"Survivor: Samoa" Talkback Thread (Spoilers)

[mumbo]

Russel H is going to do one of two things:

1) Win the whole thing

or

2) Exit in the biggest "go down in flames" in Survivor history.

I'm kinda wantin' to see 2).

I'd be happy with either actually, as odd as that sounds.

Never so early on in a season has a guy been a shoe-in for the next All-Stars season. Especially if it's that rumored heroes vs. villains format.

At this point he kind of needs to be part of a tribal shake-up though and rebuild an alliance. He's still got his planned runner-up with him but it's usually just about impossible to claw back from being way down in numbers going into the merge.

But if there's anyone who can do it, he can.

 

[Icer]

Russell sure has kept up his part of the bargain thus far, a great villain and I'm rooting for him to go all the way.

 

[The Penguin]

"This Is The Man Test" October 22, 2009

Foa Foa went back to Tribal Council after suffering in the cold and rain after losing the immunity challenge. There they voted out Ashley, bringing their tribe down to just five. Fourteen are left, who will be voted out tonight?

"This Is The Man Test"
Thursday, October 22, 2009 @ 8 p.m. ET/7 CT on CBS
The reward challenge is stopped when one castaway requires emergency medical attention and heavy rain takes its toll on both tribes. - TVGuide.com

 

[The Penguin]

Man, I felt so bad for Russell. He didn't deserve to go out like that. For better or for worse, he was a power-player in this game and really took the leadership role at Galu seriously and was a driving force in that tribe. I don't know if it would have a made a difference long-term, but he should have sat out that challenge. I honestly think this tribe's cohesion is going to be hurt by this.

I certainly didn't like the way things went for them at Tribal with Erik trash-talking and almost mocking Foa Foa. That kind of thing gets you in trouble, if not directly, then in the renewed motivation of your opponents. Perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise though, if you read his CBS.com bio he appears to have a very low level of class (if any).

The Galu boys should be careful trusting Shambo. That could end very badly.

 

[JPPT1974]

Well I hate it despite her being an eccentric person, Galu has been treating Shambo like dirt. And that she really has carried her weight around camp. Gathering wood despite losing the fishing gear and the chicken. Those people in Galu have done nothing but squat at all.
With all this winning, they are being spoiled.
Russell may be a jerk but he is at least entertaining and funny..
Erik does have a low level of class.
And that John from Galu, whom was really a jerk in the first show, has toned down a bit. But that could be editing.

 

[The Penguin]

Well I hate it despite her being an eccentric person, Galu has been treating Shambo like dirt. And that she really has carried her weight around camp. Gathering wood despite losing the fishing gear and the chicken. Those people in Galu have done nothing but squat at all.

I have to say though, the way she went around telling everyone they shouldn't get rid of her because she started the fire and gathered wood was a bad move. You don't make your case by confronting people, it just made them like her even less.

 

[Brandon Pierce]

It sucked Russell had to leave the way he did, but I really liked Jeff's "motivational" speech to him before he left.

What would have made for an interesting twist at tribal council, would be to simply have the two members voted off, swap tribes. But looks like that would have been unecessary, seeing as the merge appears to be next week.

 

[The Cartoon]

I'm really disappointed that Russell had to leave the way he did. He played the game very well and showed nothing but class to everyone, especially through his leadership position. He had potential to go very far and I'd love to see him come back for another season some time from now. It's really a shame that he felt the need to stay and help his tribe, a break would have saved his entire game.

 

[podznvines]

When I first saw Russell pass out, and the lack of responsiveness, I thought he was having a heart attack. It sucks that he had to leave, but I'm happy that he's going to be okay. No game is worth losing your life over.

 

[The Penguin]

"Houdini Magic" October 29, 2009

Jeff announced at the Reward Challenge that both tribes were headed to Tribal Council that night. Russell never made it there after he passed out during the challenge and was removed from the game despite his protests. At Tribal, Jeff surprised the tribes when he told them that no one would be voted out. Galu was told to return to camp and select a new chief. Thirteen are left, who will be voted out tonight?

"Houdini Magic"
Thursday, October 29, 2009 @ 8 p.m. ET/7 CT on CBS
Galu struggles to choose a new leader after Russell's medical departure, and Evil Russell from Foa Foa visits Galu and strikes up an alliance with one tribe member. - TVGuide.com

 

[Shawn Hopkins]

I'm getting tired of this show. It's just no fun with Galu winning all the time. I hate Galu, also, except for Shambo they all come off as a bunch of smug yuppie feminine hygiene products.

 

[The Penguin]

I'm getting tired of this show. It's just no fun with Galu winning all the time. I hate Galu, also, except for Shambo they all come off as a bunch of smug yuppie feminine hygiene products.

I don't see how anyone can have much of an impression of any of the members expect for Shambo to be able to make such a determination (perhaps save for Erik after last week). That said, I thought this episode did give us a chance to get to know some of them a little better. I don't have a problem with Galu as a tribe and I think the show is more interesting when one tribe keeps losing provide I'm not overly on that tribe's side. It offers something different from the standard.


I didn't really even know who Laura was before she was sent to go hang with Foa Foa during the reward. We still don't know her real well, but Russell was working that southern charm and his "Houdini magic" seemed to work. This guy seemed like he was just being a jerk for the heck of it, but he is a very calculating player and it's treated him well so far, he's just on the losing team most of time.

