AntFTW

None of them want to be the one to go against Natalie, with a very small number exceptions (maybe Kam or Tori would do it for the skull). Right before Devin said that, I was thinking to myself “what the fuck is Nicole saying?” that was probably the most hilarious moment of the episode for me.

I’m aware. I was referring to RW and RR people as well as Challengers from Fresh Meat seasons. I was saying that I only tolerated people from RW/RR and Fresh Meat including Paula as an example of the fuckery I loved seeing season after season.

Nany does look different. She looks more mature (not like she's aged a lot but like she put on her grown woman face). With regard to the new people, they've started dipping into cast members from more and more shows. There was a time where I only wanted to see the RW or RR people, and only tolerated new people from Fresh Meat seasons. I loved seeing all the shenanigans from Paula, Kenny, Evan and the rest. They are introducing more and more new people that now outnumber the returning Challengers and the returning Challengers can't come in and dominate like they used to. Also, as a sidenote, I'm rooting for the oldschool nonwinners. It's time that Leroy, Aneesa, and Nany go home with a win.

I agree! Kam is a good player but her plays only last one round rather than an entire game. Usually she has her plans and strategies but they only get her past one elimination or one challenge rather than to the end. However, I will also say about Ashley that she has been playing from the bottom in seasons 35 and in this one. She's a walking target much like Wes. There's no such thing as playing a "quiet game" for them anymore. - - - Outside of all of that, I guess Kam is letting rookies slide this season. I recall her having this attitude of not letting rookies skate by and having them "earn their stripes."

I agree about the power alliances. I like the skull concept because it really takes an axe to the “power alliance” dynamic. In past seasons, the goal is to stay out of the eliminations, which is the reason for the power alliance. That doesn’t really apply so much anymore. It’s the reason why there weren’t any power alliances last season. Also, last season was very “diplomatic.” There wasn’t much fighting over who goes in to get the skulls. They were letting each other take their turns and being civil about it. That has also changed with the limited number of skulls this season. Now, you may have to turn against someone to get your shot at a skull because there is a limited number of them. Now, they have more incentive for keeping people out of eliminations who don’t have skulls. The only use for power alliances this season is to decide when you wanna go into elimination and to insulate yourself if you have a skull but either way, you have to risk possibly going home. You have to risk losing numbers on your side... and maybe Josh can win his first elimination ever. ...and I’m also shocked that more people didn’t go for Lolo, and that Kam struggled to find a partner.

Watching Wes getting hit in the face was the most fun I've had since March. I saw it in the trailer multiple times and cracked up. I saw it in the episode and cried. It was even funnier the second time I watched that part of the episode.

I. CANT. WAIT!

Wow! I didn’t think we were gonna get another season this year.

They gave these characters no type of common sense this episode. Shockingly the only common sense came from the crooked defense attorney and the fuck-up prosecutor.

I don’t think it's Monet wanting to keep her down but they have different visions of Diana's life. Monet seems to want Diana to not just be apart of the family business, but Monet wants Diana to run it, to be the queenpin. Monet seems determined for that to happen despite Diana's, and probably Lorenzo's, objections. Diana doesn't seem to want that.

I feel like they are building Cane and Drew up to be a Ghost and Tommy 2.0. One is unpredictable and reckless like Tommy. The other one is calm and cautious like Ghost. They're really showing us that Professor (Jabari???) has a type... but in the office? On campus though? I like Tamika humbled Tasha and I was really hoping that she would join the team when Method Man asked. ..so... umm... I'm not sure how I feel about MJB's acting in this episode. For example, that scene where she goes through her daughters purse and pockets to find the extra burner phone the daughter has... I feel like she rushes into the room and searches the daughter's purse like a crack addict looking for things to pawn. I feel like there's a way she could have acted that out and maintained her character's intimidation factor.

Agreed! She makes her character look intimidating like a drug queenpin should be.

