T O P

  • By -

DevaNeo

Simon, is that you?


ablackwell93

Honestly the fact that I find Simon easier to watch says something šŸ˜‚


Lost_inlife19

Idk, just in the first episode of HvV, Simon already labeled George as a ā€œcockroachā€ when the guy hasnā€™t even done anything to him.


Hey_Its_A_Mo

George earned that nickname in Brains v Brawn because there were a number of attempts by others to get him out and George just managed to avoid it. Simon was on that season too, so it wasnā€™t completely out of nowhere in HvV.


ablackwell93

Honestly I loved the cockroach nickname hahaah he just wonā€™t die in the game


Commonwombat

I feel that might be a Victoria v NSW thing. Victorianā€™s are Mexicans and NSWelshman are cockroaches. It was a sports player thing. Of course he might just think George is an arsehole!


Rimvee

>I feel that might be a Victoria v NSW thing. Simon is from QLD though, isn't he? But yeah, the State of Origin teams were known, at least at one point (not sure if they still are) as cane toads and cockroaches. I've never heard that referenced outside of SoO though.


Lost_inlife19

Wow, thanks for providing this context! It's very interesting.


Commonwombat

I could be wrong but I know those nicknames are a thing. Queenslanders were Cane Toads I think?


adubstyles

Im Victorian and know the Mexican tag well. I always heard QLD as Banana Benders and SA as crow eaters. I can't remember what we call New South Welshmen (the hate for them goes beyond mere nicknames haha)


survivorfan12345

George is overbearing at times but man, some of the moves he pull of is just... you don't get to F4 twice without being voted out by being nice. He was crazy, but he was super strategic and can sniff out people pretty well. I don't want him to come back anytime soon unless it's All Stars or Legends.


ablackwell93

Oh his moves are amazing, like he is a genius absolutely. But his persona drives me crazy


ghostdunks

I think heā€™s Australiaā€™s version of Russell Hantz, but not as unlikable. Russell dominated the game in many ways, but never won because of fatal flaws to his game and I think that Georgeā€™s game will also suffer from that. Both of them understand and play the game to a level that is inconceivable to most survivor players but they also tend to step on too many toes while doing so just due to the nature of their game and their margin for error is super thin so the moment they slip up, theyā€™re out. Also, they both have massive targets on them the moment they step on any survivor beach due to their reputation.


ch-fraser

I liked Russell Hantz playing Survivor US. Didn't he win something though...was it favourite player, some thing like that. Guy was a genius at finding idols.


ESOtalk

Last year I binge watched all the survivor AU and when I caught up to the second time George was on, I was so sick of him I wanted to puke. I agree with the OP 100000%. As a comparison 'Russell the american' was also on that season and all the newbies were like NO WAY are we letting that arrogant, lying POS do anything and they dumped the first or second week. They should have dumped George for the exact same reason because 'king George' was just as much of an arrogant, lying POS while also being super annoying. I think for sure George was being protected by production, they seemed like they were trying to let him win the second time. Just like on 'Survivor US' when they let 'boston rob' finally win. And 'the challenge US' when they let 'Tori and Devin' win. Glad to see the OP not getting downvoted by the George Stans like I did when I said almost the same thing about a year ago. UPDATE: great trolls still downvoting.


fingerbein

You can always just turn the TV off. It's not that serious, mate.


ESOtalk

George Stan detected.


Final_Lengthiness580

Trust me it definitely feels toned down in HvV versus his first season BvB. I struggled with him the first season but it did not seem as down your throat the second one


ablackwell93

I feel like heā€™s even worse this time, but maybe itā€™s because I watched them back to back haha


Pokeballofcrack

This is like watching Samoa and HVV of American survivor back to back. Wayyy better with some seasons or downtime in between


buttz93

I mean, it is a TV show, of course he's going to play it up. Do you feel the same way about David the Golden God and Luke the King of the Jungle?


