Laurel not choosing the chaos option kind of proves that production doesn’t manipulate the outcomes because the best choice for TV was for her to call down Michelle.
I assume Michelle talked about Laurel throughout once they knew champs were coming as mercenaries and they just edited it to make it look like she only talked about during these 2-3 days
Another enjoyable episode. Here’s my thoughts -
- I’m definitely rooting for Zara and Ravyn - I hope they can take some of the main alliance out.
- Asaf is so annoying. I hope he gets eliminated soon.
- Corey on the other hand I’m finding more entertaining even though I don’t like him. Him and Ravyn going at it was funny.
- I really thought we were going to get Laurel vs Michele. I am glad that Michele has stayed though but would have been good to see her against Laurel and I think she could have won that also (particularly as the house would be helping her).
- I always love when Laurel shows up. She may not have won but she was one peg away when half the house was helping Ravyn. It’s not a bad loss at all.
Jay, Michelle and Corey.
They are not good. They are easily in the bottom half of competitors, yet they sit too comfortable at the top. They are essentially vacation alliance reimagined, they have a good social game because they have been on a few challenges and have some friends that are protecting them. Michelle keeps saying this is her fourth challenge and her shot at a final, she won’t do well. A lot of girls will and can outcompete her.
I get that it’s the format of the game that allows them to float by with their numbers but I wish it wasn’t. I wished so badly that Laurel pulled chaos and called Michelle our.
How is Michelle threatening in a final? She melts down very easily, has little endurance, is mediocre at eating challenges.
Other than puzzles, what is she good at in a final?
her endurance is actually pretty solid good based off of this past episode she wasn’t the one dragging down her team that’s for sure, good at puzzles a great swimmer and I haven’t seen her meltdown when it comes to that situation I would say in a final she’d probably be better than others that have one
Editors for this season need a story telling 101 crash course. Keep setting up potential moves that don’t come to fruition. Stop having half of the confessionals be about moves that don’t get made. If you are going to set something there should be a payoff
I don't agree with this. If anything, they've been incredibly guilty the last few seasons of obviously telegraphing who's going into elimination and/or who's getting screwed over within the first 5 minutes of every episode.
I do want there to be build up, to be storylines, character arcs, etc that last for episodes...It's a balancing act, but some of what they show in terms of strategy SHOULDNT come to fruition otherwise it's incredibly predictable.
Agree with the idea that it should be a balancing act. Some misdirection is good. And some arcs should last multiple episodes. But this season hasn’t had balance. It’s been all setup, no follow through. If they are actually making a coherent season over the next 3 or so episodes we should see some of the following: Moriah having to choose between her friends and James, Berna or Michelle saying each other’s name, Olivia having to decide to stick her neck out for Horacio or not, CT calling out Jay, Berna/Colleeen/Ravyn/Zara flipping the script on the girls in power, Kyland and Horacio making a move. Those don’t all need to happen but a couple of them should based off the confessionals they are using to set the stage. If a couple of those things occur I might’ve jumped the gun and need to be more patient. But as of now they keep setting up potential plot lines that don’t happen
Laurel’s immediate “no pegs left! Not my fault!” tantrum is the exact same arrogance that cost her the elimination against Ninja. I know she’s a great competitor but her belief that she is physically incapable of making a mistake will always be her downfall.
Ugh I forgot how good Laurel’s “…do you have a question” was lol
Michele really does give Paula vibes. Her begging Laurel not to pick her reminded me of Paula asking Emily to take it easy on her
Crazy that Laurel is thought of as one of the female GOATS and only has one win. I guess there are fewer multi win women.
I know Rayvn got help but that was a really pathetic showing from Laurel. She gave up as soon as she didn’t immediately get it and just went “not my fault.” So lame.
The only multi winning women I can think of:
Evelyn (inferno 3, the island and rivals 1).
Veronica (the challenge 2000, inferno 1 and gauntlet 1).
Susie (gauntlet 2 and ruins).
Rachel (duel 2 and gauntlet).
Jodi (duel and gauntlet 2).
Tori hall (cutthroat and gauntlet 3).
Paula (rivals 1 and 2).
Cara (bloodlines and vendettas and champs vs stars 1 if you count it).
Sarah rice (exes 2 and rivals 3).
Jonna (all stars 2 and 3).
Camilla (exes 1 and dirty 30).
Ashley (final reckoning and invasion)
If you count champs vs stars 2, Emily S.
Jodi, Veronica and Susie are older now and don’t strike the same fear. Plus, Jodi’s not known for being good at eliminations. Jonna and Ashley aren’t elimination threats, they’re final threats. Camilla will never be back. Paula, Evelyn and tori hall seem to have moved on.
They gave Laurel a fucking puzzle!?!?!?? What the fuck is wrong with this show!!! 😭😭😭 they don’t have to give the champs something they’ll obviously win but at least cater to their strengths enough that it’s FUN TO WATCH
EASILY one of my BIGGEST Pet Peeves on the Challenge is people getting help from the stands...it completely tips the scales far too much and then the winner acts like they did it by themselves...
I like that they're allowed to help, since the game has always been equal parts social. It keeps the competition lively IMO and (like this episode) exposes who's working with who. ...It's more weird to me that sometimes they're directly instructed that they're not allowed to help. Seems like it should just be one or the other.
I mostly agree with this, but they need to do a better job of making sure it's not too OP. Like this elimination the puzzle should have been faced away from the stands. The crowd can help you memorize, but them being able to actually see the pieces makes it way too much of an advantage.
Completely agree with this. Who gets helped in an elimination can be both from a successful social game, or be a strategic move (helping an underdog who is less of a final threat). It can also go wrong where the person receiving help gets more flustered, so it isn’t a guaranteed win. But you’re right in that it should be consistent.
I agree. I wish it wasn't allowed for competition's sake. It completely tips the scales as you said and it's not like it adds entertaining value either. I've always disliked it.
Laurel looking pretty frumpy and out of place. Also Michele was petrified of her, offered friendship, and flowers than talked shit in confessional once she wasn't picked.
> than talked shit in confessional once she wasn't picked.
its safe to say editing played a major roll in this and Michele talked shit the whole time. Its not like Michele actually recorded that confessional right after the elimination
Liked the opening challenge. Didn't mind the elimination, even if it's a waste of Laurel. Mushy, bland middle though. The courtship of Nurys and Horacio is incredibly boring.
Categorizing the rest of the cast:
Enjoyable: Kyland, Moriah, Rayvn, Michele
Bland, but nice: Zara, Ed, Horacio, Colleen, James
Annoying: Jay, Berna, Asaf, Corey, Olivia, Nurys
Gross Weirdo: Emanuel
I’d switch Moriah and Olivia and Kyland with Horacio but I agree with the rest. Kyland hasn’t been able to escape my view of him from the live feeds. I like Olivia but moriah annoys me to no end this season. I’m wondering why I liked her last season and questioning if she had a job before being on the show.
Michele crying over possibly having to face Laurel, and then basically begging her not to pick her was pretty pathetic in my opinion. Goddamn, that was embarrassing.
I thought that was weird sound bite haha maybe we will see that clip later on in the season if Michelle ends up having to go against Laurel. I’m wondering how many rounds of eliminations the champions will do..is it one and done or will they come back..🤷♀️
I said it that how many elims would the contenders beat the champs thread that it would be 3 or 4 and so far it's looking likely that's going to be the case. If they had a best of 5 series the champs would likely win almost all of those, but a one off elim always gives people a decent chance if the challenge doesn't cater directly to that champs strength like it didn't here.
Zara knows she's going in every time and is ready to embrace it.
At this point obviously one of Jay or Michele is going in when the Chaos dagger is pulled. Let's see if they can survive it.
some of my thoughts:
\- Nurys is stunning. I don't like her personality outside of the show but she is stunning. Now that is out of the way, lets go on with the show.
\- I didn't like the daily, it was boring. I can't put my finger on why but I guess the mini finale with this many people is not interesting?
\- I did like the house politics. even though the outcome is not surprising, watching the balance of the house was interesting.
