S39.E12: A Legend Returns

[shantown]

Quote

The contenders fight for their lives above the water. One contender finds themselves on the outs with their alliance, while another attempts to change the power dynamic in the game. A long-awaited returning Champion shakes up the game.

Airs January 3 at 8:00pm on MTV

[mojoween]

This is how you know for very sure it’s not rigged - Cara is bad at puzzles.

Which sucks because I was so rooting for Michelle to lose.

How are people on the outside getting intel from the inside?

Also, what are those shiny stickers the ladies are wearing?

[AntFTW]

This was a decent and watchable episode I thought. I'm glad they didn't spend miuch time on the Olivia/Horacio bullshit.

I enjoyed watching all of the politicking and the game talk. I thought they built some good tension on the game. I was interested in seeing if there would be a power shift in the dominant alliance, and that was better than the boring drama this cast tends to produce.

Corey: I'm voting for you Ravyn because I'm a pussy

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

After Cara, there is Brad and CT left so I think to say that the next two episodes will have guy eliminations.

They give Michele so much attention in this episode that it's easy to predict that she's going into elimination. If she wasn't, this entire episode wouldn't revolve around her but it seems like it does.

I love seeing Cara back on The Challenge! ☺️

Yeah! Cara is still bad at puzzles.

Those puzzle pieces look heavy and Cara just hulked her way through moving them. For all the people that wanted Michele out of the game, they should have helped Cara. Risk the $10K. If you're in the minority alliance, it doesn't change your position in the game. However, being the boring people that they are, no one takes the risk.

Edited January 4 by AntFTW

[Lantern7]

*sigh* Well, this is a clunker of a season. Not even the return of Cara Maria and her pulling the Chaos Club (or whatever they call it) could prevent her from losing to Michele in the Arena. Reverse the results, and you'd have chaos on a grand scale because Michele had been in the middle of all the alliance drama. But nope . . . Cara couldn't get it done, and Michele will probably never shut the fuck up about it, even as she launders her shorts from when Laurel was seeking to target her in the prior episode.

Take out Cara Maria, and what do you have? A somewhat blah mission and Zara (I think) saying that her team would not get wet, while she was standing next to Berna, the Queen of the Cock Block herself. At least we didn't have another forced party this week. Nope . . . just more alliance talk, complete with Jay trying to move into Olivia's head without paying rent. *sigh* If only she hadn't busted her hand and face last season. She and Horacio could have won, and we'd have two less people to deal with today. Is there anyone left that won't come off as grimy? Maybe Ed, but that's about it.

ETA: You gotta figure all three clubs were Chaos, right? I imagine BMP wanted something -- ANYTHING -- to happen, up to and including "Orange Shirt" getting pulled off the stage and forced to fight for her life. But it turned out Cara Maria's inability to do puzzle was greater than Michele's lack of endurance, so it was all moot.

Edited January 4 by Lantern7

[aghst]

So Michelle won Survivor on her only season there and has been on the Challenge several seasons without winning?

Michelle:  you don’t have to win Daily Challenge to win the whole Chllenge.

Also Michelle:  Zara has won 5 Dailies and is going to be a problem in the Final.  She’s got to go!

 

How did she become Queen Bee?  How is everyone else not seeing that she and Jay are running the Alliance?  Or do they see it but the script is to play along until the Alliance splinters?

This is episode 12 of the season and they still have 16 challengers left, more than half the 24 who started.

You figure they’ll at least have 3 men and 3 women for the Final but maybe as many as 5 of each gender starting the Final?

 

Those things they put on under the eyes, only some of the women had them, must be for bags under the eyes?

[AntFTW]

3 minutes ago, aghst said:

How did she become Queen Bee?  How is everyone else not seeing that she and Jay are running the Alliance?  Or do they see it but the script is to play along until the Alliance splinters?

Michele hangs out with many of them outside of the show. Michele is connected a lot of them outside of the show, but obviously, the dynamics of the show forces her to choose sides.

