The Challenge: Battle of the Eras

[Alex95]

Katie getting her own segment  Rachel doing the toast  (and it being better than any of Bananas’) Da’Vonne and Devyn showing up was a pleasant surprise! Got exactly what I wanted out of the episode. Didn’t learn anything new, but reminded the audience of the cast and the history. The Diem scene was

[Solaris]

After watching the first episode, the cast is sorely missing these individuals:

 

Smashley

Veronica

Coral

Evelyn

Ninja

Frank

 

I am surprised they didn't try to get Trishelle, especially after her traitors win. Not seeing Jordan until the end was weird, as he was in the trailer for the season. I didn't realize Devyn and Da'vonne hosted a challenge podcast.  Rachels female empowerment toast <3. 

[Solaris]

is there enough people watching for a draft this season?  Thats a big cast.

[Alex95]

7 hours ago, Solaris said:

I am surprised they didn't try to get Trishelle, especially after her traitors win. 

They tried, she said she wanted more money.

[Alex95]

7 hours ago, Solaris said:

is there enough people watching for a draft this season?  Thats a big cast.

I would play, but I’m always worried about Challenge drafts cause spoilers are always so public. Luckily I’ve avoided them this season, but haven’t been so lucky in the past.

[QueenKalie]

1 hour ago, Alex95 said:

I would play, but I’m always worried about Challenge drafts cause spoilers are always so public. Luckily I’ve avoided them this season, but haven’t been so lucky in the past.

Agreed. I've had to mute so many people on socials because they just freely share spoilers out there. But I know nothing for this season.

[Solaris]

Thats dumb, I hate when people do that.

[QueenKalie]

1 hour ago, Solaris said:

Thats dumb, I hate when people do that.

Yeah agreed but unfortunately its an epidemic in the challenge universe sadly. 

[*Wallace]

I finally got around to watching the Era preview special episode. That was a really fun preview episode! Lol I had no idea Devyn and Da'Vonne were co-hosting this ceremony event but I'm here for it as I love them both, of course. Kinda wish both were participating on the actual show but I guess that won't ever happen.  

But yeah it was so fun seeing all of these eras highlights and see these groups come all together. Watching all of those clips from Eras 1 and 2 makes me want to watch all of those older seasons I don't remember as well as the most recent seasons. Though ugh these Era 1 clips makes me so sad that Coral isn't here, as she was shown in so many clips. That would have been insane seeing and having her back for this! 

Some other thoughts on the episode:
- Those old clips of Katie sends me! Especially seeing the Katie that she is today.
- I can't believe we're already getting Cara Maria vs. Laurel again.
- Oh yeah, Brad is in this. I'm weirdly excited for him in this solely because I wonder if he's gonna be a trainwreck here like he was on All Stars 4.
- I'm kinda shook that Cara Maria & Paulie are still together and have been for 6 years. But well done to them there.
- OMG  I didn't know Kam & Leroy got another baby! And yayy they got a baby girl now too.
- lol Derrick calling Horacio & Nurys America's Favorite Couple. But yayyy I love that they are still together as a power couple and totally here for them.
- It's insane how Mark is 52 now. I wonder how long he can keep on going on with this show.
- Amanda fangirling for Katie & Tina was kinda cute.  
- Ooh dear, the Diem photos in the house and clips of her + C.T. and Derrick talking about her.... got me choked and in the feels.
- Looking forward to this continued on Amanda vs. Tori rivalry, lmao.
- Oh dear.... a potential Olivia & Theo showmance? Not really sure how I feel about this.
- Amanda being nice and offering an olive branch to Cara Maria? WHATTT? She seemed too overly nice there. And LOL she did that to potentially team up against Tori? I'm kinda here for that.
- I don't know why Jordan gets his own intro and wasn't included in the main ceremony/party with everyone else. I am glad he's a part of this season as he is a The Challenge legend and it wouldn't be complete without him.

- Oooh the trailer at the end was juicy. Excited for this season!

[Solaris]

Laurel already back on her Cara hate train.  This girl needs a life. 

