DC WRAP: The Challenge Battle of the Exes 2 - "Bye Bye, Love"

RETROACTIVE POST

From DC SocialPulse: Battle of the Exes 2 Episode 11

BY DC CUEVA                           
> @DC408dxtr / @DC408dxnow

theWRAP

So this week, we saw in Panama the fallout from the vote that tore apart an alliance and friendship, a bad night turned costly for one player, another dose of redemption, and one last elimination battle that determined our final three teams going for the cash. Those are the Things to Know, which this week is at Six rather than Five.

SIX THINGS TO KNOW

- The Fallout: We picked up where last week's episode left off (yet again in a cliffhanger-heavy season) with the reaction to Sarah & Jordan voting in Bananas & Nany as they check into a hotel suite in Panama after their last regular mission. An explosive argument ensues between both teams in its aftermath, while the team who will be facing Banany in the Dome, Leroy & Nia, are waiting for them. He wants her to focus on the game, while she's getting more irritated with him at the same time because she doesn't want to be mad about this. This sudden tension between both Sarah and Bananas spills into the After Show as well.
- Awkward Dinner, Sarah Bullied: Nany receives a clue via envelopes that they are headed to Norway, thanks to the plane tickets inside the minibar. But while the finalists are soaking in their finals berth upon their arrival 30 some odd hours later, the Dome combatants just can't get excited about being in Europe given two of them will be leaving empty-handed. At dinner when Sarah praises the food and wine they're having, Johnny becomes annoyed by her that he decides to get up and walk away from the dinner table. After a day out in their Norwegian surroundings, Sarah gets bullied in the house by Nia, Leroy, Johnny and Nany, which leads to...
- Nia's Bad Night, Nany Blacks Out: Annoyed by their behavior, Jordan stands up for Sarah and tells Nia that she quit missions as what happened previously and also can't talk about anyone else in the game. In response - and echoing what we saw from them on RW Portland, Nia starts getting at Jordan and calls him all sorts of derogatory names, pulls down his pants, and even pokes at his private parts in claiming he has lady parts. This catches TJ's attention and tells Nia to pack up and come with him, but are provided with no clue on her whereabouts. Tension increases amongst the group, especially with Johnny and rookie Jay, and when they go out, Nany & Jenna are getting wasted, frustrating Bananas after the $700 bar tab, but not much else in the morning hangover.
- Theresa's 2nd Chance: If what we saw with the Exile twist in Banany earning their way back in the game was one thing, then imagine what it would be if a player is eliminated, only to return to it before the final? That's exactly what happened as Nia crossing the line caused her to be sent home. Because a partner is needed for this game, Leroy thought he was screwed, only to find out that he will not only stay, but get a new partner! As you saw above, Theresa told twitter user Kyle McCann (@ItsKyleMaccc) that when she flew back after her loss, she then had 2 hours to return back to the show and to Norway to compete. Producers felt it would be unfair for Bananas & Nany to go into the final without going to elimination, and in my mind it was the right call to make them, and Leroy & Theresa, earn their way into the final rather than get a free pass and forgo the last Dome altogether.
- Last Dome: So, the last Dome is what will turn out to be the only repeat elimination this season: the X factor. Johnny & Nany are familiar with this game as they beat Adam & Brittany in the Exile, as they have an X-shaped bar and must rip it out of their opponents' hands, in a best-of-3 series. In the guys' heat, Johnny felt his rib crack and it turns out to be a fracture. After an out of bounds restart, Leroy gets his full hands on the X and wins the heat. For the girls, Nany throws Theresa to the ground, but they keep fighting when Theresa pins her down and dig her knee into her ribs and kicks her in the face...yep, it's a good old cat-fight - what happened in them during Free Agents last year now seems like a distant memory. When the dust settles, Leroy & Theresa complete the 2-0 whitewash and send home, for real, Bananas and Nany.
- The Final: So, the final three are set: Jordan & Sarah, Jay & Jenna, and Leroy & Theresa. What will be awaiting them? Their final challenge next week is to climb to the top of Mount Slogen, a 5200 foot mountain in the Sunnmøre Alps in the northern part of Fjord in the Western part of the country, once hiked up to by the wife of the country's King Harald V, Queen Sonja. As always, there will be various checkpoints along the way and the first part of it will be a helicopter ride to boats they will be rowing to shore after jumping into the river from the 'copters. They all must finish to get a cut of the cash: the winners receive $250,000; the runners-up will pocket $75,000 and the bronze medalists will earn $30,000. That comes your way on Tuesday.

