The end is here, and we have our winners. While this isn’t a full recap, I’m looking at the top players in the order they finished, and determining why they did (or didn’t) do well in the final. The full episode is up on Paramount+, so you can stream it over there.
4. Tori Deal
Day one was rough for Tori at first, getting two penalties, but she doubled down during the puzzle and got a two-minute advantage, and then she won the eating portion. Things were looking good, but she failed to land an ax at “risk station” #1, and this meant she was the last girl to the second checkpoint, eliminating her from the final.
4. Faysal Shafaat
Day one was a surprising improvement from Faysal’s prior finals. He won the puzzle portion, and he came in second during the eating competition. He actually entered day two with a 1-minute time advantage. Things were looking good, until he lost the first “risk station.” Every other man got to take a shortcut, and when he took it, TJ sent him back. This ensured Faysal would be the last man to truly arrive at risk station 2, and this eliminated him from the final.
3. Michaela Bradshaw
Day one proved Michaela had strenth, and she had a 1-minute time advantage going into day two. She quickly landed an ax at “risk station” 1, but she opted to skip over risk station 2. This meant she’d be running while every other girl rode an ATV, and by the time she got to the third checkpoint she was gassed and medically unable to complete the final.
3. Johnny Bananas
Bananas was eager to get his eighth win, especially as someone in his forties, but his age quickly started to show. On day one, he struggled during the strength portion, but he benefitted from the fact that he remembers a time before autocorrect. After stomaching the nasty meal, he entered day two with a 2-minute time advantage, and he successfully completed the first “risk station” for a shortcut. But, he failed the second risk station and got an extreme penalty when he didn’t get to ride an ATV. Effectively, this killed his chances at winning.
2. Chanelle Howell
On day one, Chanelle never bet on herself, and entered day two with a 1-minute penalty for coming in last during the “steel stomach” portion. She got a slow start, but she crushed both “risk stations.” This let her pass Tori and Michaela, but she never made it past Desi.
2. Cory Wharton
Cory got a rough start and accrued penalty after penalty during day one, resulting in a 5-minute time penalty on day two. On the second day, he successfully accomplished both “risk stations” and he was able to pass both Faysal and Bananas. However, Chris had the same luck as Cory, and this meant Cory never caught Chris.
1. Desi Williams
Desi played a smart game this season, and she kept her friends close throughout. This helped her get to the end, but it also meant her strong allies became her competition. But, she started off strong when she got a two-minute head start because she won the spelling challenge. Desi’s lucky carried over to day two, and she blasted through both “risk stations,” allowing her to easily win for the women — a huge improvement from the USA 1 final.
1. Chris Underwood
It’s hard to deny that Chris deserves this win. Coming into the final, he had four elimination wins under his belt. But day one wasn’t the best. He won nothing, but accrued zero penalties. On day two, his luck turned around when he got two severe advantages at the “risk stations,” and Cory with the only other man with the same luck. This meant Chris got a lead early, held it, and rode that lead to victory — his second time winning a CBS reality show.
Stop Being Polite 