Last Wednesday was the FINAL for The Challenge: Rivals II! Picking up from last week, one of the guys’ boats had capsized, which definitely would suck up time in this kayak race! I thought that it was Johnny and Frank, but it turns out it was Jordan and Marlon, but they continue to push forward to try to win. Of course, though, Johnny and Frank make it to the boat. I knew that was going to happen. In fact, I think it might have been staged just so we can see the rivalry between them and CT and Wes play out in this last challenge. Jordan and Marlon finish the game in third place, taking home $15K to split. They honestly should be proud of themselves for getting that far, because rookies rarely do! That night, the teams spend the night on the yacht, relaxing and having a good time.  Looking at the final teams, I think the best of the best were there in the end. It's going to be a really great fight to the finish!

The next morning, T.J. introduces the next day's challenge. Today they are at “Nightmare Island” (Dream Island has been converted to what is sure to be a nightmare for the teams!). T.J. lays out the course for them. They are five checkpoints throughout the island, and the teams will collect an island at each one. When you finish one checkpoint, you have to race back to the starting point to deposit your idol and move on to the next one. In the end, the first guy and girl teams to finish will retrieve a golden elephant which they have to bring back to T.J. to get their check!  

Of course, they start with a swim (yay for Cara!). As the teams reach the first checkpoint, it turns out that, for every checkpoint, someone has to open a door or passage to get to the checkpoint itself. The team that’s in the lead at the time will have to open that door, which could take more energy out of them even though they’re winning. To get to the first obstacle, the teams have to get through a bunch of bamboo sticks to reach the checkpoint. That individual challenge is a puzzle which the teams have jump a bamboo stick over another until there is only one left (it's that annoying but addicting little game at Cracker Barrel). Surprisingly, CT and Wes, as well as Cara and Cooke are the first teams to finish, leaving the others behind! Frank and Johnny struggle along with Paula and Emily, but eventually get to the next checkpoint. 

In What's Mine Is Yours, the teams have to use the Pythagorean Theorem to figure out the X and cut the correct color of rope that holds the answer.  If a team's first answer isn't correct, they have to cut all of the ropes to get their idol. CT and Wes guess correctly, and Cara and Cooke look over at theirs to figure out their answer. Though they are late in getting there, Emily gets the answer right for her and Paula, as well as Johnny and Frank, and they move on.

What's a final challenge without a Food Test?! Though CT and Wes, as well as Cara and Cooke are ahead at this point, this could be the checkpoint that makes or breaks teams! The teams have to eat all of the food given in numerical order and they have a wonderful buffet, including chilies, crickets, maggots, and pickled fish soup. It's painful and sickening to watch, because, of course, the vomiting quickly starts. However, Paula and Emily fight through it, chugging it all down, while Cara is just sick to her stomach. Emily and Paula take the lead with this challenge, and CT and Wes move on first as well. 

The fourth checkpoint, Body Issues, the teams have to move 20 body bags to the opposite side of the enclosure and follow additional instructions. Even though Paula and Emily have a lead, it's small, and Paula is starting to freak out. However when Cara and Cooke get there, that lights a fire under Paula! Cara of course, is the weak link for her and Cooke and it shows. They are out in the burning heat, and she struggles to carry the body bags. Wes himself gets tired from the heat as well, but they pull through to the end.  

Tunnel Vision is the very last checkpoint! The teams have to open the gate with a crank then dig a tunnel under a cage to retrieve their last idol. Then we see that there is a trapdoor to get through they have to crawl under and get the idol. It's truly a game of who wants it more. Wes and CT are exhausted but they finish with a significant lead over Frank and Johnny. They grab the golden elephant on the beach, and kayak back to the yacht where T.J. is waiting to give the winners their checks! CT and Wes sound their alarm announcing that they finished, which signals to Frank and Johnny that they took second, splitting $35,000. They head back to the beach to see CT and Wes rowing in their kayak to CT. It kinda sucks because I love Johnny and wanted him to get his threepeat, but CT and Wes did deserve a win after all this time. CT himself has put in a lot of work (9 Challenges and 5 Finals without a win), so he deserved to get a win at some point, so I wasn't too upset. CT and Wes get to T.J. and get their check for $125,000, winning for the boys! 

Cooke and Cara were still stuck at Body Issues and don't quit, but it's clear that they wouldn't be winning this. I respect their determination though. They came into this game as the complete underdogs, acting as the scapegoats for basically the entire Challenge, and managed to win second place with $35,000. Not bad!  Emily and Paula were able to get to the beach first to get their golden elephant, and row to the yacht for their check, winning $125,000 for the girls!

I definitely enjoyed this season of The Challenge (one of the best ones yet!). It was lots of drama, but still very fun and entertaining to watch. The Challenges were definitely interesting and difficult for the teams. Plus they all had to deal with people they didn't really like so kudos to them all for being able to deal! Can't wait to see what MTV has in store for the next season! 

Images via MTV

Images via MTV

10:11:00 AM

So I FINALLY got a chance to watch last Wednesday's episode of The Challenge: Rivals II! I know, BEYOND late, seeing as though the finale and live reunion premiered last night (that recap will be up today as well). It's been a crazy exhausting week and a half and I have a lot to catch up on in my writing life. The week before this episode, we were left on a cliffhanger as Diem and Aneesa faced Jemmye and Camila in the last Jungle, "Hanging By A Thread." The main objective of the game is to cut through two ropes while hanging upside down. Obviously, the winners will go on to the Finals! Diem struggles to even touch the rope and starts freaking out! Though Camila is short and can't reach the rope either, Jemmye uses her saw to bring the rope to her and they get through it. Once Diem and Aneesa figure that out, they begin to work through the ropes too! Unfortunately, they just couldn't pull it out in time. Jemmye and Camila win, sending Diem and Aneesa home right before the Final. It sucks because I really wanted to see Aneesa in the final, and it's hard to get that close and lose like that. Though they're both upset, they're grateful that they got to know each other better and become closer. Diem also holds no ill will towards CT (though me being the grudgeful person that I am, I definitely would!).

