MTV’s “The Challenge: Total Madness”: Episode 1 recap

The first episode of any season of MTV’s “The Challenge” is approximately the very same every season. The competitors show up under threatening situations, everybody mean mugs each other, T.J. invites them to the brand-new season, they clap, there’s an everyday competition, they run around the house, people get drunk/hook-up, and a novice undoubtedly gets gotten rid of. Episode 1 of the 35 th season (“Total Madness”) included all of that, too– though there was a game- altering twist dropped on the cast members at the end.

Host T.J. Lavin (who had a big night, as normal) sternly revealed: “I’m done with people skating by. I’m done with people just going under the radar. . This season, the only way to make it into a final is to win an elimination.”

MORE DIFFICULTY: Season 35 preview |Best competitors of all-time

This wasn’t precisely earth-shattering news to the majority of audiences, as this twist had actually been commonly reported, however it still put a great point on a strong episode that prepared for what figures to be a competitive and amusing season.

“The Challenge: Total Madness:” Episode 1 recap

The episode begins with all the cast members on a helicopter in the evening. Everybody is quiet and looking at each other in the dim traffic signal of the airplane. The chopper lands, T.J. unlocks, everybody screams, and the Bassment Jaxx’s “Where’s Your Head At” kicks in. That song came out in 2001, so day-one fans should have had flashbacks of Susie, Timmy, and The Miz, however unfortunately, the closest thing we get this season is Aneesa

Everybody lines up in a forest, Teej shows up in a tank (naturally), and informs them it’s a specific game this season, though they will be operating in teams and sets throughout. He then reveals they’re betting $1 million and they all flip out. Ends up, these expert reality show competitors truly likemoney Who understood? T.J. likewise states — a number of times– that this is one of the most Hazardous Season EverTM.

DAILY COMPETITION: FIGHT LINES

As is frequently the case on “The Challenge,” the description of the everyday compensation gets a bit brushed over. For this one, competitors need to pull heavy barrels on a string, then do a puzzle, then pull more barrels, then do a mathematics problem, then bring some weight. Puzzles and mathematics on the first compensation? This truly is one of the most Hazardous Season EverTM.

Oh, one more thing: T.J. and some other unknown individual ( Dave Mirra? Jonny Moseley?) will be driving tanks through the game location, and if they squash among your barrels, you’re out.

The people prepare to kick things off, however not prior to Nelson does some push-ups since ” this season, [he’s] entering into the game a lot various. . It’s time to get [his] hands filthy.” I think he suggested that actually since his hands in fact got filthy from doing push-ups. Kyle describes Nelson‘s push-ups as an “idiot move,” however, to be reasonable, he didn’t hear Nelson‘s little speech.

Nany has her eye on novice Asaf (it’s none of our business who Nany talks to, though, as she explained throughout her battle with Nia on “Battle of the Exes 2”), who starts his intro with, “You probably know me from .” Let me stop you right there, Asaf Goren, since we do not you from anywhere, nor do we care where you have actually been.

The compensation begins and it’s all extremely complicated. Guys are pulling barrels on a string 500 yards throughout a field, however as normal, we can’t truly inform who’s succeeding. When T.J. and the other unknown individual start up the tanks (seriously, who the hell is driving that other tank?), barrels get run over and competitors start getting gotten rid of.

The puzzle goes and comes ( Cory was certainly hoping he might simply select it up and run with it rather of fixing it), and there’s more barrel pulling. Novice Fessy describes that he was a “two-time Division 1 All-American at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.” Well, a two-time Division 1 FCS All-American. Sort of a crucial information to overlook. Hey, there are a lot of fantastic FCS players in the NFL, however, you understand, he wasn’t precisely squaring off versus ‘Bama and LSU each week. Fessy likewise indicates that he would be “playing on Sundays” if not for an Air Conditioning joint injury his senior year. Once again, he was a strong gamer in the SoCon, however let’s not pretend Expense Belichick was trading as much as get him in the draft.

Anyhow, Fessy is succeeding, CT crushes some Spanish words, and Bear reveals he’s the very best at the mathematics. He then sees this brain buster, 67 + 54 – 53/ 2, and nearly craps himself. CT, Fessy, and Rogan are the last people left, and Rogan brings ithome No doubt Joss shed a tear (and his trousers) while viewing.

The gals are up next, and after Tori advises us she’s a big geek by embracing some type of rapper personality and stating, “We are playing for a million muhf***in’ dollars, baby, yeeah, tryna get my bank on, woo,” the compensation begins. There’s more pulling and tank driving (T.J. truly likes driving a tank), and Jenny leaps out to a biglead

She gets to her mathematics problem, 82 + 28 – 52/ 2, and unlike Bear, she’s prepared. She describes: “Every evening when I’m sat on the sofa with my guinea pigs, I have my phone out, on my app, doing my equations. And I am so fricken glad I did this. This is the training I needed to do last season.”