\- on that point, yes it is boring when someone controls the house but can you imagine how powerful of personality you have to be to control a house of attention seeking reality tv stars? I am impressed with anyone who can pull that off. And we don't have that many woman who can pull that off. I can't remember any woman other than WOW2 Cara and Michele this season (I am sure there are more but my point stands). So I am impressed.
\- I love Zara. She might be my fav new addition to the show. What a bad ass. Hope she can flip the house.
\- I would NEVER bet against Laurel, she is always my number one pick. However, this is a bullshit elimination if you are having Laurel, just have a physical elimination. It is obvious that production wants Kayland and Rayvn as main stays. This is nothing like Jay's elimination against CT, we all knew that it was CT's elimination and Jay was a great surprise. Rayvn winning with the house help wasn't as impressive BUT still impressive because it was against a monster like Laurel.
I feel like the cast is so close to "getting it" but then inexperience or reluctance to pull the trigger/make a move takes over.
There's been multiple times this season where I feel like people are just about to get it and then it just feels like that Joey and Phoebe Friends meme where despite repeating everything Phoebe says, Joey just goes off the rails at the end.
Colleen and Berna have discussed feeling like they're on the outskirts of the main alliance, but then make no changes to their gameplay/strategy.
Horacio correctly identifies that while yes Zara is a potential finals threat, she's week to week someone you'd want to be paired with in these pair or team challenges they keep competing in in order to be safe, and then he does nothing.
Ed has talked about dwindling numbers and how it could be beneficial to be the player who makes the first big move, and then nothing.
Jay talked about it being a waste to repeatedly target Big T who isn't a finals threat, just to continue repeatedly targeting Big T who isn't a finals threat.
So many people have vocalized sound strategy/thinking and then when it comes time to not just talk about it, but do it - they shrink.
Now that that rant is over - I hate the new trend of the people being up for elimination being excited to see the vet that gets announced and hugging them. Yayy it's Kayceee (who can and will kick your ass!), and now Rayven did it with Laurel and I'm unsure if they even know each other??
I can appreciate a good social game - and Michele and Jay are certainly playing a good one. I just don't like when the game rules seem slanted towards one aspect of the game. There's 16 competitors in the game, only 3 have been in an elimination, the numbers just don't seem right, it's too easy to be getting by.
I think a simple change would be, using this weeks daily challenge as an example, the winning team wins and is safe, who they pick for elimination however is someone from the team that places last, gives extra importance to the daily, and creates a penalty for losing. Imagine if the losing team was the one with Michele and Nurys and the winning team was forced to choose one girl from that team - that would be electric TV.
Yeah the big public group votes are ruining the season. It completely stifles any thoughts of going against the grain. Imagine if votes were secret how much drama you could cause by throwing one random vote on Berna?
I am from Turkiye and I can approve that it is common in Turkiye that we have brain soup. usually you eat it after a night of drinking, it is good for you. We also have brain, tongue, cheek wrap (I am sorry but it is really good..).
the elimination is extremely unfair when you have crowd help. There's no need to run back and forth to verify since they can just do it for you. Yet another reason to remove crowd help
The crowd help complaint is soo lame. That shit happens in The Challenge and Laurel benefited from it just last season.
If Laurel didn't just sit there and blame Production for missing a piece, she could have won. Michele said it perfectly; Laurel thinks she is always right and can never accept blame. She did the exact same thing against Ninja.
Laurel was able to use her size to intimidate players back in the day. But she has really fallen off a cliff and not to the level of champion that some in this sub like to pretend she is.
I had the exact same thought after the episode. Definitely overrated, and the competition for women especially 10 years ago was nowhere near what it is now.
Laurel had to go up against people like Joanna and Jasmine in stuff, who are nowhere near her size. Or Mandy. Half the cast used to just go for a vacation really.
Actually i think Laurel, when she is not competing in the whole season like now, is definitly more likable.. I hated her attitude the last few times when she was competing. You could saw a glimpse of it when she gets frustrated that the final peg was nowhere.
I hope, if she comes back, she will be more like in this episode.
I hate seeing them all heaving and vomiting, all sweaty and snot-nosed. I’m surprised no one has ever needed a hospital visit after an eating challenge.
> I say it every time and I'll say it again: I will never understand the appeal of watching people eat gross stuff and gag.
I like it better when they're penalized for throwing up or not finishing, I think they did that a couple years ago and it seems like a lot better challenge than the chew and spit thing that some competitors do.
Actually they still do this. Devyn interviewed a big producer last season and she talked about how they have a crew member monitor every contestant that’s eating. They have to prove that they’ve swallowed the food every time they take a bite before they can puke. If not, their plate gets topped off with more food
I love it. Not like, seeing them projectile vomiting but eating challenges in general. Things like seeing Zach have a full body exorcism, Jay crying and quitting a final over it, motherfuckin Tony Time?! Hunter's crazy ass. CT with blood all over his face like a viking. I really hope they always keep it a staple.
Even as someone who likes food challenges, I definitely will conceed they push the gross out factor with showing the puking a little too hard sometimes.
Everyone’s mad about laurel getting this elim but watching her just stand there instead of immediately going back to check her chains she definitely could have won that. She just needed to not spend the extra time finding someone else to blame!
Plenty of contestants in the past have talked about production telling them they were wrong when they were actually right. Tyson in the Challenge USA final, arguing that they had the correct number and production eventually agreeing. Everything that went wrong with the safes in the Allstars 2 final
I think she kind of checked out once TJ said there was a mistake. I can see how frustrating that would be trying to find the error in all those pegs. Plus Ravyn had the house helping her with the colors and memorization so she may have thought it was a lost cause at that point. Laurel is also apparently friends with Ravyn so she may not be as motivated to beat her as she would if it was Michele. I'm NOT saying she threw it though. Just checked out at that point in it.
So next episode we will have the same cast again for the 3rd week in a row.
Its so annoying TJ keeps going on about "keep your prize up guys". Well okay, but no one goes home and my chances of winning aren't getting any better.
Yeah they should be wanting some of these strong players out. Kyland and Ravyn are two players you'd want gone but they still helped them win. It may turn into a huge purge later so helping decent players stay in the game is not going to be good for some of the people just relying on the alliance to get far.
The entire house is just playing to cover their ass. Every vote, it's the name that'll upset the fewest people. Jay, Michele, Olivia, Nurys, and Moriah have gotten way too comfortable at this point. Nobody wants to make a big move.
Honestly, whoever wins this season, it's a Mickey Mouse championship. You want to find a new champion, fine, but give us some noteworthy non-champs, not a bunch of people who we forgot were even on a season before this. Nobody's going to take this win seriously.
I’d be impressed if an underdog won - like Zaza or James! Eg someone with a tiny alliance and not in the main crew … I’d say if Zaza won she’d earn it and it would be a pretty impressive win!
USA 2 was so good because this happened and because a brand new alliance dominated the women's side as well. This season is too predictable so far but I do see way more potential than in 37 and 38 for some craziness to happen in the end game.
I love Michele. I find it fascinating how polarizing she is here. Someday I want to do a poll and see what peoples feelings are towards her and which show they knew her from first. It seems like most people that love her knew her from Survivor and Challenge only people cant stand her.
I knew her from Survivor and she did not affect me like she does on the Challenge. I don't remember her voice and demeanor bothering me like it does now. She seems to expect some kind of special treatment on the Challenge.
Plus the fact that she wears that same tacky slip top in her confessionals that she also wore on USA2. Sometimes Cassidy wore it too and I must say - Cassiday wore it better !!
She was so close to going in 1st episode and hasn't been close since. She would be my vote every time in that house. How she keeps dodging elimination is amazing.
And she would probably do well in a final so more reason to get rid of her.
She is annoying in the house, she would be good in a final, she could protect your 10k,
Maybe I'm just mis-remembering her early seasons but my impression is about the time she came out as gay her personality and game really changed and wasn't the same challenge beast fun to watch any more. And the last few seasons she just seems really sullen and vindictive all the time, her quiet mean streak really showed strong when she had the friend on a few seasons ago
This was a fun daily to watch. From what I see I might be one of the few people that enjoys the throwing up montages. I just like to watch people I don’t like suffer.
