S05.E04: Ring Around the Rival

[AntFTW]

  Quote

Rivals Aneesa and Ashley attempt to get back in sync after their blow up; Katie tries to school rivals Adam and Steve on playing a more aggressive game; the pressure is on to free up a star, tempting the winning team to make a big move.

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Air date: February 19, 2025 on MTV

[mojoween]

Faysal said he didn’t like the nickname like two challenges ago.  So why can’t TJ consistently not use the nickname?

The “bow-chicka-bow-wow” music when Aneesa and Sam were canoodling was a little much, show.

All those talking heads bagging on Adam and Steve for self-nominating were so stupid. You were all going to vote for them!  How exactly were they supposed to fight?

Ashley did you ever think that it was your overly-emotional ass they were trying to get rid of?

Edited February 20 by mojoween

[aghst]

There’s no penalty for doing badly on the Dailies, not enough incentive to try to win though those teams without Stars should be trying to line up chances to win Stars.

So these poorly performing teams rely only on social game.

OTOH, the design of this Daily, swing partners to grab rings, favored some teams more than others.  But Katie and Veronica had no chance whatsoever.

Fessy and Amber think they can keep winning Dailies and then wait until an all female team is voted in and they can go into elimination against them.

But will they keep winning Dailies?

All male teams have physical advantage but we haven’t seen puzzles to level the playing field.

Looks like next episode there may be an eating or consuming of gross foods or liquids.

Aneesa and Ashley had no chance.  Neither do Veronica and Katey.  Well other teams may keep them around until convenient.

But understandable that Ashley was frustrated.  She probably hoped to be paired with a fit male.  Or maybe she hadn’t been invited back in awhile so she was willing to chance coming all the way to Vietnam for a season which would work out for her.

 

[ImpinAintEasy]

This is the worst format this show has ever had. The dailies mean absolutely nothing, outside of who wins 1st. Adam and Steve are sent in every time with no reward for continuing to win, other than keeping their stars. The same gendered pairs are unfair, as we've now seen a male-male pair eliminate an all female team 3 times in a row. 

Honestly hoping Katie and Veronica skate by to the final and it's not based on athleticism at all and they win. 

[LaurelleJ]

Still waiting to find out why this Eason was soooo goooood that it is airing on MTV vs. paramount. All we've seen so far are Adam and Steve knock out 3 weak teams. Does this mean that we are going to watch all the weaker teams get eliminated and then have a really strong final? It is really boring watching the same team win each elimination and the star holders never change. 

Also, bring back the worst team going straight into elimination. There is no incentive for a team like Veronica and Katy to do well, because they will just be kept along for either the final or an easier elimination win. Frank is probably thinking the same thing, because if they get a star, theirs will probably be the least safe. I think people are banking on just staying out of elimination as long as possible and then snagging a star at the end. I feel like poking a stick at the cast and saying "do something!". 

Also not sad to see Anessa and Ashley go. Chances of winning were slim, and Ashley is a lot. Did not see Anessa and Sam coming at all. 

Edited February 21 by LaurelleJ

[Lantern7]

This is typical BMP. Either they seem to grasp the formula and then screw it up, or they slap a poor formula on the blackboard and hope things work out for the best.

I'm wonder why Frank was the one that had to swing Sam on the rope. Once again, I'd feel bad for Frank, but he's an asshole.

As much as I like Steve, it would be galling if Adam reach Sarah's elimination record. He was a huge part of why she kept going into the Gauntlet. I still hate him for that. Also for present-day stuff. Averey can do better.

[millennium]

  On 2/20/2025 at 5:32 AM, aghst said:

Aneesa and Ashley had no chance.  Neither do Veronica and Katey.

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Or Frank and Sam.  Or Kellyanne and Sylvia.

It's fine for TJ to say competitors come in all shapes and sizes, because it sounds inspirational and uplifting.   But in practice?  Were the producers angling for another Big Easy moment in the Final?  Because four older, heavier competitors (not to mention Beth who quits when things get tense) is a lot for one season.   The dailies and eliminations haven't been too slanted in favor of the physically fit so far, but you never know what's coming, and I can't blame their partners if they see them as a potential liability.

There was no serious feud between Aneesa and Ashley.  Ashley probably agreed to be Aneesa's rival because after three years or whatever of banishment, she was relieved just to get back on the show.    It must have killed her though.   In spite of her histrionics, she does come to win (unless of course they lose her luggage).     I sorta felt bad for Aneesa trying to mollify Ashley after the blow-up.  It wasn't a good look, the black woman seeking forgiveness from the imperious Southern white woman for some imagined offense.  When Ashley was protesting, "My mama drove a Jaguar, I drove a Volvo in high school," I pictured Wes rattling off his Porsches and monster trucks.

Still, I love Smashley and enjoyed seeing her again, if only for a moment or two.

 

  On 2/22/2025 at 6:38 AM, Lantern7 said:

I'm wonder why Frank was the one that had to swing Sam on the rope. Once again, I'd feel bad for Frank, but he's an asshole.

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Frank is wickedly over-compensating for his hateful treatment of Sam years ago.  Guess what, Frank?  It's on tape.  It's streaming every day somewhere in the world.  No matter how times you repeat "care" and "concern" now, it can't make the past go away. 

Edited March 10 by millennium