Anyway, the final six teams have been decided! For the girls, we have Emily and Paula, Cara Maria and Cooke, and Jemmye and Camila. For the guys, we have Johnny and Frank, CT and Wes, and Marlon and Jordan.  TJ gives everyone a few days to relax, but also tells them that he can't stand the heat in Thailand anymore, implying that they'll be going somewhere new! Back at the house, the teams train for the Finals. Emily is doubtful going into the challenge, worried that she may not be able to hack it. The housemates also talk about where they'll be going. They don't know what in the world's going to happen with them!

That night, the house gets a text from TJ: "I hope that you enjoyed your time off, as things are about to get interesting! Meet me in TOKYO tomorrow at 10 p.m and we're going to see how you handle the city for a change!" This is CRAZY! I feel like the Final Challenge has always been in a pretty remote place, so no one really knows what's going to happen! Wes is worried that they are going to be distracted in the big city and the Challenge will turn into something that anyone can win. Paula is stressed now too because she thinks it's going to be a puzzle scavenger hunt that doesn't require real skill.


The next day, the house preps to leave for Tokyo when a van of guys get in front of their bus and jump on board! One of them is T.J. and he tells them that things have changed! The teams all get their hands tied together and bags are put over their heads. Then they get put in two separate vans! Turns out there is no Tokyo at all! The teams are still in Thailand, and have to run in that sweltering heat that they have come to know and adore. T.J. reminds them again of the stakes: 3rd place, both teams will split $15K. The 2nd place teams get $35 grand, while first place takes home a whopping $125,000 ($62,500 for each team member!).

There is a yacht anchored off the coast of what T.J. calls "Dream Island." The teams have to swim a mile to get to the shore and solve one of three puzzles to get a key to a kayak to get to the yacht. Another twist: there's only room on the yacht for two guys' teams and two girls' teams! So the last place teams in Day 1 don't even get to see the rest of the Challenge! The girls start first, and Emily and Paula take off! The boys start a few minutes later, and everyone is swimming hard to get to shore. Cara, of course, struggles because swimming is a real weakness of hers.


Emily and Paula are the first girls' team on shore, followed shortly after by Jemmye and Camila.
They have to assemble one of three puzzles with huge Tetris-looking blocks within an hour. Because of their challenge with the swimming, Cooke and Cara have to seriously make up time. The guys all eventually get to shore, and start working on their puzzles. Everyone is struggling to get these pieces to work, and teams are already starting to crumble. However, CT and Wes figure out their puzzle first and get their key to advance to day 2! Johnny and Frank start arguing, while Marlon and Jordan try to make their puzzle work.

After everything, Cara Maria and Cooke surprisingly get their puzzle right and move on, making them the first girls' team to make it to the yacht. I wouldn't be upset if they won at all. For one thing, Cooke went to Loyola University Maryland as did I (I didn't know her, but Greyhounds stick together haha!). Also, Cooke and Cara have seriously the underdog and the scapegoat in this entire challenge. A lot of that stems from the fact that not a lot of people really like Cara Maria. However, they've managed to fight for their spot, and they deserve to move on to fight to the finish! Emily and Paula get their puzzle right finally and take off towards the boat, leaving Camila and Jemmye to take 3rd place getting $15K. Unfortunately for them, that ends their time in Thailand, and they don't get to see the rest of the Final. The guys' hour time limit expired and it's basically a kayak race between Frank and Johnny and Marlon & Jordan. As the teams race for the yacht, one of the boats capsizes and I'm pretty sure it was Frank and Johnny! Then...the episode ends. Ugh I hate cliffhangers!

The SEASON FINALE of The Challenge: Rivals II premiered last night (I'm typing up the recap just as soon as this one is published). Definitely a good one that I hope you didn't miss! 

Images via MTV

7:22:00 AM

It's getting down to the wire for The Challenge: Rivals II! Picking up from last week, the house swims in the pool, and CT and Diem joke around. Diem vents to Aneesa saying that she feels "full" around him, and that he sees her for exactly who she is. That, of course, makes her feel good, and, after struggling with this second bout of ovarian cancer, it seems like she really needs that. Aneesa doesn't know if Diem's setting herself up for failure when it comes to her emotions, though. Johnny, who is very close with Diem, later tells her that CT is manipulative and might be playing with her emotions. Camila tells her that no one knows how they really feel except for them. Diem doesn't really think that CT would screw her over in this game at the expense of her feelings.Meanwhile, Cooke thinks that the other ladies are threatened by her and Cara. They know that they have to win the last challenge. Otherwise, they risk going home in the Jungle, because they will definitely get thrown in!

Later, T.J. sends the house a clue: "Who are the real winners and losers amongst you? We'll see your true colors at tomorrow's challenge!" When the other ladies, minus Cara and Cooke, talk about the game, they realize that their fates are up to the game now. Through a lot of politicking, they have gotten this far together, but the next few days, things may get a little crazy! Camila hopes that the other ladies will get to the Final, but not Cooke and Cara. Paula gets angry all of a sudden at the conversation and walks out. When Camila goes to talk to her, Paula expresses that she thinks that people will definitely not be friends after this, which upsets her.

