S37.E12: 500

[shantown]

Quote

Players commemorate the 500th episode of "The Challenge" with the physically demanding "Brush Contact" mission.

Airs 10/27/21

[LaurelleJ]

This episode reinforces that CT is the goat. He has the best strategy. Don’t pick Bettina, and you guarantee yourself another two eliminations if you win, because they will pick her next, or if you go in 2 eliminations later, you can pick her next. While Emy could easily beat Bettina, she could just as easily beat Big T. For a puzzle, probably easier. Interesting that Big T is so relieved. She is definitely next no matter what. The editing made me nervous, like Bettina would actually win. Emy is so funny, being nervous about going in, then putting on the game face on and winning, then looking surprised that she won, hehe. Not the editors playing Bettina’s laugh as she left, hehe.

She would have also won against Big T in this elimination I believe, so CT’s strategy would have been great here too. I wonder if CT told Emy off camera, or even on camera and they didn’t show it, that she should pick Bettina in the end because that leaves Amanda’s spot available to steal. I wonder if Emy had ended up picking Amanda, would she just be able to replace her on the team, otherwise that would have sent Ashley to the Ruby team, which would have left Sapphire with 3 people. That doesn’t make sense. She probably would have just taken Amanda’s spot. I didn’t even think about whose spot Emy would take. I wonder if they purposely didn’t show that conversation beforehand to make you forget. I was thinking that she should pick Amanda, and she did. That strengthens the Sapphire team tremendously. Losing both Amanda and Bettina, and gaining Emy. Sapphire is stacked now. It’s funny that Kyle is the weakest link on that team.

If I were Nany, I would be worried. She is the weakest female on Emerald, and people will go for her spot if they want to get on Emerald. Although I really can’t see Emy or even Ashley leaving CT’s team. Maybe Amanda or Big T, but then Emerald would plot to get them to get thrown in to get them off the team, and who would want to join a team because they are strong, when your presence would weaken it? I wouldn’t be surprised if when the numbers got down, they would rearrange teams or switch to two teams. What Nelson said also made sense, that you can’t expect CT to carry you to a win, you have to put in the work. That’s why I would be trying to get Kyle off the team if I were CT. I would rather have Cory or Nelson than Kyle.

Edited October 28, 2021 by LaurelleJ
Sapphire is stacked now.

[AntFTW]

52 minutes ago, LaurelleJ said:

This episode reinforces that CT is the goat. He has the best strategy. Don’t pick Bettina, and you guarantee yourself another two eliminations if you win, because they will pick her next, or if you go in 2 eliminations later, you can pick her next. While Emy could easily beat Bettina, she could just as easily beat Big T. For a puzzle, probably easier.

That went in one ear and out the other.

53 minutes ago, LaurelleJ said:

The editing made me nervous, like Bettina would actually win.

Me too. I was thinking there may be an upset happening. It's not impossible.

54 minutes ago, LaurelleJ said:

Not the editors playing Bettina’s laugh as she left, hehe.

That gave me a little chuckle.

 

[AntFTW]

I don;t have much to say about this episode.

1) Emerald's constant winning is boring. I need a shake up to happen.

2) I like Tori but she should not talk during the deliberations. She sucks at lying and keeping her thoughts to herself.

3) Looking at Amanda in a less negative light this season, I can say that I respect her game play... even though it was obvious. Try everything and leave everything on the field. She can play a good game when she's not being an angry little stubborn monster.

12 hours ago, LaurelleJ said:

That strengthensthe Sapphire team tremendously. Losing both Amanda and Bettina, and gaining Emy. Emerald is stacked now. It’s funny that Kyle is the weakest link on that team.

Did you mean Sapphire is stacked now?

Edited October 28, 2021 by AntFTW

[angelamh66]

Welp, I’m back to hating Josh. His arrogance is hilarious when he is just not that good. He landed himself on a stacked team. That’s it. 

Maybe an unpopular opinion but I cannot stand Emy. I was hoping she’d lose so Bettina could f&ck some sh*t up. Emy’s theatrics are just so over the top. It’s reminiscent of Camila and I could not stand her. 

