On Survivor 47, Gabe Ortis found himself on the wrong side of the vote at Tribal Council, becoming the 10th castaway eliminated and the 3rd member of the jury. His exit raises one big question: could Gabe have saved himself with a different strategy?
Moments before the vote, Gabe was seen talking with Genevieve Mushaluk, another castaway in danger. We then see them going to tribal council.
Could an alliance between the two have blindsided Gabe’s closest ally Sue Smey and shifted the game?
Gabe and Genevieve should have targeted Sue
After Sol Yi’s dramatic elimination in episode 9, tensions were high at the Beka camp. Alliances were shaky, and everyone was rethinking their next move. The Tuku 4 was crumbling, and the rest of the tribe was looking at the biggest threats
Gabe and Genevieve found themselves in a precarious position, each seen as a significant threat. Genevieve, as the mastermind behind the Sol vote, and Gabe, seen as the biggest threat among the Tuku 4 should Kyle Ostwald win immunity.
Sue, on the other hand, solidified her position by flying under the radar with Caroline Vidmar and her unwavering support.
Moments before Tribal Council, Gabe and Genevieve were seen deep in conversation. They acknowledged they were the tribe's top targets and discussed their dwindling options. With both in survival mode, this could have been the perfect opportunity to plot a bold move. However, the scene ended with them seemingly in resignation that it would be either one of them going home.
If they had banded together, could they have orchestrated a blindside against Sue? To pull it off, they’d have to convince three other players to vote with them. The likeliest would be to convince Andy, Sam, and Kyle that targeting Sue was in their best interests. This would give them five votes, enough to overpower Sue, Caroline, Rachel, and Teeny.
The challenges of the plan
While the idea sounds promising, several factors worked against them.
Caroline’s Loyalty to Sue
Caroline was steadfast in her allegiance to Sue and would not flip under any circumstances. This made it nearly impossible to sway the votes from Sue’s core alliance.
Rachel LaMont and Teeny Chirichillo’s Distrust of Genevieve
After Genevieve blindsided Teeny’s ally, it would be near impossible to convince Teeny to follow Genevieve’s lead. Meanwhile, Rachel viewed Genevieve as the biggest threat remaining so it would seem unlikely she would want to work with her potential adversary. Without their support, Gabe and Genevieve needed the cooperation of all three swing votes.
Andy’s Focus on Self-Preservation
Andy Rueda seemed to be playing a middle-ground game, aligning with Sue while exploring other options. His calculated approach made him unlikely to commit to a risky move that could backfire.
Sam and Kyle’s Perception of Gabe as a Threat
Kyle had already vocalized his desire to eliminate Gabe, seeing him as a physical threat. Sam also expressed interest in voting out Gabe during their reward challenge.
Could Gabe have saved himself?
Gabe’s downfall wasn’t just a lack of allies—it was timing and trust. For Gabe to have saved himself, he needed to:
Strengthen bonds earlier
Gabe should have built stronger relationships with Andy, Sam, and Kyle long before this vote. His confidence in getting to the final four with the Tuku 4 hinged on none of them turning on each other. Such long-held promises rarely hold true in the new Survivor.
Win immunity
With Kyle in the game, if anybody but Kyle had won immunity, Kyle would have been the bigger target. However, with Kyle winning the immunity challenge, the arrows quickly turned to Gabe.
Offer a solid plan
Gabe and Genevieve needed a compelling pitch to convince the swing votes that voting Sue out was their best move. Highlighting Sue’s control over Caroline and her ability to navigate social dynamics might have worked.
Gabe was voted out in episode 10
Despite the possibilities, Gabe did not manage to extend his stay in the tribe. The votes ultimately sided against Gabe. The vote split 5-2, with Gabe and Sue putting two votes on Genevieve, ultimately sending Gabe to the jury. Genevieve, while safe for now, remains a target moving forward.
This outcome highlights the importance of timing and trust in Survivor. Gabe’s physical strength made him a target, but his inability to form deeper connections sealed his fate. Could Gabe and Genevieve have orchestrated a Sue blindside? Perhaps—but the cracks in their alliances made it an uphill battle.