At the next day's challenge on the beach, TJ reiterates the importance of winning this for the girls! Since the guys are already in the Finals, they're not competing. The girls compete in "Color Correction." There's a mile-long trail along the beach, which the girls have to run along to get to a hut. In the hut, there is a light panel that flashes a sequence of colors that the ladies have to memorize. Then they have to run back to the other end of the beach to put colored dials on a pole in the order they saw it. The catch of the challenge: they will also be chained together! There are two rounds, with the first two teams to win the first round moving on to compete in the winners' round. The team that finishes last will automatically head to to the Jungle! The ladies all struggle memorizing the colors after that long run up to the hut. When they finally get there, Aneesa throws Diem off of memorizing by saying her own colors out loud. Diem wastes time because she doesn't trust that Aneesa knows the colors herself, and stays to make sure she has it in her own head. That, however, hurts them in the end, giving Diem and Aneesa a ticket to the last Jungle. That sucks for them, because what's probably worse than going home first is being the last team eliminated before the Final, right when you're so close! Cooke and Cara move to the winners' round as well as Paula and Emily. In the heat, Paula struggles to remember the colors. Cooke and Cara, confident that they have the 17-color sequence down, take off for the end.  They win this challenge, which was the most important challenge for them to win!!!! I'm happy for them, because they were the underdog this entire challenge, and they busted their butts to get here. They were thrown in the Jungle time after time again as the scapegoat, and came out winning, so I think that they deserve a spot in the Final. The only thing is that now, Aneesa and Diem will have to go against two of their friends. Diem, however, wants to go against Jemmye and Camila, because Emily and Paula are definitely the stronger team. Camila thinks that the guys should just choose by themselves, and wants Diem to just stay out of it. Already the drama starts!

Before deliberation, the other girls think that Cara and Cooke shouldn't be here. Diem wants so bad to beat Cooke, and goes off about it! Diem and Aneesa goes to talk to the guys, who are split on who they want to send in. Diem thinks that the guys should ask her and Aneesa who they want to go against, and is rubbed the wrong way that CT didn't even ask. If he doesn't step up and defend her now, it will show his motives and true allegiance. At the pool, Diem talks to CT about it. CT and Wes said that she said that she would want the harder team if she was put into the Jungle. There's only two teams, and they think that they should throw in Paula and Emily, especially since Jemmye and Camila have had their back throughout the Challenge. CT says that they can't do everything for Diem. Here's my thing. Just last episode, probably the day before in real time, CT said that he would help her get into the Final, and now that the time is here, he's bailing! He's definitely showing his own true colors right now! If Diem wants Jemmye and Camila to make it easier for them, he ought to vote them in! It just makes him look shady, like he just played with her feelings all this time just to get ahead.

Meanwhile, Paula thinks that if she and Emily are not in the Final, Cara and Cooke will probably win. Marlon and Jordan want to send them in, because they sent the rookies in themselves before. Paula breaks out a few tears, and literally begs for the rookies to save them, especially because they went so hard in this game!  It pisses Jemmye and Camila off, but you have to do what you have to do to save your tail. It's the way of the game. At deliberation, the vote is split. Johnny and Frank vote for Jemmye and Camila, while CT and Wes vote Emily and Paula. The decision comes down to the rookies, and, in a shocking decision, they vote Jemmye and Camila. In the end, the rookies realize that Emily and Paula won 80-85% of the challenges, and that's why they saved them. Those two fought hard to be here as well, and deserve their shot!

Camila, after seeing that Diem looked relieved about going against her and Jemmye, goes off about it. They both think that Diem is fake, only playing the nice girl role when really she's manipulative to get what she wants. They're both honestly just upset that they're in the Jungle so close to the Final. Aneesa sets everybody straight, telling that that what's done is done, and they all just have to deal with it, and fight for that last spot.

Later, Diem, who is going a little crazy trying to mentally prepare herself for the challenge, drunkingly goes off on Cooke! She tells everyone that she tried to like the girl, and it didn't work, but Cooke doesn't care. Diem also feels used and manipulated by CT, and gets upset that Jemmye said that she got played. She has no idea what was real. When CT approaches her, she runs after him to confront him. At the end of the day, he played her ALLLLL the way to the left! He just looks really shady and inconsistent. If I were Diem, I would run for the hills, no matter how cute he is. You can't trust somebody who blatantly breaks his word like that!

The next night, the teams are seen walking into the last Jungle. Diem and Aneesa are getting ready to face Jemmye and Camila in the last Jungle of the season, which is sure to be intense! And the episode ends. I'm definitely anxious to see who goes home. Part of me wants Diem and Aneesa to win because I really do like Aneesa, but then I love seeing Camila in these challenges too! We'll see what happens next week!

Check out the last few episodes of The Challenge: Rivals II on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET only on MTV!

Image via MTV

12:21:00 PM

The Challenge:Rivals 2 is coming down to the wire! Picking up from last week, only four teams remain for both the men and the women! The house exercises hard, and the guys prepare for the last guys' challenge. Meanwhile, CT and Diem continue to flirt. CT also admits that he likes having Wes for a teammate, and is determined to win this challenge! Later, Preston talks about his relationship with teammate Knight, which is really bad. They manage to work all right together, but it's clear that they will never be friends.

That night, the house goes out to party. CT and Diem connect on the dance floor, of course, because they both still have feelings for each other. They make out at the bar, with everybody else thinking that Diem has lost her mind! Back at the house, CT prepares his bed to have some alone time with Diem, but she passes out drunk! Johnny tells him the next day that she is going to act like nothing happened, which is exactly what she does. She acts like she can't remember, but Diem you weren't that drunk! Stop faking like you don't still love some CT!


The next day, the teams play "Rampage." There are four ramps over a pond. Two teams start at the top of their opposing ramps, and try to run to the other side to deposit balls into baskets, hopefully not running into each other in the process! The most baskets in the fastest time in three minutes wins. CT and Wes determines who goes against who. Of course, they have Johnny and Frank square off against Marlon and Jordan. though the challenge is three minutes, the teams struggles after a while, Johnny especially. It's a lot of running, and it takes a lot of momentum to get up those ramps! During the girls' heat, Cara Maria struggles a lot as well, with her knee pads dropping to the ground every two seconds, frustrating Cooke as they go against Emily and Paula. Afterwards Camila and Jemmye go against Diem and Aneesa, and their roudn is pretty pitifulruns into Cooke as they go against Emily and Paula. Cara just stands in the middle as she struggles with her knee pads. Camila and Jemmye versus Diem and Aneesa is pretty pitiful, but I know I would be the same way! CT and Wes pick the weakest guys' team Knight and Preston to go against. It gets a little physical, but CT and Wes still get all 20 balls in their baskets with 40 seconds left on the clock. They win the challenge, earning a spot in the finals! They're definitely sore winners, but it's cool. It was a very important challenge for them to win! Emily and Paula win for the girls, getting yet another $1000 in their pockets. Knight and Preston lose, heading straight to the Jungle!