Being "the decider" for the Reward Challenge was the first real exposure I feel Brett has gotten. It didn't say much about his personality, but he made a great move in keeping that fire kit with the tarp and then stock-piling the points.

Did anyone feel like they barely knew who Natalie was? She's the only woman left on that tribe now. I believe she was the crown jewel of Russell's 'dumb girl' alliance before she seemed to almost disappear, I guess that served her well.

 

[Shawn Hopkins]

I don't see how anyone can have much of an impression of any of the members expect for Shambo to be able to make such a determination (perhaps save for Erik after last week). That said, I thought this episode did give us a chance to get to know some of them a little better. I don't have a problem with Galu as a tribe and I think the show is more interesting when one tribe keeps losing provide I'm not overly on that tribe's side. It offers something different from the standard.


I didn't really even know who Laura was before she was sent to go hang with Foa Foa during the reward. We still don't know her real well, but Russell was working that southern charm and his "Houdini magic" seemed to work. This guy seemed like he was just being a jerk for the heck of it, but he is a very calculating player and it's treated him well so far, he's just on the losing team most of time.

Being "the decider" for the Reward Challenge was the first real exposure I feel Brett has gotten. It didn't say much about his personality, but he made a great move in keeping that fire kit with the tarp and then stock-piling the points.

Did anyone feel like they barely knew who Natalie was? She's the only woman left on that tribe now. I believe she was the crown jewel of Russell's 'dumb girl' alliance before she seemed to almost disappear, I guess that served her well.

Survivor seems a bit like Big Brother, to a point. A quiet person like Natalie who lets someone think of her as part of their alliance, keeps her mouth shut and doesn't make waves can get pretty far.

I know Galu well enough now to know that I can't stand them. Danger Dave is probably the most annoying one, he just rubs me the wrong way with his smarmy little statements. And did you see how they were treating Shambo on the boat? They made her leader as some sort of cruel high school prank and when she tries to give directions they were telling her to shut up.

On the Foa Foa side, Jaison's just a waste of space now. He's a whiner and a quitter. If he doesn't shape up he might as well just go home.

 

[The Penguin]

They made her leader as some sort of cruel high school prank and when she tries to give directions they were telling her to shut up.

I understand what Dave was trying to do there though. He was trying to focus and hook the puzzle pieces and he's got Shambo yelling "Come on, Dave!" "You got it, baby!" in his ear and he found it distracting. Should he tell her to shut up? Perhaps not, but a challenge isn't exactly the time to go "Shambo, I know you're trying to encourage me, but I find it distracting when I'm trying to focus."

The guys making Shambo the leader was a strategic move. Is it nice? Probably not, but it's not bad strategy.

 

[Lelouch]

I agree with you Penguin on the fact that we barely know any of the Galu members. Barely any of them have gotten focus, but I suppose that will happen when the merge (if there is a merge) happens. Russel is by far my favorite character, at first I thought he was just that typical arrogant member who would get voted out, but at this point I really feel as though he may win. The only thing I believe will be a problem for him are the numbers, and that is because he is on the losing tribe. Survivor itself sort of lost its appeal for me awhile back, but I watch because it is slightly entertaining. I think the rumored All-Star Villains vs Heroes would be a fantastic way to revive my complete interest.

 

[mumbo]

Brett I think has been the most ignored. I only recall him saying like two or three things the entire show so far. Maybe he just has no personality.

By the looks of the preview

Spoiler

it's the merge next week and Galu could basically implode with all its in-fighting. This is Russell's time to shine, I just know it.

 

[The Penguin]

"All Hell Breaks Loose" November 5, 2009

With Shambo as the new leader at Galu, the tribe continued their winning ways in both the Reward and Immunity Challenges. At Tribal Council, Foa Foa voted out Liz, leaving their tribe with just four members. Twelve are left, who will be voted out tonight?

"All Hell Breaks Loose"
Thursday, November 5, 2009 @ 8 p.m. ET/7 CT on CBS
The Foa Foa and Galu tribes merge. At tribal council, another castaway is voted out of the game. - TVGuide.com

 

[Burgundy Ranger]

From the start I saw one of two outcomes for Russell: win the whole thing or go down in one of the biggest crash-and-burns in Survivor history.

Sure looks like we got the crash part of that tonight.

 

[mumbo]

I always love the episode of the season where they merge. It's where the game is always at its most volatile, because it's the most violent shift in the game. This season was no exception.

With editing at least, they've set up this season as The Russell Show pretty much. And that alone makes me think he'll make like final five or four or something, because it's at the point where if he's gone soon...what will the season even be about anymore? None of the other "characters" have been "developed" enough (ie not enough of their footage has been shown) yet to fill that void. I don't think the editors would set themselves up like that.

But yeah Russell made a big fat mess for himself tonight with all his scrambling around and unnecessary idol-waving but I'm sure he'll still proclaim superiority over the others no matter what happens.

The way Erik went down was just great.

And I guess both idols are now out of the game. I'm assuming they'll relocate only one of them.

 

[Burgundy Ranger]

And I guess both idols are now out of the game. I'm assuming they'll relocate only one of them.

The question there is that they no longer have a mechanism through which a contestant gets a new clue. There's no Exile Island this season and there's nowhere to send them now that the tribes have merged.

The only thing might be that the winners of the reward challenges get the clues. I don't think they'll do that, though.