- For the Mao tribe from Survivor Česko & Slovensko 2022, see Mao (Survivor Česko & Slovensko 2022).
Mao, originally the Red team (sh. Crveni tim), is a tribe from Survivor: Dominikanska Republika. It consists of the season's 8 Serbs and 2 Montenegrins (2 Serbs were later added in a twist).
A tribe of free spirits, Mao started as the more dominant tribe, but they slowly became a less unified unit, leading to many challenge losses. Their tribe color is red.
Members[]
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Tribe History[]
The Serbian Team[]
Mao discussing the first Immunity Challenge
On Day 1, the tribes, still on their boats, were told to race to their mats. Mao, at that point nameless, won the race, in part due to the weakness of the other tribe's oldest member, Ivana Banfić. Because of this, they got the right to pick their color and better camp. From that point on, Mao was simply called the "Red team" as they had picked it as their color. The tribes started the first Reward Challenge soon after. The reward was camp building tools and matches. A member of each tribe would have to complete an obstacle course with a ring toss at the end. The women would have to go up against the other tribe's women, and the same appied to the men. The Red tribe won, leaving the Blue tribe with nothing. During this challenge, the oldest member of the tribe, Igor "Niggor" Lazić, showed himself as the weakest link. With supplies and fire, the tribe's spirits were high.
The Day 2 Reward Challenge was also won by the Red tribe. The Blue tribe had some luck regain on Day 3 when they won the first Immunity Challenge. Lines were drawn at camp; the men decided to unite, which brought the women together. At Tribal Council, the tribes got their official names; the Blue tribe was named Azua and the Red tribe was named Mao. The Mao men nominated Ivona Koković (though Stevan Stevanović nominated Mina Nikolić) and the women nominated Niggor (though Milica Dabović nominated Vladimir Govedarica) for elimination. After a 4-4-1-1 vote, a 4-4 deadlock tie occured, meaning both of them would be up for elimination. Mao won the Day 4 Immunity Challenge, meaning Azua would have to nominate someone to battle Ivona and Niggor in a Duel. Azua settled on Sanja Močibob in a 9-1 vote. At the Duel, Ivona and Niggor managed to beat Sanja, sending her packing.
Mao at their first Tribal Council
Mao won the Day 6 Reward Challenge for a big bag of rice and a bottle of oil, further raising their spirits, although they lost the Day 7 Reward Challenge. The Day 8 Immunity Challenge was a tight battle, but Mao pulled out the victory in the end. The Day 10 Immunity Challenge didn't go as well, as Mao lost it. At the Day 11 Tribal Council, the men still targeted the weaker women and the women targeted the weaker men, although some women voted for each other, as did the men. In a very split 4-2-2-1-1 vote, their weakest link Niggor was nominated for elimination and lost the Day 12 Duel, meaning Mao lost their first member.
On Day 13, the tribes were invited to an impromptu Tribal Council where they were notified that Ivana Banfić from Azua would be getting medically evacuated due to her injury in the Day 7 Reward Challenge. Milica, who took her on in said challenge, was dissapointed to hear the news. At the Day 14 Reward Challenge, both tribes were greeted by 2 new members each. Jovana Tomić and Ramiz Gusinac joined Mao. Mao lost the challenge, but they rebounded the next day by winning the Day 15 Reward Challenge.
The new Mao at Tribal Council
In the Day 16 Immunity Challenge, Mao showed their weakest performance yet, as Azua won it in a landslide. The already divided tribe was forced to nominate another member for elimination. The voting ended in a 5-5-1 tie between repeat offenders Mina and Ivona (with new player Jovana receiving the lone vote). Ivana was targeted as she was perceived to be untrustworthy, weak in challenges and working new player Jovana (whom she met during the casting process). Mina was targeted as the perceived weakest link. The latter was narrowly spared from nomination in a 5-4 revote, meaning Ivona would have to fight for her life in the game once again.
Azua once again won the following Immunity Challenge, meaning, no matter the outcome of the Duel, Mao would be down a member. They nominated new player and Ivona's closest ally Jovana in a 6-3-2 vote. The two competed in a duel which Ivona lost, making her the second member of Mao to be eliminated. Mao rebounded by winning the next two Reward Challenges, as well as one of the following Immunity Challenge. After the one they did lose, they nominated their youngest player, Nađa Erić, who went on to beat Azua's Kristian Rauch in the Duel. Mao went on to win the Day 24 Reward Challenge, but lose the very next one. Jovana also couldn't compete in it due to injuries.
Mao went on to win the following Immunity Challenge. Azua nominated Hrvoje Habdija for elimination. After losing the very next Immunity Challenge, Mao went to Tribal Council where Milica called Hrvoje a "fool" because of his seemingly wacky nature. Nađa was once again nominated in a 6-3-1 vote, sending her to another Duel. Just like Kristian, Hrvoje dropped out, which made all of Mao very happy, and up a member over Azua. Despite the numerical advantage, Mao lost both of the following Reward Challenges, but they won the following Immunity Challenge and the Reward that came with it (video messages from home). Azua nominated Goran Špaleta at Tribal Council. Mao went on to lose the following Immunity Challenge and nominated Ramiz, who then lost to Goran in the Duel, sending him home.