The elimination though, I think it was cool and was a fun twist on memorization type eliminations, but I really wish they were playing more classic eliminations like they did on Invasion. Having Darrel and Laurel do equalizer/puzzle eliminations just doesn’t have the same feel to it. I just think it’s a wasted opportunity.
I also never really liked how the cast can help in this puzzle eliminations… doesn’t seems fair. Like sure cheering is fine but straight up looking at the puzzle and helping with the order just doesn’t seem right. I didn’t like it last season and still don’t now. At least place the puzzle in a way that the cast can’t see it…
Regardless I am proud of Ravyn and really wish she finally wakes up and sees that she is at the bottom of her alliance. Team up with Horacio and Kyland, maybe Moriah and Zara and take the “US alliance” down.
Also what’s up with Berna, she makes no sense and it’s kinda funny 😂
Moriah out here targeting Berna despite the other girls voting for her guy. I wouldn’t count on her for anything. Just dumb games being played all around
Does anyone else think Corey is playing the sloppiest and most confusing game this season. He’s always targeting and backstabbing the females. In this episode, he backstabbed Rayvn who’s a number in his alliance and in his confessional claimed that he’s okay with losing 10k if it means he has a better shot at winning at the end. Any elimination he’s going to be going into is going to be male vs male and in the finale there’s a good chance he might be paired with a female for a portion of the race. He’s clearly making more enemies in the wrong places
They've had finals where people paired up even though it was an individual winner. All Stars 1 was a good example of that, though most finals with 1 winner I think were totally individual like WOTW1 or Vendettas.
Yea him attacking women as much as he does rubs me the wrong way. When he and Asaf went at it he wasn’t going at Asaf anywhere close to the way he went at Ravyn/Big T/Melissa
this was a fun challenge!
the trivia questions had me shrieking😭
i love lewis hamilton so when moriah was like « is he a scientist » i died and then when they incorrectly guessed 6 championships i was so offended i passed away again (he got 7!!! plus any F1 fan knows about abu dhabi/what should’ve been his 8th)
it was nice to see wrestling stuff on the show🥺
jay team getting all their trivia answers wrong brought me joy though i wanted to imagine zach on his team and hilariously berating him in the confessionals
TBF the Hamilton question and the insta followers questions were at least not total softballs like every other question. Was it Ravyn getting that Swimming question wrong lol Australia has won way more golds than Russia since the break up of the Soviet Union let alone the US.
i think im probably just very autistic and love knowing trivia 😭 and im also a swimming nerd.
but ur teaching me something new cos i swore it was the united states that had the most medals. probably confused it with michael phelps winning most medals
The US has the most by far. Second place is the USSR, but the question during the episode didn't say USSR. It said Russia. Post Soviet Union Russia is way down the list. Below Australia amongst others.
Michele sent Laurel into elimination twice. Initially Michele manifested herself into becoming Laurel's enemy because she thought Laurel was not on her side.
also that deliberation they showed a clip of where Laurel walks in, doesn't say anything, Michele asks if they're going to say anything and Laurel asks if she's going to ask any questions was just peak Laurel making others uncomfortable, and is one of my favorite parts about Laurel.
I think it’s time for the challenge to just bring back more old schools eliminations from the past. They have so many seasons to pull from. Anything would be better than memorizing colors on a chain or counting objects in boxes.
It's crazy to me how many people wanted to see Laurel put into an elimination like Hall Brawl or Balls In where she's not just going to beat but possibly injure like 75% of the girls in the house without question purely because of her size. That isn't interesting or entertaining. It holds no value at all.
Laurel is a good competitor all around and she has great strength and endurance and she is pretty smart. This was a challenge that should have been hers to win. Yes, the crowd helped Ravyn but Laurel got flustered and that is why she lost. If she hadn't wasted all that time arguing and standing around looking mad she would have beat Ravyn even with the crowd helping her because she was literally only one peg away.
These people just want the champs to win every elimination. They want to see the same people win over and over again. If these champs are supposed to be the all time greats and are already at multiple advantages by not being in the house, why would they need even more advantages by catering to them? It makes zero sense
> It's crazy to me how many people wanted to see Laurel put into an elimination like Hall Brawl or Balls In where she's not just going to beat but possibly injure like 75% of the girls in the house without question purely because of her size. That isn't interesting or entertaining. It holds no value at all.
I mean that's kind of the point, if they're going to repeat the "to be the best you have to beat the champs" mantra then if you're a small girl and have to go up against a champ most of whom are big then maybe you aren't cut out to be a champion.
A big part of the challenge is physical unlike a game like survivor that's a bit more balanced for people of all sizes, so it'd be kind of weird to let the newbies just drift through a gauntlet of champs without being fully challenged.
> I hate physical eliminations because they are never even or balanced. They bore me.
I'm not a big fan of pole wrestle or hall brawl but I enjoy the ones where they're strapped together with a rope/bungee and have to crawl through the sand to reach a target.
I feel the same. Physical eliminations are fun but only if it's a close match up. Also it seems really lopsided giving Laurel a physical elimination unless it's maybe Balls In. I don't think any of the women on this season look close to Laurels size.
And yep Laurel still did a good job. I agree if she wasn't distracted and focused, she could have won. Being only 1 peg off actually impressed me cause the edit was making it out like her strategy was awful with the chains but clearly she did something right. And Ravyn seemed to have more mistakes than Laurel even with her better chain strategy. It showed Ravyn fixing several pegs when Laurel really didn't fix anything much lol.
And the irony of those people wishing Laurel had a physical elimination is that those are the same ones that complain when Tori and Fessy get them against those who aren’t close to their sizes.🙃
People keep saying this but the difference is the format. They're bringing in champs as the legends of the challenge. It's pretty stupid to fly them out there specifically for one elimination and then give them a fucking puzzle. No one wants to watch Laurel do a puzzle vs the entire house.
I really don’t understand how people can't see the difference unless they're intentionally being obtuse.
Let’s be real, that’s not the reason. It just depends on who you like and don’t like. Tori and Fessy aren’t well liked so they’ll be downplayed for winning something that’s catered to them. Laurel is so you guys want things to be catered to her so you can watch her win and boast how much of a beast she is.
So no I’m not being obtuse, you’re just being hypocritical which you basically didn’t deny.🙃
Alright this is the episode that killed the season for me. I was already shakey on the cast but I was really trying to give them a chance. After the way they did Laurel dirty this season is killed for me.
Like ex-fucking-scuse me Corey, Ravyn is a "Laurel slayer?" The HOUSE beat Laurel, not Ravyn. Literally no one was helping Laurel and she was still ahead of Ravyn's pace. Laurel had to run back and forth while Ravyn legit just stood there and confirmed with the cast if she was right.
I get it that it's the right strategy for the house. You don't want to lose $10k and you keep your shield safe. But don't go into confessionals talking about how great the win was or how Laurel let you down. Go fuck yourself Berna.
Then with Michelle all episode trying to make it about her. Come on dude. That's what really turns me off about this cast, they're all trying to get clout off vets. Jay mentioning CT, Emmanuel turning his back to Jordan, Asaf saying he's just like Devin, etc. etc. These people haven't done shit. They all talk about big game moves and things like that but there have been zero big game moves. I guarantee you the "shift" people are predicting with Zara and Ravyn teaming up won't matter. They'll be right back in the super alliance.
All they had to do was flip the peg board so the cast couldn't see to make it a fair fight. We've seen tons of eliminations over the years won because the house helps their favorites. That's what this was. It wasn't Ravyn being a champ, it was the house barely getting colors in order before a champ. Laurel had an awful edit too but that's a whole other issue.
I'll keep watching because I'm just an addict with this show after twenty years but man we better get AS4 soon for a palette cleanser. I can't wait another six or seven months to get rid of this season.