Back at the house, Marlon already knows that he's going in the Jungle with Jordan, so he's not even going to waste time politicking with everybody. Meanwhile Frank hopes that CT and Wes winning lights a fire under Johnny to get him pumped for the finals! At deliberation, it's clear that Jordan and Marlon are going in, giving Johnny and Frank a ticket to the Final. Wes talks trash at deliberation about Johnny's struggle with the day's challenge, starting a fight. Johnny gets in his face, and CT actually defends Wes, saying that Johnny is all washed up! The trio argue back and forth as the rest of the house just watches, with the other guys joking that maybe somebody will throw a punch and get sent home! The whole argument was too much. It's obvious that CT and Wes want to prove that they can beat Johnny, who's won four of these challenges, while they've won none. NOW Johnny is fired up, and he and Frank are determined to just leave it all on the field! The conversation switches to Diem who a majority of the house thinks is a pawn in CT's game. CT tells her straight up that he doesn't care who wins for the girls, but he is still going to help her get into the final!

At the next night's Jungle, Preston and Knight compete against Marlon and Jordan in "Breaking On Through." The challenge features two towers with four floors and a trap door on each floor. You use the tool in each trap door to get the level below, with the team members having to alternate floors! At the end, they will have to break through a giant steel door and ring the bell.  Knight struggles to get through the chains on his floor, which really sucks for him and Preston. In the end, Marlon and Jordan win the elimination round, earning their spot in the final, and sending Preston and Knight home! It's exciting because I know that it's going to be a GREAT final with the guys! They fought their way here, even though they're rookies! Next week will be the girls' challenge!

The house goes out to a pub, and play games. Diem doesn't remember how she made out with CT the other night, but CT thinks she's falling for him again. Johnny, however, is losing respect for her, thinking that she is setting herself up to be heartbroken again! I don't know. I kind of love the two of them together. I think when it's good, it's really good, and when it's bad, it's really bad. It's up to Diem if she wants to deal with that again.

Check out new episodes of The Challenge: Rivals II on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. only on MTV!

Images via MTV

7:24:00 AM

Another day gone in The Challenge: Rivals II! Picking up from last week's nail-biting episode, the house is out partying, having a great time! CT chats with Diem, telling her that he still loves her and doesn't know why she hasn't kissed him yet! They dance and flirt. Meanwhile, Jonna talks to Frank. They both live in L.A. and she hopes that she will have his back like he promised he would before they left. Frank mentions that he is disturbed by these "young kids" in the house who seems to have no loyalty in the game, and blah blah blah. What I didn't get about that whole conversation is that Frank is still young himself and this is only his SECOND challenge! See, because he won his first challenge last season, you can't tell him a thing! This is why I don't like him most of the time. Anyway, Frank continues to go OFF on Knight and Jemmye especially, and the two overhear them.

Back at home, Jemmye fights Knight for not defending her, which is beyond dumb. Jemmye, you're a grown woman. You have a problem with what somebody said about you, then address it! You're arguing with Knight, when the main person you need to be confronting is Frank! Camila then gets in the middle of everything, claiming that she doesn't want her partner to lose focus. Johnny tells Knight not to pay any mind to Camila, which gets a rise out of her, seeing as the two have some romantic history. Camila goes completely crazy and tries to get to him to fight! It was all a huge to-do over NOTHING. The way I see it, everybody is drunk, and needs food and sleep! That's all that is.

The next day at the Challenge, the house comes down to see a huge trapeze and get nervous! T.J. announces that the teams will be playing "Swingers." The teams will swing from the trapeze to grab another bar. They then have to swim all the way to a buoy and around, to head back to the end of the course. Since it's a girls' day, the girls' team with the slowest time will head straight to the Jungle! Aneesa and Diem get to make today's order, and, of course, Cara and Cooke are up first. They're the scapegoat of the season, which sucks for them, but they're still in the game! While they are swimming to the end, Cara starts freaking out in the water, losing her breath. Cooke refuses to quit and motivates her to get through it. They finish, but they have a horrible time. A lot of the teams actually struggle with this challenge, because the current is really strong, which makes it hard to swim back against. With most of the guys just quitting, Wes and CT end up winning for the guys! For the girls, the teams were separated by five seconds. In spite of their drama the night before, Jemmye and Camila pull it out and are safe from elimination! Because of their huge struggle in the water, Cara Maria and Cooke ended up losing, getting a spot in the Jungle!

Back at the house, Cooke and Jemmye talk about how Cara's inability to swim puts their team at a huge advantage. Meanwhile, Frank and Johnny are in a tight spot because they were either going to vote in Cara and Cooke or Jemmye and Camila. Since one team is safe from elimination, and another is already going in the Jungle, Frank is leaning more towards the one person he said he wasn't going to throw in--Jonna, along with her partner Nany. He talks to her about it all, but Jonna admits that she's going to be upset if he throws her name out there. 

At the deliberation, majority of the guys vote for Nany and Jonna, including Johnny and Frank, pissing Jonna off. In this game, sometimes, you do end up hurting a friend towards the end. I don't think it's selfish to play for yourself. It's a COMPETITION. However, I do think that people need to stop making promises like "Oh, I won't vote you in. I'll have your back the entire time." Be honest and upfront. Look, I am going to try to have your back in this competition. But keep in mind, that we're competing and this is a game. We're both playing to win, and I might do something that might piss you off but don't let your feelings get in the way. If people don't get that, then they don't get that. I just think that people play this game with wayyyy too many emotions. You have to do what you have to do to save yourself. That might seem selfish and inconsiderate, but that's the way of the game. *rant over* Later, Frank asks Jonna if she has anything to say to him. She claims she's just trying to prepare herself for tonight, but of course she's upset. Meanwhile, CT flirts with Cooke to get Diem upset as they all sit in the kitchen. Real mature CT!

