Good vs. Evil or Chimp vs. Baboon?

The Demise of Russell Hantz!!! 

This is a very big deal.  This is a guy who in two seasons did not get voted out - he made it to the end..... without winning, but still.  Russell believes he is one of the best Survivor players ever... and in past seasons this may have been true.  But the problem with being a 'legend' is that well, people know you.  And how does that saying go...?  The definition of insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again...?  I do believe Russell's a smart guy.  But his ego gets in the way of his brain.  Here's where Boston Rob has the advantage - he was voted out last time and had a bit of time to think about it.  He's had the Rob bubble burst before.  So Rob is learning.  Rob is adapting. Rob is the chimp who has learned to use tools, while Russell is just a baboon showing his teeth.  Too much?

The Duel - Good vs. Evil?

I have to say I'm really digging Matt.  He's not freaking out.  At all.  He's super calm going into the challenges and it's paying off.  He realized it was a big deal to go up against Russell, but his "purpose" is something about "honouring his God" or some such... and whether or not you're into that kind of thing, Matt is into that kind of thing and it's helping him.  At the very least, Matt believes he's got some help & guidance from a higher power and maybe this gives him some calm.  (As an aside, I sorta wonder about Russell's beliefs. He's wearing the cross, he's got the cross tattoo... is Russell a religious man, or is he just into the fashion? Is it part of the fedora-wearing, razor-burned-armpits, keep-hope-alive mystique that is Russell? Or is he a different sort of dude at home?)  So was it really good vs. evil?  Maybe Fabio II is getting some good vibes from previous winner, Fabio I?  Maybe it's Jesus? I don't know.  And you know I don't buy into that "playing the game with integrity" BS.  I think Russell's game has as much validity as Matt's.  But, I am impressed with Matt so far.

Sniff, sniff

When Russell lost, he cried.  What did you think?  Did you feel bad for him... just a little?  I did. I mean, love him or hate him, the dude LOVES to play Survivor.  He doesn't particularly need the money or the fame (though, I'm sure he likes both), but I do believe him when he says he respects the game.  I also believe the tears were just an honest outpouring of real emotion from a guy who really believed he could win this game, however misguided that idea may be.  Now, before we get too involved in Russell's emotions, the really fun part was when he "turned on the Russell" and let loose with a bunch of info about his tribe... who's in charge, who's tight, etc.  Problem is, he told Philip and Kristina, who may or may not ever be in any kind of position to use that information.  Russell also called out Ralph (who was also there watching along with Sarita) for throwing the challenge and for being stupid.  I liked Ralph's response.... basically, well, I'm here & you're not, Ressell.  Was that stupid, or really, really smart?  The risk appears to have paid off.  And, for those of you who like discussing the "playing with integrity" angle.... think about whether Steel Wool's alliance played with integrity in throwing that challenge as a means to an end.  It worked, so we like it.  If it was Russell's idea, would you have liked it as much?

Bring on the Crazy

Oh, Philip.  He's so irritating, but man is he good TV. His tribe pretty much can't stand him.  There was a whole segment on them commenting on the fuscia Y-fronts.  Rob was calling them what... baggy panties?  I think.  And yeah, they're getting more & more stretched out, so there's for sure junk on the loose that is now getting blurred out for us viewers... not so much for his poor tribemates.  Eesh.  And he's still running around in his baggy panties with a javelin hunting tiny crabs like a caveman.  And at the Russell-Matt duel when Ralph can't help but brag how he found the hidden immunity idol in 15 seconds, then Russell tells him to prove it, then Ralph decides to keep it to himself with a "maybe I have it, maybe I don't" statement.... Phil pipes up, "He was telling the truth.  Because I am a FORMER FEDERAL AGENT, I can tell when a person is lying."  OK. (Well, he was right....) Later he instructs Kristina not to tell the tribe about the info they gathered because he'll take it Rob and exchange it for her safety in the game.  (Kristina: eye roll.)  When he goes to Rob, Rob just says, "Well, I think you should just tell us the info because you're in our alliance."  Hee. Rob later says to us about Phil, "Hey dumbass, aren't you in my alliance? Don't you work for ME?" Heh heh.  So of course, Rob tells Crazy-pants that yes, Kristina will be safe.  I think Rob gets that it's easier to keep a guy like Philip around, but it's going to be harder and harder to convince others of that.  Imagine living with Philip.... I am not sure I could do it.

The Pensacola Kid

So back to my point about Russell learning nothing and Rob having figured it out... Rob finds the hidden immunity idol.  He cleverly comes up with a game for his tribe, gets them all away from camp, tells them his stomach isn't feeling well, and goes & finds the idol.  Brilliant.  Whether he plays it or not, he knows that the best thing is to make sure no one else  has the idol.  Hey, that's what happens when you get to play four times. (If Russell came back a 4th time, do you think he'd FINALLY figure it out?)

The Challenge - Does Rob Miss Matt?

Team Steel Wool won the challenge - I guess I can't call it Team Russell any more... Anyway, it was pretty close, but it's going to be tough to beat that team now.  They've got Steel Wool, Steve, Mike, Dave, the Firewoman Julie.... some serious muscle.  Team Rob has Rob and Grant.  I'm wondering if Rob is regretting sending Matt away & thinking he should have sent that wimpy girl instead.... If Team Rob keeps losing, this could mean trouble for Rob.  It's easy to think he's got the game down - he does.  But if  he loses his tribemates because they keep losing challenges, he goes into a merge vs. a bunch of people who don't care that he's King Rob and maybe Matt is back too... Rob's team better start hoping for some puzzles.  Oh, and when team Steel Wool won, he did that stupid rooster thing.  Ugh.  Please stop. 

This Just Popped Into My Brain

OK, so I know it's early to be thinking about this stuff.  But... imagine a Rob vs. Matt showdown at the end! I am giddy just thinking about it.  Who would win?  Rob, 'cause he's the king?  Or Matt, 'cause he's amazing and has the lord on his side?  Oh sweet baby Jesus, let it happen!  Coming back from Redemption Island could actually work in someone's favour in that A) people will respect them for being a tough competitor and B) because they were away, they weren't involved in any decisions about voting people off... so not so many noses out of joint.  Interesting, non?

Tribal Council

I thought it would be a little more interesting with Philip in attendance, and there were still some delightful bits. Again, as always, Phil had to tell everyone how he was a FORMER FEDERAL AGENT, but this time added a little more to his story.  From a family of 12, lost his mom at an early age, worked through high school & then joined the army. Received the "second highest honour" while working in field sanitation. I had to look this up.  Yes, Phil would have been on latrine duty.  Also it has something to do with making sure there's safe food & drinking water.  So this makes me wonder what the qualifications were to become a secret agent?  I don't know. Maybe it's not so much a Former Federal Agent, as a former agent of the federal government responsible for the army's waste materials... Whatever, he's delightful to watch in a what-the-hell-is-going-to-come-out-of-that-guy's-mouth-next kind of way.  At any rate, they split the vote between Phil & Kristina.... with Kristina getting the extra vote. She tried hard to stay, and for sure the girls would rather have her around then Phil's junk waving about, but it was likely a good call.