WINNERS OF THE NIGHT

- Leroy: For a fella having his most successful Challenge season and overtaking what he did in his first go on Rivals, RoyLee is now into his second final after winning his fourth Dome elimination. But he came very close to seeing that dream vanish when Nia got kicked out. Instead, he stayed, got a great partner as her replacement, and he beat Johnny Bananas in what turned out to be their only heat in what was a 2-0 sweep for him and Theresa. By beating Johnny Bananas for the 2nd time, he stamped his ticket to the final; and got much respect from JB himself...it wasn't long ago that they and Derrick Kosinski were talking about his Real World season on Ultimate Challenge Radio. This is the 5th time in six seasons that RW Back to Vegas has been represented in a Challenge final, and Leroy is now XXV's first 2-time finalist, and he now has a better chance in the final with Theresa than with what he might have had with Nia, and obviously Mike Mike. It's his time to shine.

- Theresa: In a season that saw her friend turned nemesis receive redemption, Theresa now has her own shot at not just redemption, but sweet redemption for that matter in the final. All of us thought that she was eliminated after losing to Leroy & Nia in Hall Brawl. But, I do agree with Reality Radio that because Wes wasn't at 100% during that 2nd heat and when the Nia thing happened, Theresa was the right choice to replace her and deserved a 2nd shot. For someone who went all the way to the last elimination and lost last season after what was her best season to date (including winning her first elimination), now T.Time now finally has a shot at a title, and it's well-deserved. She's been a great competitor since we first saw her first on Fresh Meat II five years ago, thanks in no small part to her athletic prowess that made her a high school basketball star in Milwaukee. With the guy she hooked up in Thailand as her new partner now, she can make the most of this opportunity.

- Zuri Hall: Once again, DCBLOG's Winners of the Night also singles out someone who's not in the cast, but a host who's really come into their own this year. After hosting the BMP-produced Million Dollar Maze Runner last fall, Zuri took over for Jonny Moseley as host of The Challenge After Show this season, and she has really done an awesome job hosting it this season. Though some fans have been asking for someone like Mark Long or Coral to host, Steve The Steamer and Brian Cohen have expressed great support for Zuri in doing this task of asking the cast the right questions and keeping the group sane on set in the midst of all the drama. This has also earned her Reunion hosting duties next week and don't be surprised if they add more duties to her growing resume.

DC FORUM

Views expressed in DC FORUM are only of its blogger & and do 

not necessarily reflect the views of DCBLOG or affiliated parties.

NIA'S BAD MOVE

Now on occasion when it's deemed necessary, DCBLOG is adding my opinion and commentary from things we've seen in the episodes that need more depth in these segments called The FORUM. As mentioned, there are two dedicated Forum posts planned after my final SocialPulse wrap of this season next week where I plan to bring on a fan, blogger or webcast host, plus friend Andrew Kirk, to debrief our thoughts on the past four months. Given what we saw this week, it was necessary for me to express my opinions in more than 140 characters on twitter, through again this will be done in an objective, third-person view that won't be critical of my subject but to provide it in a safer manner. We'll be leaving any negativity and criticism to everyone else in the social world.

   It's obviously clear that what happened with Nia this week was a very unfortunate event and something that will be talked about a lot, but is a terrible mistake that, though odds of it happening might be higher than winning any prize from a lottery scratcher ticket, can be regrettable. In one move, her crossing the line on the same guy she got into with on her Real World season, Jordan, brought up two topics that are very serious issues these days. In all, this cost her not only her spot in competing in the last Dome, but also a chance to compete for $350,000 and in the minds of many, people's respect for her. And this comes after what was gonna be a great breakout 2nd season for Nia where, after an early exit on her first season, she won three Domes, was Power Couple with Leroy one week and on the verge of great things. But now, her sophomore showing will be tainted by one night of physical and verbal harassment that cost her everything.

   Whenever you go through the experience of getting a new job, a topic that will come up during those orientation meetings when you're starting up are things that are deemed ethical and appropriate. Harassment is always part of that discussion in the things that are unethical, and that's also the case when it comes to the LGBT community. As we talked about last week with Teen Mom Catelynn Lowell's fiance Tyler Baltierra and St. Thomas Real World'er Brandon, bullying has been in the news a lot, especially when offensive words are used to put down people. GLSEN reports that 1.34 million tweets included those explicit words in the past month on Twitter, while 9 of 10 LGBT students were harassed in school because of who they are. While I am too busy with a lot of things going for me in not having time to see someone and do consider myself straight, still it's unfortunate to see the bashing of these people going on everywhere. In fact when it comes to putting together these diaries and want to maintain the heat of the moment in these tweets, I still maintain quality control in making sure I don't include insensitive words that some would consider offensive on here.

