Episodes 12-13: Burning down the house

Published: January 5, 2021

Rather than a celebration of strategic gameplay, the final two episodes of Survivor: Gabon are a full-voiced repudiation of it, with both vote-receiving finalists strangely touting their lack of a résumé, and jurors attacking the third for making moves (which she paradoxically also does as she targets others). It's weird, it's loud, it's confusing. But at least it's over.

Episodes 9-11: Arts and crafts time with Bob Crowley

Published: December 24, 2020

Episodes 9-11 of Survivor: Gabon contain the death throes of the Onion alliance, but they're also finally a showcase for Bob Crowley. Which is good, since he does end up winning this thing. He's far from a master strategist, but he's an idol-making (faking) machine, and that saves this stretch.

Episodes 7-8: Onions undone by twists and poor decisions

Published: December 14, 2020

The crux of the game for Survivor: Gabon takes place in Episodes 7 and 8. Three boots, two big blindsides, a fake merge, an abandoned idol, and the permanent collapse of the formerly dominant Onion alliance. Bad decisions in Ep7 led to Crystal outplaying Marcus strategically, and sending him to the jury.

Episodes 5-6: The elephant in the room

Published: December 6, 2020

Episodes 5 to 6 are among Survivor: Gabon's grimmest, as Fang keeps losing, and also keeps failing to do anything about Sugar's idol. Worst of all, it's just boring. But hey, at least there's an elephant.

Episodes 3-4: Doing their best, despite...

Published: November 29, 2020

For Survivor: Gabon's second pair of episodes, balance comes to Gabon, in the form of Fang briefly not sucking, an idol find, and a tribe swap (after which Fang resumes sucking). Strategic decisions are made, and even if they end up not being optimal, at least they're trying. It's the most we can ask.

Episodes 1-2: Yea, though I walk through the valley of death...

Published: November 23, 2020

Gabon's opening two hours take some good steps forward for the show, mostly in the area of being high-definition. It's otherwise a fairly pedestrian assortment of poor production choices, a cast with spotty interest in playing the game, and a location that doesn't quite work as advertised.