LAST EDITED ON 05-30-12 AT 02:35 PM (EST)Marquesas (S4) was maybe the best season of them all, the high point being when Kathy successfully formed the misfit alliance to turn the tables on John's Rotu4 alliance.
The problem with Gabe was simply that he hated the game. He loved the adventure, gave 100% in challenges, was great in many respects and likeable, but he wanted to be a nice guy, didn't care for plotting and planning, didn't want to lie, couldn't be deceptive, and so on. Keep a guy like that around and he may eventually break ranks and start voting based on who he likes, or more precisely who is actually playing the game and doing things he doesn't like. By all rights RobM, Sean or Vecepia should have been voted out that time, they were burdonsome (though Vee didn't mind doing some work) and New Rotu didn't have to be concerned about preserving challenge strength. But Gabe basically wanted out so his wish was granted.
One of the deciding moments in Marquesas came in the episode after John was blindsided. Pappy and Neleh were really on the fence about continuing with the misfit alliance and Tammy was nearly able to reconcile with them. But Robert "the General" blew it by acting childish and having basically a hissyfit about the Rotu4 being knocked down, after that Pappy and Neleh were solidly with Kathy to send Zoe, Tammy and Robert to the jury.
Unfortunate blemishes in Marquesas came at the end. The dreaded purple rock knocked Pappy out of the game, though that turned out to be fortunate in that the old guy was on the verge of collapsing from dehydration. And, of course, the two finalists were lesser players, Kathy really was the one clear winner had she made it to FTC.