I hate Evil Russel.
I hate people like him.
I do not understand people who *do* like him.
It sounds to me like a rather serious character flaw.
I want someone to win the game by playing it straight -- proving it can be done. Liars, cheaters, sleazy bastiges... I want them to go down. Hard. Painfully.
Survivor is a game and I like people who are good at playing the game instead of just sitting there looking pretty. People who "played it straight" on Survivor either get voted out early or are lucky enough to be buddies with someone who does the dirty work for them and basically just cruised along.
So yes, I really like Russell, just as I liked Rob C, Boston Rob, Richard Hatch, etc., because they put their ass on the line playing the game.
It's like in poker - who's more impressive, the guy who gets pocket aces all the time or the guy who only gets shitty cards but still manages to get a big stack?
Indeed. the mental game is just as, if not more, important that the physical one. Both in the mental toughness to hang it out, and the ability to manipulate, scheme, and bluff the other players.
I think Ashley was neither as dumb, nor as loyal to Russell as it looked like on screen. And I think Russell knew that, and that's why she got voted out.
Apparently, Ashley was as clueless as she appeared. The St. Paul Pioneer Press published an interview with Ashley a few days ago (she's from MN). She said she believed everything EvilRussell had told her and that until the episodes aired, she had no idea he was manipulating everybody.
Is this online somewhere?