The Challenge XXX: Dirty 30 Episode 16 Recap and Power Rankings
The Challenge is coming close to its culmination, and we’ve narrowed the group down to its strongest members. The episode opens with the first four finalists (Cara Maria, Tori, Jordan, CT) on their victory boat ride to a private island They talk about how amongst them they have the three people who returned from the Redemption House plus the Rookie of the Year (Tori). MTV release an article in conjunction with the episode arguing that Tori is having the best rookie season of all time. You would be hard pressed to argue Tori has not been the best rookie this season, but to say she’s having the best season of all time is a bit much. I’m all in on Tori as a personality and competitor, but Cooke (Rivals 2), Jordan (Rivals 2), Zach (Battle of the Seasons 2012), and Frank (Battle of the Seasons 2012) all have rookie seasons I would rank ahead of Tori’s so far, and that’s off the top of my head and only in the last ten seasons. It seems pretty clear MTV is trying hard to make her as a female face of the show, so it will be interesting to see if they push the Tori-Kailah-Jenna alliance as the Johnny-Evan-Kenny alliance for the new generation.
After the victors’ day out on their island, we get to the final step before the final, entitled “Snaking Your Way Back In.” This competition has the competitors still without their finals tickets punched (Camila, Tony, Kailah, Hunter, Derrick, Jenna) to hang off a structure, being held by two blue ropes. They then have to use those ropes to scoot themselves to a yellow rope at the end. They then have to use the yellow rope to scoot themselves off the structure, and wrap the rope around a buoy at the end. The first to wrap their rope around the buoy wins. The boys go first, and it’s not close. This challenge is almost impossible for Hunter, who due to his broken hand is pretty much unable to move himself while Tony looks like a three-year-old trying to unbuckle himself and is barely ahead of Hunter. Meanwhile, Derrick is flying through the course with no problems at all. He is able to get to the yellow rope, off the structure, and wrap the buoy before either Tony or Hunter gets halfway across, securing his spot in the final, ending the road for Tony and Hunter.
This takes us to the girls side of the challenge. Tori says she will go streaking if Jenna or Kailah pull of the win, as if any extra reason was needed for one of them to topple the Camilanator. However, this one ends up not being particularly close either. Camila is moving almost as fast as Derrick is, while Kailah and Jenna are barely moving at all. It looks as if Jenna stops moving entirely, and just rests there like she’s sleeping in a hammock. Kailah is putting forth more effort, but is still mostly just swinging from side to side and not moving forward very much. Camila ends up smoking them, and grabs the last spot in the final. Tori and Jordan both look horribly disappointed in Jenna and Kailah’s performances, and it certainly seems like they could have done a much better job. Regardless, the final will be without the two of them, and will instead include Cara Maria, Camila, and Tori from the female side; and Jordan, CT, and Derrick from the male side.
After TJ sends the four losers on their way, we get back to the house with the six finalists. Our beloved host follows them there, and announces some details about the Final. He says the prize money will be split as $15,000 for 3rd place, $35,000 for 2nd place, and $450,000 for 1st place for each gender. This is a gigantic difference in prize money from 1st to 2nd and 3rd, putting further emphasis on winning above all else. TJ also announces they will be going to Salta, Argentina for the final; but he will not be joining them there. Once they get to Argentina, Tori and Derrick call home. Derrick calls his son, who says he ate mashed potatoes and a Twinkie for breakfast. Tori calls her sister, who wishes her luck on the Final. Jordan gets a message from TJ, who says that the final will consist of timed stages, and to start they will jump 20,000 feet out of an airplane. Everyone looks really pumped, except for Cara Maria who looks absolutely shook. They then head to the airport, and Cara Maria looks absolutely terrified (seems like Jordan’s claim she doesn’t do well with heights might have had some validity.)
CT falls first, and points out that the landing area is all dirt and rocks. He ends up landing awkwardly and gets a bunch of holes in his shorts. Tori and Derrick’s landings both seem to go as planned, but they’re the only two that can make that claim. Jordan comes in next, but he goes way too fast and gets hurt bad on his landing. Jordan is taken to an ambulance and starts receiving medical attention. He ends up just walking it off, but he looks like he is in real pain. He revealed on social media later that he had broken his tibia and the person he fell without broke his leg. Nevertheless, he vows to push on, and everyone else starts wondering where the other two girls landed. Camila and Cara Maria end up landing God knows where (although it did look more comfortable than where everyone else fell.) They end up having to send a truck to go grab them and bring them back to the location. Honestly, this whole stunt seemed like a giant waste of money. It was a serious health risk, didn’t mean anything to placements of the final, and they had already put a ton of money into this challenge, based on the cast (lots of big-name veterans), residences (four different houses if you include the Island house the victors went to this episode), and the prize pool (by far the largest in the show’s history.) While it is great they are putting money into The Challenge, one has to wonder if this last expense was necessary.
