It's Called a Russell Seed

It's Called a Russell Seed
Episode Information
Version	United States
Season	Samoa
Episode Number	3/16 (278)
Original Release	October 1, 2009
Viewership (in Millions)	11.54
Ratings/Share (18-49)	3.7/11
Episode Chronology
Previous	"Taking Candy from a Baby"
Next	"Hungry for a Win"
Subpages

It's Called a Russell Seed is the third episode of Survivor: Samoa.

Story

“	A clever lie turns a tribe against one of its most harmless members. Meanwhile, at the reward challenge, the chief of one tribe makes a controversial decision that lands him in the crossfire back at camp.	”
—Episode Synopsis

Day 7

At Foa Foa, Jaison Robinson and Mick Trimming agree that Ben Browning should be the next person voted out due to his mean personality and racist comments toward Yasmin Giles. Russell Hantz asks Natalie White about her plans for the next Tribal Council, but Natalie struggles to come to any decision. In a confessional, Russell expresses his shock and joy that he seems to be the only strategic player on his tribe. Later, after several failed attempts by Mick, Ben easily starts the fire, proving himself as the only person on the tribe capable of using the flint. He follows this by bragging about his survival skills, which Russell recognizes as Ben attempting to portray himself as a valuable asset around camp. Russell expresses that it makes sense to keep Ben around a little while longer.

At Galu, Shambo Waters is annoyed by the sight of Erik Cardona, Laura Morett, Kelly Sharbaugh, and Brett Clouser doing yoga. Shambo considers her age and work ethic to be factors toward her feelings of alienation from the rest of the tribe. While the rest of her tribe relaxes, she does chores around camp.

Back at Foa Foa, Russell tells Ben that Ashley Trainer was trying to get him out at the last Tribal Council. They decide that Ashley is dangerous and should be their next target. In a confessional, Russell explains the "Russell Seed" (hence the name of the episode) and theorizes that if he makes his tribemates paranoid, it should be easy to manipulate them. Ben confronts Ashley about the rumors. Ashley is surprised by Ben's accusation, as multiple people on the tribe have wanted to vote out Ben and there are other people who dislike him more. She questions Ben as to who told him this information and believes him when he says it was not Russell. Watching the encounter, Russell delights in the surprising fact that everyone has complete trust in him.

When Galu receives the note for the next challenge, they are also provided with new swimsuits. The women in particular are very happy to have clean clothes.

At the Reward/Immunity Challenge, both tribes are asked to sit out members, as the challenge requires 3 men and 3 women from each tribe. Foa Foa sits out Russell and Galu sits out Shambo, Yasmin, Erik, and Brett. Galu holds a small lead over Foa Foa for the first part of the challenge. Ashley and Ben are particularly ineffective as guards. Galu is the first tribe to return their crates to shore, and quickly manage to solve their puzzle, winning immunity for the third time in a row. They also win comfort items, including blankets, pillows, towels, etc., but Jeff presents Russell Swan with an alternative; he could swap out the comfort items for survival items, including a tarp. Russell quickly chooses comfort, explaining that although he would've preferred function, he believes the tribe would be happier with comfort. Russell is also presented with the opportunity to send a member of his tribe to spy on Foa Foa, and he sends Shambo.

At Foa Foa, Shambo immediately bonds with Foa Foa, whom she relates to more for reasons of age. Mick contrasts Shambo and Yasmin, and states that Shambo has great energy and the tribe would love to adopt her. Foa Foa is equally stupefied by Shambo's tales of Galu's yoga and overall idleness. Shambo receives the second note to the Immunity Idol, which she intends to find, unaware that Russell Hantz already found it.

When Galu returns to camp, Russell Swan explains his decision of comfort over function to the tribe, explaining his inclination to make the women of the tribe happy. The women are very pleased with his decision, but the men are not as psyched. In confessionals, John points out that everyone will be uncomfortable, with or without the comfort items, and Erik expresses his desire for the tarp, reasoning that the comfort items won't be very comfortable once it starts raining.