At the Jungle, Frank wears a Jonna headband even AFTER he voted her in there! Jonna and Nany square off against Cara Maria and Cooke in "Snapper," which the guys have played before. There is a giant red circle in the center of the Jungle. One member is blindfolded will bells on her feet, and will try to break a stick over their opponent, as her team member tries to guide her. Best two out of three wins! It's definitely a communication game, which Nany and Jonna weren't great at. Cara Maria and Cooke communicate well, giving great directions on how to move towards their opponent , and they win, sending Jonna and Nany home! Of course, Jonna only hopes that Frank gets his karma!  At the house, Frank talks about how he's changed, and doesn'rt believe he didn't do anything wrong to me. The only thing that he did wrong was make a promise that he couldn't keep. This is a GAME. It's getting towards the end, so it's only a matter of time before people were going to start voting in their friends. We all know that. And if you don't, you need to watch some seasons of The Challenge online somewhere beforehand and see what you're getting yourself into!

Check out all new episodes of The Challenge: Rivals II on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. only on MTV!

Images via MTV

4:30:00 PM

The drama continues as the teams go for the big money on The Challenge: Rivals II! Picking up from last week, several teams in the house get a nice workout in. Diem tries to get Aneesa to swim for some exercise, but Aneesa is not having it! She's irritated because she feels like Diem's on her back all the time. She vents to Frank, feeling like Diem always tries to force her to do things, and she's being talked to like she's a five-year-old. Frank goes to talk to Diem, and tells her to talk things through Aneesa. Diem can go a little overboard, but she just wants Aneesa to be better, so that they can be a better team. They are partners regardless, and they need to get that in their spirit, and work together!

At the next day's Challenge, T.J. holds an adorable puppy named Pookie, and announces the teams will be playing "Blind Leading The Blind." The maze is hidden by a big wall to the other contestants. Each team will tie themselves together, and go through a maze blindfolded. The major catch is that an electrical dog collar will be attached to all of their arms, and will shock them as they go throughout the maze! The closer you're getting to end, the more you will feel that shock, so it's kind of a good thing? But not really. It's a guys' day, so the men will have to pull it together to try to stay out of the Jungle.

Ty and Leroy decide the order of the challenge, putting Diem and Aneesa and CT and Wes first to start the maze. The teams get shocked by the second! Just watching it is painful! Throughout the shocks, the teams steadily make it through. Nany and Jonna do HORRIBLY, getting disqualified because they couldn't take the shock, and don't even make it that far from the entrance! Good thing for them that it wasn't a girls' day! In the end, Johnny and Frank kill at this challenge, winning it for the guys!. Aneesa and Diem FINALLY win a challenge together, which boosts their morale! Marlon and Jordan struggle in their heat, but Ty and Leroy end up going backwards in theirs, losing time and sending them straight into the Jungle.

Back at the house, the girls thinking about throwing in Preston and Knight, which Johnny quickly shut down. The two are an easy team, and Johnny thinks that they should send the Rookies in. One, they're a good team, and two, they're rookies and haven't seen the Jungle yet. Frank brings up the fact that they also broke their word in the Challenge. Jordan overhears them, and gets pissed off. He confronts Frank in the kitchen, asking how the campaign against them is going. Of course, Frank denies it, though it's CLEAR that he wanted them to go in, and they get into a huge argument (you know Frank can't turn down a fight!). Jordan may have intentionally wanted to get under Frank's skin, but Frank didn't have to lie about trying to get them into the Jungle. Point blank period, rookies have to earn their stripes. Shoot, in the past, all of the rookies would be gone by this point in the season.

At deliberation, the girls vote to send another guy team in against Ty and Leroy. With four votes, Marlon and Jordan get voted in the Jungle. I know they don't like it, especially this far in the game, but the Rookies need to get their feet wet in the Jungle. It's time to earn their stripes, and show the vets that they are a force to be reckoned with. When Jordan talks Camila about how he feels Frank and Johnny turned the vote against his team,  Frank gets pissed off again and gets in his face. Frank claims that he's scared of the Jungle, but Jordan thinks that he is scared of his team. Johnny tells Jordan like it, admitting that they're a good team, but they're still Rookies. They were going to go in sometime anyway, and now's that time! Go in, get it done, and come back to the house and prove people wrong.

The next night, Leroy and Ty square off against Jordan and Marlon in the physical game, "Last Chance," which we saw in the very first Jungle. In a narrow hallway, two players will play defense, and the other two offense. As the defense tries to block, the offensive player will run to ring a bell on the other side of the field. The best two out of three wins! After two grueling rounds, the score is tied. In the third round, Ty gets RIGHT NEXT to the bell, but Marlon keeps him pinned (putting his football skills to serious work!), allowing Jordan to get to the bell, sending Leroy and Ty home! The house is SHOCKED, because Ty was literally feet away from the bell. Though the win is huge for Marlon and Jordan, it puts even a bigger target on their back, especially since Frank is pissed at them. I'm proud of these Rookies though! They came in strong, albeit a little cocky, but they're a good team, and they're proving it!

Back at the house, Marlon celebrates getting back home, with his main goal being to send home Johnny and Frank. Jordan is over all of the politics, and just wants to win to stay. Now it's getting to the nitty-gritty, and the games are REALLY about to begin. Frank talks about how he's going to change things up and get tougher, with Johnny thinking he's drawing too much unnecessary attention on them. But that's Frank. The season is only going to get more intense from here, so you have to keep watching!

Check out new episodes of The Challenge: Rivals II on Thursdays at 10 p.m. only on MTV!

