Richard was an interesting case. Being the first season, nobody had played the game before; nobody had seen anybody else play the game before. While all the other “total noobs” were trying to figure out what they’d gotten themselves into, Richard was the first to understand what it was going to take to win at this new thing called Survivor. He came across as a villain that season only because he was the only player who had developed any sort of strategy. (IIRC, one of the first-season players cast his votes in alphabetical order!)
But at the same time, Richard laid down a prototype that a lot of players have tried to emulate since then. I’m not sure his All-Star season proves he wasn’t a good strategist; all of the former winners were targeted early and didn’t really stand a chance, which clearly wasn’t the case this time.
Unfortunately, his legal issues will probably preclude his ever getting another shot. I’d kind of like to see him back, though.
Speaking only for myself, I’ve had enough of Russell for now. The last two seasons in a row essentially became “The Russell Show.” He needs to go away for a while before I can consider wanting him back.
My hope is that they do at least the next two seasons with new players, then maybe a Russell-free All-Stars, another new season or two… Then – maybe – I’ll be ready to see if Russell learned anything from his pair of shutout losses.
Rob vs Russell would probably get huge ratings, though, so I wouldn’t be surprised. On the other hand, it could backfire; what’s to stop everyone else from knocking them both out early, just because?
And that reminds me of a question I’ve been meaning to ask: They always show everybody’s vote after somebody gets ousted, but not for the final million-dollar vote. Is that information posted somewhere, or forever left to speculation?
I was just looking at the 5/2010 issue of “The Writer.” The back cover is a full page ad for a self-publishing house. The headline reads "Be a SURVIVOR of the self-publishing JUNGLE.
There is a picture of Coach with his arm around an older guy, and a quote: “An incredible journey…Tom Gauthier’s weaving the nuances of my private feelings with edge-of-the-seat high adventure from the core of my tattered journals…and Outskirts Press creating a professional product that we are all proud of and delighted to provie to our fans.”
Signed by Benjamin “COACH” Wade, from TV’s “Survivor.”
All unshown votes went to the winner. Otherwise they would have been shown to heighten the drama. Much like during regular TC votes all unshown votes are for the person voted out.
Stacking the votes in the most dramatic order is what Jeff is talking about when he says “I’ll go tally the votes.”
I do get that, but we don’t *always *know which individuals placed which votes until they show everybody holding up their parchments during the closing credits. That’s what I was talking about that’s missing from the finale.
Though, I suppose I could have worked it out since I think they showed us all three of the Parvati votes during the voting itself, if that’s what you mean. But I’m kind of lazy that way; I like it all spelled out for me afterward!
Thanks for the link, Joanie, by the way. Yay, Wikipedia!
A couple things I wish would have been further elaborated at the reunion:
1.) Russell kept saying how he has been “playing one long game,” alluding to the fact that he didn’t get to learn anything from having watched his initial season because he went to All-Stars before it aired. Hey, dude, your torch would have been extinguised the first time Heroes won immunity if anyone else had gotten to see you.
2.) It was slightly touched upon, but when it was down to the final five for six, the remaining villains wanted Russell to remain until the end because they knew he couldn’t win – I wanted that rubbed in his face. If there was any question about whether he would have received any votes I have complete confidence the girls would have dumped him. He thinks he got to the end because he was so fin’ crafty. What a fin’ f***. I wonder if this show will change the way his business associates view him. Drink this fing milkshake, bi! (movie reference.)
If he ever comes back for a reunion show I’ll start watching the episode he gets voted off.
In (1) you are saying that if the others knew Russel from his first season (where he alienated the jury), they would have decided not to keep him till the end, and in (2) you are saying that when they did get to know him in this season (where he alienated the jury) they decided to keep him till the end.
I think your point (1) is wrong and your point (2) is correct.
If the villains & heroes had seen Russel’s first season, they would likely conclude “this is a great guy to take to the final with me, since he can’t handle the jury, pisses people off, alienates the jury members, and doesn’t know how to get people’s votes”.
I’m saying when it got down to the final five or six those in power decided it would be best to keep him around. If everyone had seen him from his previous season they never would have let him last more than two or three votes max. I think he would have gone the Johnny Fairplay route. Wait until he returns for the next All-Stars. I don’t have to tell you that contestants vote differently in the beginning than they do in the end.
