The Challenge | Season 39 Episode 1 - "Teamwork Makes The Perfect Work"

Spoiler Alert!

Hello everyone!

Here we are with a new Season of the main show and I was super stoked for this season and... It kind of disappointed me...

The whole theme of this season was getting a new champion (someone that has never won before) and in order to do that they would have to go against the already champions (aka CT, Cara Maria, Tori, etc...). Well, it is that indeed but, there's way more to it.

Basically this season will play in three phases - Control, Chaos and Conquest. Right now we are in the "Control Phase", where they all play as a team and the daily challenges are played so they can win more money for the final prize. Later on in the season they will play as individuals (Chaos) and lastly they will have to face the Champions (Conquest) and that's what bothered me the most - the exciting part, them facing the Vets, is only happening later in the season, and that was a little frustrating. However, I was indeed happy to only have returning faces that never won.

Some of the main "characters" this episode were Ciarran, Big T, Jessica, Berna, Callum, Michele and Horacio - all of them for different reasons.

Ciarran because he was the leader in this first challenge - which they failed; Big T because, apparently, she's the mastermind this season; Jessica because she screwed up in deliberation; Berna because she was Berna; Callum and Michele because or romance; and Horacio because everyone loves Horacio and he was the only one that voted differently in the Arena - because yes, this season they only vote in the Arena.

Speaking of Arena... Jessica was the one voted (by basically everyone, even herself) and, plot twist - the one going into elimination chooses her oponent and she chose Big T. I was rooting for Jessica before she picked but once she said Big T's name I changed my mind. Big T is one of my favourites and no one goes against Big T! And although people say Big T is weak, she got the job done and she won against Jessica.

Overall, this episode was a bit weak, but there's a lot of people in the house and the promos were kind of misleading so maybe I'll change my mind in the upcoming episodes. As of now, I'm rooting for Big T (obviously), Jay, Zara and Ciarran (I liked Ciarran). But honestly, there are a ton of other players that I like (Colleen, Horacioo, Olivia, ...) and I liked this group overall so I'm excited for that.

So, let me know what you thought of this first episode and this new "format", as well as who are your favourites so far and I'll talk to you next week!

Love,

Daniela

The Challenge: USA | Season 2 Episode 14 - "The Pursuit of Glory"

Spoiler Alert!

Hello people!

Here we are with the last episode of Season Two and OMG! I'm actually so happy with this outcome!

If you've read my previous post you know who I was rooting for the most (if you know me well, you also kno who my all time favourite is) but you also know that I would be happy with almost all the guys winning (apart from Fessy) and that the girl I wanted to win the most was Desi! Well, I got everything that I wanted!

But let's rewind a bit and talk about each section of the final.

First of all, this final took place in two days, which is kind of "easy" for The Challenge standards. Second, although it was an interesting touch, the first day was full of what they called "Trials", in which they had to complete 4 challenges that focused in different areas - Intelligence, Strenght, Strategy and Eating (it was nice that they added the eating one because I think that's a Challenge staple and they haven't done eating challenges as much lately). All of this also dealt with penalties and they could gamble if they could win one of the trials and if so they would win advantages for the second day. Long story short, basically everyone got 1 minute head start, apart from Bananas who got 2 minutes, Chanelle who got -1 and Cory who got -5 minutes, which really took a toll on him.

Second day was the one that I consider "the real final", with them going up a mountain and having checkpoints in the middle. And those checkpoints were the ones to determinate who would win, because the first one made Fessy loose the advantage he had and then, on his own fault, he went the wrong way so he had to go back and by the time he got to the 2nd checkpoint he was the last one so he was eliminated. And basically the same thing happened to Tori (minus the going the wrong way and whatnot).

So, after the second checkpoint, those who were able to "win" that checkpoint got a "car" to ride in till the next checkpoint, and everyone but Bananas got that advantage (Michaela didn't want to wait so she just decided to walk all the way which, ultimately, cost her the final because she felt sick and had to give up).

With all of this, there only remained people that I liked and I'm so happy that Chris and Desi won! Obviously I would like to see Bananas win, but Chris really deserved it and I can say confidently that Chris just became one of my all time favourites and I can't wait for him to be in the main show - I think he can beat a lot of the usual players and the Vets (heck, he beat Wes!).

And I guess that's basically it for this Season of The Challenge: USA. Let me know what you thought of the final (personally, I thought it was kind of easy, but I liked that it wasn't a pairs thing and the weight being personalized to each person was good as well) and what you thought of the Winners! I'll see you in a bit with the First Episode of the new main The Challenge Season!

Love,

Daniela 

The Challenge: USA | Season 2 Episode 12 & 13 - "Revenge Amongst the Ruins" & "The Treason for the Season"

Spoiler Alert!

Hello people!

Here we are, once again, with me reviewing two episodes in one post. I swear I don't do this on purpose but so much has been happening and it's hard to know what to prioritise. Anyway, somehow, things end up working for me because, again, there's a connection between these two episodes again. But let's start with episode 12.

This was that episode where they go like a "mini final" and, although this one was more strategic, this still took them a long time and involved both strength, endurance and brains, and yes, they had some help, but the winners were Chris and Desi! For once Chris didn't have to worry about going into elimination and he could make his moves. They didn't make such big moves because they didn't want to stir the pot so much but still, they decided to nominate Josh and Michele. The intent was always to be a girls elimination, so Josh's nomination was just something to mess with him, because Fessy was certain Chris was going to nominate him, but no!

As far as the votes fo, nothing surprising - Cassidy got the majority of the votes and she went against Michele and, surprisingly, after everything, I was rooting for Cassidy, just because Michele has been pretty  shady and she's starting to be super annoying. Thankfully she was the one to go home so we got what we wanted for this episode.

Moving on to episode 13, this one was intense! Not only this is the last episode before the final, but there was a ton of drama and truly surprising momeents! I mean, not so surprising for me because, unfortunately, I came across some spoilers so I knew one fo the people that went into elimination. But rewinding a bit... You're wondering what's the connecting bit between the two episodes? Well, Chris winning! I was so happy he won again. It's amazing how Chris went from being so annoying to being my favourite to win the whole season because, yes, from winning the daily challenge he was in the final! So happy! Oh, and for the girls, Michaela won... Not the best but fine. The cool thing came after, in the nominations, with them picking Fessy and Cassidy. Poor Cassidy can't catch a break but Fessy being there, so cool! Unfortunately, it was a Hall Brawl and the possibility of Fessy loosing that was like 1%, which didn't look good for my boy Bananas who, in the end, was the one who got the most votes. Seriously, I don't know what these girls were thinking, I get the boys wanting to get rid of him but the girls?! You would rather be paired with Josh than with Bananas in the final?! Really?! Thank god not only I had seen spoilers but also Josh got one vote because yes - Josh went against Fessy! (Oh, and Cassidy went against Channelle, who was also the one to get the most votes).

Sadly, this season's Hall Brawl was kind of lame, with them having Shields and a puzzle in the end after getting through, which basically defeated the purpose of going through the Brawl... Anyway... The outcome wasn't the best with Channelle and Fessy winning but I don't know if the other way around would be better so... I'm just happy that Chris and Bananas are in the final and I'm rooting for either one of them to win (for the boys). As for the girls, I want Desi to win. I don't mind the other girls (I think Michaela is too cocky tho) but I like Desi the best and I want her to win. So let's  see...

Let me know in the comments what you thought of both these episodes - were you happy that Chris won twice? Who are you rooting for int he final? And I'll talk to you next week with the final!

Love,

Daniela.