[Badlands]

4 hours ago, aghst said:

So Michelle won Survivor on her only season there and has been on the Challenge several seasons without winning?

Michelle:  you don’t have to win Daily Challenge to win the whole Chllenge.

Also Michelle:  Zara has won 5 Dailies and is going to be a problem in the Final.  She’s got to go!

 

Michelle played Survivor twice. She won the first season and made it to the end in her second season, finishing third.

I don't see her two statements as contradictory at all. You don't have to win Daily Challenges to win. It's also true that Zara would be a huge threat in the final because she's good at everything.

One thing I really like about Michelle is that she's way more self-aware than most challengers. She admits when she screws up, is being too emotional or being hypocritical.

[bunnyface]

Ugh.  I was soooo hoping this was it for Michelle.  "As soon as she said "I'm sitting pretty in this game" I wanted her to die.  But Cara must *really* be bad at puzzles because I'm not great at them and even I could see how it was going to go after seeing a few pieces.  Of course, I wasn't pushing them.  But as soon as I saw the loops, I knew they were corners and they were interchangeable.  After that, it's pretty simple.  

Some of those people, if not all of them, should have been helping Cara, although I'm not sure it would have mattered.  Only one of them is going to get near any money,  but their chances of being that one go way up once Michelle is gone.

Yeah, those eye patches are to help puffiness around the eyes.  I have a bucket full of them but I never use them, so I always look like I've been on a 6-day crying jag.  I don't have any gold sparkly ones tho.  

Edited January 4 by bunnyface

[AntFTW]

9 hours ago, bunnyface said:

Ugh.  I was soooo hoping this was it for Michelle.  "As soon as she said "I'm sitting pretty in this game" I wanted her to die.  But Cara must *really* be bad at puzzles because I'm not great at them and even I could see how it was going to go after seeing a few pieces.

Yes, Cara is terrible at puzzles and always has been. She's not one of the Challenge greats because of her prowess with mental games. Swimming, eating challenges, and mental games of math and puzzles were usual her weakness if she had to do them without a partner. It's not that she doesn't know how to figure them out, but it usually takes her a long time to figure it out.

Edited January 4 by AntFTW

[AncientNewbie]

I was glad to see Cara Maria back, despite her IRL weirdness and Paulie and whatever else. She comes across as very genuine. 

I've said it before, but it applies here...for all the editing shenanigans that the cast allege in their post-show twitter beeves, I do love that this show doesn't sugar coat some things. Cara Maria is not good at puzzles and they didn't edit it to a photo finish. (Or last week, when they showed what a brat Laurel is.)

I'm good with Michele getting called down, even if she pulled it out. It justifies some of the attention on her to show she's somewhat capable at more than chat and wine. Not really down with the Nurys/Olivia angle, though...just feels too much like middle school and not enough like adults communicating. Which would be highly unexpected on this show, but throw some clothes into the pool then or something. 

Edited January 4 by AncientNewbie

[ImpinAintEasy]

It’s clear given these eliminations, the producers want the new crop of Challengers to beat the veterans. Outside of Jordan and Devin, none of these eliminations have really been catered to the vets. Maybe Tori too. I get it, they want new, cheaper blood.
 

Michelle is clearly their new darling. She does basically what Tori has done, become friends with a large group of people outside of the show and use it as cover during the season. Which isn’t exactly a new phenomenon, but there is a lack of rogues who can upset and destroy their plans the way a Jordan or Evelyn or CT could. Horacio could be that, but he’s way too passive in the game. 
 

Ed and Horacio continue to be the only semi-acceptable winners for me. 

 

[AntFTW]

15 minutes ago, ImpinAintEasy said:

there is a lack of rogues who can upset and destroy their plans the way a Jordan or Evelyn or CT could. Horacio could be that, but he’s way too passive in the game. 

I thought that's where we were going in the episode up until the house vote.