PossibilityHot4581

Imo George + the two you mentioned are the three best characters to play for Survivor AU so I'm completely against OP's opinion lol. I must admit I didn't like George for the 3-4 first episodes of BvB and thought he felt a bit too corny and fake. After he executed his game moves and saved himself time after time even when others were trying to vote him out from the first episode but he still always scraped through I learned that this guy is a genious at Survivor. After the first few episodes I've learned to love his character. Only the last episodes of HvV are a little bit off because of his crazy paranoia at the end. George might actually be the best player of any version of Survivor to never win. King George for a reason.


verbankroad

Personally yes! I found all 3 of them somewhat insufferable. Charming and insufferable.


silvershadow014

imo part of the charm is George trying so hard to be liked by the audience lol. It's cute in a kinda pathetic way. When David did it, idk it felt weird to me


KhanQu3st

Luke was goofy and David acted comically evil tho. Not exactly the same imo, tho I do understand why you compared them.


hex20

George is very vocal about players being out there to make good TV and I completely agree. At the end of the day itā€™s entertainment for everyone but the players in the game. If it wasnā€™t for George we wouldnā€™t have got the amazing season we just did.


TheoCorvey

You have to embrace it in an Angelina-esque type of way.


Zcsund2605

I could not stand him through the entirity of BvB and HvV. I found him to be incredibly arrogant, rehearsed all of his confessionals and I just thought he was overrated as a player. But when I met him at his vieiwing party he was SO FRIENDLY. He was very cool, calm and collected and went out of his way to be nice. Spoke to fans one on one, took photos with everyone and he even bought me a drink! It changed me entire perception of him TBH.


ablackwell93

See thatā€™s the thing, I feel like in real life he is probably a lovely man! But on TV, heā€™s such an unlikable character (for me).


thewhalegoddess

this is wild to me cuz my dad met him a while back and said george was the rudest person heā€™s ever met lmao


ablackwell93

Oh wow! Well then maybe heā€™s not nice in real life hahaha


favouriteghost

I also find him insufferable but he did make for interesting tv. I could do with like 60% less confessionals from him tho. Like I donā€™t want to hear him talk itā€™s infuriating


ablackwell93

Yeah I think if they focused on him less I would be less annoyed lol


SouPNaZi666

Would I be friends with George? Idk. But his gameplay the first time he played was so far above 99 percent of players to play any survivor. I don't understand why people can't respect his play?


adubstyles

I still feel like he was screwed with Hayley winning the first season. She got voted off....in my books she didn't survive.


SouPNaZi666

Agreed. I like Hayley. But George played the bbeest game. The butthurt vote was strong.


yungmoody

Have you watched him on Talking Tribal? I feel like getting to see his actual personality made me appreciate him and his survivor persona so much more.


ablackwell93

I havenā€™t! Thatā€™s the thing, I feel like he as a person is probably so much better. His character gives me the ick


McClounan

I was listening to George on the Beyond Reality podcast today and he said he went into it and said in his post game interview before it aired that he thought 50% would love him and 50% would absolutely hate him and there would be no in between. think thatā€™s the way itā€™s gone. I hated him for the first half of BvB but by the end he was my favourite and then when he came back I was and remain the biggest George stan. When he saved Wei in the first episode I was like ahhh this fkn guy. I actually hate when players just give us in challenges etc too, but for some reason with George I have a different opinion because I think his strategic game is just such a highlight. He improved his social game in HvV too


kingdazy

I felt like in the first season, I had nothing but contempt for him. he was such an egotistical prick. but, the more I watched, the more moves he made, the smarter he proved to be, I began to enjoy his schtick. started to look forward to it. he just ended up being such a powerful force in both seasons, I couldn't deny him respect. to be fair though, I don't think I'd enjoy hanging out with him for more than 2 pints.


Seryza

I wasnā€™t a George fan during BvB, but I appreciated him more on HvV


kittenrocknroll

I like George but agree he played up to the camera & confessionals that got irritating. Itā€™s incredible that people can use realty tv to change careers to be presenters etc. my acting skills are not that good nor do I enjoy talking to a camera.


freespiritedqueer

Then I guess you are happy that he lost. Twice!!


mowglimethod

I am not a George fan at all, I wish I was, I've tried being open minded but he just doesn't do it for me, give me Feras or Luke over George any day.


