The Challenge Total Madness Episode 7 Recap And Power Rankings
The episode opens with the cast returning from the mission. Jordan says his game plan is to get Tori put in by the house and have Jenna throw herself on the sword for Tori to get a red skull. Nany makes the proposition of putting Jenny in, saying she does not want to let her just skate to a final. Nelson tells Jenny, Dee, and Kyle that Tori and Jenna are both planning to put themselves in. Aneesa and Bayleigh talk for a bit about accusations of throwing the mission before we cut to the Holy Trinity in talks with the Unholy Alliance, which Kyle now seems to be a major factor in. Jenna says she would put herself in if it is something, she thinks she can win but won’t if it is a puzzle or physical elimination.
Tori starts the nominations off and says she would like to go in. The house unilaterally agrees to send her in. With things relatively calm, Nelson takes this opportunity to apologize to Aneesa. This goes over well, however, directly afterward, he claims the women are handing Tori a free skull by letting her go into elimination. Kailah disputes this, saying Jenna is not going to just rollover. Nelson starts to yell and chastise her and makes some terrible comments to her. Even Bear steps in to help defend Kailah. After the nonsense, the guys talk to Nelson and tell him he can’t be such an emotional fireball. Bear and Kailah share an embrace before we head to the bar scene for the episode.
Nany and Kailah are talking, and there seems to be some heat between the two. Bayleigh and Jordan end up making up at the insistence of Swaggy C and Tori. Nany tries to get Kaycee to go to the bathroom with her, and Aneesa ends up getting involved. Nany and Aneesa end up fighting, and Nany says she will punch Aneesa. Nany grabs her and then security and some of the cast breaks it up.
Back at the house, things have not calmed down much as Nany is still in a whirlwind. Nany asks Jenna what happened, and she begins to shout at her after the discussion. She then sees Aneesa and they start yelling, which leads to her throwing her Cup Of Noodles at her. The next morning, Nelson apologizes to Kailah. She seems to half buy it, and he clearly needs to get his emotions in check for her to take it back. Nany is remorseful and apologizes to Aneesa. She gets teary-eyed and is extremely repentant, and it is nice to see considering how many occasions we have of contestants not owning to what they did at all.
We head to the Tribunal for the episode. Nany and Jenna want Kailah in to give her the opportunity to go if she wants it. Jordan wants Dee in a vengeance proposition, and then also wants Big T as more of a layup. Kailah says she would want to go in if it is a climbing elimination or something else, she would be good at. Dee is clearly not pleased, and she and Jordan have something of a staring match before we get to Big T. Big T gives a very articulate comment, saying if she is viewed as weak competitor Jenna and Nany would be better off saving her for when they have to go in. She starts to cry and is comforted by Cory as she leaves, not sure if those are crocodile tears or genuine but a perfect encapsulation of how someone in her position should act in that scenario.
We move to everyone’s least favorite segment of Jenna and Zach arguing over webcam. Zach yells at Jenna over the webcam about her cheating on him and says he is disappointed she has not left yet. They have an argument about who owns their apartment (throwing back shades of Johanna and Wes on The Ruins), and she discusses the incident with Kailah. Not a great look for Zach, but I am happy to just move on from this storyline. Dee and Wes discuss Dee being put in, and Wes thinks is being a tad aggressive in her dealings with Tori and Jordan. I certainly find Dee being willing to throw herself into controversy entertaining, but from a game, perspective being a bit more covert is probably for the best.
We head to Purgatory, where TJ asks the Tribunal for their votes. Jenna decides to put herself in against Tori, negating the need for other votes. TJ announces the elimination as Dust to Dust. The competitors have to smash bricks into a grating, which has a wheelbarrow under it. After the wheelbarrow is filled, they dump it into a glass cube. The first to dump enough wood into the cube wins.
Immediately, the different strategies between the two become evident. Jenna is taking several blocks and throwing them from a high point, while Tori throws them at an angle and pushes the chips down. I’ve always felt like Jenna’s biggest issue has just been applying herself with full effort, but she is moving at a rapid pace through this elimination. Jenna seems to have a slight lead, and Jordan runs to another side of the stands to start shouting instructions and encouragement at Tori. He shouts things from telling her to throw them flat side and move to the center of the grating, which does seem to help. The majority of the crowd seems to be pulling for Jenna, who retains a small lead. Both girls put their wood chips in, and both are incredibly close. Jenna leaves to get her wheelbarrow with Tori a few seconds behind her. Jenna is struggling to get the wheelbarrow up the ramp, but eventually is able to and pours the chips in just to the line, getting the win.
Jordan is very upset and embraces Tori before she goes. Jenna tells Tori to please comfort Zach and inform him of the situation. TJ dismisses Tori, and Jenna returns Red Skull in hand.
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.
Disqualified:
Tori Deal: I love Tori, sad to see her go. She is a great competitor but I think she needs to be more politically active in the future.
Power Rankings
22) Melissa: Such little screen time she probably won’t go home but is still the person who sticks out as having the least allies and worst performance so far.
21) Big T: Incredible performance but still something of a mark for elimination.
20) Bear: Hard for me to envision him lasting for too much longer.
19) Josh: He has specific weaknesses in what is a very well-rounded guys cast.
18) Aneesa: Hard to rank because she will be here a while without much potential to win.
17) Fessy: Hasn’t done enough to warrant moving up yet.
16) Jenna: Great elimination win but her drama with Zach could still cause problems moving forward.
15) Kailah: Good recovery this episode but it would be nice to see her get screen time besides fighting with Nelson or Bear nonsense.
14) Nelson: Is going full Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the foot, needs to tone down the emotions or he is going to keep falling down the rankings.
13) Bayleigh: Still did not see her side of the argument with Jordan really but has been a good competitor.
12) Swaggy C: I have really liked how he has approached the game.
11) Kaycee: Continues to find her way into important conversations.
10) Cory: Continues to be the shocking voice of reason in his partnership with Nelson.
9) Nany: I would have put in Jenny if I was in her spot but seems to be in a very good position.
8) Kyle: Being Johnny and Wes’s silent partner seems to be a good spot for the moment.
7) Jordan: He is going to be going in a ton from here on out if he doesn’t make some moves.
6) Mattie: Has been radio silent but I like her position in the game a lot.
5) Rogan: Goes up based on some people moving down.
4) Dee: Getting her name thrown around is not good, but her political backing should be good enough where she will not have to go in that much.
3) Wes: It seems like he is positioned to rally the house against Jordan.
2) Johnny: Quiet episode but that is fine for the time being.
1) Jenny: No reason to push her down at all.
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 a specific matter you want to address, email rmcintyre1699@gmail.com.
