Survivor Sentiments

There are few people who read this blog, and fewer among them who care about the television show Survivor.  But before tonight's finale plays out and I miss the opportunity to say what I want to say, I'd like to express a few sentiments about the newest Survivor darling, Russell.

After the last season when Survivor lost to the rather mediocre Natalie, Jeff Probst and others seemed shocked and disappointed Russell lost.  I was terribly frustrated that I felt like I had to constantly explain what seemed to abudantly obvious to me.  Now we stand on the brink of yet another Survivor finale and again it seems Russell is likely to make the final tribal council.  I'm sure there are some who are gleefully anticipating Russell finally getting the credit he deserves.  Well, let me see if I can make this clear to any Russell lover who may care.

Russell is not a great Survivor player.  He's not only not the best ever, he isn't going to win . . . ever.

In the interest of fairness, I will grant that Russell is very aggressive at finding idols.  He is also good at manipulation and intimidation.  But in terms of being a great player, Russell lacks the necessary savvy to win at final tribal council.  As a more minor issue, Russell is not a particularly good physical player either.  We are near the end of the game again and he noticably doesn't win immunity unless he can find it under a rock somewhere.  Which is fitting, since his type seems to be the sort who comes out from under rocks.

Two major issues make Russell Hantz a fatally flawed player of the game.  First, he lacks social grace (almost completely).  In Survivor, when you get to the second part of the game, you have to get rid of those people from the game but keep their vote.  He's decent at the first part of that, but terrible at the second.  Second, he plays the game with too much emotion.  The moment someone says something cross to him, he's ready to get rid of them.  Once you realize this, Russell can be easily manipulated into voting out even one of his best allies (Coach).  His insecurity prompts him to get rid of those who would be most loyal to him (Danielle) if he feels for a moment she may not like him the best.

Russell has become the on-screen version of all that is wrong with Junior High school students.  Selfish, manipulative, petty, and mouthy; he may make for winsome television for those who cast Survivor.  But most normal people got away from that sort of thing once their voice finished changing.  I will be very glad when this season is over and the next begins just so we can move beyond the Hantz era.  If rumors he may return again for a third time in the following season turn out to be true, Survivor may lose a lot of loyal viewers -- and I will likely be among them.