If he created the jury animosity in the way they were removed from the game, not only in the action but also the arrogance of "You losers are no match for me". Who else would be responsible for the negative reaction to his plea for the win? They had to start throwing penalty flags for excessive celebration after a TD in football because the winners created more problems.

You think the recipient of the taunt should forget about it? That's not human nature.

I don't know how much Russel was taunting people on the island. Most (all?) of that we saw was in confessionals.

I think they were embarrassed that they blew an 8-4 lead, in a way that's really inexcusable, because they got outworked (finding HIIs) and outsmarted by Russel. Maybe there was more taunting on the island than they showed/I remember, but I don't think so.

this x1000.

People cant seem to understand the difference between confessionals and what is said to other castaways.

I thought there were several, but the one that sticks out that I've mentioned before is them walking through the totems towards the end where they reminisce about the people voted out and Russell making rude comments about half of them.

The blatant rub-ins of not playing the idol at final 6 was really bad for him.

True, but given the "testimonial" we saw Russel give about Sandra and Courtney as they were sitting there, I think we can infer that perhaps he is not always the cuddliest teddy bear in the world.

Yes the S19 jury was extremely bitter and felt like a rigged jury for the first time ever, but Russel's personality certainly had an element in helping create that, and that will always hinder him at the final tribal councils.

I think he can beat a few people like Parv who are also not very well liked and play a similar game (which is why she will never let him get there with her), but he has no chance against a nice dummy (Natalie/Colby) or even someone like Sandra who is hardly nice but can also talk a good game and is just not as much of an arrogant douche in general while in game. Maybe he can beat someone totally useless like Jerri (who reminds me of Lil).

Oh man, speaking of Sandra and Courtney, I keep forgetting to mention one of my favorite moments of the episode, the fist bump.

This could be true, or he could simply never change gears. His Sandra/ Courtney shot, "one of these got to go" lends more credence to the latter.

The entire show, confessionals, TC voting, Ponderosa, etc is highly edited. Its hard to be 100% in either direction. If he was the ultimate prick, the producers wouldn't want to highlight that, it undermines the confessional antagonist component.

Right but didnt Sandra say in one of her interviews that this clip was way out on context and not nearly as blunt as it seemed on the show.

The point being I agree it is all so highly edited it is hard to tell what is "true" and what is edit.

I just think people see Russell be the cockiest bastard of all time in every single one of his confessionals and then ASSUME he is the same way when talking to other castaways. He is not. In fact I bet if you went back and watched season 19 without watching any confessionals Russell would not seem very cocky at all.

Look at him in TC's. He is often very coy and quite. He rarely calls anyone out.

I have been clear I think Russel is a d-bag, but that is all personal opinion. When I look at his game I really try to view it as impartial. You guys trash KK over his negative bias to Russel, then you post this were you there? Or do you make that bold assertion because you want to believe it?

It all good either way, no one will ever change someones opinion. But to maintain any credibility you have to apply your standards to yourself as well as others.

You missed my point. Perhaps I was not clear.

I can objectively say that he is FAR more cocky in his confessionals than he is in the clips where we see him interact with other people. My point is that people watching the show do not do a good job of separating the two.

Perhaps he was the biggest dbag of all time to everyone but then why did they not show it?

It seems more likely that he is smart enough to know that he could never be as big a dbag to actually people as he can in his confessionals (which btw is how every castaway behaves).

so who do you have money on to win the whole thing?

Nobody has money on it because the results are known. Dont post spoilers.

OK, what did he do on the show that the jury would have seen?

Brett was there and Brett was on the jury.

This being the first season with a back to back player where they could edit the 2 shows together to form a narrative could explain a lot of the editing.

for sure.

Ah, OK. I fast forward that part every year because I hate it and it sucks

Doesn't everyone?

It was that scene that pretty much cemented my view of how the FTC would go. It is a sucky part for the viewer, but the reflection part is a prep for the upcoming Q&A session. The time to turn from the hunter to the prey/sheep to lure in the votes. Russel just blew it all off. Did that get back to the rest? Maybe, but even if it didn't some form of attitude permeated.

Random mid week topic:

Surely this season will go down as the greatest season of any reality show ever, no?

What other season of this, or any other show, could compare?

Seasons 1 and 2 of The Mole are on a complete different plane.

And this isn't really even the best season of Survivor imo. I actually think it kinda sucks.

It has a lot of work to do if it's going to surpass Fans vs Favorites imo

Fans v favorites was awesome. This season has been on a pace to surpass it, but I cold see it dying down toward the end if all of the best players are eliminated.

LOL WTF!