[Lantern7]

This has been a decent season, but I'm starting to get mentally prepped for All Stars. Emy is probably the most entertaining "rookie," but I'm betting that she's exhausting to be around.

Poor Bettina. She got stuck on a Lair where she had no skill for. Worse, Teege didn't do the "I'm sure we'll see you again" spiel when she left. She's hot, but she's not normal. She brings that fucked-up laugh, Meanwhile, Emy probably has a sacrificial altar on the house grounds. Which girl would you bring back? Oh, and dropping her laugh as a sound bite was not cool.

On 10/27/2021 at 11:19 PM, angelamh66 said:

Welp, I’m back to hating Josh.

I was supposed to stop?

Devin talking about Amanda and not negotiating with terrorists? Lame. There's probably an interview where he talks about Emy reuniting with "Uncle CT," and he ends it with, "Isn't that how porn starts?” He’s that predictable l

In terms of anniversary episodes that aired tonight, The Challenge 500th < Legends of Tomorrow 100.

Edited October 31, 2021 by Lantern7

[aghst]

The Daily favored the Emerald team because they had the numbers.  Two of the men just took out CT and Kyle couldn’t beat the other guy one on one.

similarly, teams with two women were at a disadvantage vs. the three women on Emerald.

why didn’t they make one male and one female on Emerald sit out?  They are being rewarded for the two previous Daily wins.

So now, which vet women will call out Emy?  She’s big enough to threaten Tori and Kaycee, the two strongest women other than Emy.

but now they have teams of 4, 5 and 6.  How many total competitors will go to the Final?  At most 12 or 4 players from each team?  There might only be 3 eliminations left, 2 males and 1 female.

or maybe there will only be 6 players in the Final and it will be some kind of individual battle, not teams or even pairs.

this was the 12th episode so we may end up with a Final and Reunion, maybe 18 or 19 total episodes.

[LaurelleJ]

10 hours ago, AntFTW said:

Did you mean Sapphire is stacked now?

Yes I did, haha, I edited it. It's only a matter of time before the chatter becomes Emmauel and Nany are the weak links. Wouldn't mind seeing Kyle and Devin swapped. 

9 hours ago, angelamh66 said:

Welp, I’m back to hating Josh. His arrogance is hilarious when he is just not that good. He landed himself on a stacked team. That’s it. 

Maybe an unpopular opinion but I cannot stand Emy. I was hoping she’d lose so Bettina could f&ck some sh*t up. Emy’s theatrics are just so over the top. It’s reminiscent of Camila and I could not stand her. 

Yeah, I have always hated Josh, then was on his side with the Fessy/Amber B mess, and now that they are both gone I can go back to my anti-Josh stance. He got lucky to be on team Emerald and that's it. 

I started the season kind of not liking Emy, but she doesn't bother me as much now. She's not as nuts, and maybe part of it is how much CT seems to like her. 

[AntFTW]

50 minutes ago, LaurelleJ said:

I started the season kind of not liking Emy, but she doesn't bother me as much now. She's not as nuts, and maybe part of it is how much CT seems to like her.

I’m pretty neutral on Emy. She tends to do the most. She has her outbursts and rants. In this episode, she’s reminiscent of Camila as @angelamh66 mentioned. I was thinking “is this the new Camila-nator?” watching her go crazy over her and Bettina’s situation.

CT seems to calm her down. She’s not so dramatic and over the top with CT. Everyone else riles her up and CT brings it down.

[AncientNewbie]

I think Nelly's anger at Kyle is still aftereffects of how Fessy burnt him last season, because he seemed overly aggressive for what was going on. 

I liked seeing CT counseling Emy on strategy and getting a look into how this new, mature CT approaches the game. She's still a bit of a loose cannon, though. 

[shantown]

I don't know what I really expected from a 500th episode, especially since it fell in the middle of a season, but I guess I just wanted more than a regular episode with a quick shot of the challengers yelling "Thank you for watching!" at the camera. At least have made the daily one of those "mini finals" that TJ loves so much with some classic dailies combined or something. I guess I just wanted more and an ep full of rookie drama and Kyle just wasn't it.