At Foa Foa, the members discuss who to vote out at Tribal Council. Jaison threatens to quit if the tribe does not vote out Ben, a threat which he does not actually intend on following through on. Russell and Liz Kim try to convince Mick to vote out Ashley, but Mick's hesitant because of his allegiance to Jaison. Mick expresses his reluctance to Russell, and they agree to vote out Ben after Ashley. In order to solidify trust, Russell reveals his Hidden Immunity Idol to Mick.

Day 8

The next morning, Shambo shows Foa Foa a few DIY tricks to build upon her relationship with them. While Shambo unsuccessfully searches for the idol, the women chat, spiking Russell's concerns about an all-girl alliance. Russell and Mick present their plan to Jaison about voting for Ben after Ashley, but Jaison is not happy with this. He argues against the likelihood of an all-female alliance and doubts Ben's supposed vitality in challenges. When Russell and Mick are still hesitant, Jaison promises to "make his peace" with Ben at Tribal Council.

At Tribal Council, Shambo attends as a spectator. Almost immediately, Jaison calls out Ben's negative behavior, which leads to an aggressive argument between them, making the rest of the tribe uncomfortable. Jaison accuses Ben of being racist and a bully, but Ben defends himself, claiming he never starts fights. Ultimately, Russell and Mick side with Jaison and Ben is unanimously voted out. In his closing remarks, Ben predicts his tribe will starve without him and will come to regret their decision.

Challenges

Reward/Immunity Challenge: Sea Crates
A pair of castaways from each tribe would swim out into the ocean to retrieve one of four crates with a different color on each face of a crate. Between the beach and crates would be a "battle zone" marked off by four flags. Within this zone, an opposing tribe member would try to prevent the two castaways from crossing the zone and reaching the crate. Once the two castaways crossed the zone, they would bring a crate back to the beach, and a second pair of castaways would go out to retrieve another crate. Once all four crates were retrieved, the crates would need to be stacked so that one color didn't show more than once on each column. The first tribe to complete the puzzle would win.
Reward: Comfort items consisting of pillows, candles, mats, beach towels, and a hammock
Winner: Galu (sent Shambo Waters to observe Foa Foa)

Tribal Council

Tribal Council 3: Foa Foa
Voted Against	Voter
Ben (6 votes)	Ashley, Jaison, Liz, Mick, Natalie, Russell H.
Ashley (1 vote)	Ben
VOTED OUT: Ben Browning

Voting Confessionals

Ashley's and Ben's confessionals were shown in the episode. Jaison did not give a confessional.

	Mick	“	(voting against Ben) Know what, you and I have grown a little closer over the past few days. But, man, you are way too abrasive and have way, way too many enemies in that other camp, uh, to be nothing but a liability on any kind of merge or swap. Sorry, man. But that's the consensus. You gotta go.	”

	Ashley	“	(voting against Ben) I just really think that you need to grow up. That's all I have to say to you.	”

	Russell H.	“	(voting against Ben) I didn't wanna have to do this, Ben, but I have no choice now. See ya in Hollywood.	”

	Liz	“	(voting against Ben) Sorry, you're just too inflammatory for the tribe.	”

	Ben	“	(voting against Ashley) You knew it was coming.	”

	Natalie	“	(voting against Ben) I am voting for Ben because this is what my alliance wants.	”

Final Words

	Ben	“	Well, I think it's pretty funny that I'm going home cause I think everybody's gonna starve. I think it's even funnier that it's raining. You guys gonna be wet. You know I'm not worried about it. I'm glad I'm getting a nice, dry sleep tonight. The tribe's a bunch of sissies, um, everybody except Russell. I was the hardest working guy in camp. Everybody knew that. They'll miss me when I'm gone.	”

Still in the Running

Marisa 20th	Mike 19th	Betsy 18th	Ben 17th	Ashley Foa Foa	Brett Galu	Dave Galu	Erik Galu	Jaison Foa Foa	John Galu
Kelly Galu	Laura Galu	Liz Foa Foa	Mick Foa Foa	Monica Galu	Natalie Foa Foa	Russell H. Foa Foa	Russell S. Galu	Shambo Galu	Yasmin Galu

Trivia

• This is the only pre-merge episode of the season where a male contestant gets voted off.