On Day 34, it was announced that Viktor Bobić of Azua would have to be medically evacuated, which seemed like good news for Mao, but they went on to lose both of the following Reward Challenges. On Day 36, Mao won the combined Immunity and Reward Challenge for a video chat with their loved ones, bringing tears of joy to the whole tribe. Mao lost the next Immunity Challenge and nominated Jovana, who lost to Ivana Peček of Azua in the Duel, eliminating her. Mao continued their losing streak when Azua won both of the following Reward Challenges for the third cycle in a row.
At the next Immunity Challenge, Mao made a comeback by beating Azua handily. Azua once again nominated Ivana at Tribal Council. Mao then sent Azua to Tribal Council once again, meaning they would be safe from losing a member for the first time. Azua nominated Nevena and lost Ivana, leaving Mao with one member more than Azua.
Round 9[]
On Day 44, a Reward Challenge was held, which Mao lost. Afterwards, the tribes were told to head back to their camps and prepare for a "merge". The players weren't explained how it would work, but they understood this meant they'd be living with the enemy. Some members of Mao were not excited, most vocally Milica, while some were, most vocally Maša Kuprešanin. Later, the tribes were treated to luxuries they've been missing, including showers, clean clothes, and cosmetics. They were then taken to a party where both tribes got to know each other and discussed their experience. The hosts then told the contestants that they were still two tribes, but they'd both be living on a new island. Before going back to camp, they got to stay in a mansion overnight and get some sleep in actual beds.
Mao went on to lose both of the following Reward Challenges and the next Immunity Challenge. Nađa, the seemingly perpetual target of Mao, casted a throwaway vote against Milica, who she perceived as the most manipulative player left. Milica herself, along with Mina and Stevan nominated Nađa for her perceived social unawarness, while the remaining four settled on Mina as the weakest link, nominating her. Mao went on to win the next Immunity Challenge. Azua nomianted Roko Simić, who beat Mina in the duel, making her the first member of the jury.
Mao continued floundering by losing the following Reward Challenge, as well as the surprise Immunity Challenge. The rules were changed so that after the tribe nominates someone, the winner of Individual Immunity would cast a vote for the second nominee. In this case, Nađa was once again nominated by the tribe, and Branko Milošev was nominated by Stefan Nevistić, who won immunity. The two then battled it out in the Duel, where Nađa once again persevered, sending Branko to the jury. After a big losing streak, Mao finally managed to rebound by winning a Reward Challenge and an Immunity Challenge, meaning they wouldn't have to nominate anyone.
Much to Mao's chagrin, their losing streak in Reward Challenges continued when they lost the following one, making them hate Azua even more. Filled with determination, Mao won the following Immunity Challenge, meaning they would not lose anyone, but they did lose the next Reward Challenge, as well as the Immunity Challenge, meaning they'd be down to five, just like their competition. The underdog Nađa won Individual Immunity and nominated their strongest player in Stefan to join the tribe's nominee Vladimir, nominated by all the women and Stevan. At the Duel, after a tough battle, Vladimir was sent to the jury. Azua once again won the next two challenges, sending Mao back to Tribal Council. Nađa was unanimously nominated, and Stefan, who won Individual Immunity, nominated Maša, who became the next Duel victim of Nađa and the second member of the jury.
The Final Week[]
Mao was finally spared from Tribal Council when Azua was forced to send a member out to enter the quarter-finals with equal numbers. Instead, the members of Mao would battle for an advantage; a point in the next challenge. It was won by Stefan, who went on to win immunity in the quarter-finals along with Milica, sending Nađa and Stevan into the Duel. Once again, Nađa won, sending Stevan to the jury. At the semi-finals, Stefan won immunity, meaning Milica and Nađa would have to plead their case to the jury. Nađa was criticized for her bad challenge performances and social unawareness, while Milica was criticized for being manipulative. In the end, because of her challenge prowess and better connections, Milica was declared more deserving than Nađa of entering the final in a 7-2 vote.
In the final, Mao's two powerhouses, Milica and Stefan, battled it out for the title of Serbian Sole Survivor, and Stefan confidently won the last challenge, becoming the Serbian winner of Survivor: Dominikanska Republika.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
| Ex-Yugoslav Tribes | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odisejev otok | Panama | Philippines | VIP: Philippines | ||||||||
| Ammos | Petros | Armada | Roca | Ga'dang | Manobo | Bahandi | Kasuko | ||||
| Zoi | Perla | Diwata | Putong | ||||||||
| VIP: Costa Rica | Slovenija: Filipini | Dominikanska Republika | 2023 | ||||||||
| Matambo | Boruka | Sambal | Tala | Azua | Mao | Crveni | Plavi | ||||
| Sibu | Mansaka | ||||||||||
| 2024 | |||||||||||
| [[|Crveni]] | [[|Plavi]] | ||||||||||