[mojoween]

500 episodes you say?  Feels like I’ve watched at least three times that many.

There is no possible way I could spend more than five minutes alone with Emy.  Whoever said she seems exhausting is exactly how I feel about her dramatic ass.  Also saying “Uncle CT” over and over is creepy and gross.

Josh sucks, forever and ever amen, and we are never going to be rid of him.

[AntFTW]

1 hour ago, AncientNewbie said:

I think Nelly's anger at Kyle is still aftereffects of how Fessy burnt him last season, because he seemed overly aggressive for what was going on.

Nelson is always overly aggressive. Nelson always does the most. Then he apologizes for it and does the same thing all over again. It's a cycle.

Edited October 28, 2021 by AntFTW

[Unclejosh]

Yeah Emerald was clearly going to win no matter what but CT also didn't really want to win and did not really try. He needed the team to lose so he could get rid of Bettina/Amanda. I think Sapphire only lost by 2 bags which is coincidentally how many he had unless I am mistaken which is possible.  

On the official podcast a producer was on earlier this year and flat out said CT doesn't always try his hardest and doesn't want to win the daily missions all the time. He thinks long term and doesn't care about winning a daily unless it benefits him.

 

[aghst]

24 minutes ago, AntFTW said:

Nelson is always overly aggressive. Nelson always does the most. Then he apologizes for it and does the same thing all over again. It's a cycle.

Roid rage?

[LaurelleJ]

12 minutes ago, Unclejosh said:

Yeah Emerald was clearly going to win no matter what but CT also didn't really want to win and did not really try. He needed the team to lose so he could get rid of Bettina/Amanda. I think Sapphire only lost by 2 bags which is coincidentally how many he had unless I am mistaken which is possible.  

On the official podcast a producer was on earlier this year and flat out said CT doesn't always try his hardest and doesn't want to win the daily missions all the time. He thinks long term and doesn't care about winning a daily unless it benefits him.

 

Definitely. Even though his team lost, CT was the real winner last night with getting rid of BOTH Bettina and Amanda and gaining Emy. No use in getting injured in this challenge when the odds were already against him. When daily missions used to put money into your team bank, there was incentive to win. There's really no incentive for CT to win. If he wins, he is in power, and puts targets on his back unless he just picks rookies. If he loses, no one will nominate him for eliminations. He's in a great position. 

[AntFTW]

9 minutes ago, LaurelleJ said:

Definitely. Even though his team lost, CT was the real winner last night with getting rid of BOTH Bettina and Amanda and gaining Emy. No use in getting injured in this challenge when the odds were already against him. When daily missions used to put money into your team bank, there was incentive to win. There's really no incentive for CT to win. If he wins, he is in power, and puts targets on his back unless he just picks rookies. If he loses, no one will nominate him for eliminations. He's in a great position. 

..and also considering it was a women's elimination day. There is literally no risk to him.

That gets me thinking about Ashley and CT. Ashley and CT have been the most consistent champions to appear in the last few seasons. I believe they've been on every season since Ashley's million-dollar season 32. With Ashley, all the girls are usually hostile toward her in that they want her out; she's won before and we don't see her win again "because I want to win." With CT, all the guys are like CT's cool; CT can stay because I want to run the final with him and win with him.

Edited October 28, 2021 by AntFTW

[mojoween]

Well, to be fair, Ashley is a mean Lavender Lady who stole from poor, innocent Hunter, and CT no longer wants to kill anyone who looks at him.

[Jobiska]

4 hours ago, LaurelleJ said:

Yeah, I have always hated Josh, then was on his side with the Fessy/Amber B mess, and now that they are both gone I can go back to my anti-Josh stance. He got lucky to be on team Emerald and that's it. 

I started the season kind of not liking Emy, but she doesn't bother me as much now. She's not as nuts, and maybe part of it is how much CT seems to like her. 

With you on both of these.  Well, not so much that I was on his side, but I was on Amber's side and for once he was doing what I wanted him to do, heh.

It was really rich when the camera panned from Nelson screaming at Kyle and caught Josh looking shocked, shocked I tell you.  Was he just shocked because for once it wasn't him hollering incoherently?