 

 

Laurel and Cara placing in the Top 2 for Era two sounds right.  The women in that Era are stacked.

Edited August 15 by Solaris

[Solaris]

Leroy placing 40/40?  or 39/40  in the challenge? That tracks.

Edited August 15 by Solaris

[Solaris]

This team deliberation is silly. 

[Solaris]

Episode should have been twice as long so we could have seen all the eliminations.  

[QueenKalie]

It was a fun start to the season. There are so many people there so keeping track of everything going on was kinda hard. Looking forward to that inevitable Theo vs Paulie matchup that should be good. I'm really hoping Laurel doesn't send Cara vs KellyAnne since I don't want either of them to go especially KellyAnne as she is one of my all time favorites.

 

Nurys wanting Olivia certainly makes sense but Michele is one of the two votes so I just don't see that happening. I think it's going to be a short season for Nurys this time around. 

 

Speaking of short seasons congrats on your paycheck Katie.

 

 

[Alex95]

That was an ok premiere. The cast is just too big. I get why they're doing a giant purge cutting 8 from the start. But from a tv standpoint it does suck. We get this giant legendary cast and we're killing 1/5 of them off right from the start.

 

Era 1 is still definitely my people through and through. I'm assuming Katie is done next episode lol, so I'm happy with the Katie content we got, a mini-meltdown in a boat . If she takes Aneesa down in elimination (assuming that's who is going in) that would be legendary though. Pleasantly surprised to see Tina do so well in that opening purge!

On the men's side, I'm not surprised how difficult the decision was. Other than CT, I felt the other four guys are pretty close in competitiveness. I'm not surprised Darrell was fourth, like I mentioned I'm worried about him he's in a bit of a slump. It was sweet of Derrick to volunteer to take his place. Don't really care too much about the men's side here though.

 

Era 2...we can just say RIP KellyAnne right off the bat lol. Maybe Aviv if she does get thrown in, but I just can't imagine Laurel not taking the shot at Cara, and I don't think it's gonna hit. It's a shame.

For the men, I'm pretty whatever. It's the weakest male era outside of Bananas. Idk why Brandon's surprised Ryan called him out lol. He was never gonna call Derek out and I do think Ryan has a better chance against Brandon than Nehemiah. Not much intrigue here.

 

Era 3...ugh we're gonna lose Amanda this quickly aren't we . I actually thought she had a pretty good argument. Amanda is a loyal player and I absolutely think she could be a number for Cory. And Tori was never gonna buy some bullshit from Amanda about how she'd have her back cause obviously that would be a lie. So I think she came up with the best reasonable argument as to why Tori should keep her. Hopefully Averey gets thrown in. I'm not getting my hopes up though. Cory has never made a good strategic decision in his life.

Love seeing Tony coming in swinging for the fences. I was wondering what kind of Tony we were gonna see coming back, and I'm glad it's the ballsy Tony who isn't afraid to take big shots. It's not gonna work. Like Jonna said, Tori is not gonna throw Devin or Jordan into elimination in a million years. But props to Tony for trying. Leroy vs. Tony is gonna be one of the more interesting eliminations, I cannot figure out how it would go.

 

Era 4...things are looking pretty bad for my girl Nurys. Michele winning and Nurys losing was pretty much worst case scenario. Kaycee & Jenny are f*cking terrifying in elimination. And getting Michele to throw Olivia in will be a difficult task. Nurys loses a headbanger to any of these three women though. She needs some sort of strategy or puzzle element to stand a chance. I predicted she'd either go really far or be a really early boot and I'm worried it's gonna be the latter.

Lol @ Theo and Paulie fighting over something that happened like six years ago. I guess that's what happens when you haven't really been on the show since then. Also both have to beat the boring allegations after their lame returns on WC and USA2 respectively. Horacio's not throwing Kyland in and I think Josh is a good enough politician to save himself so Theo vs. Paulie makes sense to me which would be another fun elimination.

