"Survivor": The redeeming power of Redemption Island?
One week ago was the first episode of Survivor: Redemption Island. A good title for this series, since last fall's Survivor: Nicaragua may have been the worst ever. Just a dull, dull cast with dumb, dumb players. So how does the series bounce back? By bringing back the two players who made last spring's Heroes vs. Villains perhaps the BEST ever: Boston Rob and Russell Hantz.
When I first heard that two former contestants would be mystery additions to the new season, I wasn't thrilled. "What, AGAIN?" But when I found out WHO those two contestants were, I couldn't have been more excited! If you saw seen Boston Rob and Russell have at it, both during Heroes vs. Villains and at the live reunion (!), you know what I mean. They're two of the smartest, most passionate players in the show's history. Pretty much the only mistake that Rob made in his three previous stints was taking Amber with him to the end of All-Stars, even knowing that the Jury would likely pick her over him. But the big lug had fallen in love at that point. Awwww! As for Russell, he probably doesn't have a chance (despite his smarts, I don't think this bulldog is capable of learning new tricks), but boy, the show has never had someone who is more fascinating to watch... with the possible exception of this season's Phillip, whom I'll get to in a minute.
For all Russell's faults, savvy players realize that he also makes it to the end with his closest allies. And he's good in challenges. (If he were, say, Richard Hatch, then yeah, he might be perceived as troublesome baggage and gone immediately.) So if Russell survives his first couple of Tribal Councils, who knows? What I do know is that this season's initial Tribal Council was balls-to-the-wall NUTS. Awesome. Phillip, who likes to reveal the "big secret" that he's a retired federal agent (who cares?) and walk around in "the droopy fuschia briefs" (ah, Francesca, I hope you and your anything-goes mouth return), venomously spills the beans that a) "Franquesca" and Kristina were targeting Boston Rob for elimination (which was true) and b) Kristina found an Immunity Idol! He is a crazy man with a truly manic obsession over being obeyed, with a dry mouth "for which I'm getting treatment." Great stuff.
So Kristina and "Franquispa" were exposed as outsiders (not that they ever tried to blend in), and Francesca was the first person to be sent to -- duh duh DUHHHH -- Redemption Island, where one cast-off person will ultimately have a chance to reenter the game. Well, they deserved to be outed! They played terribly! Francesca immediately put a mark on herself by describing Russell and Rob as "troublemakers," and Boston Rob spotted Kristina searching for an Immunity Idol. On top of that, Kristina does the one thing that continues to drive me absolutely nuts: Target a great player for elimination in the very first days! Boston Rob has a ton of experience, is a fiend at solving puzzles (he came VERY close to engineering a great comeback for his tribe), and is a motivating force. Why would you want to get rid of that on Day 3 when you should be focusing on Keeping the Strongest Players! ARRGHH. Some players get so caught up in Post-Merge Paranoia that they overlook the simple fact that they must first survive to reach the Merge!
One more note before tonight's ep: I have no doubt that "Redemption Island" was invented in the hope that Boston Rob and Russell will one day be forced to engage in single combat. There Can Be Only One!
When I first heard that two former contestants would be mystery additions to the new season, I wasn't thrilled. "What, AGAIN?" But when I found out WHO those two contestants were, I couldn't have been more excited! If you saw seen Boston Rob and Russell have at it, both during Heroes vs. Villains and at the live reunion (!), you know what I mean. They're two of the smartest, most passionate players in the show's history. Pretty much the only mistake that Rob made in his three previous stints was taking Amber with him to the end of All-Stars, even knowing that the Jury would likely pick her over him. But the big lug had fallen in love at that point. Awwww! As for Russell, he probably doesn't have a chance (despite his smarts, I don't think this bulldog is capable of learning new tricks), but boy, the show has never had someone who is more fascinating to watch... with the possible exception of this season's Phillip, whom I'll get to in a minute.
For all Russell's faults, savvy players realize that he also makes it to the end with his closest allies. And he's good in challenges. (If he were, say, Richard Hatch, then yeah, he might be perceived as troublesome baggage and gone immediately.) So if Russell survives his first couple of Tribal Councils, who knows? What I do know is that this season's initial Tribal Council was balls-to-the-wall NUTS. Awesome. Phillip, who likes to reveal the "big secret" that he's a retired federal agent (who cares?) and walk around in "the droopy fuschia briefs" (ah, Francesca, I hope you and your anything-goes mouth return), venomously spills the beans that a) "Franquesca" and Kristina were targeting Boston Rob for elimination (which was true) and b) Kristina found an Immunity Idol! He is a crazy man with a truly manic obsession over being obeyed, with a dry mouth "for which I'm getting treatment." Great stuff.
So Kristina and "Franquispa" were exposed as outsiders (not that they ever tried to blend in), and Francesca was the first person to be sent to -- duh duh DUHHHH -- Redemption Island, where one cast-off person will ultimately have a chance to reenter the game. Well, they deserved to be outed! They played terribly! Francesca immediately put a mark on herself by describing Russell and Rob as "troublemakers," and Boston Rob spotted Kristina searching for an Immunity Idol. On top of that, Kristina does the one thing that continues to drive me absolutely nuts: Target a great player for elimination in the very first days! Boston Rob has a ton of experience, is a fiend at solving puzzles (he came VERY close to engineering a great comeback for his tribe), and is a motivating force. Why would you want to get rid of that on Day 3 when you should be focusing on Keeping the Strongest Players! ARRGHH. Some players get so caught up in Post-Merge Paranoia that they overlook the simple fact that they must first survive to reach the Merge!
One more note before tonight's ep: I have no doubt that "Redemption Island" was invented in the hope that Boston Rob and Russell will one day be forced to engage in single combat. There Can Be Only One!