Tag: MTV

‘The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2’: And the winners are …

A look at the thrilling finale.

When we last left MTV’s reality competition show The Challenge, rookie Turbo ended up winning $1 million after a brutal final.

This season? It’s the sequel: War of the Worlds 2, which pits a British team against a squad from the United States, although there are some twists that involve some “free agents” joining both sides.

Normally, we task our resident Challenge expert Charles Curtis to power rank each of the competitors after each week. But this was the SEASON FINALE! So we’re doing something different.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

Whew. If you’re exhausted after watching the second part of the final (the first part was pretty brutal), imagine how the competitors felt.

Let’s review what went down on Wednesday night.

1. And the winner is …

The UK team!!! You could see that shaping up in part one of the finale, with Paulie struggling and the United States team falling behind by a lot. Even though CT messed up and got his UK team penalized, it didn’t matter. The British team — which ended up being one Brit with Rogan and three non-UK folks — won the first leg, and all they got was a five-minute head start on the next portion.

That said, those five minutes were the difference-maker. Both the Brits and the Americans struggled with a puzzle at the end. Both teams eventually timed out, but it was the British team who got to climb into their kayaks and make it to the yacht waiting for them.

2. This wasn’t the hardest final ever

Look, I didn’t run it, so I have no idea (and I’m sure Paulie and others would disagree with me). But War of the Worlds had tougher physical challenges, and maybe it was the fact that these competitors had teammates they could lean on and it wasn’t as individual. I also think there were more puzzles, which are certainly challenging, but I’d say last season was worse.

3. Some of the cast members were eliminated early

These eliminations within the final — War of the Worlds had one — are just the worst. The players spent a night taking turns sleeping in beds put in the middle of a pit of snakes (!!) and then were informed there were 12 puzzles each competitor needed to finish. But there was room for only four players per team, which meant four members of the group would be out. Eventually, Leroy, Kam, Ashley and Tori bowed out.

It wasn’t the worst thing for Tori, who will get to split $250,000 with her new fiance Jordan. Ashley, as you know, took home $1 million on Final Reckoning. I have no doubt Kam will be back in a final someday. But it’s devastating for Leroy, who got as close as he’s ever gotten to his first win in 11 seasons. I hope he gets a win down the road.

4. The UK winners have some great stories

CT becomes a three-time champion (and I wonder if he’s contemplating retirement?). Jordan’s resume is an all-timer: five appearances on the MTV series, four finals, three wins. WOW. Dee proved all the haters and doubters wrong. And Rogan went from being eliminated first last season to winning it all.

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‘The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2’ power rankings after ep. 14

We’re on to the final!

When we last left MTV’s reality competition show The Challenge, rookie Turbo ended up winning $1 million after a brutal final.

This season? It’s the sequel: War of the Worlds 2, which pits a British team against a squad from the United States, although there are some twists that involve some “free agents” joining both sides.

As always, we task our resident Challenge expert Charles Curtis to power rank each of the competitors after each week. Here’s his take after the 14th episode.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

This week: THE FINAL IS HERE! But before we get there, the UK team beat the Americans and CT swung a vote that ended up breaking his alliance with the Paulie/Cara Maria group.

Normally, we rank each of the players in The Challenge each week. But because next week is the final (!), we’ll preview the teams as a whole ahead of the showdown (and I’ll sprinkle in some observations from Wednesday’s ep).

The Americans

Members: Ashley, Cara Maria, Kam, Leroy, Ninja Natalie, Paulie, Zach

There is something to be said about having a smaller, more efficient squad. But I don’t necessarily see a lot of holes here. Even Ninja Natalie — who has spent the season being ripped by Zach — is strong. As Ashley proved in the elimination she faced again Nany, she’s in the kind of shape to run and has a brain for puzzles. Zach brings the height and strength, and I can’t think of a better combination of all-around skills (including experience) than Paulie, Cara Maria, Kam and Leroy.

The one weakness I see here is swimming. This season has placed particular emphasis on it, and this week’s challenge — Mine the Cart, in which competitors got into mining carts suspended in the air and collected medallions, all while their opponent swam to a saw to cut them down — proved once again that the better swimmers are on the other side. Jordan completely dominated that one as the designated swimmer, and that could end up being an x-factor in the final.

The UK

Members: CT, Dee, Jordan, Rogan, Tori

This is where I get to talk about how CT made absolutely the right call during the elimination vote. There’s no way he was going to send in Tori, one of his own team members, knowing that she could help him win some money in the final. That’s what made War of the Worlds 2 so good — players have to weigh whether they want to stick with their alliances or risk losing a competitor who could ultimately help them win a title.

And that’s why CT was smart. At this point, who cares if he breaks his alliance with Paulie and Cara Maria? He’s a seasoned vet who might not have too many more Challenge seasons in him. He might as well attempt to weaken the opposition while keeping the core of the UK team intact. And that’s what he did by picking Tori for the tribunal (and yes, Dee was right to be nervous in that spot knowing how the numbers broke down).

I agree that this group of five is strong as heck. You could question the experience here, but Jordan is a two-time winner, CT is obviously a veteran of many a final (and he’s won), and Rogan has proven he’s in shape for the finale.

I think it’s neck and neck, but if we’re doing power rankings, I’ll lean Team USA … but not by much.

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‘The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2’ power rankings after ep. 13

An episode full of big surprises.

When we last left MTV’s reality competition show The Challenge, rookie Turbo ended up winning $1 million after a brutal final.

