Survivor România 2023 is the fourth season of the Pro TV incarnation of the competitive reality TV show Survivor România. As with the previous seasons, the season features 30 contestants divided into two tribes: "Faimoșii", composed of twelve high-achievers who excelled in their fields, and "Războinicii", composed of twelve everyday Romanians and was filmed in La Romana, Dominican Republic from January to May 2023.
The season premiered on 9 January 2023 and concluded on 24 May 2023. The winner was 40-year-old Dan Ursa, a regional sales manager from Tășnad, Satu Mare. He defeated Andrei Krișan at the live finale and take the grand prize of €100.000 and title of Sole Survivor. Ursa is the oldest Survivor Romania winner.[1][2][3]
Production
Development
Like previous seasons, this fourth season is produced by Acun Media Global. The season was first announced on September 29, 2022. A press release for the show's renewal confirmed that Daniel Pavel would return as a host. Casting began also on September 29, 2022.[4] Online applications opened upon the start of casting and closed in November 2022. On December 23, 2022, it was announced that the season would premiere on January 9, 2023.
Wildcard
The first member of Războinicii tribe was chosen by a public vote. On 10 October, it was announced that the public would decide the first castaway of the series through a competition. The casting was open from 10 to 24 October. Following the casting eight finalists were selected, four women and four men. Each week, the eight had to compete in various elimination challenges. The public ultimately decided who would be the first member of the Războinicii tribe[5]
Mentors
In week 12, right before the merge, former Survivor winners Edmond Zannidache and Alex Delea alongside Elena Chiriac and Oana Ciocan returned as mentors to the castaways. Neither mentor was in contention to win prize.[6]
Medalion of Power and Kidnapping
The Medalion of Power will be hidden at both camps. Both medalions are usable until week 11. Alexandra P. found the Medallion from the Războinicii tribe, and Carmen from the Faimoșii tribe.
In weeks 10 and 11 the tribe who wins the first Reward Challenge of the week was given the right to kidnap one member from the rival tribe. Their chosen victim was forced to compete with them until the last Reward Challenge of the week. At the end of the week, the holder of the Medallion decided whether the contestant returned to their original tribe or stayed with the kidnapped tribe. Both Remus and Alin returned to their original tribe.
Contestants
Andreea Moromete was chosen by fans. The Faimoșii tribe was announced by Pro TV on December 15, 2022. Notable cast included kickboxing champion, Ionuț Iftimoaie, former elite gymnastȘtefania Stănilă and Silicon Valley's youngest self-made millionaire, Sebastian Dobrincu.[7] The Războinicii tribe was announced by Pro TV on January 2, 2023.[8]
Six contestants were added later in the game in both tribes. On Week 12, the thirteen remaining players merged into one tribe, named Taíno, the name of the Amerindians who were the first inhabitants of the Dominican Republic.
Maria Lungu, George "Jorge" Papagheorghe, Robert Moscalu and Ștefania Stănilă competed on Survivor România All Stars.
Season summary
Nomination mechanism
The tribe(s) attend Tribal Council to nominate a certain number of players.
Cycle 1 - Cycle 4: There was only one Tribal Immunity Challenge, the losing tribe would have three nominees, one by vote and two chosen by the Individual Immunity winners.
Cycle 5: Two Tribal Immunity Challenges are performed, after each challenge the losing tribe must attend Tribal Council and nominate one of its members by vote. If the same tribe loses both challenges, the Immunity Necklace winners would nominate another member, for a total of three nominees.
^No vote; Ionuț was voted out verbally by the Faimoșii tribe. Due to the nature of the verbal vote, Ionuț did not cast a vote.
^Alexandra C. and Kamara starting the game in Day 7 on exile island apart from the two tribes. In order to enter the main game, they must compete in one entry challenge along with Ionuț and Andreea who were sent on exile by their tribe, where the three winners earn a spot in the main game. The loser of the challenge returned on exile.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxThe winner(s) of the Individual Immunity had to directly nominate a member of the tribe.
^No vote; After Maria C.'s elimination, Gheboasă elected to quit the game. No vote occurred for his removal.
^No vote; Ionuț was voted out verbally by the Faimoșii tribe. Due to the nature of the verbal vote, Ionuț did not cast a vote.
^Challenge; The castaway who finished last in the Exile Island Duel would be eliminated from the game. Daria came in last and was eliminated.
^No vote; Sebastian was medically evacuated. No vote occurred for his removal.
^No vote; Jorge was medically evacuated. No vote occurred for his removal.
^No vote; Ada was medically evacuated. No vote occurred for her removal.
^No vote; Ionuț elected to quit the game. No vote occurred for his removal.
^No vote; Since Alexandra C., Alexandra P., Carmen and Dan were the only castaways without immunity, they were nominated by default.
^No vote; Since Alexandra C., Andrei and Carmen were the only castaways without immunity, they were nominated by default.
^No vote; Since Carmen and Dan were the only castaways without immunity, they were nominated by default.
^Sick Day; Due to medical intervention by production, Alexandra P. did not attend Tribal Council but not be deemed unable to continue with the game. As she could not attend Tribal Council, she could not vote, nor be voted out.
^Kidnapped; Alin was kidnapped until after the last Reward Challenge of the week, which meant he could not be voted out or participate in the vote.
^Kidnapped; Remus was kidnapped until after the last Reward Challenge of the week, which meant he could not be voted out or participate in the vote.
^ abcdExempt; As new castaways, Alina, Crina, Eduard and Mihai were exempt from the nomination process
^Sick Day; Due to medical intervention by production, Jorge did not attend Tribal Council but not be deemed unable to continue with the game. As he could not attend Tribal Council, he could not vote, nor be voted out.
Controversies
In Week 2, two contestants from the Războinici tribe competed against each other, even though the blue team held the Immunity Totem, which provided protection for all members of the tribe. Daria Chiper lost the challenge and was eliminated. This was an absolute premiere in the Roamanian version of the show, as it marked the first time a contestant was eliminated from the game without a public vote. The change in format surprised everyone and disappointed the show's fans, who accused the producers of behind-the-scenes manipulation. A significant portion of viewers felt that the elimination was unfair because it violated the fundamental principle established in the first three seasons of Survivor România, namely that only the public, through voting, decide who stays and who leaves.[9]