Taking On 'The Challenge: Battle of the Eras' | "A Fatal Era"

The Challenge turns forty! Coverage of The Challenge: Battle of the Eras continues each Thursday evening on The Alabama Take.  

On “A Fatal Era,” the third episode of The Challenge: Battle of the Eras, the four teams hit a daily that included eating some truly gross stuff, usually a staple of the competition in later episodes. But before anyone could take a bite, each era’s teams had to pick two players to be representatives, and most viewers had good ideas on what that entailed. From there, the players ran to a dragon boat, rowed their way around the island in a race, came back to the food, ate the snacks one at a time, and finally put shields of all previous seasons of The Challenge in chronological order on ropes. Era III gets the win, and as their reps, Tony and Averey are safe from any elimination for the week. The losing era, Era I, couldn’t get it get together in their dragon rowboat and it cost them last place. With no questions asked, it is mandatory that Darrell and Jodi go into elimination; it also reserves a seat at the table in deliberation. The two other possible pairs for elimination – Kaycee and Kyland from Era IV and Derek and Aviv from Era I – join the other two pairs, and…nothing. Tony won’t vote for Kyland and Kaycee because he believes a deal with them, a strong set of players, benefits his game in the future. Averey dares not put Derek in danger as they have a close history of friendship. It leads to a stalemate, one of T.J.’s least favorite practices in The Challenge. A stalemate results in both Tony and Averey going into elimination where Darrell eliminates Tony (as possibly his own back in the process). Averey sticks around by sending Jodi home. Yet there is one more twist this week: the winners get to “target” two players from each Era and those targets who must win the next daily or be sent to elimination immediately, saving anyone from volunteering for representatives in the next episode.

Let’s start at the end and work backward: is this “target” twist one too many? Is there such a thing on The Challenge?  

Blaine: I admit confusion. I admit having to rewind the ending to hear the explanation of the “targets” pick. I admit that I like it, though. It’s a smart move from producers to use the hackneyed phrase “target on my back” as an actual action. I love twists, too, and this one will be interesting. I also appreciate that it gives some players something to dread despite having the house on their side no matter what they do, which is too often the case for some. Sometimes, though, the more simple the surprise, the better it is. 

Adam: I definitely think there can be one twist too many on a Challenge season, but this feels like one that will work pretty intuitively for the cast and us at home. Not only does it make people lay their cards on the table (Darrell being the first forced hand was excellent; that may be the most social strategy we’ve ever seen him give away), it will push people to try harder in the dailies, as Cara pointed out. She had already expressed concern about Laurel and Bananas throwing challenges. I can’t imagine that’ll be an issue next week. Now, as time goes on and the game gets more socially  complex, might someone want one of their own targets gone? There’s just a lot of fertile ground for ordered chaos here, and I’m for it.

Did this week’s major drama of Tony versus Averey live up to conflicts of previous episodes and seasons of The Challenge? 

Blaine: I just didn’t care that much. Averey is nice and all, but she doesn’t stir any emotions. Tony certainly could make me feel one way or another – and his stupidity had me slapping my forehead in dismay – but that was about it. The other drama which promises more intrigue is Josh versus Kyland over Nia – I mean, he could hear them going at it! Yet Josh, being about as dumb as a Challenge player can be, takes his anger out on Tori for laughing about it. He goes so far as to say that they’re no longer friends! Josh! How dare you!? The drinks must’ve really been flowing more so than Challenge seasons of late because Josh’s declaration had Tori in tears. Don’t you bet she woke up thinking that was all some wasted waterworks? 

Adam: This one doesn’t pass the smell test. Averey was right to call Tony out. It does seem like the move of someone who just wanted to go home. Stalemates usually have a lot more drama, a forced revote with the stakes clearly outlined, etc. This doesn’t hold a candle to Zach and Amanda hating each other so much that both refuse to budge. Tony’s insistence on trying to appease Kyland and Kaycee was the smart move, as much as I want to see Era IV get the hazing treatment. They both have a great chance to go far. But, I understand Averey’s position as well. The Elimination karma worked out as it should have.

The targeted players for the coming week are now Derrick and Aneesa from Era I, Bananas and Laurel from Era II, Jordan (who volunteered for it) and Nia from Era III, and Horacio and Jenny. Is there a player in that lineup who doesn’t deserve it? What about any who may need a target on their backs but avoided it this time?   

Blaine: We need to talk about Laurel. Everyone tries to get along with this bully out of fear. She needs this target. But what’s with Horacio getting a vote?! Every damn time! The guy can’t catch a break! I suppose that’s the result of being a great competitor (and lousy politician). Deserving, though? That would be: Aneesa. I don’t care that she’s won an elimination. And I hate that Jordan volunteered for it because that’s what happened, right? I know he nods with an, “I’ll take it,” but was there any other player getting that vote? It made for a good TV moment at least. 

Adam: We got to see a little bit of how this strategy might play out. The Era I guys want Aneesa gone, or at the very least see her as the most expendable team member. So Darrell went “weak” on his team, and for the strong players everywhere else. I liked it. A clean, straight-up way to play. Averey followed suit, with the caveat that she didn’t have to pick on her own team. Devin made it VERY clear that Jordan was game. I think it’s too early to play it any other way. With this cast, there are so few places to hide votes. Aside from Josh. I’d vote for Josh every time.

Confessionals 

• “C.T.’s Pro Tips” makes a return, and who doesn’t love them!? I wish there were more and that they were even deeper! I want to know more on surviving those eating challenges! How?! - Blaine

• Big shout to production for letting the vegans get in on the eating action. They shouldn’t force competitors to compromise moral/religious choices, or their teammates/partners to shoulder more of the load. Bring on more disgusting tofu. - Adam

• TRIVIA! - Adam

• Devin and Michelle…? Huh. - Blaine 

• “Don’t fuck with me,” demands T.J. - Blaine 

• C.T. notes that having fun outside of playing the game has been missing. I detected more alcohol than usual. Was that the case? - Blaine

• Y’all. That can’t be C.T. getting taken out of the season with an injury in the teaser for next week. It cannot. He wasn’t standing with Era I in the elimination pit, though. - Blaine