What if...Survivor: David vs Goliath

The Decision

This season is a goldmine. The premerge is incredible, and the postmerge is incredible. Of course, I'm focusing on the postmerge, but rewatching parts of this season recently reminded me just how excellent this season was, especially as Survivor 51 seems to become better and better every week. So, the question is what small change should be made at which round in the DvG postmerge? Dan doesn't play his idol on Angelina at F12? Alec wins the F10 immunity? Christian goes home at F8 instead of Gabby after his David allies don't tip him off? Carl doesn't get flipped on at F9? No, I think the most consequential and intriguing change is if the idol nullifier isn't introduced on this season, but instead during Island of the Idols a year later. So, what if...Dan's idol isn't nullified at the Final 11 of Survivor: David vs Goliath?

The Outcome

At the final eleven, Dan successfully plays his idol after his ally's vote is stolen, prompting Christian to play his out of his own pocket to keep himself safe.

Carl --> Dan

Davie --> Dan

Nick --> Dan

Nick --> Dan

Christian --> Dan

Gabby --> Dan

Dan --> Christian

Mike --> Christian

Angelina --> Christian

Alec --> Angelina

Kara --> Angelina

In a 2-0-0 vote, Angelina is taken out by two of her own goliaths. Alec battles for over five hours with Dan and Christian, with the David outlasting both goliaths for immunity. With Alec and Dan both likely targets, the goliaths try to make a plan with the outside davids to save one of their own:

Carl --> Alec

Davie --> Alec

Nick --> Dan

Dan --> Alec

Alec --> Dan

Gabby --> Dan

Christian --> Dan

Kara --> Dan

Mike --> Dan

Alison --> Dan

And despite his best efforts, Dan is sent home in a 7-3 vote as the two physical goliath threats realize they can only vote for each other. With the vote looking as though it will be between Carl and Alec, Davie swoops in and wins immunity with a close tribal council to come:

Carl --> Alec

Alec --> Carl

Davie --> Alec

Kara --> Carl

Nick --> Alec

Alison --> Carl

Christian --> Carl

Gabby --> Carl

Mike --> Carl

Just like in real life, Christian and Gabby switch sides to blindside Carl and save a goliath, this time keeping Alec in the game. Nick is still significantly betrayed by Christian and this time Mike, and Davie distrusts him due to accurately suspecting Nick holds an idol. The majority appears to be a modified Strike Force of Christian, Gabby, Mike, Kara, Alison, and Alec, but in an eight person tribe, an alliance of six is dangerous. Left out of the loved ones reward, Gabby, Alison, Christian, and Mike get closer before Kara wins immunity to set up a fascinating final eight tribal, with everyone trying to set up their endgame:

Christian --> Davie

Davie --> Christian

Alec --> Davie

Nick --> Christian

Mike --> Christian

Kara --> Christian

Alison --> Christian

Gabby --> Christian

Gabby, as in the show itself, turns on Christian at the final eight, this time cementing her second consecutive big move on her resume. Alec appears to be the outsider, but with distrust between the davids, things are not as simple as they seem. Davie finds an idol that is only good for the next tribal council but can be extended with a risk, which he doesn't choose to take. Alec wins immunity, ruining Gabby and Alison's plans, and besides Gabby being a strong strategic threat, the vote appears to be wide open:

Gabby --> Davie

Alison --> Davie

Davie --> Gabby

Kara --> Gabby

Alec --> Gabby

Mike --> Gabby

Nick --> Gabby

With everyone on board but the Gabby-Alison alliance, Gabby goes home in a 5-0 vote as Davie uses his idol on himself. Alison finds a clue to an idol, and in a desperate move, tells Alec, but neither goes on reward so the idol is lost. With Nick, Davie, and Mike bonding on reward, Kara, Alec, and Alison must come together to create a 3-3 tie to save Alec and break up a final three deal:

Alec --> Davie

Davie --> Alison

Alison --> Davie

Nick --> Alison

Mike --> Alison

Kara --> Alison

Not willing to risk her game by going to rocks, Kara flips on the condition Alison goes home instead of Alec, leaving the Nick-David-Mike contigent with control over the game entering finale night. Nick wins immunity, meaning his idol may land on an ally, and the vote appears to be 4-1. However, as in the real season, Mike worries about sitting next to Davie instead of Alec, and the decision to flip may come down to him as the swing vote:

Alec --> Davie

Kara --> Davie

Mike --> Davie

Nick --> Alec

Davie --> Alec

As Mike indeed does flip, Nick uses his idol on his number one ally, neglecting the majority number of votes and knocking out Alec 2-0. At the final four, Nick appears to be the biggest jury threat, but Kara, Mike, and Davie are all still in contention. However, Nick wins yet another immunity and his most clutch of the season. He has to decide who his threats must go into fire and who to bring to the final tribal council:

Kara --> Saved

And we have fire. Nick sends Davie and Mike into fire. Neither is particularly good at fire, but Davie gets a flame early and easily. The flame, however, blows away, and Mike builds a fire high and bright enough to send himself into the final three in the same way as in the real season of the show.

Fire --> Mike

And the final three is remarkably similar to the season itself, however replacing one goliath goat with a much more of a contender to join Mike and Nick. Nick is the jury favorite with three straight immunities, a secret idol, but the jury is bitter, particularly Gabby, Christian, and Davie. Mike and Kara have both been in the jury for most of the postmerge, but neither ran the game.

Alec --> Kara

Christian --> Nick

Gabby --> Mike

Elizabeth --> Nick

John --> Mike

Carl --> Nick

Angelina --> Mike

Davie --> Nick

The winner of Survivor: David vs Goliath:

Dan --> Nick

Alison --> Nick