The Finale! "Good" vs. "Evil"? Really?

Sorry I'm a bit late with the finale blog. Not to trouble you with my troubles but I broke my foot on Sunday - chipped it really. So, I did make it home to watch Survivor, but spent a lot of yesterday in the clinic getting X-rays, etc. Ay-yi! I must be medically evacuated from the island.

So what did you think? Did you love it? People are really in two camps on this one. Some love the fact that Natalie won (ummm... especially if you had her in the pool) while some (me) are sad that Russell didn't win. I mean, yeah, he was a bit of a jerk. I really couldn't handle the way he was talking to Mick and Natalie at the end and the cockiness of his attitude. So in a way I guess it's karma for not being just a little more humble. I also think he should have been able to talk more at the last tribal council, because I believe if he really would have pushed his case he could have won it. He was right - neither Natalie or Mick outplayed or outwitted him.

So what else... I'm assuming you probably don't need a play-by-play, but in case you missed it, Jaison got voted out first because the muppet won immunity again! Jaison was mighty ticked off about it too. And it showed in the final tribal when he made a point to tell the jury exactly how much money each finalist actually had. Oh no he didn't! Yes. He did.

So then it was down to Russell vs. Brett in this challenge where you had to balance a figurine on the top of a long pole. Russell won it, Muppet was gone. Really, for a while I thought the Muppet was going to take it & that they'd edited it that way (him not speaking) on purpose to make us not suspect anything was up. Nope. He really was just that uninteresting. Notice that for a t-shirt designer, he only had ONE t-shirt design? Good luck with that.

So down to Russell, Natalie & Mick. We knew Mick was a non-issue. He didn't even have anything good to say in the final tribal council except that he was the more 'moral' player vs. Russell. Please. At least entertain us, Mick. Russell, as I mentioned earlier, had good & valid points but really didn't get to make them as most questions were directed to Mick & Natalie. Natalie played the cute, nice, humble, moral, "under-the-radar" card and told everyone that her strategy from the start was to pick the strongest player & stick with him. Good point. That she knew going in she wasn't the strongest at challenges, etc., so she'd better have a good alliance. Good point. That she saw the girls who played the stronger, more agressive game get voted out quickly. Good point. She also took credit for some of Russell's strategy ("We planned things together as a team.") Well played. And the whole time she smiled and did this little shoulder shrug thing like, "Well, I'm doing my best, but I still want you to like me." It worked.

Also, I have to say that Erik may have helped win it for Natalie for his speech. He was the last one to ask a question and really let Russell have it for not playing nice. Now, I like Erik as much as the next person (except for poolsters Craig & Kylie, who REALLY like Erik...) but honestly, where on earth does it say in the rules that you have to play all morally and stuff? The game is called SURVIVOR. It is not called SURVIVOR (WITH INTEGRITY). It is not called Moral Superiority. Russell played the best game in history. I personally believe he's not a bad guy - that he probably is great to his family & friends and I'd love to have a beer with him. Apparently no one else on the jury could appreciate that you can be a different person on and off the show. And I wonder how many of them were exactly as they are outside the game. Bleh.

So on the Reunion Show, Russell asked Natalie to ask Jeff if he could pay her $10,000 (or was it $100,000?) for the TITLE of "Sole Survivor".... which is funny, because he... ummm... wasn't. Natalie wouldn't budge (fair enough) but Jeff really wanted to give it to him. Jeff is a Russell fan. But I also agree with poolster Kylie, who says that Jeff should stop calling him "Evil Russell". I liked that Russelll won the $100,000 fan favourite award as a bit of redemption. I love that Shambo says she has to go through back doors to avoid the throngs of fans. Hee. AND that she still has the hair-do. I loved that this season had no romance. I loved hearing Master T-Russell talk again (he's got the craziest cartoon voice!) I still did not love Ben. I still did not love Yasmin. I loved that Shambo & Laura admitted they have forgiven each other, but aren't going to be buddies any time soon. I still think Monica & Kelly & Ashley are dumb (and that aside from Natalie - Russell's "dumass girl alliance" was pretty on point.) I thought that Mike was an ass for saying he was proud he didn't cry (referring to Master T) when he got medically evacuated. Jerk. I hate that they didn't talk to Liz at all. And Dave Ball could have been more entertaining for sure.

Finally, I am pretty sure I'm excited for next season. In case you missed it, it's Villains vs. Heroes. Part of me hates these ones because I really like getting an entirely new cast of characters. Russell was cool because only we knew his plan. Now everyone will know his plan - and believe you me, Russell will be back for the next season. And I'm quite certain Coach will be back (!!!!!) as what - a hero? I'm sure. (*Wretch*) Who else do you think? Johnny Fairplay? Wasn't he already back for a 2nd time? Will they let Richard Hatch play again? Anyways, can't wait to see who they pick and all in all, I think it's a pretty clever premise given the polarity of opinion on Russell vs. Natalie. I vote villains. You?

Anyways, thanks to y'all for reading this nonsense and for telling me you've been enjoying it. I do love it. It wasn't quite the same this time out without my dad, Al, in the pool. He was truly the one who enjoyed reading this the most & I'll miss his comments the most too. Oh, and congrats to those of you who won some money! Merry Christmas!