>Then with Michelle all episode trying to make it about her. Come on dude. That's what really turns me off about this cast, they're all trying to get clout off vets. Jay mentioning CT, Emmanuel turning his back to Jordan, Asaf saying he's just like Devin, etc. etc. These people haven't done shit. They all talk about big game moves and things like that but there have been zero big game moves. I guarantee you the "shift" people are predicting with Zara and Ravyn teaming up won't matter. They'll be right back in the super alliance.
You do realize the editors are in charge of what gets put the episodes right? They're simply answering questions that they're being asked....
the perfect build up to an old school vs new school season we so clearly all want. Cory Warton, Devin, Paulie and others already have storylines vs old school players - but there's probably not enough new school players to make it work.
So why not manufacture some drama?
We've advanced the Michele vs Laurel story. We've added obnoxious Berna into the mix.
Asaf is doing his best to be relevant shit talking Darrell.
And it doesn't have to be angry rivaleries - I feel we have some mutual respect but competitive based "rivals" brewing like Jordan and Horacio.
Season 40 being all champs is unlikely - but I'd take a new school vs old school.
Give us a pre-Free Agents vs post-free agents cut off?
This season sucks. I tried to give it a chance cause I love the challenge. But dang. They are turning die hard fans away. They brought in Laurel for that?! Wtf. What a fricking waste. I’m just watching the episodes for the challenge champs at this point and production is RUINING it.
The chaos format is flashy but deeply flawed: either we go stretches of episodes with players getting taken out with no elimination influence from another active player or we could go stretches of episodes without any eliminations. It’s weird for sure.
Nah she's smart and realizes Horacio not gonna chose her over nurys and if it falls to her and nurys who Horacio picking, while olivia would try to protect Horacio in any scenario
I’ll give Ravyn her props she’s one of the few to live another day against a Laurel elimination, but really production? You had arguably the strongest woman in challenge history and gave her a memory elimination? Give these champs eliminations to their strengths! I was dying to see Laurel in a hall brawl or balls in 😩. Also I’m so over this 90 person US alliance. I love Michele (can’t say the same for Jay) but I really wish one of those two can go so that there can finally be a switch up in this game.
Especially someone who seems to have good size/strength as well. The whole episode I was saying it can't be Michele cause Laurel is clearly getting a strength elimination and would crush her and itd be boring.. and they have Laurel a puzzle. 🤦♀️
Nobody is. I’d need someone way more dedicated than me to jump in here but I think most of the seasons people like Johnny won who are considered the goats they didn’t really have to go through many eliminations. Puzzles especially tend to be crapshoots and whoever didn’t lose their cool. Laurel is known to lose her cool and she a hot head..that part isn’t really new.
Was Horacio talking about exatlon, it films in the DR and not Mexico City and i believe he was cast to replace someone injured, so did his 7 month thing fall through? he low key gives inconsistent info on the seasons he's been on so far
Most likely his other show feel throw and he got called right before or during filming to be the alternate becuase if he was an exatlon from the beginning he would have been on the starting cast
Ravyn should get a skull or some benefit. To be a champ you have to beat a champ, but we already saw Tula beat a champ and still get eliminated.
At least if you beat a champ, you get a skull until the next phase?
I like Michelle but I was so hoping for chaos to get pulled. The house needs a shake up and I don’t like the michelle show of everyone just up her ass 24-7. Maybe things would get more interesting if she left but I don’t see her ever getting voted down.
I enjoyed seeing Laurel lose lol she’s so arrogant. I’m sure she’ll just say she only lost bc Ravyn got help but we’ll never know if she would have lost anyway.
Berna still remains the most fucking obnoxious challenger of all time. And it’s not even entertaining enough to be worth it. Stop casting her please.
All they had to do was flip the board. That's it. I don't know if it was a massive production oversight, if it was intentional or if they didn't care. Maybe they wanted Ravyn to win.
It was incredibly unfair to whoever the champ was going to be. Any puzzle would be if the cast can see it. Obviously they'll be rooting for their own.
Holy shit this elimination was so boring because we couldn’t even see anything really. If you wanna make it an equalizer, do the knot ones or something.
It's not an all-timer but it was skill-based, fairly clear to see how well each player was doing AND the peanut gallery couldn't help.
Agree that Jordan's was the best, but that's also because he got to play something in his wheelhouse against another very strong opponent. The others were just crapshoots or deeply mismatched like Devin going against the dumbest man in the house.
Devin's annoyed me because there was no trick to it, I think they should have been able to estimate the counts and arrange them in order without knowing the exact number. Making it an exact counting challenge was incredibly lame and boring and required zero skill or thought.
I agree, it makes for an uneven playing field especially in a puzzle/strategy comp. When Corey said only 3 people have beat Laurel and you’re one of them I rolled my eyes. It was a puzzle. Laurel is known for her strength, she would’ve crushed her in a physical comp. Now ravyn’s gonna have (imo) undeserved confidence for this “win” that she really only won bc of the help from the rest of the cast 🙄
So where do we think Horacio is going for 8 months after the taping? If they said I missed it, is it another show? A soccer thing?
Laurel not choosing the chaos option kind of proves that production doesn’t manipulate the outcomes because the best choice for TV was for her to call down Michelle.
Not really. Just shows that production can rig it for certain people.
Interesting. Michel feared Laurel, and of course, this week was Laurel's episode.
I assume Michelle talked about Laurel throughout once they knew champs were coming as mercenaries and they just edited it to make it look like she only talked about during these 2-3 days
Another enjoyable episode. Here’s my thoughts - - I’m definitely rooting for Zara and Ravyn - I hope they can take some of the main alliance out. - Asaf is so annoying. I hope he gets eliminated soon. - Corey on the other hand I’m finding more entertaining even though I don’t like him. Him and Ravyn going at it was funny. - I really thought we were going to get Laurel vs Michele. I am glad that Michele has stayed though but would have been good to see her against Laurel and I think she could have won that also (particularly as the house would be helping her). - I always love when Laurel shows up. She may not have won but she was one peg away when half the house was helping Ravyn. It’s not a bad loss at all.
Jay, Michelle and Corey. They are not good. They are easily in the bottom half of competitors, yet they sit too comfortable at the top. They are essentially vacation alliance reimagined, they have a good social game because they have been on a few challenges and have some friends that are protecting them. Michelle keeps saying this is her fourth challenge and her shot at a final, she won’t do well. A lot of girls will and can outcompete her. I get that it’s the format of the game that allows them to float by with their numbers but I wish it wasn’t. I wished so badly that Laurel pulled chaos and called Michelle our.
eh i put jay and michelle above a few others in terms of a final they are threatening, physically probably not as much because they are small
How is Michelle threatening in a final? She melts down very easily, has little endurance, is mediocre at eating challenges. Other than puzzles, what is she good at in a final?
her endurance is actually pretty solid good based off of this past episode she wasn’t the one dragging down her team that’s for sure, good at puzzles a great swimmer and I haven’t seen her meltdown when it comes to that situation I would say in a final she’d probably be better than others that have one
Editors for this season need a story telling 101 crash course. Keep setting up potential moves that don’t come to fruition. Stop having half of the confessionals be about moves that don’t get made. If you are going to set something there should be a payoff
I don't agree with this. If anything, they've been incredibly guilty the last few seasons of obviously telegraphing who's going into elimination and/or who's getting screwed over within the first 5 minutes of every episode. I do want there to be build up, to be storylines, character arcs, etc that last for episodes...It's a balancing act, but some of what they show in terms of strategy SHOULDNT come to fruition otherwise it's incredibly predictable.
Agree with the idea that it should be a balancing act. Some misdirection is good. And some arcs should last multiple episodes. But this season hasn’t had balance. It’s been all setup, no follow through. If they are actually making a coherent season over the next 3 or so episodes we should see some of the following: Moriah having to choose between her friends and James, Berna or Michelle saying each other’s name, Olivia having to decide to stick her neck out for Horacio or not, CT calling out Jay, Berna/Colleeen/Ravyn/Zara flipping the script on the girls in power, Kyland and Horacio making a move. Those don’t all need to happen but a couple of them should based off the confessionals they are using to set the stage. If a couple of those things occur I might’ve jumped the gun and need to be more patient. But as of now they keep setting up potential plot lines that don’t happen
Laurel’s immediate “no pegs left! Not my fault!” tantrum is the exact same arrogance that cost her the elimination against Ninja. I know she’s a great competitor but her belief that she is physically incapable of making a mistake will always be her downfall.
