*glares*

Quit encouraging them. Both the casting directors and the "how do I get all the camera time" crowd.

I do often enjoy the villain, but I do need to "love to hate" them rather than just "hate I even know they exist" them.

I don't mind that the villain gets more than their fair share of the screen time, but only when what they are doing actually has to do with the game, rather than desperation to keep the camera on them and random crazy evil is all they got.

It takes a bit more than claiming you are there to win to make me think you are actually using the evil for a purpose that has to do with the game. At least have some subtlety about your wheeling and dealing with the alliances. It is more fun, at least for me, if it legitimately takes awhile for people to figure out what is going on. Just making it through because they only cast people too stupid to catch on (or too ineffectual to do anything about it) for a few episodes so they can get their villain story for the season just annoys me. I know you need a bit of stupid cast on pretty much any show, but these "super-dupery-doo-villains" they cast these days need way too much stupid surrounding them to last long enough for a good story.

Now I am still trying to get the bad taste out of my mouth left over from gNat-a-LIE and Ronnikins from BB so my tolerance is a bit low.

I know the days of the villains who actually have a good shot at winning because they have some charm and intelligence and game may be over, but can't we find something better than this to cast in order to replace them?

That he actually thought to look for the idol does give me some hope that maybe under all that attention seeking there lies something worth loving to hate, but I can understand all the "he only looked for it or found it because production gave him the idea or location" conspiracy theories going around.

I just worry that most of the early villains were cast more by happenstance than by design. Unfortunately now they are trying way to hard to get one, and the quality has gone way down, IMO, YMMV.

I agree 200%! I can't stand this stubby little man with the tremendous ego and the fiendish eyes. I don't think he's playing very well - just forcing his opinions on the others who, to be fair, are obviously too stupid to think for themselves. And, of course, the two players who seemed like they wouldn't fall for his line of b.s. were the first two to go. Sheez. Foa Foa deserves to go down in flames like the idiots they are (although they could move Nick to Galu and that would be fine - he's the only FF player I can stand.)

I really don't mind a villian when he has at least 'some' redeeming qualities - like Johnny Fairplay. Even though his lie about his grandmother made me furious, I still found him far more likable than this thug (although I have to admit that I liked it even better when Danny Bonaduce kicked his butt all over the place!)

Here's hoping that the previews for tonight's show are accurate and someone finally catches on to the evil one's ways!

Ok, Commenting on the original post.

First off in my opinion...damaging anothers property should be against the rules. I am surprised it is not. Burning socks or dumping ones water...should not be exceptable....now you open a whole can of worms.

As for his "brilliant" strategy, is it "brilliant"? His team so far has lost every challenge. Going into the merge should be a tough situation for his whole tribe...including himself.

Yeah, it's brilliant now because he got rid of two of the weakest members of his tribe. If he was so brilliant...and appears to want to get rid of his own tribe...why not get rid of a real serious threat player? It appears to me the only thing saving him is the immunity idol. I myself wonder if he was told of possible hiding places by the staff....because otherwise his strategy in my opinion is suicide.

Russell understands one key aspect of this game that many don't, and that is all this team play stuff means very little. Once the game goes individual it essentially starts all over again. Russell will have a whole new group of people to work over at that time. The goal of the first part of the game is not to get your TRIBE to the merge with the numbers but to get YOURSELF to the merge.

I really liked his Russell Seed line.

DRONES

While I don't like Russel, and find his "finding" the II rather questionable, he IS playing his social game well.

He notices EVERYTHING, all the time. Because of that, he knows exactly where to light the fire - and then leaves as the idiots play with it. LOL

Your statement right there explains everything about russell. While i may not agree with his tactics, it is Survivor...OUTWIT being part of it. You say he notices everything...that being said, how do you think he came to be an oil tycoon? he didn't get that way being nice and noticing nothing. His attention to detail may be exactly the reason he can pull off a lot of his "stunts" IMO

>Russell understands one key aspect of
>this game that many don't,
>and that is all this
>team play stuff means very
>little. Once the game goes
>individual it essentially starts all
>over again. Russell will have
>a whole new group of
>people to work over at
>that time. The goal of
>the first part of the
>game is not to get
>your TRIBE to the merge
>with the numbers but to
>get YOURSELF to the merge.
>
>
>I really liked his Russell Seed
>line.
>
>DRONES

Oh, come on. Team alliances are born during this game. The team with the head count usually ends up on top. The only reason they don't is because sometimes teams lose focus. Yeah, Russell (or any individual) can break through the team disadvantage....but the odds are against them.

And for all of those and the Russell - I am in control - how about last week....he wanted Ashley.....who went home?

Russell does seem to have an ability to influence people; some people anyway. And I don't think they necessarily foolish people despite what he says. But does he have the ability to make real alliances that could survive deep into the game? Do any of his allies feel any actual loyalty to him? Tend to think No to both these questions.

As to his tribes inability in Tribal Challenges, if they had competed better Marisa, Betsy and Ben would likely still be in the game. Can't blame their losses on Russell.

Someone please explain to me how Russell is controlling the game? I guess if you can say he has the hidden immunity, but he aint influencing anyone to vote the way he wants. The first couple boots were typical first boots...after that....no one has voted the way Russell wants.