Heh at Big T floating in the pool with her breakfast on her stomach and then suddenly realizing she was floating toward the waterfall edge.  I don't really think she would have gone over, but I've never been in such a pool, so....?  Anyway, can't believe she got out of that fix without spilling the cereal!



 

[aghst]

3 minutes ago, Jobiska said:

Heh at Big T floating in the pool with her breakfast on her stomach and then suddenly realizing she was floating toward the waterfall edge.  I don't really think she would have gone over, but I've never been in such a pool, so....?  Anyway, can't believe she got out of that fix without spilling the cereal!

 

She was also eating something from a plate on her belly.

But they just cut from montage of other people working out, working up a good sweat and then cut to Big T lounging on some big inflatable thing on the pool.

 

Really the workout theater really doesn't predict who wins ultimately.  CT and Ashley work out but they don't work out as hard as others.

In any event, while the Final challenges can have some hardcore endurance sections, those alone don't determine who win.  IOW, they avoid making the Final challenges into pseudo triathlons.  The puzzles and eating challenges negate any advantages pure fitness may provide to some people.

 

[AntFTW]

TJ: This is our 500th episode

Kyle: CT, what was episode 1 like?

🤣🤣🤣

[AntFTW]

Also, if you all haven’t watch the after show on YouTube, watch it. It’s juicy.

[sara416]

On 10/27/2021 at 10:25 PM, Lantern7 said:

This has been a decent season, but I'm starting to get mentally prepped for All Stars. Emy is probably the most entertaining "rookie," but I'm betting that she's exhausting to be around.

Poor Bettina. She got stuck on a Lair where she had no skill for. Worse, Teege didn't do the "I'm sure we'll see you again" spiel when she left. She's hot, but she's not normal. She brings that fucked-up laugh, Emy probably has a sacrificial altar on the house grounds. Which girl would you bring back? Oh, and dropping her laugh as a sound bite was not cool.

I was supposed to stop?

Devin talking about Amanda and not negotiating with terrorists? Lame. There's probably an interview where he talks about Emy reuniting with "Uncle CT," and he ends it with, "Isn't that how porn starts?” He’s that predictable l

In terms of anniversary episodes that aired tonight, The Challenge 500th < Legends of Tomorrow 100.

I never did. Couldn't stand him on BB and he's even worse on the Challenge. 

[RedbirdNelly]

it was very odd to me that they would do nothing to even out the teams during the Daily. It's not impressive to keep winning when other teams have fewer people. I thought they would even things out like Survivor.

Emy is so odd. My youngest caught part of the episode and remarked that the best way to make sure you get to come back next year is "to show up full bipolar" like Emy. I could not follow at all why she was so upset when she talked to Bettina (though I was happy to see Bettina leave).

[peachmangosteen]

14 hours ago, AntFTW said:

Also, if you all haven’t watch the after show on YouTube, watch it. It’s juicy.

Can you recap the best stuff so I don't have to watch lol?

This season is terrible. I think I'm ready for another break from this show. It's just so boring and tedious and I actually don't like a single person anymore.

[jsm1125]

I can’t tell if Bettina was the recipient of a good edit, if Emy just wanted to be the last rookie standing, if Emy invents reasons to dislike people, or a combination of all 3. The Bettina hate felt…off, to me.

Edited October 29, 2021 by jsm1125

[LaurelleJ]

Wow, the aquamarine tea is interesting. Aquamarine was an alliance between Emerald and Sapphire. The plan for Emerald was to keep Amanda and Big T on separate cells that weren't theirs at all times, so that each team would have an anchor. Emy and CT's moves to get Amanda and Big T on the same cell really helped give their team a better chance to win. 

[MaggieG]

4 hours ago, jsm1125 said:

I can’t tell if Bettina was the recipient of a good edit, if Emy just wanted to be the last rookie standing, if Emy invents reasons to dislike people, or a combination of all 3. The Bettina hate felt…off, to me.

