Teams were assembled during last week’s episode, but they’ll be playing together this week… well, mostly.
The New Threats Threat
The cast returns to the house after Bananas’ departure, and people are scrambling. The rookies realize that they have more numbers than the veterans. So, they want to orchestrate a plan to get two veterans to face each other in The Arena. However, many of the rookies are worried that some of the other rookies won’t be on board with the plan: Specifically, they’re worried about Gabe. As a group of rookies are scheming, Aneesa awkwardly walks into the bedroom to disrupt the conversation, so the veterans know the new threats are plotting against them.
Cara Maria Leaves Vets & New Threats
In the middle of the night, Cara Maria hears news that her mother’s health is not doing well. She tearfully departs from the game, because The Challenge is a space where she can escape reality, but her family needs her right now. She receives a lot of love, especially from CT, but her absence will leave a gap in the team lineup.
Update: After she left, Cara Maria shared that her mother passed away.
A Kick to Victory
When the cast gets to the daily challenge, TJ announces that an “All Star” is coming to fill in for Cara Maria — and it’s Jonna, so she’ll be working with Leo this week. This challenge is sponsored by Jordan Peele’s movie Him, and it’s called Dirtballer. Teams need to dig up three poles that are buried 5 feet deep, carry them across a 500 meter field, and build a field goal post (which involves filling an open hole with dirt). Then, one person will kick a field goal and stop their time. Quickly, the teams realize that the difficult part will be the digging, not the carrying, and some people have never seen a shovel in their life — specifically Izzy and Yeremi (at least, that’s what Ashley seems to think). The first team to assemble their field goal is Michaela & Jake, and despite missing the first kick, they eventually complete the drill and win the challenge. We then see a series of people completing the task, but no one struggles with kicking the field goal more than Ben. Multiple teams pass him, but after 16 failed attempts, Olivia takes the reins and makes the field goal. In the end it’s Derek & Dee vs. Derrick & Izzy, but Derek & Dee made a big mistake. They left their football at the starting line, and they need to run back and get it. They have one attempt to make a kick, but then it’s too late. Derrick K. makes the final field goal, securing his safety and sending Derek straight to elimination.
The Hangnail Hang Up
After the challenge, Michaela & Jake get to save a team, so they need to figure out the best way to use their power. They could listen to Derek, who’s seemingly confident going into The Arena. He claims he wants to make a big move, but he also wants to face a new threat, so he suggests Yeremi or Will. Ashley isn’t a fan of the idea, because she’ll be the Hangnail if Yeremi goes home, but it also seems Derek is just trying to make all of the rookie men nervous. Ashley shares her frustrations with the other veterans, who assure her that she’ll be protected if she’s the Hangnail — a sentiment that Olivia doubles down on. She said she’s not afraid to be the Hangnail because her alliance will keep her safe, seemingly offering Ben up for elimination.
A Divide and A Burn
By the time the nomination ceremony rolls around, Ben & Olivia have become a viable candidate for The Arena, and Olivia is regretting her statement. Michaela & Jake save Jonna & Leo, because Jake and Leo are friends, but then we get to the vote. Five teams vote for Ben & Olivia and five teams vote for Yeremi & Ashley, which causes a stalemate, but there are two burn votes cast by Gabe & Leka, who voted for themselves, and Aneesa & Cedric, who voted for Nany & Justin. To address this tie, the cast has to vote again, but they can only vote for Ben & Olivia or Yeremi & Ashley. Once again, it’s a stalemate (Leka votes for Ben, Aneesa votes for Yeremi). So, it becomes a coin flip, and Ben will be the second elimination competitor. However, this scenario also exposed Aneesa, because she showed an allegiance to Olivia by voting to keep Ben & Olivia safe.
New Hall, New Brawl
The cast walks into The Arena, and they see a game that appears to be a circular Hall Brawl, and it’s called Him Collider. It’s Hall Brawl with a football, so instead of ringing a bell the competitors need to carry a football and score it in a basket: best two out of three wins. In the first heat, the collision isn’t too intense, but it causes Ben to stumble and Derek scores the first point. In the second heat, the two men run into each other and have to fight in the sand. Derek comes out on top, and Ben struggles to regain his footing, so Derek wins this elimination… and Olivia is the Hangnail.
The Selection Direction
Again, we end with The Selection, but numbers are dwindling. So, we’re ending up with more rookie/rookie teams — and now a veteran/veteran team. Here are the pairs:
Michaela & Yeremi
Jake & Jonna
Adrienne & Derek
Turbo & Tay
Aviv & Cedric
Will & Ashley
Leka & CT
Gabe & Aneesa
America & Derrick
Leroy & Izzy
Sydney & Leo
Nany & Theo
Justin & Dee
Stop Being Polite 