Funny you've started this thread, I have been rewatching all of the Australian Survivor seasons and am rewatching All Stars right now. Currently up to episode 19, just finished the exile twist. It is as abysmal on a rewatch as it was on the initial viewing.
Will hard disagree with you on Moana, she was quite socially horrible to anyone who wasn't in her circle. Extremely petty and self-righteous. Listening to Nick's deep dive with Shannon on RHAP, after the auction when Nick receieved the video message from his partner and 8 month old daughter, Moana's first words to him (after spending a week with him already on the same tribe) were "so you have like a son or something?". A very deluded player who thought she was in charge despite David running circles around her whilst the only people she could run circles around were Tarzan and Jacqui. Unfortunately, her game play style probably works to get her far every single time she plays. But she isolates jury members too much to actually win. The only person she has a chance to win against would be either Tarzan and maybe Sharn, maybe.
Abbey got a bad response on social media for targetting Shonee. Unwarrented as well. Abbey's strategy would have worked for her in the longterm, but it makes for boring TV. Shonee got a real shitty deal being put on Mokuta. Too many champions and athletes. She was much more suited to Vakama. Despite her swap being suspciously close to being rigged, I was very happy to see her do away with Abbey, John and Lydia, the latter being one of my least favourite survivor players ever.
Agree, Mat got swap screwed. And it did the season no favours as he was one of the more likable players. But he would have just been another David minion, although the hardest one for David to beat. But David would have dealt with that accordingly I am sure of it.
Rewatching this season Shonee is possibly overrated this season. But she is the only bright spot IMO from the merge on. Her social prowess elucidates game ability and consitency. I think she can do well in any given season, although it is her strategic choices at times that hinder her winning chances. She had a winning path in season 3 yet chose to ruin it through petty vengence for Fenella. Still, my favourite character from the franchise and IMO one of the best players to have not won.
Watching Phoebe derail via David's gaslighting was devestating as I was massive fan of hers in season 1. David was very clearly not going to take players to the end who had flashy games from previous seasons. Phoebe was yet another victim of this. She doesn't excel like she did the first time, but I argue she was swap scewed like Mat. Had she found the idol before David I would have enjoyed the season so much more, it is a shame she didn't get to make the merge this time.
This season's bootlist was woeful. Losing the two winners as well as Michelle and Henry within the first 5 episodes was shit in itself. Then to lose Mat, Phoebe, Flick and Nick all in succession was just plain hurtful. Having a merge full of people like Moana, Tarzan, AK, Jacqui and Zach who didn't even make merge in their first appearance just felt flat. The whole season had such a dark feeling to it. The editing is dogshit just to top it off.
I may start my own threat to compile my thoughts on each season like I had planned to.