 

So is next episode just gonna be 8 different elimination games? Cause that sounds kinda boring lol. I'm lowkey more pumped for All-Stars 5 based on the cast list than this season lol. But hopefully things will get going and this opening purge doesn't kill off too many of my favorites. I've already accepted Katie & KellyAnne are gone. If Amanda & Nurys are the other two women to go I might lose it lol.

[*Wallace]

I just watched the premiere episode and it was fun. Some thoughts: 

 

- LOL Tony comes back and continues to be a hot mess in challenges with that 40 puzzle part.
- Oh wow, didn't know Cory had 3 daughters now.
- LOL I am not surprised but it's so fitting how Laurel and Cara Maria came in the Top 2 overall. Yayy for Laurel winning. Though I do feel bad for Cara Maria being 2nd overall but not safe.
- Ugh of course Tori wins for the Era 3 women.
- Ugh Michele having Olivia as her top priority. But yayy Horacio winning for the Era 4 men. Now just need Nurys to not be last so she can be safe. Happy Kyland came in 2nd for the men.
- Cory winning for the Era 3 men surprised me but happy for him.
- Not surprised about Bananas winning from the Era 2 men.
- I did not see Averey & Adam being a couple happening.
- UGHH NOOO Olivia and Kaycee both beating Nurys and her being last. THAT SUCKS.  Ugh... if Nurys had some of the earlier women in her era, she could have certainly beat them. And her competition? Ughhh it's sooo difficult. Olivia would be her best option to go against and someone I know Nurys could beat but ugh why did Michele have to win as she would surely protect Olivia? Whoever Nurys has to go against, I just hope she can beat them but I'm not too hopeful.
- Aww bummed that Theo came in last over Paulie.
- Aww KellyAnne and Nia coming in last for their own eras.
- Ooof the Era 2 men were not doing good here. The Era 2 women are definitely carrying their team - but  we been knew that.
- Aww bummer for Ryan. Super shocked about Mark coming in last for his group. But I'm happy it's not Darrell.
- Oh wow Aneesa beating out Katie. I felt like that could have been a toss up.
- Oooh dear Leroy was so embarrassing in this challenge. He was last place overall? Ooooh dearrr. I've always really like him but he just manages to disappoint me so much lol.
- Oooh Theo is MAD at Paulie. I wouldn't mind them battling each other in the challenge.
- Omg Leroy's daughter was born just 2 weeks before he got to this show?
- Whhhaatttt at Derrick volunteering himself for the elimination against Mark? Oh woww.... that does not seem good. But I prefer Darrell so I'm fine with that.
- I would actually like to see Laurel and Cara Maria working together, just for a little bit.  I also think the chances of throwing Cara into elimination - that trick will just not work. KellyAnne is so done in that instance. Aviv would be much better for her to go against.
- Ooooh Paulie vs. Theo got heated at the end there. Please make that elimination happen.  

I do agree with those that the cast is so big and it's hard to keep track of them. But gah I'm worried about so many people this episode.

[Zoey]

- I swear if we lose Amanda this early then I’ll riot.

- I don’t see the point in having such a big cast to eliminate so many right off the bat. Make it make sense.

- Tori continues to be unbearable. Even her face is starting to annoy me now.

- I really wish they’d have left Paulie out of the show so that I’d be able to enjoy Cara Maria for another season. 

- I love Survivor Michele but I’m starting to get bored of The Challenge version of her. The tears when stuff doesn’t go her way, the show shoving her down our throats and her choices of allies all irritate me now.

- Can we just have an episode dedicated to Cory so that I can just look at him the entire time please @TJLavin

- I’m glad Theo is back. He’s one of the most authentic castings in a long while and the fact he hates Paulie just hits right.

[Alex95]

On 8/15/2024 at 11:39 PM, Alex95 said:

I've already accepted Katie & KellyAnne are gone. If Amanda & Nurys are the other two women to go I might lose it lol.

[Alex95]

I don't have much to say because I'm still in mourning over literally everything that happened this episode. Tony vs. Leroy is probably the only elimination that went my way? 1 for 8 .