Images via MTV

9:49:00 AM

Wednesday brought another great episode of The Challenge: Rivals II! Picking up from last week,
Theresa talks to Aneesa about feeling betrayed by Diem after last week's elimination. Theresa came in this game as a really nice person, and I'm not saying that she should ever lose that. However, THIS IS A GAME. She needs to learn that everybody is playing this game to win, or at least they should and she should too. Yes, everybody has different friends in the house, but it's a CHALLENGE, and the main objective is to get that money! We can hang out after this is over. Theresa expresses that she only trusts her partner Jasmine in this game, as she should. Since they won the last challenge, they get to pick the order of this challenge coming up, so they need to make smart choices! That night, the house gets a clue from T.J. for the challenge. "They always say keep your friends close and your enemies closer." Wonder what that could mean???

The next day, the teams play "Frenemies." T.J. calls for half of the girls' teams to come over to him, and tells the other girls to walk by the wall. Nobody knows what T.J. is about to have them do! After T.J. tells the girls next to him to rejoin the boys, he reveals the objective of the challenge. One partner from each team is going to be suspended in a harness over 30 feet of water. T.J. will ask a series of questions to the teams about their partners, which have to match up with their partner's own answers. One strike, you get a warning. The second, the partner in the harness is dropped into the water, and that team is eliminated. Since Jasmine is being put into the harness, Theresa has to make the order by herself.

As the challenge goes on, T.J. asks questions like "Who does your partner think is the fakest personstill in the house?" and "Who needs the most attention?" Jemmye and Camila struggle because they really don't communicate with each other. Jemmye guesses wrong on her tries, landing her and Camila straight into the Jungle. Jemmye takes a type of offense at the answers too because a few of the girls thought she was the fakest, and calls out Jonna for it! Meanwhile, because Paula and Emily know each other well, they win yet another challenge! The guys' round comes down to Frank and Johnny and Leroy and Ty. After Frank misses his second question, Leroy and Ty take the win for the guys!

Back at the house, Theresa tries to get some of the Rookie guys to throw in Aneesa and Diem for the Jungle, saying that she will have the Rookies' backs if they do. Theresa is just scared to go in, honestly. Though they say they will try, Marlon and Jordan believe that they should make a power move to shake up the house. Johnny gives his two cents that they should lay low, but Marlon basically tells him to mind his business. At deliberation, Diem and Aneesa, Cara and Cooke, and Theresa and Jasmine all get one vote. Marlon and Jordan then decide to go with Theresa and Jasmine,seeing as thought Diem and Aneesa have had their back since day one. Theresa is irritated, but she shouldn't be. This is a GAME. Get over it. Both Jasmine and Theresa are livid, and plan on getting revenge if they come back. Jasmine asks Jonna why she would give Jordan the time of day. Theresa goes off on Jordan, saying that there will be consequences if she comes back. Girl bye. People play this game way too personally, with too many emotions.

At the Jungle, Jemmye and Camila square off against Theresa and Jasmine in "Catch 22." There are 22 balls next to four treadmills. The treadmills will start moving and the partners will throw the balls at their teammates, while their partner tries to catch it and throws it in their basket. As time goes on, the treadmills will be moving faster and faster, but the girls have to keep running. If you land in the mud pit behind you, you're done for that round, and have to watch as the other team takes it. The game is best two out of three, with three balls winning the round. Jemmye and Camila surprisingly do very well, in spite of their communication issues! After both land in the mud pit during two rounds, Jasmine and Theresa are sent home! Definitely fine by me, because I was getting tired of Theresa anyway.

Back at the house, Jonna watches Jordan work out, flirting and laughing with him. Jonna. Nany watches, feeling like Jonna absolutely has to have male attention. She wants her to be focused on the game, and not guys!

Hard to believe that we're halfway through The Challenge, and, as the teams get closer and closer to the money, the drama heats up! Check out a sneak peek of what the rest of the season below, and watch all new episodes of The Challenge: Rivals II on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. only on MTV!

Get More: The Challenge (Season 24), Full Episodes

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7:32:00 AM

Another drama filled episode of The Challenge: Rivals 2 this past Thursday! Picking up from last week, Theresa and Leroy get it on one night, as the housemates try to peek in! Wes gets upset because they are hooking up in the bunk above his, and he's hooked up with Theresa before himself. The next morning, CT and Diem try to get the dirt, but Theresa keeps it cool. She admits that she likes him, and their personalities click. In the midst of all this, Wes moves out of the room, which Leroy sees as a punk move. With the help of Johnny Bananas, Leroy and some of the guys make a Wes doll using broomsticks and a huge doll head, and even drew hashtags on his bed (#whack #112pounds #Birdchest HA!).


The next day, Zach calls his mom and finds out that his sister had her baby, a boy, which is Zach's first nephew. Everyone congratulates him, and he's happy, but is mad that he was the only one in his family that wasn't there, since he's on the show. It was a huge moment and he missed it. He starts getting stomach pains, and gets very upset. He freaks out on the cameramen and goes Incredible Zach, breaking stuff! The house watches as Zach freaks out, as Knight hands him stuff to break egging him on. Frank watches annoyed. The doctors eventually come and check Zach out, and clear him for competition. However, it all just seemed a little extra. You knew what you were getting in before you came. Hell, I know what all goes into being on that show (or any reality show for that matter), and I'm nowhere close to being asked to compete. Suck it up and deal. (Side note: he's still the sexiest man in the house to me, so I still love him!).

That night, Wes comes up with a plan to try to get rid of Leroy. He talks to Diem about voting against Leroy and Ty at the deliberation since it's a guys' challenge. Diem deep down knows that Leroy and Ty will vote against her and Aneesa before most of the other girls teams, so she's actually considering it. Now, if this was a strategic move on Wes' part, I'd be all for it. But he's just jealous that Leroy got with Theresa, and is doing it out of spite. Childish.

