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Survivor 20: Heroes vs. Villains - Page 8

post #351 of 380
5/17/10 at 3:32am
Ah, that was immensely satisfying. Russell learned not one iota of self-awareness from his Samoa loss, and this time got ZERO votes for his efforts. Boston Rob absolutely had him pegged as a player not playing to win Final Tribal. Social game is everything at Final.

I would have been happy with either a Parv or Sandra win, so once I saw a few of the Tribal votes, I was pleased.

To his credit, at least Russell didn't nearly burst into tears this time. He still is a self-deluded idiot, though.
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post #352 of 380
5/17/10 at 4:44am
I agree that I would have liked to see Russell win it, but it's been clear for three or four weeks that he was losing his shit somewhat in the home stretch. I'm glad it was Sandra over Parvati, because I really hated her final tribal performance. Sandra probably would have been one of my favorites this season if she hadn't placed herself opposite Russell so frequently.

Also, I can't remember a single time anyone gave the million dollars to someone they hated because he played a good game. Maybe Chris from Vanuatu?
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post #353 of 380
5/17/10 at 8:39am
Yeah, too many of the FTCs have turned into the jury standing up and making sure everyone knows what good, pure, honest people they are. The show has become such a cultural icon and celebrity-making machine that no one wants to be the one who voted for the bastard.
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post #354 of 380
5/17/10 at 11:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arjen Rudd View Post
Also, I can't remember a single time anyone gave the million dollars to someone they hated because he played a good game. Maybe Chris from Vanuatu?
Perhaps, but Chris played "contrite" and tripped all over himself apologizing to all the folks he voted out, something a jury often wants to hear, regardless of strategy and gameplay. Russell is absolutely blind to that crucial element of gameplay. It's like being a mathematical genius at counting cards at poker, but then being unable to bluff.
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post #355 of 380
5/17/10 at 11:31am
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post #356 of 380
5/17/10 at 6:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratty View Post
Perhaps, but Chris played "contrite" and tripped all over himself apologizing to all the folks he voted out, something a jury often wants to hear, regardless of strategy and gameplay. Russell is absolutely blind to that crucial element of gameplay. It's like being a mathematical genius at counting cards at poker, but then being unable to bluff.
Plus, Chris had the benefit of having Twila next to him. Though I do think she was unfairly dog-piled on, she definitely wasn't particularly charismatic and was largely responsible for screwing over half the jury.
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post #357 of 380
5/17/10 at 8:44pm
I believe the single biggest fix is to go back to a final two instead of three. That leaves a greater possibility for the final contestants to both be despised by the jury and yet they still have to vote for one of them. I never did see the logic in switching to a final three. These sanctimonious and hypocritical jury members make me want to vomit.
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post #358 of 380
5/17/10 at 8:47pm
I kind of want a "retro" season now: no hidden immunity idols, no Exile Island, no Final Three. A back to basics season.
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post #359 of 380
5/17/10 at 8:55pm
Agreed. The hidden idols are out of hand. I can't say I wasn't entertained by how some of them were used (or not used) this season but there were way too many of them.
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post #360 of 380
5/17/10 at 8:56pm
The previous two seasons had a Final Two. But I agree, the hidden immunity idols friggin suck. Me and some of my Survivor friends at work swear the producers or cameramen must tip off some of the good-for-tv-ratings players on their locations around camp.
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post #361 of 380
5/17/10 at 9:29pm
Jeff Probst mentioned in his EW blog that the Immunity Idols will be heavily toned down and hidden far better in the future. He says the crews' experience with Russell has led them to begin to consider the "Russell Factor" of finding IIs and future contestants won't be able to replicate his moves.

Chet: Samoa had a 3-personal final: Russell, Natalie and Mick. I wholly understand how you forgot the latter.

Also, too bad this Russell didn't show up for final TC. He may have actually gotten a vote or two.
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post #362 of 380
5/18/10 at 7:00am
Before last Thursday night, this was the best survivor ever. The last two eps were pretty blah and extremely predictable.

