Season 39 of The Alabama Take's favorite thing -- next to college football -- is here! This season is all about finding a first-time Challenge champ. Every week, devotees to The Challenge answer questions. Spoiler warning ahead!
Question 1: What are your initial thoughts on this season's format?
TD: I think I'm going to enjoy it. The three levels thing is an interesting twist, and I particularly like that it directly impacts the game. I love the concept of the cast having to earn more prize money as a single unit, while knowing there will be only one champion in the end. I'm curious as to how long each level lasts.
Blaine: The three levels idea was a little hard to follow as far as its implementation. Only having one champion, though, created some tension we haven't seen of late. One champion, for the first episode at least, made it a lot more of a battle of the sexes.
Question 2: What's your first impression of the cast as a whole?
TD: As much as I like a cast full of familiar faces, something about this relatively new cast is invigorating for the show. On a personal level, maybe it's that way because I don't watch the offshoots. There's kind of an old school vibe to the cast, in a way I can't really articulate. I think there's a good balance to the types of people/players on the show this season. And, of course, I'm eager to see how the champions get incorporated into the game later on. It is a shame we won't see CT chasing down Bananas' title record, though.
Blaine: I had two thoughts: one, I missed the vets. But second, I noticed a dynamic shift. It's a lot less about the vets saying, "We're not going into elimination first," and the others declaring, "We have to get the veterans into the sand early!" Instead, the parity added some drama not usually seen until mid-season. It's amusing, too, that Big T was the most experienced and a bit of a target.
Question 3: On a scale of 1-10, rate your excitement for this season after that season premiere?
TD: I'd say I'm a solid 8. It's a fresh format, with a good cast, and some intrigue as to how the season will turn out.
Blaine: Right now, I'm at 7, but that's no hit against the show. My excitement tends to ramp up after an episode or two. Even in a regular season, I need to get my bearings on all of the competitors and not just those I recognize. The trailer had some emotional moments as part of the clip, and Josh isn't even in this cast! It could be great!