There’s a lot to unload because quote, so let’s simply carry on.

Jenny and Dee are the final 2 women. Jenny wins . all thanks to that fourth-grade-level formulas app. (Does she imply a calculator? Do they call calculators “apps” in England? Never ever mind.)

Jenny and Rogan are instantly in the Tribunal. Bear lobbies hard to be the 3rd choice (“I’ll take it. Just pick me, please. Can I do it?”) to no obtain. They select Cory to join them for no real factor ( since he’s “neutral” and a “good competitor”? Huh?), however considering it’s a male removal day, that’s fantastic news for him.

T.J. describes the house will vote on the first individual to enter into the removal round, then the Tribunal will make 3 elections, question them, and eventually pick the second removal-round rival.

YOUR HOME UNVEILING

Everybody however CT goes to a door that they believe will open to their livingspace Rather, they’re led through an underground series of bomb-shelter-like corridors and more doors. They’re going crazy. Things are nearly too harmful at this moment. They lastly discover their living quarters, and unlike a few of the elegant estates they have actually remained in in the past, conditions are suboptimal.

Nany states, “This is a literal prison,” which validates she’s never ever remained in a jail.

Then Jordan and CT come across a sanctuary in this air-raid shelter: A spacious open space that has a full gym, swimming pool, sprinter’s track, billiards table, totally equipped cooking area, and most likely some other things. The production team has their best minute of the night by playing DMX’s “Party Up” right as Jordan screams, “Look at this s***, baby”, CT bellows something muddled, and the rest of the cast puts into the space, pops bottles, and cannonballs into the swimming pool.

We see our only clip of novice Jenn, who states being on “The Amazing Race” prepared her for “The Challenge” since “you have to think on your feet.” It is necessary to explain that Jenn lasted one episode on “The Amazing Race,” so if you’re playing Difficulty Daily Dream on FanDuel next week, proceed and select her for your team since she’s certainly entering into removal.

Novice Kaycee states she’s gon na keep peaceful, Mattie Lynn states she’s overwhelmed, and Melissa is . likewise . there (I believe).

Jenna notifies us that she (Holy Spirit), Kailah (Boy), and Nany (Dad) are the Holy Trinity alliance, which is in some way very blasphemous yet exciting at the very same time. Nany then goes on to do something our Developer would never ever make and do bed room eyes at Asaf for what appears like an hour. They ultimately construct out and Nany, in some way, gets up in Asaf‘s bed the next early morning. Ashley amounts it up: “ Nany has an unusual taste inmen Well, in fact, no . Nany simply likes any men.” (None of our business. None. Of. Our. Business.)

Kailah fend off Bear‘s advances and reveals she remains in a relationship and it’s time to be more grow. We understand they’ll be hooking up later on this season.

REMOVAL VOTE AND INTERROGATION

Everybody however the Tribunal members get together for thevote Bananas states a veterinarian ought to start the procedures, then tosses it to CT Because we didn’t get to see the Bananas‘ opening night toast this year, this little bit of Bananas humor will need to do.

CT and some others select Jay, more choice Asaf, and Asaf selects . Wes? Wes gets upset since he grew a beard and was attempting to lay low this season, and he begins needlessly scolding Asaf, which is the reverse of what somebody attempting to lay low would do (even with a beard). Wes calls him a “follower,” which causes Asaf limply stating, “I ain’t no f***ing follower. I’m a leader. What’s up?”

In such a way he is a leader since he’s the first individual voted into a removal round this season. That’s what’s up, Asaf

Cory, Jenny, and Rogan attempt to find out which other novice they must send out in. They’re frightened of Fessy since of his size (they certainly enjoyed some big UT-Chattanooga games back then), and they’re frightened of Swaggy since they’re frightened of Bayleigh, who’s been talking s *** every chance she gets. Yeah, we get it– Swaggy’ s “ya man,” however all that indicates is people will vote you in since you won’ t shut up about it.

That leaves bad Jay, who appears like a hero to understand if you need weed however always a hero for thiscompetition The Tribunal choices Kyle and Wes to sign up with Jay in the interrogation space, that makes definitely no sense. All veterans have relationships that are difficult to break, however you can still win over novices to your side– and an (FCS) All-American tight end like Fessy is certainly somebody you desire on yourside Get 2 novices to promise their commitment to you for “saving” them, and you might be cooking with gas. Nope, these 3 Mensa members bungled a big early benefit, and we’re dealt with to what’s most likely gon na be the lamest interrogation of the season.

In in between, we find out that Bananas and Wes are collaborating this year. It’s dealt with as a significant minute in Difficulty history, however we explained that such a relocation would make good sense in our Season 35 preview, so we’re not shocked. Obviously, the remainder of the house won’ t be either since they currently have their suspicions that something is up when Bananas and Wes hug. Once again, method to “lay low,” Wes In either case, Jordan isn’t extremely anxious since why would he be?