This episode is something... 1) I don't get the whole "rich kids wanna sell drugs" thing. Tariq's from Choate wants to sell drugs... again... while being rich. 2) The storyline about teachers on and off relationship. I don't need it. It seems to be such an irrelevant part of the episode. 3) Tariq is taking a supposedly rigorous course to graduate early so that we can get his inheritance so that we can take care of his mother. He's also cheating for someone so that he can stay in school so that he can get his inheritance so that he can take care of his mother. He's willing to sell drugs again to pay for his mother's lawyer. However, he's okay with her snitching on him to save herself. ...so he's willing to do just about anything to take care of his mom (including taking the blame) except confess. 4) Tasha wants Tariq to inherit his portion of Ghost's estate and Tariq also wants his inheritance but they're willing to put all that at risk by admitting Ghost was a drug dealer. Once they admit it, Ghost's estate is gone. The Feds will seize it... meaning that everything they're doing to get it would be for nothing. It seems like they're setting it up where Tasha or Tariq won't admit thee drug dealing aspects but Tasha's getting off because Saxe will fuck up somehow. 5) Tariq's friend from Choate, whose name I do not remember, is annoying. 6) Tariq's supposedly super rigorous class seems like high school rather than college. 7) The memorial/vigil for Ghost... weird.

I think the Challenge is not mature enough for Natalie Anderson. I don't watch TAR and I can't judge the maturity of the people on that show but I think Survivor is a much more mature game than The Challenge. Watching these seasons of the Challenge, you'd assume these people were in college or college-aged if it was your first time watching.

I could see this kind of flashback happening with Cooper Saxe since he's the only one still there. I'm curious at why his character specifically was so valuable to save for the spin off.

With regard to the logo, I've always been under the impression that as long as you use the logo or product as intended, you don't need permission to use a logo like showing a character performing a search on Google, a scenario is which the character is using the product and logo as intended. Anybody, please correct me if I'm wrong but that's always been my impression. Also, could be a product placement type of thing. Also, which regard to the big time crime family, I'm curious if they'll connect some original Power characters to them or showing them having crossed paths before. It's kind of "easy" because how does one big-time crime family (our original Power characters) who rose to the top of the drug game in the same market not have some sort of run-in with this other big-time crime family in the same market (the Tejadas)?

1) I agree on the theme song. 2) Effie just giving him drugs,.. I got a problem with that. I watched Tariq take the drugs and not pay her. I'm like "people die for that or less." - - - Additionally, I'm assuming this a one-season thing. This is book 2 and and next season is book 3 focusing on other characters and so on. If this is the case, this season should not end with a happy ending. Tariq goes to prison or he dies. Everyone shouldn't be out and free and happy.

She makes the most sense out of everyone.

I never watch reunions. That’s the only part of the season I never watch. l’ll watch episodes in which they show deleted scenes and tell stories about stuff that they didn’t air. It’s usually fun and hilarious to watch. Those episodes are always my favorites of the season, however, they haven’t been doing that over the last few seasons. Before this season, I think the last time they did it was Bloodlines.

You notice how she always looks at him for support? When she is asked a question and she talks, she looks at him. When he talks, he looks straight at the camera.

Cara today is a complete 180 from Fresh Meat 2, Cutthroat and Rivals Cara. She got bullied by everyone back in the day, my most remembered one being Wes on Rivals. I felt bad Cara then, I couldn’t understand why anyone was bullying her and also I just didn’t like the bullying overall. Now, she’s done a few seasons of the Challenge, been to a few finals, and won a couple and her ego blew up. Personally, I don’t think she’s that well-rounded of a Challenger.

I was hoping it was gonna be one-winner-takes-all. Since they introduced the concept on Vendettas and we've gotten some version of that since, the female vs female and male vs male competition just seem boring to me now.

It is. Before this season, episodes were an hour and before that 30 minutes.

I agree that it was a boring final. That’s why I wanted there to be more checkpoints. Maybe pairing them up at some point would been more drama. i just saw this morning a video of Johnny and Jenny saying that there were checkpoints that were not shown.

As soon as I saw the math checkpoint, I was like "well, Cory, say goodbye to your lead."