BERSERKER!!!

I did not know what to expect with that last episode of SURVIVOR. From the previous week, though Russell had managed a miraculous victory, the numbers just weren't in his favor. Short of a merge and/or finding another hidden immunity idol, I didn't see any way Russell could survive the next episode.

And yet somehow, the guy managed to turn it around, tricked Jerri against Coach Dragonslayer, and sent Boston Rob—one of the most formidable all-around players ever—packing.

There's a lot of debate on the message boards about what makes someone "The Best Survivor Player Ever". There are a variety of ways to get to the end. Manipulation, Coat-Tail Riding, Strength, Sheer Luck. Some combination of these things.

Russell Hantz plays a different game...

Russell Hantz is an ugly fucking player. He takes wild risks, says outrageous things to other players' faces, bleeds ego. His social game is unapologetically cruel. He's a berserker. He'll come at you from a mile away and won't make any effort to conceal his rampage.

And I still like him. Because it's still just a game show. There are no codes of honor. He's not nice on the show but I'll bet he's a good guy in "real life" (if you're on his proper side). And even if he isn't, I don't really care. I'm sure Axl Rose is an asshole in person and I still worship the guy. Russell Hantz is no Axl Rose, but I respect him. (Is anyone still reading?)

I'll be amazed if he can get to the end playing the way he does, but he did it last time and he's made it lot farther than I expected him to amidst this cast of All Stars. Without Boston Rob, Russell's tribe's a complete mess now, just like his tribe last season. He seems to thrive in that sort of chaos. He can better control things when there's no clear leader. He cuts the heads off of opposing alliances.

THE COURTNEY & SANDRA INCIDENT
Then, there was that infamous clip of Russell strategizing with Rob in front of Courtney n' Sandra. Former SURVIVOR (and real life Courtney boyfriend) Stephen Fishbach writes in his latest blog:

"The way he treats Sandra and Courtney after the challenge, as though they were trash that washed up on the beach, showed a lack of even basic human consideration."

One of the commenters on Fishbach's blog ("JON") offered:

"Speaking of Sandra/Courtney, what a ballsy, and unpredictable thing to say in front of them. In a weird way it was so completely honest that it almost transcends simple arrogance or unkindness. Frankly they are the weak links in challenges, have expressed clear disdain for Russ, and they were on the wrong side of alliances as far as Russ was concerned. I’m not entirely sure of the wisdom of such a statement, but it fits in perfectly with Russ’ behavior of defying expectations and throwing people off their game." (emphasis mine)

This is the only assessment I've read that seems to suggest that there was some method to Russell's rudeness. And it's true that Sandra and Courtney have been obscenely dismissive of Russell throughout. Sandra called him out during a tribal council. Courtney's sole ability in the game seems to be a gift for snark. Russell got to them not by whispering catty remarks about them behind their backs—or saying something with the safety of Papa Probst's presence at a tribal council—but by being OPENLY DISMISSIVE OF THEM out on the fucking beach. He's playing a cruel game but he's playing it with some cruel people. It's risky and mean but he's playing the game in a way that it's never been played before. And for a show in its 20th season, something you haven't seen before is fucking refreshing.

Fishbach responded:

"JON: I also agree that being blunt with Courtney and Sandra might be very smart strategically. I just think it’s an example of a kind of social behavior that is not calculated to win!"

EW's Dalton Ross writes:

"We've obviously seen players plotting behind tribemates' backs before. We've also seen players come up and apologize to someone before voting them out ('Sorry, dude, gotta do it. Nothing personal.'). And we've even seen players in a huff of anger tell people that they're going to vote against them. But I don't think we've ever seen someone so casually — with no apparent malice — dismiss other people right in front of their faces. It was just so... odd. And therefore, wonderful."

King of Shit Mountain Jeff Probst lays out his take:

"Russell continues to flabbergast me in the most enjoyable and entertaining of ways. Calling out Courtney or Sandra as the 'next to go home' right in front of their faces was one of the boldest moves I’ve ever seen anybody make in any game at any time. Wow. Give this man a wide berth cause if you don’t, he will take it.

"Let me tell you what I’m really learning from Russell — when you have nothing to fear, nothing at stake, you have all the power. Russell is truly only playing to win and it shows. He is so brazen. Russell is one helluva salesman. No, I am not going to stop talking about him because he’s absolutely fascinating.

"What’s even more amazing is that he is still in the game! For all the people that want to hate on him, he’s still in the game and Rob is gone. Tom is gone. James is gone. Stephenie is gone. Cirie is gone. He’s not just a crazy person, he’s a very intimidating, cunning and powerful player in this game.

"Can he win the game? Remains to be seen. He still lacks social grace. I doubt he has ever had it, probably never will. But that guy will empty your wallet before you ever know he had your hand in his pocket."

And this is why I still like Russell Hantz...

In this last episode, the HEROES tribe finally started to resemble heroes and the VILLAINS tribe finally started to resemble villains. Almost perfectly, like a script. You need to see heroes take a real beating; you need to see them overcome something before you can really start rooting for them. And Russell rose up as a remarkable villain. You need a great villain in a story and Russell has no problem playing that role, above and beyond what's called for.

Make no mistake, I'll really miss Boston Rob. His exit interview with Dalton Ross makes me like him even more. He's charismatic and a major player. But it was fascinating to see him get outplayed in a game that has given him everything he has (including a wife). Nobody wins forever.

If Russell were out, I'm not sure who I'd be rooting for. Some piece of vanilla fluff from the "HEROES" faction? Russell's the bad guy. And I think I want to see the bad guy win this one.


Okay, I just wrote a lot of words about an episode of Survivor.

[Note: There were SPOILERS in this entry.]