Takin' on 'The Challenge': Feeling Used

Season 39 of The Alabama Take's favorite thing -- next to college football -- continues with Battle For a New Champion! This season is all about finding a first-time Challenge champ. Every week, devotees to The Challenge answer questions. Spoiler warning ahead!

We've reached the halfway point in the competition on this week's episode. For the daily, the teams were split into two teams, and the winning team chose Kyland (surprise, surprise...) to go into elimination. A significant portion of the episode was spent on the aftermath of that decision and the politicking for which one of their own the losing team would vote into elimination. They ultimately chose James, and this week's champion ended up being four-time champ Darrell.

Question 1: We've talked about how the cast's voting strategy in the "Chaos" stage has been suboptimal, as they've voted in weaker players and cost themselves a significant portion of their final prize pot. The four eligible guys this week were Kyland, Ed, Corey, and James. The winning team nominated Kyland, and the losing team chose to send in James. Did they finally get it right this week?

TD: Jay continually called Kyland one of his biggest threats in the final, and I'm not sure I agree. That said, he won and saved the money, so I guess technically they did get it right. However, they still seem focused on sending folks home instead of saving themselves money, which is not a championship attitude.

Blaine: I’ve yet to determine the aspects of animosity between Asaf (and Jay, by proxy) for Kyland. I don’t think they got it right so much as they were left with fewer choices. If they want to save their money, they would’ve picked Kyland and Ed, it seems. Yes, James won an elimination, but in that same win, he proved he cannot sustain any calisthenics. As a viewer, though, I was hoping Corey went down. How has he turned this house around on how they view him and so quickly? I don’t get it. He’ll be the first to stab anyone in the back. Send him home.

Question 2: Kyland pulled the upset and survived elimination against Darrell. However, it wasn't a direct head-to-head competition. Do you think he would have beaten Darrell in something a little more one-on-one?

TD: Darrell has certainly lost a step, but I'm not sure Kyland would beat him in a game like Pole Wrestling or Hall Brawl. I think he really lucked out with the game choice.

Blaine: I was texting fellow Taker and podcast host Adam last night and he said the same thing TD said: Darrell has lost a step. Certainly age plays a role, but Darrell stays in excellent shape for a dad. I have full faith in him in any competition that doesn’t involve heights. They have catered the eliminations for the champion, but Darrell wasn’t given quite that privilege. I would’ve loved to have seen him get an elimination where he’s known to excel, like TD mentions above. I do not discount Darrell. And his brief confessionals were by far the best part of the episode, proving he’s a classic Challenger. I could even see him playing guest host. He’s one of my favorites for a reason. But if one of these folks had to win, I’m glad it was Kyland. I am only rooting for Kyland, Ed, Horacio, and Olivia at this point. The rest can kick rocks.

Question 3: T.J. introduced a little more chaos at the end of elimination, telling the cast to go get dressed, as they had another challenge in an hour's time. What do you make of that twist and the ensuing preview we saw at the end of the episode?

TD: I really liked it, because so far this season has been extremely lackluster to me. I've mentioned before that the "chaos" stage needed a little more chaos, so I hope this spices things up. We also saw a tease of the "conquest" stage in the episode-ending preview, and I wonder how soon that will come. I'm not sure if it's the cast or what, but this season needs a little more excitement.

Blaine: I love it! To be true chaos, we need more of this. As for the “conquest” stage, it’s about two or three episodes away, right? We have three champions left to see: Brad, Cara Maria, and that inevitable CT appearance. Chaos needs to go big these next three weeks, and with CT coming out with the mace already in hand, that seems to imply he’ll get to pick his own opponent. Will it be Jay for revenge? Or will it be someone else? I got to say, that’s sequence of CT appearing is as good as TV gets! I’ll take all of that ya got!