We’ve entered the final, but the game isn’t over.
Participating for the Trophy
We pick back up on Lete’s outburst from last week, and she insists Adrienne bow down on her knees and admit she’s an idiot for sending her into The Arena. If not, Lete claims she’ll sabotage the final race. Lete implies her teammates need her if they want to win, and the rest of the team is just playing for participation trophies. This angers Cassidy, who feels she couldn’t celebrate making her first final, but Bananas knows that Lete really is a strong competitor and a threat in the final.So, his goal is to rile Lete up so she makes rash decisions and hinders her team in the final.
Puzzling Instructions
The cast is blindfolded and transported to a jungle to start the final, which will take place in extreme heat (115° with humidity). The competition will take place over two days and test competitors abilities to compete as individuals and work as a team. The goal of the competition is to build a “power source.” To do this, teams must run to their compound, then run to the “House of Puzzles.” This arena has five doors, each requiring a key. And to get the keys, teams must solve two puzzles. Each successfully opened door leads to a checkpoint, and completing each checkpoint gives the teams a piece for their power source, which they will spend all night building.
There’s also a triage station off the course to help players recover. And somewhere hidden in the jungle, off the course, there’s a case with a special prize, hidden by UFC.
Leg 1
TJ sounds the horn, and the Grey Team takes an early lead. They arrive at the “House of Puzzles” first, and they approach a shape-overlay puzzle — the same one Lete saw in the Pressure Puzzle elimination. We find out Lete’s heart is in the game, because she helps her team complete it. After finishing another puzzle, the Grey team starts on their first checkpoint. This entails a run and a swim, which leads to a balancing game. Each player needs to balance on a barrel so they’re balancing together for five continuous minutes. This becomes a frustrating task, and Lete messes up. But Adrienne senses her frustration, and she doesn’t believe Lete tried to throw this station.
Meanwhile, the Orange team starts a leg that requires them to roll a heavy steel ball through a course and place it in a station. It’s a grueling but straightforward task, but after the team is done, CT is tired. He insists on stopping at the triage station, but his team is concerned because they feel it’s too early to be stopping and needing breaks.
CTeasy
As the Orange Team continues, Tori wants to pick up the pace. CT doesn’t want to burn all his energy so quickly and he warns his team of a possible “Big Easy” scenario. The team alternates between running and walking, but all of CT’s teammates are frustrated. Once the team returns to the “House of Puzzles,” CT is huffing and puffing in the corner. It takes a while for him to contribute, which isn’t a good look because CT insisted he’d make the biggest contribution with puzzles in the final.
Leg 2
The Grey Team begins their second checkpoint before the Orange Team, and they approach the dreaded “eating” station. The competitors have to drink a smoothie, and they can only continue one everyone’s cup is empty. Cassidy loves it — her drink is fruity and cold — but one cup has a disgusting concoction. Cara Maria gets the dreaded gross cup, but she chokes it down.
Meanwhile, the Orange Team has a building station. They need to transfer a block tower from one station to another, one block at a time. Fortunately, they can all move independently, so CT can walk, contribute minimally, and catch his breath (hopefully).
CT Down
At this point, just talking proves to be too much for CT; he’s just lying in the shade, guzzling water, and pouring it on his head. His teammates are frustrated, and they’re begging him to tap out. However, this is a major concern. Allegedly, TJ made it clear that teams won’t be penalized for a medical DQ, but they don’t know the punishment if a teammate quits. Fortunately, they don’t need to find out (yet). A medic pulls CT for an evaluation, and they just let the Orange Team move on with the race. It’s unclear whether CT is still a part of this game.
Leg 3
Once again, the Grey Team leaves the “House of Puzzles” with a lead, but the heat is catching up with them. Cassidy and Cara Maria are starting to feel fatigued, and they’re get to the block station.
However, the Orange Team gets a surprise before they take off: CT’s back. They get to the fifth station, where they find ropes and ladders. They need to use the ladders to retrieve hanging objects, only one object per ladder. Tori fears this will be a “slog,” but it seems the team completes this checkpoint fairly quickly.
Bonus in the Distance
The Orange Team feels broken after the third checkpoint, and they’re walking back to the “House of Puzzles.” Tori wants to run, but the slower pace has its perks. Bananas spots a flag in the water, and he jumps in to inspect it. He grabs a case with $25,000 — the UFC bonus prize.
Leg 4
The Grey Team maintains a lead, but the Orange Team is picking up their pace. The girls arrive at the ladder station and start making progress. They get it done, but they hear the Orange Team and they know their lead is dwindling.
Meanwhile, the Orange Team is at the barrel station; they get it done, but the whole team is slowing down. At this point, Bananas is complaining about cramps, and Will has a hurt knee. But Michele is still fantasizing about victory, which means she could move in with Devin.
There’s still one more checkpoint before the end of the day, but for the first time, the Orange Team leaves the house of puzzles in the lead.