 

Don't do a cast this big if you can't handle a cast this big . Don't kill off all the fan faves in two episodes . Like my interest in this season legit dropped tenfold with my top girl of each era going home immediately.

Edited August 22 by Alex95

[Zoey]

Absolutely horrendous results.

 

[QueenKalie]

Laurel and Bananas running their team is not going to be fun to watch. It sucks losing one of your all time favorites because they have a decade old beef with Cara. Ryan beating Brandon was a bit surprising but he got the one challenge where he could pull that off in so congrats to him on that. I didn't have a strong preference on that one. 

 

Most of the other results I'm not too bothered by. Like yeah Katie is good tv but we all knew she wasn't going last long no matter what so it is what it is. Derrick vs Mark I was neutral on so that was whatever to me. 

 

Tony beating Leroy was probably for the best. Leroy is just a Bananas number so him being gone opens up the game a bit. Although Tony is probably just a Bananas number to so I dunno. Amanda yelling at Tori is fun and I'm not sure what Nia brings to the table anymore so I would have been fine with her losing to Amanda but that obviously wasn't going to happen here.

 

Watching Paulie get run over by Theo is Hall Brawl was fantastic I loved every minute of that. I wish the girls fight had more contact then it did but meh. If Horacio and Nurys were just going to isolate themselves and just be together 24/7 then that's not going to be super entertaining and maybe it's for the best that one of them went home early. I would have preferred it had been Horacio not Nurys but what can you do I guess. Michele agreeing to throw in Olivia is kinda cold blooded though. She wins safety and instantly throws in her #1 in the first elimination.

 

[Solaris]

TJ: How you treat people matters.

 

*immediate shot of Laurel*

 

I mean, I don't see how anyone sides with Laurel in the Laurel vs Cara feud.  Especially after AS4 and now first two episodes of this season. Laurel's become a bitter old lady.  She's become Paula!   Hoping they are setting Cara up to the last laugh this time around.

 

Love CT and Cara's friendship and him motivating her!

 

I am sad to see Kellyanne, Paulie, Katie and especially Nurys go.  Theo and Cara were my favorites of their match up's so I am happy they stayed, but it was really a no win situation. Nurys had such an incredible season in 39, seeing her lose to Olivia this time blows.  I also would have rathered see Amanda stay over Nia, but I don't love either of them.  We could have had Millionaire Mitchell in the cast over either.  

 

Katie's first round against Aneesa was fun, but as soon as the elimination was announced as pole wrestle, we knew who would win.

Edited August 22 by Solaris

[*Wallace]

Gah this elimination episode was so brutal. I was SOO scared to watch this.  I finally watched it so I'll post some thoughts: 

 

