Blindside Blitz

I believe Russell's two strongest intelligences are Logic and Interpersonal. He's definitely great at dealing with other people, even manipulating them; he logically sees how people will react to different things. Not only is he logical in a people sense, but he has logic when it comes to things like the hidden immunity idols. Without any clues, he finds them and uses them accordingly, thus saving his life in the game.
I think Interpersonal intelligence is the most important intelligence to have to win the game, simply because the strongest aspect of the game is the social one. Forming good connections with others that hold can really save yourself later on in the game.

To be honest, I really have no clue how things will go down. Depending on who finds the next hidden immunity idol, things could go one way or the complete other way. Foa Foa's de facto alliance with Shambo could save them and give them a chance to make it further in the game. As one member said, "the numbers are obvious."

Merge-tastic: Aiga

In my opinion, the merge was necessary at this point in the game because of Foa Foa's dwindling numbers. Now that we have one tribe, we can watch as the competition is turned inward: they'll slowly gang up on each other and pick one another off one by one. The game itself will become more selfish; everyone will be scrambling about to try to keep their neck off the chopping block.


Foa Foa's fate will be decided in the next episode, I think. If Galu "declares open season" on Foa Foa and takes them out one by one, Foa Foa won't have a chance. If the remaining members of Foa Foa can somehow integrate themselves in with some members of Galu, one or two of them may have some chance.
It seems like Russell is the one with the largest target on his back at this point. He'll have to go through all the stops necessary to keep himself alive in the game.