Survivor Samoa: Natalie Wins
Right off the bat tonight in “Survivor,” the final five got tree mail saying there was a challenge. Russell strongly suggested to Natalie that Brett, the lone Galu tribe member, had to go next or she was out. The challenge was to race across obstacles to a bag of puzzle pieces, come back and climb an incline to put the puzzle pieces together. Russell ran that balance beam like it was nobody’s business, and he and Mick were working hard on that puzzle, but the winner was Brett. Damn! Someone from Foa Foa was going home.
Russell promised to protect Natalie and called Jaison “the weakest link.” However, Jaison felt comfortable in that fact that he and Russell had final three plans from early on. Russell questioned sending home Mick, but told Mick that they had to send Jaison home. Jaison voted for Mick, but Brett, Russell, and Natalie voted for Jaison. So much for trusting Russell! At least Russell has the decency to look pained when someone that he arranged to leave is voted off.
Russell promised Brett that if he won the immunity challenge, he would take him to the top three and they shook on a deal. Now he has a deal with everyone, which is either really smart or going to be his downfall. Then it was time for the fallen comrade torch walk.
The final immunity challenge was to place a wooden statue on a pole, then add more pole every two minutes. Mick was out first, followed by Natalie, so it was Russell versus Brett. Jeff had to point out that this could be a million dollar challenge. And then the wind started blowing! Shoot, Russell waited until Jeff counted down to one to put his hand below the white line. Brett wobbled a lot, but recovered. Then Russell wobbled and I swear to God he willed Brett’s statue to drop as Brett’s fell and Russell won immunity. Of course, there were smiles from Natalie and Mick.
But, Mick got suspicious when Russell wanted to go get wood. Russell went to talk to Brett, telling him that he made a deal with him but he made a deal with everyone. He told Brett he was the kind of guy he wanted his daughters to marry. Russell suggested that he and Brett vote Mick to tie the vote.
At tribal, Russell admitted to putting more into this challenge than anything else. Russell said that Brett deserved to be sitting up there with him when Jeff asked if he appreciated the game Brett had played. But, in the end, everyone voted for Brett. Erik said “Wow, they did it” and did it they did do! It would be the Foa Foa three in the finals.
Then the fun started as the jury got to question the final three. Russell told the jury that is either Natalie or Mick outplayed him, give them the money. But of course, this was after he pointed out how he played everyone the entire game.
Jaison called Russell out as to who he really was – meaning he wanted the jury to know he was a millionaire. Mick admitted he was almost $320,000 in debt. Jaison pointed out that all had money and the jury should look for other criteria. Shambo apologized to America for dismantling Galu. Shambo called Mick’s game play “feckless.” Look at the Bo pulling out that word – btw, it means weak and Mick didn’t have a clue. Then she said no way on Earth Mick or Natalie was getting her vote.
Brett wanted Mick to imagine a bro-date together. What the heck? Oh, it was about how much Mick had invested in Brett as a person. Oh, not good. Then Britney Spears, oh no wait, that was Kelly, talked to Natalie or rather should I say slammed Natalie. She asked Russell if he was like this in real life and he said no and he was worried about his kids thinking he was a bad guy. Erik pointed out that as a leader, Mick sucked. Then he went off on some reality rant and told Natalie she had his vote.
Then it was off to the studio and the votes. Russell got two votes, but Natalie got enough to win, which to me totally bites. Russell played the game from day one until the end. Natalie did…well, nothing.
Russell looked upset and he should have. He said he played the best strategic game in history and the audience applauded him. Jeff asked the jury if he would have won if he took Shambo and Jaison to the finals and he would have. Russell offered Natalie $10,000 for the title of sole Survivor, but only if he got it in writing. Jeff admitted that Russell dominated the game like no one else and the audience agreed. But then Jaison said Natalie played the better game and the audience cheered too. I think they were just cheering everything.
The top three vote getters for the $100,000 Player of the Season were Russell, Shambo, and Brett. I was surprised to learn it wasn’t Brett, but happy to hear it was Russell. At least the best player got something!
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