The best player won again IMO. The fact that you are not a physical player and get that far is one thing, but Sandra wasn't quiet or riding coattails, she spoke up and tried many things.
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post #363 of 380
5/18/10 at 7:55am
She didn't accomplish anything. Anything.
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post #364 of 380
5/18/10 at 8:58am
Except winning a million dollars. Twice. Instead of getting zero votes. Twice.
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post #365 of 380
5/18/10 at 10:16am
And yet Russell won the $100,000 audience choice award. Twice.
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post #366 of 380
5/18/10 at 10:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratty View Post
I kind of want a "retro" season now: no hidden immunity idols, no Exile Island, no Final Three. A back to basics season.
Agreed on the 'too many idols' statement. However, I like the idea of immunity idols in general (Russell's "I ain't goin home just yet" moment is one of my favorite survivor moments ever). They need to put it in an area with restricted access (exile island) and make it so that it cannot be located with just one clue
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post #367 of 380
5/18/10 at 10:44am
The hidden idols should require a little more cleverness to find rather than everyone just stomping out into the jungle to look for it. Not to get all MMO-ish, but it should be a chain of quests, where one clue leads you to the location of another clue, and so on.
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post #368 of 380
5/18/10 at 11:02am
Caught up with the season finale last night. Eh, for the most part, I'm satisfied. Russell did not deserve to win HvV. His scorched earth policy made it clear that his ego simply cannot encompass the social aspects of the game. I think Parvati should have won. While Russell had the novelty of being an all-star without the other contestants knowing anything about him (other than being warned that he was a villain for a reason), Parvati entered the game with a big ole target on her back. And, despite this, she managed to dominate at every aspect of the game. She truly outplayed, outwitted and outlasted. That being said, as Probst noted during the reunion show, at the end of the day, the best player is the one who wins the million. I have no problems with Sandra winning.

Random thoughts:

A million dollars will buy a hell of a lot of Bloomin' Onions.

I loved Boston Rob's comments during the reunion show, as well as his refusal to shake Russell's hand.

Nice hair, Erik.

Damn, Parvati cleans up nice.

I want on this show so bad I can taste it.
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post #369 of 380
5/18/10 at 11:09am
I'd rather be on The Amazing Race, personally.
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post #370 of 380
5/18/10 at 11:12am
Thread Starter 
That link was great, Episode 29. Russell acknowledging his flaws shows some growth. Still, his ginormous ego is his biggest liability. Hearing Parvati say there was no way Amanda was voting for her was interesting. Does she hold that much of a grudge from Fans Vs Favorites?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
And yet Russell won the $100,000 audience choice award. Twice.
Again, having fans pick the winner is not Survivor. That's a different game. Russell by far is the most entertaining person to play Survivor. But he is not the best Survivor player. He is just incapable of managing the jury.
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post #371 of 380
5/18/10 at 11:16am
I don't want to see fans pick a winner either, but I also dislike the jury concept. I'd much rather see an elaborate challenge between the final two so that the winner is truly a survivor, not who pissed off the jury the least.
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post #372 of 380
5/18/10 at 11:22am
Thread Starter 
That's a different game.
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post #373 of 380
5/18/10 at 11:28am
Rob saying Russell didn't have an end-game strategy is pot calling the kettle black. Lest we forget how he arrogantly flaunted his power, acted like a horse's ass to fellow players, trash-talked left and right and burned bridges back during All-Stars.
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post #374 of 380
5/18/10 at 11:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diva View Post
That's a different game.
I know that. I'm saying I don't like the current game. To me, being named the winner by a jury isn't surviving. Having your fate decided by people who, by the very fact they're on the jury, played the game worse than you did, isn't surviving.
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post #375 of 380
5/18/10 at 11:33am
But then you're eliminating the import of the social aspects of the game. You can be a dick and win. Todd is a perfect example. It's to Russell's discredit that he cannot.
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post #376 of 380
5/18/10 at 1:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by FilmNerdJamie View Post
Rob saying Russell didn't have an end-game strategy is pot calling the kettle black. Lest we forget how he arrogantly flaunted his power, acted like a horse's ass to fellow players, trash-talked left and right and burned bridges back during All-Stars.
Yeah, but Rawb married the winner. He got the cash and the girl!
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post #377 of 380
5/18/10 at 2:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diva View Post
Yeah, but Rawb married the winner. He got the cash and the girl!
And he got four votes to Amber's five. Not at all a blowout.
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post #378 of 380
5/18/10 at 2:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattioli View Post
But then you're eliminating the import of the social aspects of the game. You can be a dick and win. Todd is a perfect example. It's to Russell's discredit that he cannot.
Meh. I say it's to the jury's discredit that they can't admit they were played. No matter what, a known villain got a hero to give him an immunity idol completely unprompted and that will be remembered much longer than most of the competition.
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post #379 of 380
5/18/10 at 5:16pm
Anyone else see the final 3 contestants' appearance on Jimmy Fallon? Absolutely excruciating. Fallon shouldn't be allowed to work again.

Oh, and according to Cirie's Twitter, Colby and Danielle are a toothy item.
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post #380 of 380
5/18/10 at 9:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Episode29 View Post
Anyone else see the final 3 contestants' appearance on Jimmy Fallon? Absolutely excruciating. Fallon shouldn't be allowed to work again.

Oh, and according to Cirie's Twitter, Colby and Danielle are a toothy item.
What's a cowboy without a horse? What's a beard without a mustache?
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