Survivor Samoa Episode 15: Finale

Treemail arrived at the beginning of Survivor Samoa Episode 15. Jaison was having digestion problems the night before, and was having difficulty getting up. Russell spoke in confessional about how they had to get rid of Brett, and how the people around him were lazy, and how he belonged with superstars (well, wait until next season).

The immunity challenge had the Survivors racing across an obstacle course, grabbing puzzle pieces, racing up a steep wall, and putting a puzzle together. Russell was the first Survivor to get the puzzle pieces and complete the obstacle course portion of the challenge. Everyone else was right behind him. It was down to who was good with puzzles. Jaison, the Fullbright Scholar, was having trouble. Although Mick and Russell were close, Brett was just a little bit faster, and won immunity for the third time in a row.

Natalie discussed with Russell about the vote that night. She wanted Jaison to go because they had been allied since day one. Russell remarked to the cameraman that Natalie had been following him through the game and wouldn't beat him in the final two. Russell convinced Jaison to vote out Mick, but Russell told Mick that they were going to vote Jaison.

At the tribal discussion, they talked about their dilemma: keeping the stronger players would mean it would be more likely that they could beat Brett in a challenge, but at the same time, they would have more difficulty beating the stronger player in a later challenge. The Foa Foa people felt that getting rid of Brett was the most important thing, because he would have most of the jury votes. They decided to vote out Jaison, who was weaker than Mick.

Jaison mentioned in his final thoughts that he was angry about being blindsided, and that he was rooting for Brett.

Russell made a promise to Brett that he would take him to the final three, and extracted a promise from Brett to take him to the final three. Of course, this was Russell's attempt to weasel his way into the finals.

The Survivors spent the next day saying goodbye to their old tribemates. They commented on their former tribemates as they collected tags with their names on them. Russell said that he probably wouldn't be in the final four if he hadn't voted out Marisa. Mike was headstrong, and they were sad that he didn't get to play the game because of his medical problem. Russell mentioned that he didn't like how Betsy told him that he played the game too hard. Ben had no idea how to play the game socially, and they weren't sad to see him go. Yasmin was a character. Ashley was like a little sister to Natalie. Russell S. was the heart and soul of the Galu tribe. Liz was physical, a rock star. Erik was a fierce competitor, "almost psycho?" Kelly was Mick's homegirl. Laura was a strong competitor. Russell said of John "for some reason he thought I was telling him the truth." Dave was hilarious. Monica was a firecracker that went out fighting. Shambo allowed the Foa Foa members to get to where they were. Jaison was a great competitor, a super-smart guy. When they got to the end of the walk, they ceremonially burned the tags.

The last immunity challenge would require balance and concentration. Survivors would put a statue on top of a pole. After an interval of time, they would add another section of pole, making it harder to balance. They had to hold on to the lowest pole section. All of the Survivors seemed to get the pole pretty high up in the air, with a six foot long pole. Mick dropped his section first, then Natalie. The wind started to kick up after a while, making it difficult for both players to balance their statue. They had to add another section, making the pole seven feet long. Brett's pole wobbled, but he recovered. Brett lost it, and Russell won immunity.

Brett remarked that he was pretty certain that he was going to be going home tonight. Russell told him that Brett was the type of guy that he wanted his daughter to marry. Russell remarked that he might try to vote out Mick, and if Brett voted for Mick, there would be a tie, and the person that won the fire challenge would get in the final three. This seems like it would be a smart move on Russell's part, allowing fate to make the decision after he had promised both of them a spot in the finals. Russell didn't like that idea, and Bret was voted out 3 to 1.

The next morning, Survivors were met with a feast. They toasted the final three. After the feast, Russell started to try to psyche the other members out, asking Natalie and Mick how they expected to win. Russell was telling them how he was going to get all the votes, and he was practically already a millionaire.

At the final tribal council, the Survivors had to make their opening statements. Mick stated that he had made a point to not make too many promises or to use others as pawns. Natalie said in her opening statement that Survivor was the hardest thing that she had ever done, and that without the jury, she wouldn't be there, and thanked them for getting there. Russell stated that he had schemed and outwitted the others throughout the entire game; he listed all of the people that he had gotten rid of and backstabbed.

It was the jury's turn to address the final three. Jaison wanted the final three to tell the jury who they really were. Natalie said that she was an unemployed pharmaceutical rep, Russell was a small business owner, and Mick was a medical student with over $300,000 in debt. Jaison pointed out that none of them were broke and in desperate need of money.

When it was time for Shambo to make her remarks, she apologized to America for dismantling Galu. She called Mick feckless and Natalie a coattail, and said that neither of them would get her vote.

Brett asked what Mick would do with him on a road date. Road date? Mick said that they would talk about girls and sports and get something to eat.

Kelly said that she thought that she was similar to Natalie, but relied on herself, rather than turning to Mick or Russell. She asked if Russell acted like a liar and cheater in real life. Russell said that he had honor, integrity, and loyalty in real life.

Monica said that she wanted to see the fight in their answers. She asked Mick why the other two people didn't deserve the money. Mick said that Natalie just followed Russell, and that Russell's ego got out of hand. Russell said that they were giving him high-fives when they voted out someone out... I don't really believe that.

Dave asked what they thought their chances were. Mick said about 25%, Natalie said 30 to 40%, Russell said that he thought that he had a 55% chance of winning.

Laura asked what Russell learned about Laura that allowed him to beat him. Russell said that he perceived that she was the biggest threat, and if he hadn't gotten rid of her, she would be in the final three.

Mick told John that he was honorable, and that he didn't believe that the ends justified the means. John believed that she was under Russell's wing.

Eric mentioned that he didn't think that Mick deserved the leadership necklace. He said that he had nothing in common with Russell, and that it was wrong that he got to the end unethically. He told Natalie that her way of playing was not wrong, and that she was not weak.

Natalie ended up winning Survivor Samoa with seven votes. Russell received two votes from John and Shambo, and Mick received no votes.