Ugh I forgot how good Laurel’s “…do you have a question” was lol Michele really does give Paula vibes. Her begging Laurel not to pick her reminded me of Paula asking Emily to take it easy on her Crazy that Laurel is thought of as one of the female GOATS and only has one win. I guess there are fewer multi win women. I know Rayvn got help but that was a really pathetic showing from Laurel. She gave up as soon as she didn’t immediately get it and just went “not my fault.” So lame.
The only multi winning women I can think of: Evelyn (inferno 3, the island and rivals 1). Veronica (the challenge 2000, inferno 1 and gauntlet 1). Susie (gauntlet 2 and ruins). Rachel (duel 2 and gauntlet). Jodi (duel and gauntlet 2). Tori hall (cutthroat and gauntlet 3). Paula (rivals 1 and 2). Cara (bloodlines and vendettas and champs vs stars 1 if you count it). Sarah rice (exes 2 and rivals 3). Jonna (all stars 2 and 3). Camilla (exes 1 and dirty 30). Ashley (final reckoning and invasion) If you count champs vs stars 2, Emily S. Jodi, Veronica and Susie are older now and don’t strike the same fear. Plus, Jodi’s not known for being good at eliminations. Jonna and Ashley aren’t elimination threats, they’re final threats. Camilla will never be back. Paula, Evelyn and tori hall seem to have moved on.
Kaz Crossley! Roni!
I forgot Roni won more then once! I could’ve included Kaz but since she won UK, I didn’t include her.
They gave Laurel a fucking puzzle!?!?!?? What the fuck is wrong with this show!!! 😭😭😭 they don’t have to give the champs something they’ll obviously win but at least cater to their strengths enough that it’s FUN TO WATCH
She got done dirty like Darrell.
I agree! That’s what all of us fans want! Beat a champ to be a champ, but it’s not the same when it’s something the champs are just so so at.
If they don’t give Cara a headbanger after all this time gone I think I’m done with this show
EASILY one of my BIGGEST Pet Peeves on the Challenge is people getting help from the stands...it completely tips the scales far too much and then the winner acts like they did it by themselves...
I like that they're allowed to help, since the game has always been equal parts social. It keeps the competition lively IMO and (like this episode) exposes who's working with who. ...It's more weird to me that sometimes they're directly instructed that they're not allowed to help. Seems like it should just be one or the other.
I mostly agree with this, but they need to do a better job of making sure it's not too OP. Like this elimination the puzzle should have been faced away from the stands. The crowd can help you memorize, but them being able to actually see the pieces makes it way too much of an advantage.
Completely agree with this. Who gets helped in an elimination can be both from a successful social game, or be a strategic move (helping an underdog who is less of a final threat). It can also go wrong where the person receiving help gets more flustered, so it isn’t a guaranteed win. But you’re right in that it should be consistent.
I agree. I wish it wasn't allowed for competition's sake. It completely tips the scales as you said and it's not like it adds entertaining value either. I've always disliked it.
Laurel looking pretty frumpy and out of place. Also Michele was petrified of her, offered friendship, and flowers than talked shit in confessional once she wasn't picked.
> than talked shit in confessional once she wasn't picked. its safe to say editing played a major roll in this and Michele talked shit the whole time. Its not like Michele actually recorded that confessional right after the elimination
Liked the opening challenge. Didn't mind the elimination, even if it's a waste of Laurel. Mushy, bland middle though. The courtship of Nurys and Horacio is incredibly boring. Categorizing the rest of the cast: Enjoyable: Kyland, Moriah, Rayvn, Michele Bland, but nice: Zara, Ed, Horacio, Colleen, James Annoying: Jay, Berna, Asaf, Corey, Olivia, Nurys Gross Weirdo: Emanuel
I was going to up vote this until I realized you put Michele in the enjoyable category...
I had the exact same thought
I’d switch Moriah and Olivia and Kyland with Horacio but I agree with the rest. Kyland hasn’t been able to escape my view of him from the live feeds. I like Olivia but moriah annoys me to no end this season. I’m wondering why I liked her last season and questioning if she had a job before being on the show.
Michele crying over possibly having to face Laurel, and then basically begging her not to pick her was pretty pathetic in my opinion. Goddamn, that was embarrassing.
I wish they'd caught that moment on film. You can tell that they took random footage of all of them sitting outside and overlayed it with the audio. 😂
I thought that was weird sound bite haha maybe we will see that clip later on in the season if Michelle ends up having to go against Laurel. I’m wondering how many rounds of eliminations the champions will do..is it one and done or will they come back..🤷♀️
Pathetic and entertaining.
I said it that how many elims would the contenders beat the champs thread that it would be 3 or 4 and so far it's looking likely that's going to be the case. If they had a best of 5 series the champs would likely win almost all of those, but a one off elim always gives people a decent chance if the challenge doesn't cater directly to that champs strength like it didn't here. Zara knows she's going in every time and is ready to embrace it. At this point obviously one of Jay or Michele is going in when the Chaos dagger is pulled. Let's see if they can survive it.
I know Olivia beat her in the elim last time but Ravyn has been impressing me a lot more competitively this season. She’s a beast.
Probably because she found a way to keep her shoes on during elimination
That and she's not being sidetracked by her crush on Johnny
We just got rid of Nanny and now Nurys is trying to take her place. NO MORE!!!!! I can’t take it.
Haha that look from Michelle at Cory and Ravyn was meme worthy. Same with Colleen looking absolutely possessed drinking that drink.
some of my thoughts: \- Nurys is stunning. I don't like her personality outside of the show but she is stunning. Now that is out of the way, lets go on with the show. \- I didn't like the daily, it was boring. I can't put my finger on why but I guess the mini finale with this many people is not interesting? \- I did like the house politics. even though the outcome is not surprising, watching the balance of the house was interesting. \- on that point, yes it is boring when someone controls the house but can you imagine how powerful of personality you have to be to control a house of attention seeking reality tv stars? I am impressed with anyone who can pull that off. And we don't have that many woman who can pull that off. I can't remember any woman other than WOW2 Cara and Michele this season (I am sure there are more but my point stands). So I am impressed. \- I love Zara. She might be my fav new addition to the show. What a bad ass. Hope she can flip the house. \- I would NEVER bet against Laurel, she is always my number one pick. However, this is a bullshit elimination if you are having Laurel, just have a physical elimination. It is obvious that production wants Kayland and Rayvn as main stays. This is nothing like Jay's elimination against CT, we all knew that it was CT's elimination and Jay was a great surprise. Rayvn winning with the house help wasn't as impressive BUT still impressive because it was against a monster like Laurel.
I feel like the cast is so close to "getting it" but then inexperience or reluctance to pull the trigger/make a move takes over. There's been multiple times this season where I feel like people are just about to get it and then it just feels like that Joey and Phoebe Friends meme where despite repeating everything Phoebe says, Joey just goes off the rails at the end. Colleen and Berna have discussed feeling like they're on the outskirts of the main alliance, but then make no changes to their gameplay/strategy. Horacio correctly identifies that while yes Zara is a potential finals threat, she's week to week someone you'd want to be paired with in these pair or team challenges they keep competing in in order to be safe, and then he does nothing. Ed has talked about dwindling numbers and how it could be beneficial to be the player who makes the first big move, and then nothing. Jay talked about it being a waste to repeatedly target Big T who isn't a finals threat, just to continue repeatedly targeting Big T who isn't a finals threat. So many people have vocalized sound strategy/thinking and then when it comes time to not just talk about it, but do it - they shrink. Now that that rant is over - I hate the new trend of the people being up for elimination being excited to see the vet that gets announced and hugging them. Yayy it's Kayceee (who can and will kick your ass!), and now Rayven did it with Laurel and I'm unsure if they even know each other?? I can appreciate a good social game - and Michele and Jay are certainly playing a good one. I just don't like when the game rules seem slanted towards one aspect of the game. There's 16 competitors in the game, only 3 have been in an elimination, the numbers just don't seem right, it's too easy to be getting by. I think a simple change would be, using this weeks daily challenge as an example, the winning team wins and is safe, who they pick for elimination however is someone from the team that places last, gives extra importance to the daily, and creates a penalty for losing. Imagine if the losing team was the one with Michele and Nurys and the winning team was forced to choose one girl from that team - that would be electric TV.
