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SJ: Good article.

I agree with you that Russell is (at least so far) the only strategic player of his season. And I also agree with you that there only ever seems to be a couple strategic players every season at best -- unless it's an All Stars edition.

In regards to your assessment of Russell, I think it's important to note that, whether purposefully or not, he's put himself in a very good position. Even if people realize he's floating around information to multiple alliances, wouldn't you be scared as anything to try and vote him out? A.: He has the idol, and if HE is talking to everyone, do you trust that your talking to those same people will sway them to your side (especially if they believe THEIR alliance is legit)? B: If you're the one to try to sway people against Russell, don't you take a look at the first two boots and realize that the odds are you'll be the one to go instead?

Russell is playing a very "Boston Rob"-like strategy of ruling by fear. I never understood why Boston Rob's tribe didn't just give him the boot, but I realize now it was fear. . . Well, that, and they were mostly sheep. Rob got rid of his last bit of competition first with Lex and then Cathy.

And the same strategy is applying to Russell. If he tosses the last bits of strategic resistance, he'll have a bunch of sheep he can rule by fear. And that strategy has proven to work a number of times on Survivor.