37--R13--Redemption Island
Rank: Returnee #13
Season # 22
Title: Survivor: Redemption Island
Season # 22
Title: Survivor: Redemption Island
Location: San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua
Broadcast: Spring, 2011
New Players: 16
Returning Players: 2 Rob Mariano and Russell Hantz
Winner: Rob Mariano
Final Tribal Council: 3 Players 9 Jury
Initial Tribes: Ometepe and Zapatera
Merge: at 12 Murlonio
Jury: at 12 Loser of Duel 7 on Redemption Island
Premise: Players voted out would not leave the game and would have a second chance at "Redemption" through a series of Duels on Redemption Island Players returned at the Merge (Matt Elrod) and with 4 remaining Players on Day 37 (Andrea Boehlke)
The Redemption Island idea was used in foreign versions of Survivor prior to coming to the US version, and seemed benign enough. It might have worked better had it been all new players than with two returning players with a feud to settle. Rob Mariano and Russell Hantz faced off and challenged each other at the Season 20 Heroes vs. Villains finale. Having gone a combined 0-5 in previous appearances they came onto Redemption Island as Season 21 was already set to film, this was the first opportunity for the producers to put them on a cast.
In my opinion, this was a huge mistake. There were plenty of new personalities that would have played out well without the two egotists added. Russell was voted out 1st by his tribe Zapatera (and 3rd Overall) and lost his first duel on Day 10. Rob ran his tribe as puppets from day 1 which led to no real suspense in the course of the season. Both Returnees Matt and Andrea were voted out first after their respective returns to the game. Rob's tribe lost 3 of the first 4 immunity challenges, but after Russell was voted out, his former tribe had no leadership and the remaining 8 were voted out in the next 9 tribal councils, the exception being Matt at the Merge elimination after returning.
It was sad to see how some otherwise strong performers fell in line for Rob and his buddy system. They became his eyes and ears and never really questioned it. It was good strategy for Rob, but bad television as it was frustrating to watch. Phillip, Andrea, Matt, Grant and Natalie could have made some moves had Rob not been on the show, and it definitely would have been better to watch than this season.
Rob deserved the win, no question, but it was his (record at the time) fourth try. The Redemption Island twist was more or less a dud in this season. Russell was no factor in the game other than his appearance detracted from his tribe building any cohesion of their own, before throwing a challenge (always a bad move) just to get rid of him.
The initial Redemption Island was probably intended to be an all returnee season, but Production's infatuation with Russell and Rob dropped them in here. Their infaturation continued by bringing in Russell's nephew twice to continue the Hantz tradition and ruin some other seasons.
Broadcast: Spring, 2011
New Players: 16
Returning Players: 2 Rob Mariano and Russell Hantz
Winner: Rob Mariano
Final Tribal Council: 3 Players 9 Jury
Initial Tribes: Ometepe and Zapatera
Merge: at 12 Murlonio
Jury: at 12 Loser of Duel 7 on Redemption Island
Premise: Players voted out would not leave the game and would have a second chance at "Redemption" through a series of Duels on Redemption Island Players returned at the Merge (Matt Elrod) and with 4 remaining Players on Day 37 (Andrea Boehlke)
The Redemption Island idea was used in foreign versions of Survivor prior to coming to the US version, and seemed benign enough. It might have worked better had it been all new players than with two returning players with a feud to settle. Rob Mariano and Russell Hantz faced off and challenged each other at the Season 20 Heroes vs. Villains finale. Having gone a combined 0-5 in previous appearances they came onto Redemption Island as Season 21 was already set to film, this was the first opportunity for the producers to put them on a cast.
In my opinion, this was a huge mistake. There were plenty of new personalities that would have played out well without the two egotists added. Russell was voted out 1st by his tribe Zapatera (and 3rd Overall) and lost his first duel on Day 10. Rob ran his tribe as puppets from day 1 which led to no real suspense in the course of the season. Both Returnees Matt and Andrea were voted out first after their respective returns to the game. Rob's tribe lost 3 of the first 4 immunity challenges, but after Russell was voted out, his former tribe had no leadership and the remaining 8 were voted out in the next 9 tribal councils, the exception being Matt at the Merge elimination after returning.
It was sad to see how some otherwise strong performers fell in line for Rob and his buddy system. They became his eyes and ears and never really questioned it. It was good strategy for Rob, but bad television as it was frustrating to watch. Phillip, Andrea, Matt, Grant and Natalie could have made some moves had Rob not been on the show, and it definitely would have been better to watch than this season.
Rob deserved the win, no question, but it was his (record at the time) fourth try. The Redemption Island twist was more or less a dud in this season. Russell was no factor in the game other than his appearance detracted from his tribe building any cohesion of their own, before throwing a challenge (always a bad move) just to get rid of him.
The initial Redemption Island was probably intended to be an all returnee season, but Production's infatuation with Russell and Rob dropped them in here. Their infaturation continued by bringing in Russell's nephew twice to continue the Hantz tradition and ruin some other seasons.
But this is the worst of the returnee seasons, because it really lacked for strategic game play by more than one player and Rob's win never seemed in doubt, because he was the only one who actually played the game. The others never adjusted.
Update: Rob Has A Podcast Ranked this season at 39 in their Top 40 Countdown
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