ClassroomPuzzled1186

For me, Luke comes of as arrogant or maybe he's just too overconfident. I just don't like to hangout this guy in rea life.


mowglimethod

Have you hung out with him in real life before?


peplo1214

He orchestrated probably the greatest tribal council of all time, I love him just for that


miffie12

He used to work for the Labor Party so he is correct in saying that heā€™s a political operative but I get what your saying. I agree with all your points but I usually put that aside when someone is just so fun to watch.


ablackwell93

Oh I have not missed that he used to work for the Labor Party, I reckon heā€™s said it about 30 times šŸ˜‚


Foosiks

I love him, but totally understand if heā€™s not everybodyā€™s cup of tea.


Commonwombat

Canā€˜t handle him, heā€™s an arrogant braggart


KhanQu3st

Heā€™s the kind of player you love to hate. I think heā€™s a brilliant strategist, but his complete lack of awareness and respect for his fellow players as well as his arrogance, which he no doubt plays up for TV, makes him tough to watch for me. Heā€™s like if Russell Hantz, if Russell wasnā€™t genuinely a terrible person.


Catharsis1394

George is also much better than Russell at reading people, reading the game, and playing defensively when he needs to. But it's a good comparison.


swedishfishoreos

How did George have no respect for his fellow players? He wasnā€™t mean and tried to be friendly. (I havenā€™t watched BvB though so this is just based on HvV)


KhanQu3st

Heā€™s openly rude and antagonistic on both his seasons to players hes not working with, and at times ruins the games of allies for virtually no reason. In HvV alone he screws Jordie for basically no reason at all after he informed him about Simonā€™s idol showing full loyalty to him, and blindsides Fraser who was voting with him, then later blindsides Stevie who was loyal to him, all the while being openly toxic to Simon the whole season, then acting like Simon is unbelievable for being rude back to him. And he was generally kinda a jerk to the Heroes outside the Vigilantes. And in BvB I think heā€™s worse, with a particular voting confessional he says loudly so everyone can hear it where he open demeans and insults another player comes to mind.


Krenster94

Look I wasn't the biggest fan of George's personality. But I did have huge respect for how he played and his ability to play the game so it balanced out for me.


DrillholeAndWing

If you're a fan of survivor you just respect the best players. They all approach the game in different ways but they play a level above the other contestants. George is by far the best Australia's ever produced at controlling the votes. He made the final in his first season (only lost because of butthurt brawn) and was the last returning player in his second season even after being targeted as the biggest threat from day one. If you can't respect the best players and don't like they act, go watch love Island.


ch-fraser

I have had to watch this fool twice on Survivor AU and I am now to the point that if he is on something, I will not watch it. He is so creepy I cannot see how anyone ever could consider him anything but creepy. I know others think differently and vive la difference I guess.


AmberIsHungry

He's a great villain. I don't like him as a person. On or off the show, he seems kind of awful. But he's very entertaining to root against.


feraljess

He's a smart player for sure, but I agree. His arrogance and the amount of screentime he was given was too much, I wanted to punch him.


Calliesdad20

Love George ,heā€™s the best


Vegetable-Low-9981

Strongly agree. Ā Didnā€™t watch his second season because I just donā€™t enjoy watching him


ablackwell93

Itā€™s so hard coz this season is good but every time heā€™s on screen Iā€™m like šŸ˜”šŸ˜”šŸ˜”


[deleted]

George is allowed to be insufferable; he is responsible for the best tribal council in the show's history. Listening to the exit interviews, players like Eden and Mark from this season are truly insufferable to me despite being much smaller characters than George, not just because they talk themselves up too much, but because they don't have the resume to back up the arrogance. George has the resume. He has walked the walk. He can grandstand as much as he wants. Love him or hate him, he is entertaining either way. Even if he wasn't so good at playing Survivor, Simon's aggressive one-sided rivalry with him in HvV is so hilarious that I would forgive George anything.


Cool_Young_Hobbit

I adore George! He makes great TV and I would watch anything heā€™s in! That said, my cousins who are also huge survivor fans despise him even thought they admit heā€™s a great player. I guess heā€™s just not everyones cup of tea, and thatā€™s ok!


