Losing Grip On Reality?

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t watched the season finale of Survivor 19 and don’t want to know who won; DO NOT read any further.

I have to say the season finale of Survivor last night has left a very bitter taste in my mouth to say the least. Considering I have never written about any episodes; I must say this one had an impact. Perhaps I’ll start another blog about Survivor next February and detail my take episode by episode. Hmmm. Whatever, back to the unfortunate events of last night’s finale.
Is it just me or has everyone taken this “reality” show too far? Don’t get me wrong I love Survivor and watched every season; this reality show is still just a game, right? No matter how tough the conditions are or how real the social side of the Survivor is; it’s still a game of outwitting, outplaying and outlasting the other players. AH HA! I thought so, those statements would indicate this to be a game of some sort. There is the crux of my issue with this season’s outcome. Everyone on jury seemed to forget they were playing a game, nothing more than a silly game. Let’s be honest. Anyone who plays a game of any kind (whether they admit it openly or not) is willing to do what it takes to win within confines of the rules. I am NOT suggesting people are willing to break the rules or cheat to win, because I don’t believe that to be true or right. But taking advantage of the rules in play for any given game should be considered a well executed plan. No?
The fact that Russell did not win Survivor is a disappointment and frustrating too. I do understand the concept of social engineering and building relationships, however, having respect for someone who arguably played the game better than anyone in history has to be factored in. The fact that Russell essentially brought four Foa Foa members to the final four (minus Brett winning three consecutive immunities) against what seemed like insurmountable odds is simply brilliant. Whether you like Russell or not should not matter. I am simply looking at his cunning and ability to understand social dynamics better than anyone. He understood what it took to maintain his power in the game. He knew which people to use, he knew which people to discard and when. He was smart enough to quickly discover people’s weaknesses and use them to his advantage. He said it best when he was burning socks and empting canteens, “I believe I can control how people act, if I control how they feel.” Brilliant from a game play stand point. I know people will be going hog wild about my statements, questioning my integrity because of it but again that is simply sad and judgemental. Survivor is a game people! I believe Russell’s statement about who he is in life outside of the game of Survivor; an honest, loyal man with integrity. I also know I would not want to play a game with him unless I did my homework because he is intelligent and will be exploit my weaknesses. I know one thing, part of the goal as a coach is to impart knowledge to my athletes. One very important piece of information is to have the athletes to look for the opponent’s weaknesses and report them back to us on the sidelines. Once we have the information we plot a course to use those weaknesses to our advantage. I don’t recall anyone booing or hissing for using that information during the reality game on the grid iron?
The problem this season was simple. The Gulu tribe was full of some very bitter and small minded individuals who were beat at their own game. It is REAL easy to sit in the first juror’s seat and pontificate about morals and ethics. Sorry Erik but you are a sad little man. Anyone who thinks they can claim a moral centre throughout the game of Survivor lies. Find a moment off camera and its not hard to plot in secrecy. Bottom line if Erik had not been removed from the game when he was he would have had to cross the bridge into “breaking his word” land at some point to make the final three. At least Russell was open and honest about his plans and created no illusions of how he intended on playing the game.
Back to the bitter bunch…let’s review. The merge brought together 4 Foa Foa and 8, count’em 8, Gulu. Russell managed to eliminate 8 Gulu members (not single handed mind you, his cast of puppets were integral), no wonder Gulu members were so bitter. It was just discouraging that none of these apparent adults could not get out of the sand box long enough to see the game for what it was; a game. A game played masterfully by one guy. The fact that the entire Gulu tribe was on the jury after making the merge with 2 to 1 numbers should have been a tip off to them that someone in the game was a genius at playing the people like a first string violinist commands their instrument at Julliard.
In the end Natalie won Survivor 19 and I hope she donates half her winnings to Erik, not because he is deserving for his game play, although his drama queen status ranks right up there. Erik’s caustic tirade may very well have cost Russell the game and delivered a million dollar cheque on a silver platter to Natalie. As history will teach us, season after season those players that flew under the radar and rode another player’s coat tails have been looked upon poorly. Natalie was a powerful pawn in Russell’s game. Its funny how all these jury members, sour from their early exit were blinded by these sour emotions, to the reality that was Natalie. They claimed her innocence for her and felt she did nothing. On the contrary she executed, possibly the biggest move of the game, Erik’s blind side, of course it is important to note this devious plot twist was orchestrated by Russell who sent his minion to plant the seed of doubt in to Laura’s head. Russell knew he had zero clout with Laura and was smart enough to send Natalie and not Mick or Jaison. Even in the little clip they showed of Natalie’s life in the game we see the point in time where she approaches Laura and says “I don’t trust Erik”, this led to his own tribe turning on him and sending him to seat number one on the jury. She wasn’t so innocent and quite frankly a lot more devious then she wanted to be seen as. Erik’s speech was so sad and sick, it made me want to kick my TV and it was at that moment I felt Russell lost. All the jurors who were on the fence, feeling they didn’t like any of their choices; sat back and thought “Yah, what he said!” and decided to vote for Natalie. Even Shambo; without a doubt Russell’s biggest pawn, he used her for as long as he needed her and discarded her; voted for him. She knew what happened when it was all said and done, but despite being used; respected Russell’s game play and understood it was a game and that Russell wasn’t personally out to hurt Shambo. It appears the most kid-like adult on the show turned out to be the most mature. Good on you Shambo.
I think in the end Russell’s biggest problem was his arrogance. Although he informed everyone how he intended on playing the game, no one bought it. He should have announced his style to everyone once and let the chips fall where they may, rather than continually remind them he was “The Man”. It’s completely ironic how the game ended. Russell was accused of lying and unethical behaviours, however, he was 100% honest with everyone about how he intended on playing the game. He let the World know he planned on playing the game and did not concern himself with the inevitable collateral damage he would have to create to win the game. Interesting isn’t it? Russell was painted with the liars brush, yet he told them how he would do it, in the end he didn’t lie to them. In turn, their own arrogance, not Russell’s sealed their fate as spectators in this game.
Perhaps this is coming full circle. Russell was the victim of some individuals wanting to exact revenge because they were too arrogant themselves to believe he could play the game the way he said he would. They all had more than enough opportunity to vote his ass off the island, but their own egos blurred their vision of how the game would play out.
The winner is Natalie, but the best Survivor in season 19 was Russell by a LONG shot.

My Two Cents
Jamie