Survivor has changed over the seasons. If Russell had played in the very first season he would have won because his game play was unique. In fact, the Russell of that time, Richard Hatch, did win. But the game has changed.
The game of Survivor is now based on four very different yet cohesive strategies:
1. The Physical Game - How does one fare in the challenges? How does one's body handle the lack of food, water, sleep, etc.?
Russell is very good at this part of the game. He is able to compete in each and every challenge. He is a force to be reckoned with because he can win any challenge at any time.
Sandra, in my honest opinion, is very good in this part of the game as well because she knows challenges that she may be able to compete in and possibly win (although she has never won a single individual challenge). She knows when a good effort is needed and she knows when bailing on a competition will assist strategy wise later in the game.
2. The Mental Game - How to you "play" your opponents? How do you handle the elements out of your control i.e. Mother Nature, other players? How many steps ahead in the game are you?
This is where Russell shines. It is this part of his game that others can take a chapter from and work to their advantage in later seasons. Russell's game play will change future Survivors. He was able to easily manipulate everyone in the game. He lied, cheated, stole, and burned his way through his opponents. He made deals with everyone at some point or another and knew (usually) when to get rid of his "alliances." His mistake this season was believing his own hype and not playing the third part of the strategy correctly.
This is also the area where I believed Sandra also played well, for the second time. Sandra is the perfect villain. She is the Survivor that teeters on the line between angelic and devilish. She is ruthless. She had a simple strategy this season. Get rid of Russell. Ultimately, she did this by beating him at his own game. She mentally wore him down. So much to the point that she was NEVER in jeopardy of being voted off.
3. The Social Game - Survivor is a social experiment. Put 16-20 individuals together on a deserted island. Restrict food, water, shelter. Make them compete and challenges. Oh, throw in a million dollars to the last person standing. The only social question ever in Survivor history has been, Who can stab people in the back and at the end of the day still be called a friend?
Russell has never played this game to be anyone's friend. And therein lies the sole reason he will never win this game. You have to have some semblance of a heart in this game. It is the nature of human beings, especially when you have to reward someone at the end. Russell is not a likable human being when playing Survivor. He makes it known straight away if you cross him, you are gone. This is ultimately the stupidest thing you can do when it is jury time. You have to befriend the members of the jury or you do not stand a chance.
Sandra and Pavrati had friends on the jury. They had jurors who, at the end of the day, could look them in the eye and say good game. You got me. Now let's go have a beer. Much to America's dislike, Survivor has become more social.
4. The Luck Game - Do you catch any breaks in the game? Does a challenge go your way due to divine intervention? Do you choose the right alliance? Do you start out on the right team?
Luck plays a part in every reality series. You have to have some to last long in the game.
Russell played three parts of this to a tee. He had some luck throughout, he was a mental player and physically imposing at times. However, he couldn't make a friend on this show if they made it Russell and 19 of his closest real life friends. Even in that game he would turn so much his real life friends would disown him. In the end, Russell might always make the final three, but a jury of his fallen comrades will always net him 0 votes.
For my money, and I said it to family and friends when she first won, Sandra is the greatest player in Survivor history. You look up after 39 days and say to yourself, "How the Hell did she make it this far?" Then you look back at what she has done. Never under the radar. Never coat tailing in. She manipulates silently. She is the Ultimate Survivor.