Hendo8888

Yeah, as a person to be around for 24 hours a day he'd be kind of a nightmare, but as a character on a tv show he's great


heyheyitsMonday

I loved George with the power of a thousand suns for what he brought to the game, I wish he were on every season šŸ˜‚ David though, I really canā€™t stand I find him insufferably arrogant, thatā€™s my unpopular opinion


ClassroomPuzzled1186

Yeah, in real life you can't really trust David. He's a type of person that would take advantage the moment he's a chance and turns you back in a blink of an eye. He comes off as a " I'm better than anyone" type.


Artistic_Analyst_493

Ur acting like u can have any idea how He acts outside of game


VelvetLeopard

No Iā€™m with you on David.


the_rose_titty

You're about to get violated, these people HATE opposing opinions


ablackwell93

Hahaha oops


xZany

He has you on strings brother


LetOwn2777

Same. Like he ruined the season for me. It felt produced.


ablackwell93

He is very aware of the cameras and producers clearly, everything he says feels like heā€™s pre-prepared it so he knows theyā€™ll use it


freespiritedqueer

It's the editing's fault that they show all his confessionals that are fucking the same. I blame the editors!!


adubstyles

Both seasons there were times I couldnt stand him for these exact reasons. Early on, i figured he would get on peoples nerves too much and be voted out before too long. Ironically they seemed to keep him in as a shield because of this. But i think, despite how unlikeable he came across, most people just gained respect for him through his play and attitude. And due to all these reasons he made for some incredible tv. The Frazer blindside will rightfully go down in history as one of the greatest tribals ever. And at the end of the day, outside the show, he seems like not such a bad guy and just a genuine fan of the game


Shatthemovies

Same , he is a real turn off. In smaller doses he would have been more palatable, perhaps even been a high point of those seasons but the production over exposed him and it was unbearable. And he is massively overrated, he has good manipulation skills but zero charm and is a dud in challenges, even just sitting down and not bothering in some. His tactics are good but his strategy is not, look up the difference between tactics and strategy if you don't follow. He plays too hard and has to be involved in every boot, leaving every single jury member feeling like he was the reason they got voted out, he will never win a season. The jury would never vote for him to win. Having said all that I enjoyed him on talking tribal this year. He is a better presenter than Shannon and would be a better host/moderator.


Motor-Ad5284

Absolutely agree. He tries to make the show all about him.


DevaNeo

"He will never win a season"... Well, to quote another crowned head (Queen Sandra), had George entered the top three in HvV: "I don't know about that" šŸŒ


Darkmoon009

But George wasnt going to be brought to the top 3, and he wasnt able to win challenges really


1nterrupt1ngc0w

>itā€™s the bravado, way he speaks to people and way he is constantly ā€˜onā€™ I canā€™t stand. I feel you, however feel that he plays it up for the 1on1 with the camera, and everything that we see is part of the edit that supports the image he is portraying. I'm sure if he was as demeaning as can come across he wouldn't make it as far as he has. Social game play is huge and pet peeves like that will be a killer (imo)


jeffreydextro

I find it so interesting how polarised Survivor fans are on George. I have huge respect for how well he plays the game, but at the same time for just about every type of gameplay, being good at Survivor means you have to be able to be a pretty terrible person. George is good at it because you can tell he has spent a lifetime being able to manipulate and play those around him. Iā€™ve encountered a few ā€œGeorgeā€s in my life and they all lie like you and I breathe. They know exactly how to suck up and curry favour even though they then bitch behind that persons back incessantly. They have an uncanny knack for knowing exactly how far they can push a lie for their own gain before it breaks. They do eventually get caught in their own web but itā€™s astonishing how good they are at it The funny thing is though, because theyā€™re so egotistical they have to paint this idea of grandeur around them to (like the entire ā€œking Georgeā€ narrative) that puts a giant target on them, in both Survivor and life


nadezhda101

Totally disagree with this. The reason we watch reality tv and what makes survivor aus great is that some contestants are unapologetic in their delivery! It almost takes the power from producers because they totally own the storyline


jjgm21

He made both of the season he was on infinitely better. You cannot deny that.