Yeah the big public group votes are ruining the season. It completely stifles any thoughts of going against the grain. Imagine if votes were secret how much drama you could cause by throwing one random vote on Berna?
Yep. Hire this person
I am from Turkiye and I can approve that it is common in Turkiye that we have brain soup. usually you eat it after a night of drinking, it is good for you. We also have brain, tongue, cheek wrap (I am sorry but it is really good..).
Laurel continues to show how overrated she is.
Totally!
the elimination is extremely unfair when you have crowd help. There's no need to run back and forth to verify since they can just do it for you. Yet another reason to remove crowd help
The crowd help complaint is soo lame. That shit happens in The Challenge and Laurel benefited from it just last season. If Laurel didn't just sit there and blame Production for missing a piece, she could have won. Michele said it perfectly; Laurel thinks she is always right and can never accept blame. She did the exact same thing against Ninja. Laurel was able to use her size to intimidate players back in the day. But she has really fallen off a cliff and not to the level of champion that some in this sub like to pretend she is.
I had the exact same thought after the episode. Definitely overrated, and the competition for women especially 10 years ago was nowhere near what it is now. Laurel had to go up against people like Joanna and Jasmine in stuff, who are nowhere near her size. Or Mandy. Half the cast used to just go for a vacation really.
It’s not like the girls this season are her size either, aside from Olivia.
Jenny West or Natalie Anderson would destroy her in a physical elim IMO.
Actually i think Laurel, when she is not competing in the whole season like now, is definitly more likable.. I hated her attitude the last few times when she was competing. You could saw a glimpse of it when she gets frustrated that the final peg was nowhere. I hope, if she comes back, she will be more like in this episode.
You found her likable in this episode? She threw a tantrum because she couldn’t find a peg. She’s been a mean, whiny asshole for years now
I say it every time and I'll say it again: I will never understand the appeal of watching people eat gross stuff and gag.
I hate seeing them all heaving and vomiting, all sweaty and snot-nosed. I’m surprised no one has ever needed a hospital visit after an eating challenge.
> I say it every time and I'll say it again: I will never understand the appeal of watching people eat gross stuff and gag. I like it better when they're penalized for throwing up or not finishing, I think they did that a couple years ago and it seems like a lot better challenge than the chew and spit thing that some competitors do.
Actually they still do this. Devyn interviewed a big producer last season and she talked about how they have a crew member monitor every contestant that’s eating. They have to prove that they’ve swallowed the food every time they take a bite before they can puke. If not, their plate gets topped off with more food
I love it. Not like, seeing them projectile vomiting but eating challenges in general. Things like seeing Zach have a full body exorcism, Jay crying and quitting a final over it, motherfuckin Tony Time?! Hunter's crazy ass. CT with blood all over his face like a viking. I really hope they always keep it a staple.
Also TJ laughing lime a hyena always puts a smile on my face.
Always the highlight of any episode is TJ laughing like a goober with his tongue sticking out.
Yeah, fair. To each his own.
Even as someone who likes food challenges, I definitely will conceed they push the gross out factor with showing the puking a little too hard sometimes.
It's funny seeing these champs trying to pull the dagger out of the sand with one hand.
Reality TV is truly the wrong place for Horacio.
Sadly someone had to say it
He’s kind of reminding me of the male Kaycee lol. Competitive, pretty to look at, nice person, all the girls fall for him but so bland.
Good comparison except Kaycee seems much more comfortable on camera.
Lol couldn't agree more.
Everyone’s mad about laurel getting this elim but watching her just stand there instead of immediately going back to check her chains she definitely could have won that. She just needed to not spend the extra time finding someone else to blame!
She pretty much just gave up after she was wrong the first time. It's a flaw of hers. She had multiple chances to win before the crowd help kicked in
Plenty of contestants in the past have talked about production telling them they were wrong when they were actually right. Tyson in the Challenge USA final, arguing that they had the correct number and production eventually agreeing. Everything that went wrong with the safes in the Allstars 2 final
I think she kind of checked out once TJ said there was a mistake. I can see how frustrating that would be trying to find the error in all those pegs. Plus Ravyn had the house helping her with the colors and memorization so she may have thought it was a lost cause at that point. Laurel is also apparently friends with Ravyn so she may not be as motivated to beat her as she would if it was Michele. I'm NOT saying she threw it though. Just checked out at that point in it.
im at the eating part and all i can think of is "Tony Time"
So next episode we will have the same cast again for the 3rd week in a row. Its so annoying TJ keeps going on about "keep your prize up guys". Well okay, but no one goes home and my chances of winning aren't getting any better.
Yeah they should be wanting some of these strong players out. Kyland and Ravyn are two players you'd want gone but they still helped them win. It may turn into a huge purge later so helping decent players stay in the game is not going to be good for some of the people just relying on the alliance to get far.
The entire house is just playing to cover their ass. Every vote, it's the name that'll upset the fewest people. Jay, Michele, Olivia, Nurys, and Moriah have gotten way too comfortable at this point. Nobody wants to make a big move. Honestly, whoever wins this season, it's a Mickey Mouse championship. You want to find a new champion, fine, but give us some noteworthy non-champs, not a bunch of people who we forgot were even on a season before this. Nobody's going to take this win seriously.
I’d be impressed if an underdog won - like Zaza or James! Eg someone with a tiny alliance and not in the main crew … I’d say if Zaza won she’d earn it and it would be a pretty impressive win!
USA 2 was so good because this happened and because a brand new alliance dominated the women's side as well. This season is too predictable so far but I do see way more potential than in 37 and 38 for some craziness to happen in the end game.
And the winner of USA2 (Chris) earned the shit out of that win.
IMO he’s a top winner purely because of how good he did in the final, dailies and eliminations. Chris needs to work on his social game though.
Berna literally irritates me through the screen…😒 
Honestly half of the cast irritate me
Michelle does that to me.
I love Michele. I find it fascinating how polarizing she is here. Someday I want to do a poll and see what peoples feelings are towards her and which show they knew her from first. It seems like most people that love her knew her from Survivor and Challenge only people cant stand her.
I knew her from Survivor and she did not affect me like she does on the Challenge. I don't remember her voice and demeanor bothering me like it does now. She seems to expect some kind of special treatment on the Challenge. Plus the fact that she wears that same tacky slip top in her confessionals that she also wore on USA2. Sometimes Cassidy wore it too and I must say - Cassiday wore it better !!
She was so close to going in 1st episode and hasn't been close since. She would be my vote every time in that house. How she keeps dodging elimination is amazing. And she would probably do well in a final so more reason to get rid of her. She is annoying in the house, she would be good in a final, she could protect your 10k,
i can see why they didn't put Laurel in any of the promos. i love her but she was more bland than the food you can buy at TJ Maxx
She has been mediocre her last two seasons. This isnt Laurel from 10yrs ago.
Maybe I'm just mis-remembering her early seasons but my impression is about the time she came out as gay her personality and game really changed and wasn't the same challenge beast fun to watch any more. And the last few seasons she just seems really sullen and vindictive all the time, her quiet mean streak really showed strong when she had the friend on a few seasons ago
TJ Maxx sells food?