- Ooof Amanda was so feisty (as usual) this episode. Sad to see her/Cory's relationship crash here but I understand Amanda's viewpoint. Cory should have fought harder to keep her. I do tend to like Nia more than Amanda so I was happy for Nia winning the Balls In elimination. But aww Amanda has been growing on me lately. I was sad to see her go and I will miss the drama she'll bring.
- Ooh dear at Josh's comments on Nia. Don't tell me he's gonna try to get into a showmance with Nia. Please reject it, Nia!
- With Tony vs. Leroy, I was definitely and always rooting for Leroy. BUT I was not too hopeful as I am used to being disappointed by him. Dangg Tony went all in on Leroy here. Wow he was impressive here.While ugh Leroy was a disappointment - he couldn't even get 1 in, ughh. Proof that he needs Kam with him in the game. But I got to give it up to Tony as he crushed it and earned his spot to continue on.
- In Pole wrestle.... with Derrick vs. Mark, I was rooting for Mark. Mark is bigger which should work in his favor but Derrick has more experience in this challenge and won it before, which should help him. This could be a toss up. Wow that first battle was INTENSE but well done to Derrick for pulling that off. The second one was intense too. I was impressed with how well he did here. Still really so shocked to see Mark go out this soon but he went out in a classy way.
- With Aneesa vs. Katie, I was rooting for eithr of them. I feel like some time has gone by where I'm not completely tired of Aneesa being on here anymore... and Katie is fun and hasn't done as many seasons. But I feel like Aneesa definitely has the big advantage here. Though I hope Katie can put up a good fight. Oh Aneesa has pole wrestle experience that Katie does not have.... yep, it's over. *watches* OH SNAP, not over yet. Wowww at the fight Katie put into this! I was not expecting that but here for it. Ultimately, I knew Aneesa would win this and not surprised. But love th fight that Katie put up here. She had a nice classy exit here too.
- The scenes of Bananas' vs. Cara Maria & Paulie was quite intense. But oh, Laurel felt bad for throwing Cara down there? I was not expecting that.
- UGHH NO, I did not want Era 4 to have Hall Brawl. Dangg it, that's THE elimination battle I'm least confident in Nurys beating Olivia in.
- Okay Theo vs. Paulie... this should be intense with all of the frustation they got with each other. I am rooting for Theo here and he does have the size advantage but I wouldn't underestimate Paulie here. OMG Paulie with all that talk and Theo just runs out there and body slams him.... danggg that was a harsh blow. Andwow Theo really dominated that. Very happy and well done to Theo. LMAOO his "I didn't think it would be that easy" comment. Well Paulie.... he tried, but he just stood no chance.
- Ughh I hate this at Nurys having to do this against Olivia. I'm not too hopeful. I'm obviously rooting for Nurys here but expecting Olivia to win this. Nurys comments before the battle kinda broke me.
- Lol Nurys telling Horacio to make her his wife and her not wanting to be a baby mama and wants to be a wife with his kids. hahaha they're too cute. I hate for this to be the end of their story on this season.
- DANGG IT, Nurys really did try and almost had a comeback on the second round but ugh. I knew she had a very little chance to win this and just ugh, not surprised. I knew Olivia would win it. Well done and congrats to her there. But ugh I'll really miss Nurys here and hope Horacio can do well solo in this for her. I also hope Nurys & Olivia can put their beef aside and be frieends again as well.
- Era 2 gets Take Shelter. Ugh why couldn't Era 4 have gotten this one?
- With KellyAnne vs. Cara Maria, this is probably the best option for Kelly Anne to win and pull the upset to take out Cara Maria? I am rooting for Kelly Anne here but still expecting Cara Maria to win, as it's never easy to get her out. Danggg that KellyAnne vs. Cara Maria battle was intense and really such a true toss up. Dang I was really hoping for a KellyAnne upset and it almost happened. But dang Cara is just tooo good, even at challenges that don't favor her.
- Then for Ryan vs. Brandon, I'm a toss up and fine with whatever happens. Though I would say I'm moreso rooting for Ryan here. Oooh dangg Ryan slayed this. Where did he get all of this fired up intensity up in him? Oooh and happy for Ryan pulling out the win. I always thought he looked stronger here and happy he pulled it out. And it's always nice to see more of the Ryan/Derek friendship as well.
- Okay Paulie & Cara Maria gave us too much info regarding their tying business.
- Lol whhhaatt at this Karma vote twist? haha I am curious to see how this all comes into play. 

Gah that was a really tough and brutal episode to watch. Most sad to lose Nurys. But also sad to lose KellyAnne, Leroy, Mark, Katie and Amanda.  But I'm still looking forward to the rest of the season - though man, a lot of big favorites were so tough to lose.  
 

[Solaris]

Laurel did not feel bad for throwing Cara in elimination, nothing she said in the episode affirmed that.  It felt like something she needed to say to justify her actions.

Edited August 24 by Solaris

[*Wallace]

2 hours ago, Solaris said:

Laurel did not feel bad for throwing Cara in elimination, nothing she said in the episode affirmed that.  It felt like something she needed to say to justify her actions.

Ooh there was a quote of her saying that in the episode, which confused me.  She was talking with Bananas and KellyAnne about it. But yeah you're probably right in her saying that to justify her action which I didn't think about.