The next day, the teams compete in "Frog Smash." The objective is to get across a 60 foot beam suspended 30 feet above water, while the other teams on swings try to hit you. Both times of the teammates count together, and you can't be too far behind your partner or you will get penalties. Because the girls didn't want Cooke and Cara or Nany and Jonna to win the challenge, the ladies all let Theresa and Jasmine across to get the best time, winning for the girls. The guys end up letting CT and Wes go as well, trying to keep Marlon and Jordan from winning as rookies, and the team wins for the guys! Since Zach and Trey got knocked off the beam and had the worst time, they were sent straight into the Jungle!

Back at the house, Zach tells everybody that he wants to go against Johnny and Frank, simply because Leroy and Ty end up with the most votes, heading to the Jungle to face Zach and Trey! Of course, Wes LOVES it. Theresa fights with Diem who definitely capitalized on Theresa's mistake! She plans on gunning for Diem in the next challenge. But Theresa, honey, it was YOUR vote that kicked things off in the first place. Be careful what you do in these challenges.
he doesn't trust Johnny. Theresa and Jasmine think about throwing in Knight and Preston because the rookies are really good, and they don't want to even mention their names for fear of getting thrown into the Jungle next. So poor Theresa decides to do a throwaway vote, which we've seen people do just out of fun to try to be neutral. Theresa throws Leroy and Ty out, which irritates Leroy a little because she didn't tell him before hand. The vote is pretty mixed, UNTIL Nany throws out Leroy and Ty as well! Diem figures, "Hey this is a good chance to get rid of a team who will probably vote us in next time," so she votes for them as well!  It was NOT supposed to go that way AT ALL! What started out as a joke ended up being a serious burn, because

At the Jungle, the guys play "Breaking on Through." The challenge features two towers with four floors and a trap door on each floor. You use the tool in each trap door to get the level below and the guys have to alternate floors! At the end, they will have to break through a giant steel door and break through the bell. This is the PERFECT challenge for big man Zach, and he and Trey do extremely well, coming back and taking a win! In the heat of the moment, Zach throws his helmet at the other teams, as if to say "Ha! I got this." Just when I got scared for everybody left in that house, T.J. makes an announcement. Since Zach broke through the glass on the first level when Trey was supposed to, they did not win, and are getting sent home! It was kind of karma for the way that Zach acted when he won and earlier on in the episode, but I still kind of wanted him to take it. He is my major eye candy in that house! Leroy and Ty get to stay, and maybe just maybe Theresa will learn to think before she votes! Back at the house, she is relieved that Leroy is back and they have a celebratory hook up! Whatever will become of them???

Check out all new episodes of The Challenge: Rivals 2 on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. only on MTV!

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9:26:00 AM

Forgive me for not getting this up sooner! Last week was absolutely crazy, but I had to still recap Rivals II! Picking up from last week, the housemates party at Diamond Nightclub, and have a great time! Jordan and Jonna are flirting and having fun, and they kiss! Looks like Jordan got over Sarah pretty quick. CT and Nany flirt as well, with Diem closely watching. Back at the house, Jemmye tells Nany that Diem made up a rap about her, calling her a slut in the club. Jemmye is DEFINITELY an annoying instigator sometimes. Of course, that causes Nany and Diem get into a little altercation, but it's whatever. Personally, I wouldn't trust CT or develop any feelings for him Nany. It's clear that he is still in love with Diem. Have fun but don't get caught up!

Moments later, Leroy and Johnny play a prank writing a rap about Nany and leaving it on a table for the house to see, pretending like Diem wrote it. It's so funny hearing it read back! It's just a joke, but Nany takes it to heart.

Leroy is attracted to Jemmye. She tells Wes that it's not going to happen, but she blushes when he talks about it. She's definitely attracted to him, and doesn't care about Knight anymore.

That night, the house gets a clue for their next challenge: "Working together will help you from getting stumped at tomorrow's challenge." So the next day, of course, the house plays a game called "Stumped," which is really quite literal. The teams have to navigate through a giant maze made up of bamboos, with the goal being to get through the maze as quick as possible. The catch? The teams will be carrying a 20 foot bamboo pole tied to their wrists, having to get that pole through the maze with them! The teams get 20 minutes to make it, or they will be disqualified. Since they won the last challenge, Paula and Emily put up the strongest teams first to see their strategy. The problem is that the bamboo is getting stuck everywhere! It's a struggle for both the girls and the boys to make it through, showing that it's definitely all about communication.

Since they couldn't make it in the time allotted, Knight and Preston get another DQ. Lucky for them, today is a girls' challenge day. Theresa and Jasmine get disqualified as well, heading straight into the Jungle. Jordan and Marlon do a great job with this challenge, winning for the guys, which is great, but it puts a target on their backs as well. Rookies often get eliminated first, and they're a strong team, so the guys might try to get them thrown into the Jungle next. Meanwhile, Paula and Emily win it for the girls, taking their FOURTH challenge in a row!

Back at the house, CT and Wes talks to Zach and the guys want to vote for Cara Maria and
Cooke. No one cares about them, and the house wants to use them as a scapegoat. As long as they stay here, they will always get throw in. Wes and CT tell the team that they will probably go in. However, Cooke goes around and talks to some of the guys and tells them they should vote Aneesa and Diem. Diem gets pissed off, but Cooke's playing the game. Can't be mad at her for trying to keep her butt out of the Jungle. I'd do the same.

At deliberation, the guys vote on who will face Theresa and Jasmine in the Jungle. It definitely would've stirred the pot A LOT if guys threw in Aneesa and Diem. However, even though Cooke tried, the guys vote Cara Maria and Cooke with five votes.

Later, Leroy and Ty sing and rap about themselves, and other people in the house to lighten the mood. Leroy continues to rap moving on to Jemmye, who he has a little crush on, with Knight sitting right there. Jemmye has caught feelings for Leroy a little bit too, and the two joke around. Knight claims that he is sick of Jemmye's voice and grabs a bottle of ketchup, which Jemmye is DEATHLY afraid of. It gets on her, and she freaks out! Obviously, Knight still has some type of feelings or needs some type of closure with her. Leroy doesn't want to get in the drama, and starts flirting with Theresa.