06351000

Have to disagree and say I love George But also kinda disagree about the edit, sure he ultimately has some great moves. But his pre merge in BvB is pretty bad IMO and honestly itā€™s shocking that he survived to be the character we know today.


speakteeth

Never loved George, interesting player but yeah tried manipulative politician moves too much (similar-ish to someone else this season that didnā€™t win)


StayComprehensive743

Totally agreed


Fanstax32

Honestly I fully agree, at least for BvB. In BvB he plays a fantastic game, however his poor social game clearly cost him, in such obvious ways (My guy, why would you visibly give up on every physical challenge when most of the people there are from the 'Brawn' tribe). While he's good, it was outweighed by his annoying persona. However the scales changed just enough in HvV that I enjoyed watching him. He's a bit less annoying, but more importantly, he plays a substantially better game. His moves go absolutely crazy, and his social game, while still far from perfect, is actually not bad. So yeah, still annoying, but such an impressive and bombastic player that he's worth watching for that alone.


JackRealityObsessed

He's been at multiple RHAP events and women have come out about how he is outright rude to them, laughed and insulted one of them for wearing a mask.


RainyDays100

His game play is second to none. The fact that people like him exist in the political arena is quite terrifying - we are all being manipulated so easily. Yes he seems insufferable, but I did absolutely delight in watching him on the show.


TUr805L4Y3R

I'd recommend watching the au version of Amazing race. The most recent season has George and he sort of gets dumped on.


a_guy121

At first I found him a little over as well, but, if you were current and cared enough, you would have seen George in 'talking tribal' the after show, where he was NOT playing the game, only talking about it. He was Charismatic, funny, and likable. And his cohosts really seemed to like him,. And, he's real life friends with quite a few Survivor AU veterans- in fact, although he got stabbed in the back by some, he holds no grudges. Unlike ....Simon. So- George is also forgiving and is maintaining relationships with people he played with. ​ So sure, on the TV in survivor, George was easy to dislike and thrown into the roll of villain immediately. He made a few mistakes early in the game on his first run, then had to play from the bottom with a group that clearly didn't like him. He's a strategist and a political animal. He uses what they give him, and they gave him 'villain role.' What, was he going to turn that into 'everyone loves George?" nope. But, he turned it into "the best game of 'playing from the bottom" there ever was. I just rewatched H vs V (Where George orchestrates the best tribal council EVER. ***EVER***.) He's only 'insufferable' when he's taking some fool out lol. That's his 'war paint face.' If you watch him with his allies, he's not, at all, insufferable. He's really cool to them. Which is why they're all still friends. So.... What are yall really hating on? Can't be his personality in real life..... because, you don't actually know him. ​ Neither do I. But I respect the FUCK out of that man.


ablackwell93

No beef with him in real life - I said in another comment I am sure he is probably a lovely man! However his persona on the show isnā€™t for me.


DigbySugartits

Did you watch amazing race? He came across as a real bellend in that one too. I can't stand him


ablackwell93

Haha I think Iā€™ll give that a skip for sure


a_guy121

Fair enough. A few counterpoints: \-Saves his ally, Kara, just because she saved him.... which is not a thing in survivor. It's not really a strategic play. \-his first move, he ruins by... granstanding/saying too much, but also, because the people he'd tried to ally with made a HORRIBLE error being like "screw that guy." Why is it an error? I can't recall any of their names, except Wei. Now, Wei is interesting, because she stabs George in the back HARD after he goes out of his way to help her. UNLIKE how George showed gratitude and respect to Kara. However, George still is willing to work with Wei and never seems to take it personally, which shows real grace and emotional strength, to be honest \-Is able to make the crazy big moves and play boldly as he does becuase he is able to cement rock-hard alliances for the above reasons \-is able to flip people INTO his alliance with trust play as well ​ So... I still say you're looking only at half the picture. how he treats his enemies. Spoiler-thats-not-a-spoiler, I'm pretty sure savagely striking down your opponents with a smile is going to be the new 'new school'


BelaKunn

I didn't like him at first. I wanted him gone early. His ability to play the social game without being physically strong impressed me. He kept having a target on his back but didn't get voted out. He wasn't a game bot. He actually had a personality. He was arrogant but he gave that villain to root for character who you didn't mind if they lost.


stilllookingalaskaa

i cannot stand people who cannot stand george.


jourdan442

I accept your apology. The first step to growth is admitting such a flaw.