Survivor has featured many controversial players throughout the years, and few are as controversial as Russell Hantz. Fan opinion remains firmly divided on the quality of Russell's character and gameplay. Some find him a strategic mastermind who all-but changed the game forever and unjustly lost his respective seasons (at least Samoa). Others view him as a brash and egotistical player who suffered a God complex and rightfully deserved his losses owing to horrible social gameplay and poor jury management.
However, there is a balance and some degree of nuance to be found. Russell inhabits both good and bad traits, and both must be acknowledged.
10 Supported: Finding Hidden Immunity Idols
If there's one thing even Russell's most ardent critics can admit, it's that he was spectacular at finding hidden immunity idols. Samoa aired at a time when hidden immunity idols were still found through the use clues, but Russell said "forget that" and sought out the idols without any hints or guidance.
He ended up finding a handful of hidden immunity idols himself, effectively changing how these idols were found and utilized in the future. Russell was so good at finding idols that he still holds the record for possessing the most hidden idols in Survivor history, with six idols across three American seasons.
9 Didn't Support: His Jury Management
And if there's one thing that even Russell's most ardent supporters can admit, it's that Russell is quite poor at jury management. If jury management wasn't such an integral aspect of the game, then Russell would have handily won both Samoa and Heroes vs. Villains.
As it is, Russell was perceived as having a superiority complex, and the jury didn't take kindly to his persistent backstabbing and cocky attitude, resulting in back-to-back losses.
8 Supported: Pagonging Galu
Russell is often regarded as one of Survivor's strongest strategic players, and that is evident by his complete Pagonging of Galu. Galu went into the merge with a huge number advantage, having won eight of ten challenges.
Following the merge, seven Galu members were systematically and consecutively eliminated in a unique Pagonging, with most of the eliminations being the result of Russell's manipulations. Love or hate him, it was a masterful performance.
7 Didn't Support: Lying About Being A Katrina Victim
Controversial Survivor gameplay is one thing, but Russell sunk to a personal low after lying to his fellow tribemates about being a Katrina victim.
In order to garner sympathy, Russell told his fellow members of Foa Foa that he was a victim of Hurricane Katrina and that his dog Rocky died in the tragedy. He was quick to clarify for the camera, stating, "It's crazy how you can break their hearts by telling them a lie."
6 Supported: Stealing J.T.'s Idol
Hero J.T. Thomas was the victim of one of Survivor's most memorable, and memorably stupid, idol plays. Believing that Parvati was the Villains' mastermind and that the Villain men were being systematically eliminated, J.T. gave his hidden immunity idol to Russell, telling him to use it at the next tribal council and vote Parvati out.
Unbeknownst to him, Parvati and Russell were actually working together, and J.T. was later eliminated with his own hidden immunity idol.
5 Didn't Support: Laughing At J.T. With Parvati
This is a perfect example of why Russell Hantz doesn't win Survivor. A more gracious and humble player may have accepted J.T.'s hidden immunity idol and used it against him in a great, albeit non-personal, move. However, Russell Hantz is not gracious or humble.
After accepting the idol from J.T., Russell and Parvati sat on the beach and laughed at the letter that J.T. had written Russell, making fun of the language used and personally insulting J.T. for his supposed stupidity.
4 Supported: Tricking Tyson
Heroes vs. Villains contained some fantastic gameplay, including the deception of Tyson at the hands of Russell. The plan was easy - the heroes were going to split their votes against Russell and Parvati, ensuring that at least one of them would go home.
However, Russell became aware of the plan and tricked Tyson into voting for Parvati. At tribal council, Russell gave his hidden idol to Parvati, and Tyson was eliminated in a 3-2-0 vote (with Russell, Parvati, and Danielle voting against Tyson).
3 Didn't Support: Confronting Rupert
Heroes vs. Villains culminated in a vicious fight between Russell and Rupert. The fight got surprisingly personal, with Rupert calling Russell "a disgusting, terrible human being".
In return, Russell told Rupert that he was there to "make [his] life Hell" and proceeded to sarcastically call him "the great, powerful Rupert. The second coming of Christ". To end the fight for good, Russell called Rupert a "dumbass". The crude name-calling crossed a certain line - even if it was Rupert who instigated the fight.
2 Supported: Winning Individual Immunity
No one would call Russell Hantz a challenge beast, but he certainly held his own. Russell had a fantastic penchant for winning individual immunity when it truly counted. In Samoa, Russell won the Over-Extended challenge against Mick, Natalie, and Brett, ensuring his place in the final tribal council.
He did the exact same thing in Heroes vs. Villains, barely winning the Blind Maze challenge against Parvati and Jerri, once against ensuring his place in the finals.
1 Didn't Support: Thinking Himself The Best
Russell is nothing if not egotistical. In both Samoa and Heroes vs. Villains, Russell rubbed the jury the wrong way by declaring himself a Survivor mastermind and openly criticizing the other players for falling for his ruses. A humble personality is a huge must for Survivor winners, as they must balance strategic prowess and betrayal with friendliness and humility.
Russell didn't do that. Instead, he openly declared himself the best player, leaving all sort of humbleness at the door and irritating the jury to the point of failure.
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