The Challenge USA Season 2 Episode 3 Recap: 10 Biggest Takeaways
The 3rd episode of The Challenge USA 2 is in the books. You probably have some thoughts, so let’s compare. Instead of giving a simple summary, I decided to focus on the 10 biggest moments/takeaways from the third episode.
10 What world is Tori living in?
Tori getting mad at Amanda for voting her into elimination was absurd on many levels. For starters, 7 out of 8 votes from the Green Team went to Tori; Amanda’s vote literally did not matter as her team had already decided on Tori. Second, Tori acted as though Amanda had agreed for them to work together when it was clear that she was open to the idea because of the game’s circumstances but very much wasn’t willing to commit. The third and most important reason why Amanda wasn’t keen to commit is that she fucking hates Tori’s guts.
Amanda goes on tweeting sprees, calling Tori a linebacker, saying she does steroids, making fun of Tori’s ugly cat, and alluding to some of Tori’s rumored dating history pre-MTV. It’s cut and dry that they are enemies/rivals; thus, Amanda voting Tori in should not surprise Tori. And yet, here we opened the episode with Tori blaming Amanda as the reason Jonna went home. Tori lives in her own echo chamber — she’s fake and wants to get surrounded by Yes Men. I think Tori fought with Amanda partly because she felt frustrated in the game game and using Amanda as her outlet for anger, she avoids creating more potential conflict. Tori can continue in her Echo Chamber/safe space where she’s fake nice to these other people if she fights with Amanda. Tori does not have to look at herself in the mirror if she can point to Amanda as the problem.
9 Stolen Credit for Amanda & Tori’s Beef
I did find it hysterical that the CBS ladies took credit/reveled in Tori & Amanda beefing with each other as it symbolized the Veterans weakening. Dr. Strange went through every simulation, and in each world, Tori and Amanda fight — nothing they did affected the inevitable. It’s why we don’t invite both my divorced Aunt Sheila and Uncle Garth to Thanksgiving, because if we do, a Turkey is likely getting tossed out the window.
8 The Secret Garden
When it comes to Reality Television, I love when people give their alliances a nickname, and we just got a new one: The Secret Garden. The Secret Garden alliance consists of Desi, Michaela, Tiffany, Chanelle, Alyssa L., White Alyssa, and Michele. It is essentially all of the CBS women left in the game except for Cassidy.
What I did find fascinating was Desi first explaining that the alliance began with herself, Michaela, Tiffany, and Chanelle, which leads me to believe that the Secret Garden already has an inner circle, where once the outsiders get eliminated, then Michele and the Alyssa’s will have targets on their back.
The only way this alliance holds up for a majority of the season is if Amanda or Tori win a bunch of eliminations and they spend their whole season trying to get them out. As cool as this alliance is, the Civil War will be even more interesting to watch unfold.
7 Paulie Calafiore Rehabilitation Tour
Let me open this portion by saying that Paulie going to therapy is fantastic. While I will make fun of some of his goofier outfits, I fully support Paulie’s embracing and exploration of his sexuality, gender, and style. And I believe he returned this season a much better and healthier person.
However, a large part of me is disappointed by the much more toned-down Paulie. The Challenge has been missing drama and villains, and there was optimism that Paulie would bring that. Instead, he’s on the same type of image rehabilitation tour that Jordan and Nia did for All Stars 3. And let me tell you, I hated the Jordan rehab tour just like I loath the version of Paulie we got on this season.
I will recognize that it’s evident how much being on The Challenge means to Paulie. You could see the emotion on Paulie’s face and in confessionals that being on this show is a unique opportunity, and when Paulie thought he was at the peak of his powers, it got taken away from him. He was on his best behavior this time, especially because he’s terrified of losing it again. Although, I’m unsure if this version of Paulie is a guy I want to see on my TV again.
6 Cory vs. Bananas & Wes
Cory has lost four Challenge Finals and was against more well-rounded competitors each time. Cory knows he likely isn’t beating Bananas or Wes in a Final, and for that reason alone, he’s hesitant to align with them. That makes sense, and I don’t give him any grief for it. Bananas & Wes need Cory to be on their side more than he needs them. Simple as that.
5 The Daily Challenge
Not going to lie; I checked out during the daily challenge. The Blue Team had a great strategy and worked excellently as a team. The women of that team carried them to victory.
Michele fucked up for the Red Team, and Tiffany could not swim, so those were issues. I did have a hearty laugh when Tiffany said the daily consists of swimming, endurance, and memory, all things she sucks at/hates. Tiffany is a great Reality TV character and a natural strategist, but The Challenge is not her type of game whatsoever. I would love to see Tiffany on The Traitors, Survivor, or Cash Cab.
The Green Team was a clusterfuck during this daily challenge, and Amanda could not swim either!
4 Alyssa Lopez & Her Blue Team
The real main event of the episode was the Blue Team nominations. Alyssa Lopez took control of the deliberation and basically told everyone that they would be stacking the deck for a Johnny Bananas elimination. The best part of the nominations was Tori attempting to make her political move and air grievances about her previous nomination, only to get completely shut down by Alyssa.
Tori: Last week, me going in, knowing that some people in here voted for Jonna to go in, I think that was a direct shot at me.
Alyssa: Maybe you need to not think about it so direct and think more strategically that people wanted Jonna out. Maybe it’s not always about you.
The look on Tori’s face after Alyssa’s comment was priceless. Before the deliberation, we saw Alyssa bring Cory in and get him more firmly onto her side; and when it came down to the women’s vote, Cory could’ve burned on anyone. Rather than stay safe, Cory voted with Amanda so he could stand with Alyssa and her alliance — a bold declaration.
3 Sour Bananas
The montage of Johnny Bananas endlessly complaining and whining about getting nominated for elimination was hilarious. CBS did not give Bananas the same grace that an MTV edit would. Bananas lashed out at anyone he could, meanwhile, almost all the CBS folks laughed as they watched the face of The Challenge meltdown.
Even then, somehow the biggest loser of this meltdown was Dusty. He said didn’t want Bananas out because he’s his hero. Not even Lisa Ann has ever dickrided that hard.
2 Hopper Strikes Again
There was a 5/14 shot that Monte would go into elimination, and he got saved as Paulie got picked. If the 1 out of 14 chance ball for Amanda to go into elimination had gotten picked, the internet would’ve exploded.
The biggest takeaway I had from the votes was Wes not getting any votes. You would’ve expected them to try and stack the two legacy Vets against each other. Wes has stayed far more under the radar than Bananas, and I think Desi & Michaela truly view him as crucial toward daily challenges for their team. Since they seem like the Head of the Secret Garden snake, I could see them influencing people.
1 How Much Does A Polar Bear Weigh?
I fucking loved the design of the elimination between Bananas and Paulie. It felt like a carnival game, yet also strategic and physical. These are the type of eliminations that blend old-school and new-school Challenge well.
It was stunning to see how accurate these two men were at throwing, except when Paulie missed that last throw. From War of the Worlds 1 Purge to the War of the Worlds 2 Final to this elimination, Paulie just might not have the clutch gene.
Bananas got the win in an impressive elimination. Paulie bows out, and I hate that they don’t have animosity because it would’ve raised the stakes for this elimination and future seasons. It did seem like Paulie got closure, so good for him. Bananas comes back, and if I were him, I would take Cory or Fessy’s spot on the Blue Team.