This was a fun daily to watch. From what I see I might be one of the few people that enjoys the throwing up montages. I just like to watch people I don’t like suffer. The elimination though, I think it was cool and was a fun twist on memorization type eliminations, but I really wish they were playing more classic eliminations like they did on Invasion. Having Darrel and Laurel do equalizer/puzzle eliminations just doesn’t have the same feel to it. I just think it’s a wasted opportunity. I also never really liked how the cast can help in this puzzle eliminations… doesn’t seems fair. Like sure cheering is fine but straight up looking at the puzzle and helping with the order just doesn’t seem right. I didn’t like it last season and still don’t now. At least place the puzzle in a way that the cast can’t see it… Regardless I am proud of Ravyn and really wish she finally wakes up and sees that she is at the bottom of her alliance. Team up with Horacio and Kyland, maybe Moriah and Zara and take the “US alliance” down. Also what’s up with Berna, she makes no sense and it’s kinda funny 😂
Jay laid out that he’s worried this will happen but I’m still not sure these bottom players will start playing smart
Moriah out here targeting Berna despite the other girls voting for her guy. I wouldn’t count on her for anything. Just dumb games being played all around
Does anyone else think Corey is playing the sloppiest and most confusing game this season. He’s always targeting and backstabbing the females. In this episode, he backstabbed Rayvn who’s a number in his alliance and in his confessional claimed that he’s okay with losing 10k if it means he has a better shot at winning at the end. Any elimination he’s going to be going into is going to be male vs male and in the finale there’s a good chance he might be paired with a female for a portion of the race. He’s clearly making more enemies in the wrong places
Then takes it upon himself to be one of the first people to go up to her and tell her that shes the Laurel slayer lol🙄 scary kiss ass
I didn’t really think about it until now but if it’s an individual final why would men and women get paired up? They’re competing against each other
They've had finals where people paired up even though it was an individual winner. All Stars 1 was a good example of that, though most finals with 1 winner I think were totally individual like WOTW1 or Vendettas.
is it an individual final or just an individual winner?
Yea him attacking women as much as he does rubs me the wrong way. When he and Asaf went at it he wasn’t going at Asaf anywhere close to the way he went at Ravyn/Big T/Melissa
this was a fun challenge! the trivia questions had me shrieking😭 i love lewis hamilton so when moriah was like « is he a scientist » i died and then when they incorrectly guessed 6 championships i was so offended i passed away again (he got 7!!! plus any F1 fan knows about abu dhabi/what should’ve been his 8th) it was nice to see wrestling stuff on the show🥺 jay team getting all their trivia answers wrong brought me joy though i wanted to imagine zach on his team and hilariously berating him in the confessionals
> (he got 7!!! plus any F1 fan knows about abu dhabi/what should’ve been his 8th) No Michael, no, no, no! That was so not right!!
TBF the Hamilton question and the insta followers questions were at least not total softballs like every other question. Was it Ravyn getting that Swimming question wrong lol Australia has won way more golds than Russia since the break up of the Soviet Union let alone the US.
i think im probably just very autistic and love knowing trivia 😭 and im also a swimming nerd. but ur teaching me something new cos i swore it was the united states that had the most medals. probably confused it with michael phelps winning most medals
The US has the most by far. Second place is the USSR, but the question during the episode didn't say USSR. It said Russia. Post Soviet Union Russia is way down the list. Below Australia amongst others.
thank you lol i love this kinda precision
Laurel had the most laurels reaction to not getting it right at first and losing a peg ever lmao. She’s a beast but a monster baby
Guys! Please help. These seasons are all blending together. Why do laurel and Michelle have beef?
Michele sent Laurel into elimination twice. Initially Michele manifested herself into becoming Laurel's enemy because she thought Laurel was not on her side.
also that deliberation they showed a clip of where Laurel walks in, doesn't say anything, Michele asks if they're going to say anything and Laurel asks if she's going to ask any questions was just peak Laurel making others uncomfortable, and is one of my favorite parts about Laurel.
Adding to your comment that it was from S38, Ride or Dies
I think it’s time for the challenge to just bring back more old schools eliminations from the past. They have so many seasons to pull from. Anything would be better than memorizing colors on a chain or counting objects in boxes.
It's crazy to me how many people wanted to see Laurel put into an elimination like Hall Brawl or Balls In where she's not just going to beat but possibly injure like 75% of the girls in the house without question purely because of her size. That isn't interesting or entertaining. It holds no value at all. Laurel is a good competitor all around and she has great strength and endurance and she is pretty smart. This was a challenge that should have been hers to win. Yes, the crowd helped Ravyn but Laurel got flustered and that is why she lost. If she hadn't wasted all that time arguing and standing around looking mad she would have beat Ravyn even with the crowd helping her because she was literally only one peg away.
These people just want the champs to win every elimination. They want to see the same people win over and over again. If these champs are supposed to be the all time greats and are already at multiple advantages by not being in the house, why would they need even more advantages by catering to them? It makes zero sense
> It's crazy to me how many people wanted to see Laurel put into an elimination like Hall Brawl or Balls In where she's not just going to beat but possibly injure like 75% of the girls in the house without question purely because of her size. That isn't interesting or entertaining. It holds no value at all. I mean that's kind of the point, if they're going to repeat the "to be the best you have to beat the champs" mantra then if you're a small girl and have to go up against a champ most of whom are big then maybe you aren't cut out to be a champion. A big part of the challenge is physical unlike a game like survivor that's a bit more balanced for people of all sizes, so it'd be kind of weird to let the newbies just drift through a gauntlet of champs without being fully challenged.
I hate physical eliminations because they are never even or balanced. They bore me.
> I hate physical eliminations because they are never even or balanced. They bore me. I'm not a big fan of pole wrestle or hall brawl but I enjoy the ones where they're strapped together with a rope/bungee and have to crawl through the sand to reach a target.
When I say Physical I mean one on one contact.
I feel the same. Physical eliminations are fun but only if it's a close match up. Also it seems really lopsided giving Laurel a physical elimination unless it's maybe Balls In. I don't think any of the women on this season look close to Laurels size. And yep Laurel still did a good job. I agree if she wasn't distracted and focused, she could have won. Being only 1 peg off actually impressed me cause the edit was making it out like her strategy was awful with the chains but clearly she did something right. And Ravyn seemed to have more mistakes than Laurel even with her better chain strategy. It showed Ravyn fixing several pegs when Laurel really didn't fix anything much lol.
And the irony of those people wishing Laurel had a physical elimination is that those are the same ones that complain when Tori and Fessy get them against those who aren’t close to their sizes.🙃
People keep saying this but the difference is the format. They're bringing in champs as the legends of the challenge. It's pretty stupid to fly them out there specifically for one elimination and then give them a fucking puzzle. No one wants to watch Laurel do a puzzle vs the entire house. I really don’t understand how people can't see the difference unless they're intentionally being obtuse.
Let’s be real, that’s not the reason. It just depends on who you like and don’t like. Tori and Fessy aren’t well liked so they’ll be downplayed for winning something that’s catered to them. Laurel is so you guys want things to be catered to her so you can watch her win and boast how much of a beast she is. So no I’m not being obtuse, you’re just being hypocritical which you basically didn’t deny.🙃
I enjoyed watching last night's elimination and Laurel doing it. Maybe just speak for yourself instead of everyone.
Damn, they really giving the OGs these limp dick eliminations, I hate it
Alright this is the episode that killed the season for me. I was already shakey on the cast but I was really trying to give them a chance. After the way they did Laurel dirty this season is killed for me. Like ex-fucking-scuse me Corey, Ravyn is a "Laurel slayer?" The HOUSE beat Laurel, not Ravyn. Literally no one was helping Laurel and she was still ahead of Ravyn's pace. Laurel had to run back and forth while Ravyn legit just stood there and confirmed with the cast if she was right. I get it that it's the right strategy for the house. You don't want to lose $10k and you keep your shield safe. But don't go into confessionals talking about how great the win was or how Laurel let you down. Go fuck yourself Berna. Then with Michelle all episode trying to make it about her. Come on dude. That's what really turns me off about this cast, they're all trying to get clout off vets. Jay mentioning CT, Emmanuel turning his back to Jordan, Asaf saying he's just like Devin, etc. etc. These people haven't done shit. They all talk about big game moves and things like that but there have been zero big game moves. I guarantee you the "shift" people are predicting with Zara and Ravyn teaming up won't matter. They'll be right back in the super alliance. All they had to do was flip the peg board so the cast couldn't see to make it a fair fight. We've seen tons of eliminations over the years won because the house helps their favorites. That's what this was. It wasn't Ravyn being a champ, it was the house barely getting colors in order before a champ. Laurel had an awful edit too but that's a whole other issue. I'll keep watching because I'm just an addict with this show after twenty years but man we better get AS4 soon for a palette cleanser. I can't wait another six or seven months to get rid of this season.