The tension that they built around a group of people that could flip and turn the tables on Michele and Jay's alliance was good, I thought. I was hoping we would get a few rogues that would turn the house upside down.

[angelamh66]

I guess I have a thing for underdogs or I just can't stand when people get too self-important. When Cara was an underdog that got picked on, I really rooted for her and was thrilled when she won a couple. But then she teamed up with Camilla and later Paulie and started running things and became absolutely insufferable.

Now I am experiencing the same thing with Jay and Michelle. I was rooting for them to upend the power structure in their first couple of seasons, but now that they are running things, I cannot stand either one of them. They were both at peak obnoxiousness last night topped off with Michelle referring to herself as the Queen Bee. 

I don't want to have to hate Olivia so she needs to back up on this Horacio smack talk. The only people I can really root for are Horacio, Ed, Kyland, and Zara. Maybe Colleen but I don't think she stands a chance. 

Edited January 4 by angelamh66

[Lamima]

It seems the round table talk to pick the 2nd one to go in the sand....seems they start voting with the likes of Michele or Jay or one of their little group or a wimpy person like what's his name (who called himself a P word). Wish Horacio or Raven or Coleen or whoever would be able to start it all rolling and then maybe more would jump on board. Tired of the butt cheek chick and Zaza winning dailys and wish they'd be options more. They won with Horacio so why not say Moriah instead of Coleen. Dumb ass people.

ANd I am rooting for Coleen, Horacio, Raven, Ed and Kyland. 

[aghst]

Notice now that all the legends are arriving with a little sermon to wag their fingers at some of the current challengers?

Yeah that's totally spontaneous right, not prompted at all by producers?🙄

Cara Maria at the end said something like "you'll be seeing a lot more of me."

Bet she's been antsy to come back.  It's been at least 4 seasons now?

 

[mojoween]

I was amazed at how fantastic Cara looked.  She hasn’t aged a day.

Every time they show Ed’s confessional where he is wearing the leopard shirt I wonder when some poor community theatre is going to get their Jesus back.

[LaurelleJ]

OK episode, not enough to make me wish I had watched it live. Another week of the insufferable Jay and Michele show. It's not like bananas, Wes, CT, Cara, Jordan, Laurel, or other challengers that you love to hate sometimes. I actually can't stand Jay and Michele. Michele calling herself the queen Bee was so cringe. Even she admitted that she hated that she said that, probably to save a little face. Jay looked more worried than Michele down in the elimination. I'm not the biggest Cara fan but I was happy she showed up, and man was I rooting for Cara to win. 

This season feels like it has been on forever, and there are still so many people left. When they showed big T and Melissa I had already forgotten they were on, it felt like forever ago. What even is life?

I'm hoping that the next vet sends a challenger home, just for some fun. I also hope the next person voted in is someone that we aren't expecting. The people who are lower on the totem poll need to band together and go for the top. Fast forward to the final already. 

[AntFTW]

27 minutes ago, LaurelleJ said:

OK episode, not enough to make me wish I had watched it live. Another week of the insufferable Jay and Michele show. It's not like bananas, Wes, CT, Cara, Jordan, Laurel, or other challengers that you love to hate sometimes. I actually can't stand Jay and Michele. Michele calling herself the queen Bee was so cringe. Even she admitted that she hated that she said that, probably to save a little face.

She says the 'bee' metaphor came from producers as they were asking her questions, and she took it and ran with it.

29 minutes ago, LaurelleJ said:

I'm not the biggest Cara fan but I was happy she showed up, and man was I rooting for Cara to win. 

I appreciate the chaos she brought. She came in, she talked some shit, made people nervous, called them "knock-offs", and went home. 😂

31 minutes ago, LaurelleJ said:

I'm hoping that the next vet sends a challenger home, just for some fun.

Me too. The champs winning their prize pot is the best part of the season.

32 minutes ago, LaurelleJ said:

The people who are lower on the totem poll need to band together and go for the top. Fast forward to the final already. 

