The Challenge Episode 11 Recap And Power Rankings
I was very close to not doing a recap this week, but it felt disingenuous to skip a week. As many of you are well aware of, Dee posted some incredibly insensitive tweets this past week. After Bayleigh responded to them with issue, she doubled down on them which also prompted other reports of instances of racial insensitivity. While other countries such as Australia may have different approaches to racial relations, that gives zero excuse for her actions considering she has lived and interacted with many people of different backgrounds. This prompted Wes to ask her to leave his house (she was staying there due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and according to him she is now in a mental health lodge. Issues of societal racism should be treated with the utmost sensitivity and neglecting that should not be taken lightly. I discussed this and other societal issues at in an appearance on The Challenge Chronicles. For further information on the incident, please see this mega thread on The Challenge Reddit.
With that being said, due to the Dee situation this episode was something of a mess. It picks up with the house returning from Johnny’s win and reminiscing on the situation. Mattie discusses her need for a Red Skull with some of the guys and Kaycee, and is very willing to put herself in. Josh also tells Nany she should go in, as time may be running out.
We get to the mission, entitled Flag Down. Each competitor is tied to the front of a tank, which will move through the course. They attempt to grab flags as they move, which will add up to their point total. The highest point total for each gender wins.
Ended up being a commercial fodder mission. Very bland overall, with a few competitors disqualified for collusion. Melissa and Josh won for each side respectively and picked Johnny as the third member.
We head to nominations, and it is pretty cut and dry. Mattie nominates herself, and receives little opposition to going in. After this, we head right to the Tribunal. With this episode being cut to an hour, there seems to be very little house content. Melissa immediately selects Nany and Bayleigh, the two women without skulls for interrogation. Johnny follows by pushing her into selecting Dee.
Nany and Bayleigh are the first two in nominations. Nany is a bit hesitant, while Bayleigh seems to be chomping at the bit to go in. Dee is next, and she is clearly upset. She says she has no issues with Johnny or Melissa, only with Josh. This prompts him to react negatively, and he is not happy with how things turned out.
We get to Purgatory, and it is two dirt vats laid out on the ground. TJ asks the Tribunal for their votes, and Melissa votes for Bayleigh. Johnny asks Rogan for his vote, and he follows by voting for Dee. Josh also votes for Dee, sending her into elimination. TJ announces the elimination as Tunnel Vision. Each competitor has to crawl through the dirt to get out of the tunnel. Whoever gets out first and rings the bell wins.
Dee starts off really fast, plowing through the dirt. She is using a more direct swimming motion, while Mattie is spreading her arms out wide. Dee is about two thirds the way through the box, before when she seems to get stuck. TJ checks on her, but she keeps moving. She is able to get out and hit the bell, beating Mattie by a good margin.
TJ dismisses Mattie, and Dee earns another red skull. The episode ends here, with the house returning off of Dee’s victory. With this editing fiasco, it made the episode near-unwatchable and the show will have to find other ways around the issue to move forward.
Eliminated
Mattie: Disappointing season overall for Mattie. She had almost no screen time and has unfortunately moved to being more up in the air for if she is casted.
Power Rankings
15) Josh: Hard to see what kind of game he is winning.
14) Melissa: She is scrappy but is not in the best position right now.
13) Swaggy C: He has done well but is still just a rookie.
12) Bayleigh: She can beat any of the non-Dee or Jenny women in the house without much of an upset.
11) Nany: Should have enough sway to pick her opponent, but options are dwindling.
10) Kyle: Should have his pick of the litter of the remaining contestants.
9) Cory: Seems to be primed to go into elimination next episode.
8) Aneesa: Seems primed to sit until the final (or a purge) now.
7) Fessy: Monster athlete in a good spot.
6) Kaycee: We are getting ever closer to the conclusion and she seems to be the only girl with a good shot at surpassing Dee and Jenny.
5) Rogan: I really did not like this move at all for him but there is only so far, he can fall.
4) Nelson: He’s been good about staying out of harm’s way recently.
3) Dee: Not good that the house seems to be against her, but she’s been the best performer amongst the females overall.
2) Jenny: Still in prime position, and if she can get Dee out of here, she stands out as the clear top female.
1) Johnny: Dee really seems to lack any political sway with Wes gone, so I don’t think she could mount much of an insurgency against him.
Extra Notes
o In addition to releasing a new song, Tori and Jordan are also making masks to sell to the public. Please check it out, as each mask bought will also result in a donation of a mask to workers on the frontlines. Always great to see Challengers supporting the community in this trying time.
o Not Challenge related, but if anyone is in need of objective and useful COVID-19 news, check out Nate Duncan and Ben Taylor’s COVID Daily News podcast. Easily the most unbiased news aggregation service I’ve heard and gives much useful information including best practices for the virus and projections on how things are developing.
Fantasy Scoring
o NOTE: I periodically go back and check through the scoring throughout the season, so these are liable to change. If you have specific matter you want to address, email rmcintyre1699@gmail.com.