While, once again, I will not be putting myself in a position of putting her or anyone on blast on this site, you have to understand where Nia comes from. In my introduction to her in my Who Are These Newbies post for Free Agents last year, she found herself in a serious life situation early on when, while she was 18 attending Howard University in DC, she was the victim of a date rape and being sexually assaulted when she was a freshman. A lengthy legal battle emerged from that ordeal, but the man she accused of committing that bad act got away with only a not guilty charge, which of course frustrated her. It's the built-up feelings from not getting the verdict she wanted when she was young that have remained with her even to this day, and helped fuel the persona she has of her being Hurricane Nia. Everything from what happened with Jordan to her fight with Averey & Johnny, from her animosity with Jasmine last season to what we saw this week is a result of her.

   But as time has gone on, Nia has matured. She was able to do what the Nia in Portland didn't get to do: time to own up to the mistakes and take responsibility in a sincere manner. As you saw above, Nia took to Twitter to apologize to everyone for her actions. And on the day after the episode, she went on Instagram to address the situation more extensively, set against a quote post that read, "Forget the Past. Remember the Lesson." Here again, her comments...

"Last September I sat on a dark plane alone, traveling from Norway to Atlanta, wide awake the entire flight. I couldn't sleep. I wouldn't eat. Every emotion imaginable flowed through me in no particular order. I was livid with myself. I was also sad, embarrassed and fearful of how my actions would be perceived later. How would I explain this to my friends & family? An opportunity of a lifetime--one that would not only reward me with a ton of money, but prove that I am a resilient competitor--was taken away from me. The painful part was knowing that I had robbed myself. I acted alone and no one else was responsible. On the very first week of filming in Panama, the producers asked me in my interview "What will be your biggest obstacle this season?" My answer was getting in my own way. I was not afraid of the competition because I believed I could beat them all, regardless of what they thought. My biggest fear was exactly what ultimately came true. I got in my own way by allowing the uglier sides of my emotions destroy what I had worked so hard for. I twisted the dagger so far and so deep that @MTV and @bunimmurray had no choice but to send me packing. Yes, we all have said and done things we truly don't mean in the heat of the moment...But in real life (reality show or not) there are consequences for your actions. I do hold myself accountable. Trust me, there is nothing anybody can type under this post that I haven't already thought about myself when I was sitting on that long flight home empty-handed. But all I can do now is move forward, apologize to those I have hurt or offended, and make better, wiser choices in the future. The "girl who I was, the woman I'm becoming and the person I aspire to be" is all a part of a journey. I embrace my flaws and own up to my mistakes, which I make pretty often. I just want you guys to know, regardless of how u feel about how I left this season, that I appreciate the unconditional love and forgiveness. That's goes for the entire production staff as well. To know that they still have faith in me in the game and in life truly feels really good. Again, thank u for supporting this season! Until next time."

          From Instagram.com/TheRealNiaMoore  instagram.com/p/0YdhPvl0pW/

In my Week 9 'Pulse post, I addressed the situation Zach was in and wrote that if he can take some time for himself to improve how he can treat others and bettering his demeanor, he can be a force on future Challenges. Months, and indeed so much time, have passed since this season was taped last summer and the events of this week has afforded Nia plenty of time to ponder the events that occurred in Norway that cost her a chance to reflect on her mistakes.

   I'm sure that she has taken those steps to improve herself, learned from what happened in Europe and is becoming a better person in treating others with respect and dignity, and learn that if you say anything bad to anyone, it may severely damage your reputation. Nia has already taken the first steps in owning up to her actions, and now it's about staying true to being respectful and keeping emotions in tact. Just as it was with Zach, if Nia stays true to this, she can be someone who can carry The Challenge into its next generation and not the one that causes franchise to take a backseat to the likes of Teen Mom and others in the MTV pecking order.

MTVNews.com spoke to Nia about her harassment story, check it out here along with comments from fans, now numbering at 100 since the episode this week.

#DCExtraTime

IT'S CAMERAN!

Now to lighter news, and because I'm tied down to MTV when it comes to watching reality TV, my opportunities of sampling other RTV shows on other channels are actually as very picky as Jenna's food options, though that's starting to change with me adding Survivor to my list. But my mom is a regular viewer of the Bravo channel, and this past week saw the beginning of the 2nd season of a show that has reintroduced reality TV fans to a popular figure from a decade ago.

   In the Monday Lead-Up, you saw some of the tweets from Cameran Eubanks from The Real World San Diego of 11 years ago, who now is on Bravo's Southern Charm. While her castmates Brad and Robin became Challenge staples and now have the ultimate challenge of raising their new babies, and of course Jamie Chung winning an Oscar last month as part of Disney's Big Hero 6, Cameran is continuing the re-emergence on the scene of one of The Real World's most-popular casts. This time, Cam is on a show that, like its MTV counterpart in Laguna Beach, that chronicle the lives of her and fellow socialite friends in Charleston, South Carolina.

