Survivor: Samoa

Future appearances

Russell Hantz later appeared as a contestant in the following season, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, where he finished in 3rd place. He then returned to compete again in Survivor: Redemption Island, and finished in 17th place. Russell Swan returned in Survivor: Philippines and finished in 15th place. Laura Morett returned in Survivor: Blood vs. Water alongside her daughter Ciera Eastin, where she placed 6th. Monica Padilla returned for Survivor: Cambodia, finishing in 16th place.

Season summary

The twenty contestants were assigned tribes at the start of the game and, based only on appearances, were instructed to elect a leader who would make critical decisions at challenges for the first half of the game. The leader of the tribe that won the reward challenge would also choose a member of their tribe to observe the other tribe for a day, receiving a clue to the hidden immunity idol at the other tribe's camp. Mick was chosen as Foa Foa's leader, and Russell S. as Galu's.

At Foa Foa, Russell H. attempted to make living conditions harsher for his tribe by dumping water out of canteens and burning socks, leading to Foa Foa losing nearly every challenge. Russell H. managed to find his tribe's hidden immunity idol at his own camp and, after making alliances with virtually all of his tribe mates, amassed a huge amount of influence among the members of his tribe. Galu's winning streak led to a relaxed state at the camp, a condition that Shambo resented, putting her at odds with the tribe. After Galu won a reward challenge, Russell S. opted to send Shambo over to Foa Foa for one night, where she found the tribe had a strong work ethic and welcomed her. Russell S. was removed from the game due to fatigue, and Galu elected Shambo as their new leader in order to gain her loyalty.

The two tribes merged with twelve players left: four from Foa Foa and eight from Galu. Natalie from Foa Foa was able to convince the Galu women to vote off one of their own. At this vote, Russell H. had played his hidden immunity idol, but it was all for naught as Erik was eliminated. Russell H. managed to find the idol in its new location before the next tribal council. He played his new idol there, saving himself from being voted off as he was targeted by every Galu member. With ten players remaining, Shambo decided to align with the Foa Foa alliance, which led to a 5-5 tie. John from the Galu alliance, paranoid that he would get eliminated from the game by a random rock draw, switched his vote on the tiebreaker to send off a Galu. This put the Foa Foa alliance in the majority. Foa foa systematically eliminated the former Galu members. However, their plans were halted when Brett (the final member of the Galu alliance) won three immunity challenges in a row. Perceived as physically drained, and unlikely to beat Brett in the coming immunity challenges, Shambo and Jaison were voted out. With four players remaining, Russell H. ended Brett's immunity streak in the final four immunity contest. Brett was the final player voted out.

Russell H., Mick, and Natalie were the final three. At the Final Tribal Council, Mick was ignored by the jury, given his lack of leadership when assigned that role and his seemingly lackluster enthusiasm for the game. Though Russell H. felt confident and that Natalie would be viewed by the jury as a coattail rider while he would be seen as a topnotch player, most of the jury members disliked Russel H.'s brash attitude and saw Natalie as the lesser of three evils. Erik even gave an elaborate closing speech in Natalie's favor. Natalie was ultimately named the Sole Survivor over Russell H. and Mick by a vote of 7–2–0.