PURGATORY (REMOVAL COMPENSATION)

We get the required slow-motion cast walk to the removal pit, which is called “Purgatory” this season. Why not “The Asylum” or “The Padded Room” considering that the name of the season is “Total Madness?” T.J. describes that you’re midway in between paradise (triumph) and hell (defeat), thus purgatory. Obviously, if Teej had actually studied his Catholic mentors a little more carefully, he ‘d understand that if you remain in purgatory, you’re ensured to go to paradise, so you’re not in fact in between paradise and hell (the story of St. Stanislaus amounts this up). T.J. ought to have asked the Holy Trinity for some information on that.

Josh, as if reading from a hint card, inform us that “so much madness” is gon na go on there all season long. A minimum of he’s not sobbing yet.

The Tribunal choices Jay by a 3-0 vote, and the world braces for the Asaf– vs.- Jay fight we certainly anticipated however still do not care about.

The competition is called “Air Strike.” Both competitors hold on trapeze-like bars with a big plate of glass ( or perhaps it’s plastic) in between them. They need to attempt to get the other individual to fall two times. It’s an unusual idea even by Difficulty requirements.

Jay describes that since he’s a rock climber, he has a benefit, which type of make good sense. Somebody else states that Asaf is a dancer, so he has a benefit, which certainly does not make good sense. Anyhow, Jay states that his strategy is to stagnate much and let Asaf tire himself out withkicks The compensation begins and Jay right away begins kicking.

Asaf is kicking harder, however, and he’s bending his arms while hanging (which everybody points out is dumb). Sure enough, Asaf fallsfirst Front-running Dee then recommends she wishes to hook up with Jay since he’s precisely her type. Considering he’s absolutely nothing like Rogan, her hook-up last season, I believe we can all concur Dee has a quite loose meaning of “her type.”

Both people choose they’re not going to move at all throughout the second heat, that makes for a horrible watchingexperience Where the hell is T.J.’s tank when you need it? Fire some grenades up there or something. ( The Majority Of Hazardous Season EverTM my ass)

It must likewise be kept in mind that this would have been a difficult compensation for somebody as big as Fessy, so the veterinarians truly must have taken their chance at him right now. If he returns, so be it. He can just pursue a single person at a time. Play the chances. You would believe with all the Difficulty experience because space, they ‘d understand not every removal is Hall Brawl or Pull of War.

Asaf ultimately falls once again, and Nany is unfortunate her crush is leaving. She states she’ll “slide into his DMs,” however considering she’s currently moved into his trousers, that most likely does not need to be stated. She’ll most likely hook up with somebody else within 24-48 hours (beeswax, not ours).

Jay states he’s more powerful than he looks (perhaps), and Asaf states he’ll be back (most likely not), and T.J. becomes a college football coach and states he’s distributing helmet sticker labels — the most crucial of which is a red skull. The red skull indicates you have actually won a removal, and just people with a red skull sticker label are fit to run “his final” (as if Teej is out there establishing orange cones and stepping off checkpoints).

Jay takes this extremely actually, stating he’s the only individual who can go to the final today. Excellent insight, Jay I wager he’s the kind of man that states a gamer who strikes a home run on opening day is “on pace to hit 162 home runs.”

The cast excitedly questions aloud how this twist will alter the game and if they must wish to enter into Purgatory early. (Response: Most Likely).

WHAT WE DISCOVERED

Like all reality TELEVISION manufacturers, “The Challenge” team likes to foreshadow. In some cases it’s for the instant next one or more episodes; often it’s for the whole season. Based upon what we saw in Episode 1, 2 things appear clear:

Ashley got a great deal of a love as a master relationship-builder. She’s going to attempt to construct a rag-tag alliance with the similarity her “protege” Big T and other randos, and ultimately they’ll go head-to-head with the Holy Trinity. My money’s on Ashley

Likewise, “ Swayleigh” is going to have a big blowup with somebody eventually, and I’m not exactly sure they can support all their bluster. I imply, Bayleigh entered into it with Jay, the least threatening individual still in thehouse Envision when they deal with some real heat.

For the people, we may have gotten a tip that this might be an excellent season for Kyle throughout a teacher-grasshopper minute with CT The Bananas/ Wes thing appears too apparent to exercise long-lasting, however till we see the rest of their alliance and how they browse the removal twist, it is difficult to state for sure.

We likewise discovered that Rogan has “go muscles,” not “show muscles,” the “easiest way to get sent home is going into elimination” (thanks, Kyle), and Dee intends on being a real D( ee)- blocker when it pertains to Rogan this season.

Next week, we’ll see which woman is sent out packaging (most likely Jenn) and simply how much more harmful one of the most Hazardous Season EverTM can get.

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