That should have happened this episode. Colleen was barking up the right tree and ringing all the right alarms.

[Blueboxes]

Berna really rolled over on Colleen. If I were her, I would've said, "there are 6 girls to choose from and 4 of us. Let's each name 1 person who is our #1 that we get to protect. As winners, we all have earned the right to protect that person. Then the 4 of us can vote to pick between the remaining 2 who none of us have deemed a priority." 

I thought this was going to be the greatest episode ever with Cara knocking off orange shirt. But then I guess I can't have nice things.

I loved Cara until she paired up with Paulie and became absolutely unwatchable. Nice to see her without him here!

[jsm1125]

Has Olivia talked to everyone in this house about her concern with Horacio, except for Horacio himself? 

Berna has gone from “Michelle doesn’t like spending time with me” to “Michelle is my queen” awfully fast.

I think Ravyn is the best blend of drama, entertainment, and actual “challenge” ability this season, and I really hope she becomes a mainstay for this franchise. 

[LaurelleJ]

1 hour ago, Blueboxes said:

Berna really rolled over on Colleen. If I were her, I would've said, "there are 6 girls to choose from and 4 of us. Let's each name 1 person who is our #1 that we get to protect. As winners, we all have earned the right to protect that person. Then the 4 of us can vote to pick between the remaining 2 who none of us have deemed a priority." 

I thought this was going to be the greatest episode ever with Cara knocking off orange shirt. But then I guess I can't have nice things.

I loved Cara until she paired up with Paulie and became absolutely unwatchable. Nice to see her without him here!

Yes to all of this. Cara beating Michele would have been amazing. I was a Cara fan up until she got with Paul. That season where it was Cara and Paulie vs. Tori and Jordan was a mess. 

[luckyroll3]

A whole bunch of politicking and behind door plotting for them all to vote the way Michelle and Jay wanted them to....again. 

I was very excited to see Cara Maria. Definitely one of my favorites (up until she got with Paulie). So glad that Michelle got called down, but damn was I pissed when she won. But as soon as I saw it was a puzzle, I knew Cara would eat it.

Also, shut up Olivia!!! There will be no Horacio trash talking over here! Not when that dude supported your ass up until the end in your previous season, and continues to have your back despite you and your mean girl crew deciding that he wasn't connected enough to include in your little club. And then Jay trying to say that Horacio brought nothing?!?!? Jay, you don't want a side by side comparison. Or a head to head. Just shut up!

Berna, Michelle is your queen?!?!?! 

[AntFTW]

1 hour ago, luckyroll3 said:

Berna, Michelle is your queen?!?!?! 

It seems like she didn't understand Horacio when he said "she's everybody's queen"

[AntFTW]

 

[Jobiska]

I was intrigued that TJ said Cara Maria was his favorite challenger.

I too went off CM a little when she and Paulie got together, mainly because they seemed to be rubbing everything in Kyle's face which I thought was pretty immature, but I did feel that Paulie showed a modicum of growth in his recent season, and it seems their relationship is strong and not as weird as hers with Abram, and, well, I prefer CM at her worst to Laurel at her best, so, yay CM but I'm sorry she didn't beat Michele just because I'm tired of the Michele show.  But Michele did earn her win, so yay her too, I guess.  

Still rooting for Horacio, Kyland, Ravyn, Zara, Ed, and Colleen.  I don't dislike Asaf or Emmanuel but them being part of this Michele/Jay crew is kind of annoying.  

[millennium]

I didn't watch this episode -- it was all pixelated on my DVR and On Demand.  At first I was disappointed, then I remembered it's Season 39 and I'm not missing a damn thing anyway.  So I just watched the Cara-Michele elimination.  I watched in on youtube, with Cara and Darrell commenting during the playback.

I have to say, Cara looks better than ever.  And her old self-deprecating sense of humor seems to have returned too.   Even it was just for a few moments, it was the Cara Maria I love to watch.