Four teams remain, but they have a long road head of them if they want to become a Challenge champion.
The Journey to the Journey to the Final
We open the episode with a solid two minutes of watching the final four teams riding a bus until they get out in a field. Then, we watch them stand in the field and wait until they board a helicopter. Eventually, they land and meet TJ somewhere in the Andes. Many of the cast members express their excitement by complaining that it’s cold, but nothing is colder than TJ’s announcement: Finalists competing for their share of $500,000, not $1 million like last season. And only the top three teams get paid: $25,000 for third, $50,000 for second, and the winning team gets $425,000. In this final, the teams will need to complete checkpoints, collect keys, and use them to open a chest. The first team to do this will win the season, and they’ll learn a lot more about their partner in the process because teammates will be tethered together for the whole race.
Check Point 1: River Run
Teams are instructed to get in kayaks and make their way down a river. Along the way, they’ll see some relics that TJ advises them to remember. Some competitors feel OK with this, like Adrienne who’s running on adrenaline, and Olivia, who’s kayaked a few times for fun because she’s from Alaska. The rapids prove to be more difficult than anticipated, and even the confident players are struggling. They also learn that the relics can be difficult to spot when they’re trying to stay afloat, and because it’s a river, there’s no going back. Eventually, Michaela & Cedric capsize, and Michaela gets back in the kayak, but Cedric never really does. Once they’re out of the water, the teams need to place seven of the relics in chronicle order, and each incorrect answer is a 2-minute penalty. Olivia & Yeremi call for a check first with two wrong, the Sydney & Turbo (four wrong), then Michaela & Cedric (two wrong), finally Theo & Adrienne (three wrong).
Running on Fumes
After the first checkpoint, the teams need to run to the second checkpoint, and it’s a long, rocky run. Olivia & Yeremi start in the lead, but Olivia knows keeping up with Yeremi will be tough, especially because he’s an Ultra Marathon runner and they’re tethered together. Fortunately, he’s an understanding partner, a quality Sydney doesn’t show. Turbo complains that he’s in pain, but she wants to run as much as possible. There’s also Michaela & Cedric, who are both concerned with Michaela’s ankle. She rolls it during the run, but after a short break she gets back up and moving. Theo & Adrienne seem to have OK communication, but they’re stopping to take breaks. Eventually, Turbo & Sydney pick up the pace and they’re the first team to reach the second checkpoint.
Check Point 2: Rune Memory
This checkpoint a game of memory, but competitors can’t see any answer key. Instead, they can call for infinite checks, and they TJ (or a ref) will tell them how many they have correct. They need to use that feedback to figure out the right placement of all 10 pieces. Sydney & Turbo are the first team to do this, and they figure out the strategy quickly, but Turbo is very commanding. He forces Sydney to take the back seat, and she does, but she starts showing frustration. Olivia & Yeremi arrive second, but Turbo & Sydney are already gone. Michaela & Cedric arrive third, and Theo & Adrienne arrive last. Every team leaves this checkpoint in the order they arrived, and they have to run another lap on the mountain to get the to third checkpoint.
Checkpoint 3: Cube Alignment
At checkpoint 3, teams need to arrange 9 cubes so there are no repeating colors in any rows or columns. So, it’s basically a sudoku with colors. Olivia & Turbo arrive first, but Turbo is slowing down because he has leg cramps. Sydney has the gas to keep going, and she seems to solve the checkpoint with relative ease. This is good, because they can continue and run another lap, but bad because Turbo has to use his legs again. Olivia & Yeremi are the second team to arrive, and they struggle a little, but eventually they get it done and maintain their spot in second. As Michaela & Cedric work on the puzzle, Theo & Adrienne walk in. Adrienne is feeling OK, but Theo is fully gassed and leaves Adrienne to solve the puzzle. Cedric & Michaela eventually take off, but Theo & Adrienne can’t get it together. They time out, are the last team to leave, and they have to carry two blocks with them at all times as they run the next lap.
Checkpoint 4: Stair Machine Joust
This checkpoint is a head-to-head battle using the Stair Masters we saw on Fast Thinking. Once two teams arrive at the checkpoint, it’s a battle to see which team will survive longer on the machine. The duo that falls off first will need to wait for the next team to make it to the checkpoint, but the last remaining player will take a ride on a helicopter with their partner to their next destination.
- Heat 1: Turbo & Sydney are the first team to arrive (Theo & Adrienne are still at checkpoint 3), and they have to wait until the next team arrives. After about 20 minutes, Olivia & Yeremi show up, and the first head-to-head battle takes place. Turbo jumps off the machine quickly, and Sydney is confident she’ll outlast Olivia & Yeremi. Olivia decides to drop and save her energy, and after about eight minutes, Sydney is correct, Yeremi drops off. Turbo & Sydney are on the helicopter.
- Heat 2: Olivia & Yeremi now need to face Michaela & Cedric, but really, they’re just facing Cedric because Michaela’s ankle is irritated. Yeremi also feels his legs are exhausted, so he leaves Olivia to beat Cedric. This isn’t a good move, because Olivia’s legs are also exhausted. Cedric wins, and he and Michaela are on the helicopter.
- Heat 3: Olivia & Yeremi have fallen to third, and then Theo & Adrienne come in. Theo won’t even get on the stair climber, and Adrienne tries, but eventfully Yeremi defeats Adrienne. Olivia & Yeremi are the third team on the helicopter, and Theo & Adrienne get a 15 minute penalty.
Checkpoint 5: Strobe Pond
This looks like the point where the overnight part of the final will begin, but first, one partner needs to swim to a strobe light, retrieve their key, and bring it to shore. Sydney volunteers to do it, and she gets the key fairly easily. Next, Cedric jumps in the water to get his key, followed by Yeremi. Finally, Theo & Adrienne arrive at the checkpoint, but Theo doesn’t want to swim. Adrienne also claims she can’t do it, but after Theo refuses to budge, Adrienne relents and jumps in the water. She cries as she puts on her wet suit, but eventually, she musters up the courage, gets her key, and swims to shore.
Day 1, Twists 1
After every team has their key, TJ shows up and introduces a twist: One person can stake a claim on anyone else’s partner. The players ponder the move, but of course, it’s a cliffhanger.
Stop Being Polite 