The competitors then march to the first part of the final, which takes place in an Incan Ruins maze. Competitors are required to bring a salt gem from the bottom to the top of the maze. They will receive further instruction when there. Derrick is the first one there and Jordan is right behind him. They are told to wait until a player from the opposite sex arrives. That person will then become their partner. As a pair, they must move thirty painted stones through the maze to a designated ring. They are each allowed to choose who their partner will be. Cara Maria is next to arrive, and Derrick takes her as his partner. Jordan ends up with Camila and CT takes Tori. This seems rather odd, as Jordan had made a big point about Tori being his preferred partner choice and it seemed like as second to arrive, he would have next pick. Regardless, there was probably something we didn’t see here, and it is nice to have different pairs than we are accustomed to. Tori says CT is the least in shape guy here and she has yet to see him run this season, which seems harsh but is also true in all honesty. Derrick and Cara get to the rocks first, and start work on the green rocks. They do look very heavy and will be a struggle to carry. Jordan and Camila get there next and take the blue rocks, leaving CT and Tori the pink rocks. They’re all neck and neck but Jordan and Camila take an alternate route that seems to be going much quicker. Derrick and Cara Maria are barely in the lead, but Derrick is also looking real gassed. The credits star to roll, and that culminates this episode of The Challenge. From now on, the power rankings will be split by male and female due to each person working only against other people of their gender.
Eliminated
Tony: I feel kind of bad for Tony. He got made fun of a lot this season, and even though he has done some horrible things in the past he seems like he has real issues he struggles with. Hopefully he’s able to piece his life together in the offseason and come back readier to win than ever.
Hunter: While I can understand people not feeling much sympathy for Tony, I think everyone feels a bit for Hunter. He dealt with an extreme ammount of adversity this season, and performed remarkably. Hopefully his wrist returns to full health and the Young Bucks can rise again.
Jenna: As I’ve said many times this season, I’m not sold on Jenna as a competitor and this challenge sure didn’t help matters. She has decent athletic tools, but she seems to lack the drive, fortitude, and edge to be a top tier competitor.
Kailah: Cara Maria and Camila have harped on Kailah a lot recently, but I feel like she is not getting her due. She won in the first round of the Purge to open the season, and won two eliminations and two challenges after that. She seems to take all the heat off of Jenna and onto her, and if she can improve her social game a little bit she could really become a force.
Females:
3) Tori: People tend to struggle in their first final, and in the past five seasons Ashley M. and Jamie are the only two to have won their first final (and Jamie won on a season where every pair had at least one newbie.) It also looks like (via the next time on trailer) pairs will remain the same though the whole final and CT looks like he could really struggle at this altitude.
2) Cara Maria: I know I had Cara Maria in first in my Finals power ranking earlier in the season, but I’m feeling differently right now. Cara looks real shook right now, and Derrick also was not looking great. If there’s any swimming at all involved (which there usually is), I’m leaning Camila at this point.
1) Camila: While she seems like she may have legitimite mental issues, this hasn’t stopped her from being a superb competitor. Derrick even said he thought Camila was the best athlete still in the final. Production also seems like it is doing what it can to salvage her reputation, so people don’t revolt if she wins.
Males:
3) CT: While he is an exceptional competitor, he also just doesn’t seem built for a final right now. It looks like a decent portion of the final will take place at altitude, which will cause even more stress on his body. He certainly could win, but I’d be very surprised if he did.
2) Derrick: Derrick has had a great season thus far, but I’m not picking him to win right now. He didn’t look great carrying those rocks, and he’s abysmal at puzzles.
1) Jordan: He may have broken his tibia, but I still like his chances here. He’s looked very good this season, and he killed the last final he was in. He’s also the one competitor without a glaring weakness (CT’s endurance, Derrick’s puzzles), and has all the requisite skills one needs to win the final.