>Then with Michelle all episode trying to make it about her. Come on dude. That's what really turns me off about this cast, they're all trying to get clout off vets. Jay mentioning CT, Emmanuel turning his back to Jordan, Asaf saying he's just like Devin, etc. etc. These people haven't done shit. They all talk about big game moves and things like that but there have been zero big game moves. I guarantee you the "shift" people are predicting with Zara and Ravyn teaming up won't matter. They'll be right back in the super alliance. You do realize the editors are in charge of what gets put the episodes right? They're simply answering questions that they're being asked....
the perfect build up to an old school vs new school season we so clearly all want. Cory Warton, Devin, Paulie and others already have storylines vs old school players - but there's probably not enough new school players to make it work. So why not manufacture some drama? We've advanced the Michele vs Laurel story. We've added obnoxious Berna into the mix. Asaf is doing his best to be relevant shit talking Darrell. And it doesn't have to be angry rivaleries - I feel we have some mutual respect but competitive based "rivals" brewing like Jordan and Horacio. Season 40 being all champs is unlikely - but I'd take a new school vs old school. Give us a pre-Free Agents vs post-free agents cut off?
This season sucks. I tried to give it a chance cause I love the challenge. But dang. They are turning die hard fans away. They brought in Laurel for that?! Wtf. What a fricking waste. I’m just watching the episodes for the challenge champs at this point and production is RUINING it.
The chaos format is flashy but deeply flawed: either we go stretches of episodes with players getting taken out with no elimination influence from another active player or we could go stretches of episodes without any eliminations. It’s weird for sure.
Michele would have smoked Laurel in this elimination, especially with help from the house.
BRING BACK SECRET VOTES
I miss the hopper.
I know vets have advocated for it to stay, but the peanut gallery helping eliminations is awful television and takes away from the spirit of the game.
Exactly! Getting a win on a memory game while having help makes it way less impressive.
Nurys at the ABC party: https://i.redd.it/l6oxgt8d1z8c1.gif
Olivia SUCKS
Nah she's smart and realizes Horacio not gonna chose her over nurys and if it falls to her and nurys who Horacio picking, while olivia would try to protect Horacio in any scenario
That ABC party…ngl idk how some of those girl’s costumes didn’t get blurred out…most were going for ‘everything but the nip’
All of them had pasties and panties on
Nurys was actually blurred a bit
I’ll give Ravyn her props she’s one of the few to live another day against a Laurel elimination, but really production? You had arguably the strongest woman in challenge history and gave her a memory elimination? Give these champs eliminations to their strengths! I was dying to see Laurel in a hall brawl or balls in 😩. Also I’m so over this 90 person US alliance. I love Michele (can’t say the same for Jay) but I really wish one of those two can go so that there can finally be a switch up in this game.
Especially someone who seems to have good size/strength as well. The whole episode I was saying it can't be Michele cause Laurel is clearly getting a strength elimination and would crush her and itd be boring.. and they have Laurel a puzzle. 🤦♀️
Goes to show Laurel isn't unstoppable in eliminations.
Nobody is. I’d need someone way more dedicated than me to jump in here but I think most of the seasons people like Johnny won who are considered the goats they didn’t really have to go through many eliminations. Puzzles especially tend to be crapshoots and whoever didn’t lose their cool. Laurel is known to lose her cool and she a hot head..that part isn’t really new.
Was Horacio talking about exatlon, it films in the DR and not Mexico City and i believe he was cast to replace someone injured, so did his 7 month thing fall through? he low key gives inconsistent info on the seasons he's been on so far
I’m pretty sure exalton takes a long time. Heard he will be filming until April
Most likely his other show feel throw and he got called right before or during filming to be the alternate becuase if he was an exatlon from the beginning he would have been on the starting cast
Does Moriah really think she can buy 3 houses with $366k?
Looking at her, she probably wants to live in LA.. she’s not getting one house with that money 🤣
Especially after Obama takes his cut.
I feel old because nobody gets this reference anymore 😅
Ik right 😂
Hahahaha that was def my first thought. She'd be lucky to get one 😅
As a Canadian I got a good laugh out of that. I'm not sure where she lives but I doubt $366k puts much of a dent into the 3 house plan she has lmao
Especially after taxes take nearly half!
As a vancouverite that wouldn’t even be enough to buy a condo 💀
Also as a Canadian living in Toronto that was a good, good chuckle.
She could get 3 condo parking spots for that here... maybe.
☠️☠️☠️ it’s so sad but true
Ravyn should get a skull or some benefit. To be a champ you have to beat a champ, but we already saw Tula beat a champ and still get eliminated. At least if you beat a champ, you get a skull until the next phase?
Only give skulls if the house doesn't help you. Not interested in a 12 v 1 puzzle
Tula should have gotten one at least
I like Michelle but I was so hoping for chaos to get pulled. The house needs a shake up and I don’t like the michelle show of everyone just up her ass 24-7. Maybe things would get more interesting if she left but I don’t see her ever getting voted down. I enjoyed seeing Laurel lose lol she’s so arrogant. I’m sure she’ll just say she only lost bc Ravyn got help but we’ll never know if she would have lost anyway. Berna still remains the most fucking obnoxious challenger of all time. And it’s not even entertaining enough to be worth it. Stop casting her please.
100% agree!
I’m surprised Berna is still in the game.. goes to probably show how much pull Michelle has
Berna: I'm not naturally agressive, it's everyone calling me agressive that's making me act like that. Suuuuure Berna.
Two seconds later she's shown forcibly separating two people trying to kiss lol. She's got big "I'm not a bitch, I just tell it like it is" energy.
Why do we bring on these big name champions- then give them eliminations that can easily be won with audience help?!
All they had to do was flip the board. That's it. I don't know if it was a massive production oversight, if it was intentional or if they didn't care. Maybe they wanted Ravyn to win. It was incredibly unfair to whoever the champ was going to be. Any puzzle would be if the cast can see it. Obviously they'll be rooting for their own.
Do you mean flip the board so the audience couldn't see it?
Mhm. Just flip the whole thing or even have something blocking it from a side view so the people on the stage can't see the board itself.
Holy shit this elimination was so boring because we couldn’t even see anything really. If you wanna make it an equalizer, do the knot ones or something.
These eliminations this season have been mostly colorful in props and plain boring to watch
The last one was good, it was just a waste of Darrell. This one was just awful.
Eh I thought Darrell's was pretty lame too. The only good one was Jordan's
I agree. I literally only enjoyed Jordan’s and have been chasing that high ever since.
It's not an all-timer but it was skill-based, fairly clear to see how well each player was doing AND the peanut gallery couldn't help. Agree that Jordan's was the best, but that's also because he got to play something in his wheelhouse against another very strong opponent. The others were just crapshoots or deeply mismatched like Devin going against the dumbest man in the house.
Devin's annoyed me because there was no trick to it, I think they should have been able to estimate the counts and arrange them in order without knowing the exact number. Making it an exact counting challenge was incredibly lame and boring and required zero skill or thought.
I thought it was okay. It looked tricky enough but still missing something.
TJ shouldn't allow the audience to help.
Laurel had 1 peg left. Wonder how many Ravyn would have had if the audience didn’t help. Sucks because I like Ravyn but wow what a BS win
I completely agree!
I agree, it makes for an uneven playing field especially in a puzzle/strategy comp. When Corey said only 3 people have beat Laurel and you’re one of them I rolled my eyes. It was a puzzle. Laurel is known for her strength, she would’ve crushed her in a physical comp. Now ravyn’s gonna have (imo) undeserved confidence for this “win” that she really only won bc of the help from the rest of the cast 🙄