'Survivor: David vs. Goliath' recap: Gabby Pascuzzi voted off after failed attempt to take out Christian Hubicki

Survivor: David vs. Goliath eliminated Gabby Pascuzzi after she attempted to betray her closest ally, Christian Hubicki, during Wednesday night's Survivor Season 37 episode on CBS.


Gabby, a 25-year-old technical writer from St. Augustine, FL, who currently resides in Denver, CO, was voted out on Night 32 through a 5-2-1 vote at Tribal Council. She became the thirteenth castaway to leave the game and Survivor: David vs. Goliath's sixth jury member.

Christian, a 32-year-old robotics scientist from Baltimore, MD, who currently resides in Tallahassee, FL, actually received five of those votes, but he decided to play a hidden Immunity Idol for himself.

Gabby therefore left the game with two votes, compared to the one vote that went to Alison Raybould, a 28-year-old physician from Leawood, KS, who currently resides in Chapel Hill, NC.

"I started this game as an underdog. I still kind of feel like I was an underdog," Gabby said in her final words.


"But for me, it was a personal triumph to do something with confidence and not seek reassurance from all over. But if people saw something in me that they wanted to take out, then maybe I'm more of a Goliath than I thought."

RELATED LINK: 'SURVIVOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO'S STILL TOGETHER?! WHICH SHOWMANCES SPLIT UP? (PHOTOS)

At the beginning of the episode, the castaways still competing for $1 million were Gabby; Christian; Alison; Angelina Keeley, a 28-year-old financial consultant from Sparks, NV, who currently resides in San Clemente, CA; Nick Wilson, a 27-year-old public defender from Williamsburg, KY, who currently resides in London, KY; and Kara Kay, a 30-year-old realtor from San Diego, CA.

The rest of the players were Mike White, a 47-year-old filmmaker from San Diego, CA, who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA and has previously competed on The Amazing Race; and Davie Rickenbacker, a 30-year-old social media manager from Orangeburg, SC, who currently resides in Atlanta, GA.

The Survivor broadcast began on Night 30 at Kalokalo camp, following Carl Boudreaux's ouster. (Alec Merlino had also been voted out a few days earlier).


Nick was shocked his original David Tribe members and allies, Christian and Gabby, had voted out Carl. Nick felt "blindsided" by the vote and admitted Christian and Gabby are "so smart they're dumb."

"What kind of move is that?!" Nick asked in a confessional.

Nick then explained to Christian the Davids had burned three advantages to save him and keep the numbers on their side. By voting Carl out, the Davids once again became vulnerable.

"Yeah, I'm pretty mad," Nick told the cameras. "In my mind, 'Mason Dixon' is dead. I'm still going to play it up, but I'm going to remember this, and as soon as I get the chance, I won't hesitate to blindside Christian.

RELATED LINK: 'BIG BROTHER' SHOWMANCES NOW: WHO'S STILL TOGETHER? WHICH COUPLES HAVE SPLIT UP?? (PHOTOS)


Christian attempted to comfort Nick by saying the whole tribe wanted Alison out next and she'd be going home for sure.

On Day 31, the tribe met Jeff Probst for a Reward Challenge, and then it became time for each castaway to receive a little love from home.

Jeff then welcomed Davie's mom Hazel, Alison's mom, Kara's brother Eric, Nick's father Jim, Gabby's mother, Angelina's mother Anna, Mike's boyfriend Josh, and Christian's girlfriend Emily.

After hugs, tears, and emotional stories, Jeff explained the rules to the next challenge.

Divided into pairs, the castaways had to race under an obstacle to a sandpit, where they would dig up a ring of keys. The keys would release two balls the castaways must then attempt to land on a narrow perch.


The winners would receive more time with their loved ones and enjoy a big barbecue.

In the end, Nick and Angelina won the challenge, and they were absolutely thrilled. Nick and Angelina then had a big decision to make -- choosing one more person to join them on Reward.

Nick said he had made a promise to Davie early in the game, and with Angelina's blessing, Davie was asked to join them. Angelina then selected Mike to enjoy the Reward because he had stood strong next to her through the game and been very loyal.

RELATED LINK: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHO'S STILL TOGETHER? WHO BROKE UP? (PHOTOS)

The four people on Reward then talked some strategy, and Mike, Davie, Nick and Angelina basically made a Final 4 alliance. The castaways trusted and respected one another, and Angelina didn't want to go to the end with anyone "vicious."


However, Davie was feeling a little left out since Mike, Angelina and Nick had spent more time together in the game since they had all been on the same previous tribe following the swap. Davie wasn't sure this was the best course of action for himself.