This season? It’s the sequel: War of the Worlds 2, which pits a British team against a squad from the United States, although there are some twists that involve some “free agents” joining both sides.

As always, we task our resident Challenge expert Charles Curtis to power rank each of the competitors after each week. Here’s his take after the 13th episode.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

This week: Some HUGE surprises from competitors, including an all-time classic of an elimination and two people going home in the middle of the episode.

1. JORDAN

Cara Maria and Paulie have held on to the top spot long enough. It’s time for Jordan to take it back for this week, one in which he once again proved that he’s an all-time Challenge legend. There he was, in an elimination in which he was clearly an underdog, and all he did was calmly out-smart the larger Josh, sweeping “End of the Rope” seemingly with ease. And when you look at who’s left on his side, you have to wonder if they have an advantage with fewer team members, all of whom are pretty strong. Hmmm.

2. PAULIE

The cracks showed here a little bit with Cara Maria, who struggled in the Puzzling Swim challenge. His side also lost Josh, one of the best swimmers left in the competition.

3. CARA MARIA

I’m pretty sure the final will have some kind of swimming component … and that could be trouble. Still, she’s up near the top again.

4. TORI

This is my spot to talk about how Joss and Kayleigh went home, and Tori mentioned the karma that came back to bite them for sending in Georgia. And guess what? I AGREE! Georgia should still be here, competing. Instead, Joss and Kayleigh sent home one of the better competitors … and they ended up leaving because the worst swimmers on the day got the boot. Oof.

5. LEROY

I have no good reason to put him up here given that he was nearly eliminated because he and Kam were the second-slowest swimmers. Here’s my take, though: seeing him sob like that is a reminder that we need to see him win a championship, and that this is how seriously he and others take The Challenge, once again proof that it’s a major sport.

6. ROGAN

Joss and Kayleigh are gone, but he’s still here … and he might have the team to win a final.

7. DEE

YES DEE YES! Way to prove Rogan and all her doubters wrong by swimming better than some others there.

8. KAM

The swim was a concern, but whatever, overall, she’s headed for a final.

9. CT

Man, amazing how he avoided going home by getting to swim alone and not with Kayleigh.

10. ASHLEY

She swam with the dude below and, in the words of TJ Lavin, they killed it. And she helped figure out the puzzle that won the Americans the challenge.

11. ZACH

I would just love for him to stop calling out Natalie. Other than that, no criticisms.

12. NINJA NATALIE

Only down here because she didn’t even have to compete this week.

13. NANY

She’s got the heart and the athleticism … but now that Josh is gone, does she have numbers stacked against her with alliances?

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‘The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2’ power rankings after ep. 12

A devious plan backfired badly.

When we last left MTV’s reality competition show The Challenge, rookie Turbo ended up winning $1 million after a brutal final.

This season? It’s the sequel: War of the Worlds 2, which pits a British team against a squad from the United States, although there are some twists that involve some “free agents” joining both sides.

As always, we task our resident Challenge expert Charles Curtis to power rank each of the competitors after each week. Here’s his take after the 12th episode.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

This week: The British team attempts to force one of their own players out by throwing a challenge … and the whole thing backfires spectacularly.

1. PAULIE

2. CARA MARIA

They thought they would see Tori — the turncoat who instantly became one of the British side’s stronger players — go … but nope! Also, Cara Maria scoffing at the Tori and Jordan engagement, thinking it was a set-up? That was … something. Whatever, she and her boyfriend are fully in control, nothing to worry about here.

3. TORI

WHOA. A Hall Brawl elimination at the Proving Grounds was somewhat stacked against her with the larger, more muscular Jenny as her opponent. But then she trucked Jenny and won easily. Super impressive.

4. JORDAN

I’m not sure he and Tori will be able to get this depleted British team through the final with some of the players remaining. We’ll see.

5. JOSS

One of the leaders on the British side and one of their best athletes, too. That’s all I’ve got for him this week.

6. KAM

An up and down week for her as she and Nany butted heads over Leroy, but I have to give her credit for going to Leroy and burying the hatchet. She knows he’s got her back, and he’s going to do his best to protect his longtime friend Nany from any future eliminations.

7. CT

It was on him to throw a challenge and he handled it like the vet he is — saying, “It is what it is.” Like he said, he’s chosen one side over another late in the game, and it’s probably what will propel him to a final.

8. ROGAN

Yeah, he probably deserves to be higher, but man, did he mess this week up or what? First, he tried to pull off a deceptive move to deliberately lose a challenge in order to get his girlfriend Dee thrown into elimination WITHOUT him or his alliance having to do it themselves. Then when she finds out about the plan, he has a change of heart and his team loses one of its best players. C’mon man.

9. ASHLEY

Kudos to her for walking out to a crying Dee and for giving her words of encouragement.

10. LEROY

I think this episode cements he’s not going anywhere. We’re also reminded he’s never won a title in his 11 (!) seasons. Get this man a victory already!

11. DEE

I hope she gets all the way to the final and outruns Rogan in whatever marathon run they’re asked to do.

12. NANY

I worry she’s got a target because of members of her own team, but hopefully Leroy can make sure she sticks.

13. ZACH

What else can we say except he’s still here and still valuable?

14. NINJA NATALIE

Not much to mention, but she was there for her friend Dee in that crazy moment. That was lovely.

15. JOSH

Seems safe … until there’s another men’s elimination.

16. KAYLEIGH

Amazing how she’s survived this wild and crazy game this season, right?

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