   Her original RW bio states that she isn't exactly that average Southern Belle who refuses to fit the mold of that role, but likes to have fun, and isn't afraid to admit to her then-boyfriend being a trophy guy. Part of a picture-perfect upper class family, her life was ideal and perfect until her working dad and mom who raised her divorced and she took the breakup very hard. She's so stunning that while she can be outspoken at times, people can get surprised that she's actually warm, friendly and down to earth, and like the late Ryan Knight can always make everyone around her laugh and make any situation a fun one too.

   Those of us who have memories of us being ten years younger can remember what Cameran did when she was in SoCal back in 2004, back when she was 19. There was her dislike to Yankee people from up north who are loud-talking, wear sleeveless tees and ride motorcycles. Obviously, she didn't meet someone like Brad, and their romance was among the talk in the house the moment they met each other. Plus, there was the situation of her and a fake ID when she was actually two years removed from legal age; tension she had with the other girl roommates Robin, Jamie and Frankie; and her breaking replacement roommate Charlie's guitar as revenge for her losing a $50 work bonus.

   Now ten years later, she's not only gotten ten years older, Cam has gotten married and has a new career being in real estate. She's doing everything she can to balance her work life with learning to be more of a Southern housewife. She still likes the chance to hang out with the guys and provide advice to them too. But something that hasn't changed from her first go in the reality world: her being modest, relatively drama free, being sarcastic and snarky, and of course that smile of hers.

   While I've not watched a single episode of Southern Charm (or Bravo for that matter, over than for it airing tennis from Wimbledon during the London Olympics), from what I've read it has a mix of Laguna Beach and the drama Bravo viewers are accustomed to, with Cameran's South Carolina surroundings and a peek into the aristocratic families she comes from that reveals the scandal, cash and exclusivity behind that perfect image. Probably after Exes 2 ends, I'll try and give the show a look. But for now, congrats to Cameran on Southern Charm, and welcome back.

FROM PARIS WITH LOVE...SINCERELY PRATT & PARIS

Finally next week, we'll be crossing the finish line to what has indeed been an eventful last six-month run for fans of The Real World, The Challenge and Are You The One? including yours truly...I'll be discussing the Trifecta in my season-ending FORUM posts after Exes 2 concludes. In fact, the Wednesday after we crown a new Challenge champion will be exactly one full year since the AYTO Originals won their $1 million, and since their Baby Shower Reunion back in late September, a lot has happened since then.

   A major story during this run was the AYTO Season 2 cast coming back from 2 blackouts midway through the season and joining their Season 1 predecessors in the $1 million winners circle. And as much as Layton's last-minute switch from Tyler to 11th girl Christina in the last Matchup Ceremony was the defining moment in Puerto Rico, the difference in Team 21 winning the cash and losing it all was the Truth Booth. Their mastery of garnering five perfect matches, including three in the last four tries, was the key factor in the group winning last December.

   Last week, the girl of season 2's first Perfect Match, Paris, celebrated her birthday, and for the first time she marked it with more than just family and friends as part of Team MTV. A few weeks ago here, we brought you a twitter pic war she had with her match, Pratt. And on her birthday, Pratt (who was once blocked on social media by Ms. Eike because of the Reunion revaluations but was unblocked and refollowed back by her) wrote a very nice Happy Birthday post to Paris:

"Happy Birthday @ParisEike ! Despite our ups and downs I'm always going to care about you! You were an amazing friend before you were my perfect match. My advice to you today is to focus on the the things you care about.

  1.) To Be Here
  2.) To Feel
  3.) To Act
  4.) To Love
  5.) To Speak
  6.) To See
  7.) To Know
  BONUS.) To not break your phone

Did some reading like you suggested. It's all still like Chinese to me but I'm getting there. Enjoy today and tomorrow for me and make some #PrattJuice

Sincerely Your Perfect Match,
Tyler

From Instagram: @Pratt_MTV instagram.com/p/0JarDpFR9F/

Those who still remember that first episode from Puerto Rico know that Pratt & Paris clicked from the very moment they met, but did everything they can to avoid being put into the first Truth Booth by trying to outsmart the system. They decided to hide their interest in each other, stay together as long as they can in telling the house they're not a match and don't like each other, leading into getting into a fake fight with one another and a lot of fans didn't buy their strategy. Later on in episode 4, they got in a huge argument when Paris made out with John just before they went on a getaway date. The house then votes them into the TB and became the first perfect match of what turned out to be in the end of that, the only light lit in what would be the first of two matchup blackouts. Nonetheless, P & P spent the rest of their time in the Honeymoon Suite and Team 21 would overcome that, another blackout and every hurdle the encountered to cross the finish line with $1 million.

   Though no one has remained with their match once the season ended, things have gotten back normal for Team 21 since their season has aired, albeit with some of the girls are now rooming together in Briana, Christina and Jessica down in San Diego, and Ellie and Shelby shacking up first in Kansas and now in Carolina. But it's really nice to see that some of the perfect matches still have love for one another, especially in Pratt and Paris. That love letter is proof of that.