Seriously. Emy had an issue with Bettina because she is a rookie? Um, Emy you're a rookie. Emy also said that Bettina hasn't done anything, well she did manage to win an elimination with Cory. Emy is going all in on the vets when they would all turn on her given the chance. It seems like everyone was catering towards Emy and trying to help her, when she's complete nutbag and goes off for no reason vs Bettina who actually seems pretty nice and drama free. Plus, Emerald seemed unnecessarily paranoid. Bettina told Tori that if she wins, she would stay with her team. She also said she would pick either Big T or Emy. Amanda's name never came up. Emy we know would go to CT and there was no chance Big T would win so there would be no infiltration. Emerald was trying so hard to keep Amanda off their team, they screwed themselves. 

I also have to laugh at Josh thinking he has some sort of power. 

[Fretful]

The men are wearing caps in their talking heads.  So, something must happen down the line with their hair.  Do they dye it blue to support Emy?  Do they shave it for a challenge?  It's distracting.  It reminds me of makeover week on ANTM.

I used to really enjoy Tori, but this season she's just annoying.  I'm not even sure she's one of the strongest women anymore.  I hate to say it, but Jordan might have brought out the best in her.

I like Cory more than Nelson, but at this point, they're both just fillers.    But they're not the lay up Josh will forever be.

Isn't it almost time for trivia?  I think there are only 3 non-native English speakers left, and they all seem to have terrific comprehension (unlike Turbo, who really struggled and was painful to watch).  I love TJ's love for trivia.

I adored Emanuel's coat at the Lair.  

BTW- I'm old and I do remember the very first Challenge.  It was Real World people pretending they were on Road Rules.  Puck was the host.  There was no winner (or rather, everyone won).  

Edited October 30, 2021 by Fretful

[millennium]

On 10/28/2021 at 11:26 AM, mojoween said:

There is no possible way I could spend more than five minutes alone with Emy.  Whoever said she seems exhausting is exactly how I feel about her dramatic ass.  Also saying “Uncle CT” over and over is creepy and gross.

Over the many seasons there have only been a handful of players I just can't stand.   Kenny, for example.  Frank.  Nicole.  Turbo.   Ninja Natalie.  And Emy.  It's probably a tie between Ninja and Emy.

I hate Emy's self-indulgent, seemingly rehearsed (in her head) histrionics upon winning.  This wasn't even a grueling or very demanding elimination.   Not a Hall Brawl or Pole Wrestle, etc.   Why the crying, the flailing, the screaming?   I can't think of another player who won and made such a cringey, self-absorbed  display (well, Laurel maybe -- "Suck it, dumb bitch!" -- but that was funny because it turned out she lost). 

This season isn't much fun.   There's little lightheartedness, no zaniness, nothing unexpected.

But I have to say, Ashley's slow-mo wink at the bar was everything.❣️

Edited October 30, 2021 by millennium

[millennium]

On 10/28/2021 at 7:20 PM, AntFTW said:

Also, if you all haven’t watch the after show on YouTube, watch it. It’s juicy.

Until now I didn't know there was an aftershow.

So I watched.  Unfortunately, it was an Emy lovefest.   Hard to stomach vets (Tori, Nany, Kyle, Josh, Devin) all singing the praises of Emy as Emy gloated remotely and insulted special guest vet Darrell because Darrell said he thought Michaela could have beaten her.

For the 500th episode, the host of the aftershow held a mini trivia challenge among the guests.   Emy was caught cheating (she appeared to be using Google off camera). 

Nany sort of addressed a point I made in my previous post that the show is different now, less spontaneous.  She said (and I'm paraphrasing), "this isn't the same show it was when we all came on board (we meaning the vets).   This is a sport now."   🙁

[TiffanyNichelle]

On 10/29/2021 at 11:52 AM, jsm1125 said:

I can’t tell if Bettina was the recipient of a good edit, if Emy just wanted to be the last rookie standing, if Emy invents reasons to dislike people, or a combination of all 3. The Bettina hate felt…off, to me.

Like a week later I finally watched the episode and this one has really turned me off on Emy. I went back and forth with her all season but the entitlement just bothered me. She has spent the whole season trying to be in with the vets, which is a valid strategy but she's so blatant and obvious and desperate about that I can't root it on. She's been out to get other rookies since the day she leaked "the list". It's not a good look.