Meanwhile, Gabby acknowledged that seeing Christian comfort his girlfriend at the Reward Challenge made her realize that's exactly what he was doing for her in the game. Gabby didn't want to rely on Christian's "security blanket" any more.

"I need to play for me," Gabby said, adding that she couldn't rely on Christian always having her back.

Gabby then spoke to Alison about how they needed to take Christian out because he was getting credit for all the moves their pair had made together. Gabby wanted respect in the game, and she figured there would be no better move to make than to slay her closest ally.

Gabby shared her plans with Kara, and she was totally onboard since Christian was a huge threat.

RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO'S STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT?! (PHOTOS)


It then became time for the season's next Individual Immunity Challenge on Day 32. Each castaway was instructed to balance on a narrow perch while holding a pole connected to a bucket of water.

If at any point a person stepped off the perch, raised the pole too high or dropped the pole too low, the bucket would empty and he or she would be out of the challenge.

The winner would be guaranteed a one in seven shot to get to the end of this game, while the next person voted out at Tribal Council would become the sixth member of the jury.

Mike was the first person out of the challenge, and Gabby was eliminated next. The challenge turned out to be a showdown between Davie and Kara -- a David vs. Goliath, respectively. But Kara managed to last the longest for the win.

Alison was "cautiously optimistic" Gabby's plan to take out Christian was going to work, but she worried he may have more tricks up his sleeve to pull out.

After the challenge, Christian was hell-bent on voting out Alison, which made Gabby happy because he needed to be blindsided so that he wouldn't play his hidden Immunity Idol.


Gabby was excited, nervous and sad all at the same time because she was about to betray someone she had been so close to for so long. However, Gabby said the move needed to be made if she had any shot to win this game.

RELATED LINK: 'DANCING WITH THE STARS' PROS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS: WHO'S DATING OR MARRIED TO WHOM!? (PHOTOS)

Gabby then talked to Nick and Davie about getting rid of Christian. Nick couldn't believe his ears, but he was "totally fine" with the plan. After all, Nick was still pissed off about Christian's betrayal.

"At this point, Christian is dead to me, and it's time he gets a taste of his own medicine," Nick told the cameras.

The news then spread to Mike and Angelina, who suggested they split the vote between Christian and Gabby in case Christian played his hidden Immunity Idol. Nick called the plan "beautiful."

Davie, however, confessed his tribe's goal didn't "feel right" to him. Although Christian blindsided him twice, Davie said he didn't take it personally and it's all just a part of the game.


Davie liked to hide behind big threats, and he noted Christian needed to stay in the game longer in order to serve as his shield.

Davie therefore warned Christian that Gabby was gunning for him, and Christian was "floored" to hear this.

"I'm stunned. Gabby and I have been together this entire game. We probably haven't been separated for more than an hour over the course of this whole month! So I'm having a hard time believing it," Christian told the cameras.

Davie and Christian discussed keeping their votes on Alison, and Christian insisted to Davie that he'd be the next person to go if the tribe succeeds in taking him out. Davie replied, "Absolutely!"

RELATED LINK: 'MARRIAGE BOOT CAMP' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)

Christian was also surprised Nick felt "so burned" that he wanted revenge. In order to potentially save his idol for another vote, Christian thought his best move at this point was to try to repair his relationship with Nick.


Christian apologized to Nick, who let Christian know he wasn't happy. But Nick decided to manipulate his former ally because if Christian thought "Mason Dixon" was back together, it would be easier to blindside him.

Nick insisted he wanted Alison gone, and Christian seemed to believe him in that moment. Regardless, Christian had his idol as a safety net, and he was prepared to play it if necessary.

At Tribal Council that night, Alison acknowledged she was well aware that she was a target that night, and Gabby openly discussed how she was no longer relying on anyone else in the game.

Gabby said if her shift in confidence and attitude ultimately got her voted out, then at least she left the game doing "something with gumption." Gabby's comments appeared to open Christian's eyes to the reality of the situation.

Angelina noted there were "different threat levels" in her remaining tribemates.

After the castaways voted, Jeff asked if anyone wanted to play a hidden Immunity Idol. Christian hesitated, looked around at his peers, and then determined he should play it.


Jeff then began reading the votes out loud, and after he announced two votes for Christian, Gabby was shown whispering to her best friend, "How'd you get that big brain?"

Jeff continued reading the votes as follows: Christian, Christian, Christian, and Alison.

"I'm so sorry, Alison," Gabby said, before Jeff revealed the last two votes were actually cast for Gabby.

On her way out of the game, Gabby yelled, "Sorry Christian, I love you!" Christian seemed okay, telling Gabby that they'd see each other again soon.

The episode's closing credits for the Survivor episode later showed that Angelina and Mike voted for Gabby, while Christian voted for Alison.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski