'Survivor': Finally, things start gettin' good

I'm not sure if this week's episode of "Survivor" could have been any more fulfilling. Everything I've been waiting for finally came to fruition, and I couldn't stop grinning throughout the entire hour.

First up, the winners of the reward challenge actually score a decent prize. No more beef stew and scones on a pirate ship. This was the kind of "Survivor" reward I was looking for: a scenic airplane ride, a remote island with a beautiful waterfall, and a spread of caloric goodness including grilled hot dogs and apple pie. 

I did find that whole cheesy PrePalm phone promotion odd. Jeff hands the winners a nifty PDA to ... take pictures with? I thought that once they arrived at the island they'd be able to give their loved ones a call or at least watch some recorded message from friends and family. Instead, they received only a video hint about the location of the hidden immunity idol. As if Russell needed the clue.

He didn't, of course, and he further solidified this week that his good fortune is due more to his game-playing skills than Lady Luck.

I loved reading all of your comments last week, and I'm glad to know I'm not alone in rooting for Russell. I'll admit, I was feeling a little guilty about liking him after that whole horrible Hurricane Katrina ruse during the first episode, but it's difficult to deny how great he is at "Survivor."

With the remainder of Galu tribe on his tail, Russell managed to scramble and track down the third hidden immunity idol. Insanity. "They're like magnets to me. They're just drawn to me," Russell said.

Also, how is it possible that Dave wasn't able to beat Russell in a foot race through the jungle? Isn't the guy supposed to be, like, a fitness instructor or something? Too good.

Then, at the challenge, Mick won immunity at long last. He is so dreamy. It's unfair. Despite his good looks, it still made me feel good to watch the perennial underdog walk away with the win. And I loved Shambo blatantly laughing in Laura's face when she lost out on her shot at immunity. Pure, open hatred. The best.

I still think Mick, by the way, has a good shot at taking home the prize. He's a strong physical competitor, he's charming and handsome, and he hasn't made any known enemies.

And finally, Laura was sent home. I literally shouted in elation as she got her just desserts. Though did you see that vote Jeff read where someone had spelled Laura as "Luara"? Really, guys? Really? 

I'll admit, I was pretty nervous as the tribe members cast their second tie-breaker ballots -- I wasn't sure John would flip. Actually, the entire afternoon leading up to the vote had me on edge. Jaison and Mick did a horrible job of letting Monica know that they had the numbers on their side.

"She encouraged us to vote the way we did last week," Mick told Monica, so obviously referring to Shambo. As if Laura would be on Foa Foa's side.

But luckily, John did vote for Laura, and in doing so he proved he's a force to be reckoned with. I completely agreed with him when he said he was continually struck by the poor analytical skills of his Galu tribe mates. They're so quick to jump at a plan before thinking about it.

How about Dave impulsively deciding to vote for Natalie?

"I'll burn her right now. I do not care, bro," he said with wild eyes. That spontaneity can be the death of a "Survivor" player. While Dave is busy agreeing with the often-harebrained plots of his tribe mates, Russell has been busy plotting his own schemes.

Was this week's episode as fulfilling for you as it was for me? Do you think it was a smart move for John to vote with Foa Foa? And is Russell now a lock for the finals? Let's discuss in the comments.

--Amy Kaufman (follow me on Twitter @AmyKinLA)

Photos: Russell Hantz, top, and John Fincher.

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Comments

[greg]

Who know's what is going to happen.... With Laura gone and Galu imploded, Foa Foa will now disintegrate as it truly becomes an individual game. I'm not sure if everyone knows that Russell has the third idol- maybe he learned to keep his trap shut about it this time. But the target will be on his back- not that it ever left. My guess- Russell will throw Jaison under the bus as he drives forward.

[Kelly]

LOVED IT!!! Russel is definitely the best ever he's been playing the game since day one. I agree with John his tribe mates are idiots, they don't understand that it's an individual game, and their strategy basically is we have more people . Glad Laura's gone, she was arrogant for no reason and I don't know what she was talking about she certainly was not a physical threat. She won a puzzle game and some other crap, she would have been gone last week if Shambo could have figured out that you have to look at the puzzle pieces to figure out what hole they go in. Mick is a complete bonehead for using "she" and I don't think he's strategic enough to win. He and Jasoin should never have taken the deal to Monica in the first place, they should have known she would go right back to Laura and tell her. My money is on Russel and Shambo in the end because he knows no one will vote for her.

[savvydude]

After all these years 'Survivor' is better than ever. Amazing. But let's think bigger picture here. I'm thinking Palin/Russell in 2012. Imagining Russell dealing with the like of Pelosi and Reid is just too magical to ponder.

[Tish]

With Russell finding the third hidden immunity I'm just too attached to this game. That is so awesome. He started off as the character we all love to hate, but gradually he has become one of my the most likable characters.

[Funyuns Are Awesome]

Russell - amazing! Shambo put it well: Galu ceased to exist when they voted off Erik. [Has there been anyone as pissed as Erik about being voted off? At least he made the jury.] Mick also made a good point that people should use the Foa Foa bloc of votes in what is absolutely an individual game. Maybe that's what swayed John in the end.

Kelly - not sure what the Monica strategy was about but remember that she was apparently least liked by the Galu guys so maybe Jaison/Mick thought she'd be most amenable to a flip. And yeah, 'she'? Mick, come on man!

Now I want that tough-talking turkey Dave to go.

[what up, yo]

Why would anyone think Russell is the best ever?
He has found 3 idols. That is impressive. He was a complete bonehead and told too many people with the first one and put himself at risk. I give him credit for having played the game well last week. But aside from talk that was the only real play he has made this season. Jaison has done far more. He got Ben out and he got Erik out. Recall that Russell was not in favor of voting either of them out. Jaison got them out with his verbal skills and he outplayed them. The producers think Russell is a great character and have shown more of him than anyone. Mick and Jaison played that well with Monica. They put fear into her.

[Steve_NOLA]

This season of Survivor is a joke.

The odds of a person finding an immunity idol in a jungle without a clue or without even knowing it existed is astronomical. The odds of finding 3? Incalculable!

It's been obvious from the very first episode that Russell is a plant. The entire season's promos are geared to him. Sabotaging his own team just for fun? Yeah, sure.

CBS sure as hell wouldn't have promoted him if he'd made himself to be a victim of 9/11. I got a big picture of the network promoting him talking about barely getting out of the towers before they fell, but losing his poor puppy in the disaster. Would never happen. But Katrina? No big deal, just happened to a bunch of dumb Southerners.

[Joe]

Love this posting, it's pretty much exactly how I saw it going. I have to say I love Russell as a player, but can't see him winning it. I think that Mick, John, and mabye even Natalie is a dark horse simply because I think Russell will keep her around and she has some charm. Eventually all of his backgroom deals will take Rusell down the wrong path, but he's been so fun to watch. He has been so confident from the get go that it just reeled me in to find out what it was that made him feel that he could continually outwit the others.