!
Yes, the right person won. We lost our power right before the first tribal counsel, came back on just as Russy started his rant on the reunion show.We missed it but hey, we all know people like Russ. Clueless, Tacky & Full of themselves.
Totally agree!! Although I do think that Pavarti played the better game. That Russ just made us sick.
Preach it sister! Russell was even worse than on his 1st season! Really wished that Colby or even Jeri could have pulled it out but Sandra was fine!
To commentor #3 Kellie: Russel and Sandra have not both won. Parvati and Sandra have both won. Out of the 4 finalists I was hoping for Jerri who has not won. Just because of that fact. But when it came down to the 3 I was happy it was Sandra. I actually clapped. Because like Big Mama – I would have quit watching if Russel had won. The bad guys should never win.
I always liked Coach – such a free spirit.
Colby – a loveable man and a good soul. But his heart wasn’t in it.
My favorite of all time – Rupert. A good person with a good family he loves very much. A lovable teddy bear. I had to stay up until 1 a.m. because I taped it. I was at a b’day party and came home in the middle. But didn’t dare turn it on then. So at 10 p.m. when it was done taping I started watching. As you know, if you look at the internet or the tv on the morning after you will inadvertently find out the winner. And that would have ruined everything for me.
Hugs
Marie
Well….I LOVE Survivor!! I really enjoyed Russell the 1st time around just because he shook things up and was soooo different! He really played a great game. I actually felt sorry for him that he couldn’t see why he didn’t win! Some people never learn! THIS time however he went too far when he got rid of Boston Rob! I ADORE Boston Rob; he has a humbleness and sweetness about him and really knows the game.
Pavarti probably should have won, but her laugh drives me crazy…evil! She was awesome calling Russell her little pet. Go Sandra..independant and self-reliant and stood up for self when she had to.
I really didn’t want any of those 3 to win, but Sandra was the lesser of 3 evils! I was disappointed that none of the Heroes were able to come up with any real game play. It seemed they were hung up on being all nice. It’s good they were nice, but there was a game to play and they just seemed to sit and get picked off one by one! :)
Russell does live close to where I live and I do know some people who have ran in to him in local places and he has been very nice and taken the time to talk with them and take pictures and things. One actually told him she and her family really did not like him on the show and he laughed and said it was just for the show. She said he was very nice and she felt differently about him after that. She’s not the only one that has said that after meeting him in person. Anyway, it was hard to like him on the show, but I felt Pavarti wasn’t any better. She was in the same category as Russell to me. Boston Rob hit the nail on the head…Russell knows how to get to the end of the game, he just doesn’t know how to win!
I have watched every season since the beginning; I grew up with the daughter of Rudy, from Season 1. He was exactly like I remembered him! And does anyone remember Sue’s rant from that season? Classic! After watching Russell these last two seasons, though, my husband and I just could not let go of the show when it was over! Sometimes we would still be talking about it when we went to bed, and ALWAYS, we would pause the Tivo during the show and rant about why nobody was on to how evil Russell was!!! Last night, though, my husband realized something that made sense: since Russell played back-to-back seasons, the rest of the heroes and villains never had a chance to see his true colors and game play, because they were already filming when the first Russell season aired. So, while WE got to see the behind the scenes bullying and manipulation, THEY did not. Everyone else’s game-style was pretty much public knowledge to the players.
And to whoever said that they were disappointed in Colby after the family challenge–I was seriously disappointed, as well. He said something about “losing the adventure” this season, and “being quarantined” on the reunion show, which I didn’t really understand. I can only surmise that the “game” has really changed over the years, from a production standpoint, and probably three times out there is a bit wearing. But I thought he really came off as soft, childish and pout-y, giving up too easily because he “knew” he couldn’t win.
I have to say, I almost stopped watching when Boston Rob got voted off, but I’m glad I stuck with it. I got out a lot of aggression what with all my yelling at the TV! ;-)
I agree 100% but I am still galled that he won the fan favorite. BLEH.
To commentor #3 Kellie: Russel and Sandra have not both won. Parvati and Sandra have both won. Out of the 4 finalists I was hoping for Jerri who has not won. Just because of that fact. But when it came down to the 3 I was happy it was Sandra. I actually clapped. Because like Big Mama – I would have quit watching if Russel had won. The bad guys should never win.
I always liked Coach – such a free spirit.
Colby – a loveable man and a good soul. But his heart wasn’t in it.
My favorite of all time – Rupert. A good person with a good family he loves very much. A lovable teddy bear. I had to stay up until 1 a.m. because I taped it. I was at a b’day party and came home in the middle. But didn’t dare turn it on then. So at 10 p.m. when it was done taping I started watching. As you know, if you look at the internet or the tv on the morning after you will inadvertently find out the winner. And that would have ruined everything for me.
Hugs
Marie
Exact “discussion” we’ve had around our house all season – DH thinks Russell plays best survivor game but as Jeff Probst pointed out more than once in the Reunion Show – the game Russell thought he was playing wasn’t survive. The social game and not ticking off the entire jury DOES matter – if it was just being the biggest horse’s butt – then Russell should have won. Parvati had already won once – and what the heck – Sandra DID hang in there by her fingernails. Glad it was done – and no way somebody could be such a liar and sneak on a show where you are filmed 24/7 and a wonderful person in real life – his language alone made me dislike him. Go Sandra. –
I couldn’t agree with you more!!!!
Russell is a great strategist, but he plays to get to the end – not to win. And those are his own words. He totally forgets that the people you step over to get to the end are the sames ones whose vote you need.
I don’t see this season or last as a popularity contest. I see a jury who recognized that Russell was a good player, but there were also two other good players in the finals.
Sandra played a great game of staying uder the radar. She’s even said that not winning immunity all the time is one of her strategies. The stronger players tend to get voted off – and she’s right. I also agree that she won Hero votes by saying that she tired over and over to side with them and get Russell voted off and they would never listen to her.
I can’t wait for next season although it will be a bummer that it’s all “new” blood.
I had to wait almost a whole week to watch the finale because my husband won’t watch Survivor with me – too many half dressed women! I thought Russel was a complete troll the whole season and I was SO GLAD that he didn’t win. I couldn’t believe how delusional he was at the reunion show, either. “BUT I MADE IT TO THE END! BUT I MADE IT TO THE END!!” Ummm, darlin’, you STILL didn’t win the million dollars! Close doesn’t count in Survivor!
I was rooting for Boston Rob. And it doesn’t surprise me that Sandra won. She played the game exactly the same way she did before – stay low, don’t make waves or enemies.
I totally agree with you about Russell. There is a difference between stratigizing and just being downright mean. My first impression of him on his first survivor was that he was just mean. He didn’t need the money for sure, but I was glad Sandra won. I think she deserved it, but I wouldn’t have minded Parvati winning.
I had also seen where he was arrested for his behavior, and that was the final straw for me. I still can’t believe that they didn’t vote him off sooner.
JT was one of my favorites, but he did such a stupid thing with that idol.
OK I am a little late to the party – but can I just say AMEN SISTER! I did NOT want Russell to win. Each week I hoped and hoped that someone would wise up and get rid of him, but it never happened. Even when people would say we need to get him out he is dangerous – no one would listen! If that doesn’t make you scream at the TV, well then, you probably have a life or something.