At the Jungle, T.J tells the girls that they will play "Who Can Take It," the most dangerousChallenge history! There is a metal gurney in the midst of electronics, car batteries and jumper cables! Each player is strapped to the gurney, and T.J. will then hit a button and send a shock through the constestants' bodies! It's best two out of three, with the first person to say they quit losing the round of her team. This mess is DANGEROUS! Just as the girls prep for the challenge, T.J. stops them and reveals that the challenge was a fake!!!  No one is going home this round. It hit me later on though, that this was because Trishelle and Sarah are no longer in the house, so there was no need for any girls' team to be eliminated this week.

However, back at the house, Paula, Diem and Emily are pissed that nobody went home, especially because they all wanted to see Cara and Cooke leave. The house goes out to party and have a good time anyway though.  Diem takes off her wig before leaving, and she looks gorgeous! CT goes to see her, and shows her love, boosting her morale a little bit! Even though CT can be seen as a monster who needs serious anger management in these challenges, he's such a softie with her. Diem talks more about her experience with her second bout of ovarian cancer, and reveals that she wants to become stronger and show that she is a competitor to contend with! Good for her!

Check out all new episodes of The Challenge: Rivals II on Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET!

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10:01:00 AM

Plenty of drama on this episode of Rivals II! Picking up from last week, Derek has a very interesting confessional, in which he states that Marlon is touchy feely with him, finding out that Marlon is bisexual and they hooked up one night! In his own confessional, Marlon admits that he is bisexual and that he and Derek did fool around. The housemates are being nosy and ask Jordan about Marlon's sexuality. Because Marlon is so tough, no one really could tell that he was bi. I didn't watch his season, so I didn't know either. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter. What matters is that he holds his own in competition.

However, in a game of charades later where the housemates imitate each other, Knight does a
disrespectful imitation of Marlon, playing like he is giving a blowjob to another guy. Marlon goes off, ready to fight Knight, and it takes a crew of guys to keep him and Knight away from each other. I'm not even all that surprised. Knight has always been disrespectful, because he doesn't know where to draw the line. Later, Aneesa talks to Marlon, and tells him that he will constantly evolve as a human being. She understands his situation because she is bisexual herself. Behind the scenes, Trishelle, annoyed with Aneesa's voice, starts talking trash about her. Jemmye tells Aneesa, and Aneesa goes off! Trishelle has A LOT of mouth, calling Aneesa a stripper and saying that the girl doesn't know what she is, and on and on and on. Aneesa calls her TRASHELLE, and when Trishelle gets in her face, she promptly grabs her hair and holds her while Trishelle tries to get away! Trishelle knew better than to get in the ring with a pitbull...she's like the size of Aneesa's thigh!

The next morning, Trishelle packs her bags and quits because of the fight, leaving Sarah in the dust. Shortly after Trishelle leaves, T.J. brings the house together, and tells her that her time in Thailand is over, which sucks, because if there is any girl that deserves to be able to compete, it's Sarah. She has a huge love of competition, and always seems to get crappy partners (though she did win third with her team last season on Battle of the Seasons). Trishelle, you are completely weak, and need to not ever do a Challenge again in life. Because T.J. detests quitting, I hope that he and MTV keep you out of doing any more challenges. You're irrelevant.

At the day's challenge, the teams square off in "Mind Over Splatter." Two teams at a time have to go across two ropes suspended 30 feet over water. Each team has 10 minutes to get across the ropes or they will be disqualified. This challenge is a guys' challenge, so the guys definitely want to do well! Before they start, T.J. informs CT and Wes, as well as Knight and Preston, that they will get a 30
second time penalty for quitting the last challenge AND they have to go first. Knight and Preston do well at first, but Knight eventually falls into the water. Preston tries to hold on until Knight can get to him. They fail though. In their heat, Marlon and Jordan KILL, impressing the vets! Johnny and Frank make good time too.

The girls manage to get across the ropes fast as well. At the end of the challenge, Paula and Emily end up taking it again for the girls! They definitely are the girls' team to beat! Preston and Knight lose the challenge and head straight into the Jungle because of their DQ! T.J. reveals that the top three teams are Marlon and Jordan, Johnny and Frank, and Trey and Zach. T.J. announces Johnny and Frank as the winners, which was well deserved, even though I don't really like Frank. At all.

Back at the house, the girls deliberate and thinks that Derek and Robb should go back in. However, Derek thinks that he will be safe, and that Aneesa won't vote him in. At deliberation, most of the girls, along with Diem and Aneesa, vote Derek and Robb. With three votes, Derek and Robb get thrown in the Jungle again.

At the Jungle, T.J. reveals that the game will be "Snapper." There is a giant red circle in the center of the Jungle. One member is blindfolded will bells on his feet, and will try to break a stick over their opponent, as his team member tries to guide him Best two out of three wins! Robb and Preston are spun around. It's literally like hitting a human piñata. In the first round, Derek and Knight direct their teammates. Robb KILLS Preston with his stick. The second round, Knight and Preston come up a code word "NOLA" in which Knight will get low and strike. It works for them, because Knight takes the second round over Derek. The score is 1-1 and it comes down to Robb and Knight. Preston and Knight end up taking it, sending Robb and Derek home, which was disappointing. I was rooting for Robb and Derek to take it because I think that they are a decent team. Plus I just really don't like Knight.

Back at the house, Knight apologizes to Marlon for his tasteless joke. Marlon accepts his apology, but will definitely keep his eyes open when it comes to him. Later, Nany and Marlon talk it out, and they vibe. He has feelings for her it looks like. Nany doesn't care that he's bisexual and they hook up at the end of the night. Bisexual does have a stigma that you're just gay, but Marlon likes girls too. But who cares if he's bisexual, gay, or whatever? At the end of the day, he is a strong competitor and that's what matters on The Challenge. Everything else is secondary.

Check out all new episodes of The Challenge on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. only on MTV!

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9:16:00 AM