MTV Trifecta: Countdown to The Challenge - Battle of the Bloodlines

BY DC CUEVA

> @DC408dxtr / @DC408dxnow

We've just celebrated Thanksgiving and we're now into the holiday season after the 4-day weekend. And for those of us lucky to follow the MTV Trifecta, last week was a much-needed week off after what we've been through with Are You The One? Season 3. But now after a most interesting season, a controversial cast and a most-eventful finale, the focus has shifted like a laser beam from the Big Island of Hawaii to Bodrum, Turkey and Season 27 of The Challenge, which kicks off in two days from now.

   Wednesday, December 2nd is almost here, and we'll be watching, following and covering Battle of the Bloodlines right here. It's a whole new Challenge and an entirely new game that will make things feel more personal and more tense than what we have seen before in "the fifth major pro sport." Of course, we can expect great competition, even more drama, a cast that's full of names familiar and fresh, and of course lots of twists none more so than the family twist that's being introduced to this world for the first time.

   This new Challenge will be the 10th MTV season we've covered here on DCBLOG, as well as the 12th Trifecta season in my soon to be 5 years in the social world. And of course as always I'm excited to both watch this season and bring you posts here, taking you once again wire to wire from the preseason buzz right through the crowning of the champion in a few months from now in the new year.
   Coming up here in the first of three posts planned during this premiere week, we'll have a preview of this new Challenge, including a look at all the teams competing in Turkey and their back stories. Plus, we'll also have our customary section, Who Are These Newbies? that will introduce this season's four rookies & one returning competitor to the hardcore fans and newcomers to this franchise.

   So, Join In after the jump as DCBLOG kicks our coverage of Season 27 of The Challenge and preview the new season that is Battle of the Bloodlines.

WHAT TO EXPECT...

This is the fifth straight Challenge season I've been able to watch live since I returned to watching it full-time at this time back in 2012. The now-defunct site Grantland calls it "the fifth major pro sport" and with good reason: there's great competition with people who I've been able to establish a strong rapport with over the years, which has helped me become a new enthusiast in the Real World's competitive young brother. And being both a sports fan and someone who's been an MTV fan for a long time, it feels more like the perfect fit.

   We've had numerous Challenge formats over the years, starting with the Real World/Road Rules original format 17 years ago, then Vets vs. Rookies on the Gauntlet, two Rivals seasons, two Exes seasons and three Duel/Free Agents individual seasons - among others. This time, it's something totally different and entirely fresh to this Challenge world, but familiar to those overall reality TV fans who have seen this format before on Survivor, when two recent season of CBS' iconic series brought together new competitors and family members on the same season with Probst & co.
   Battle of the Bloodlines will bring together fourteen castmates from the three shows of the MTV Trifecta - the established big names of The Challenge, newcomers from Real World, and starting last season on Exes 2 - Are You The One?. Joining them will be people who, more than any other group of people, know their toughest strengths, crippling weaknesses and deepest fears, and that would be their very own flesh & blood. The competitors will be battling it out on the same field WITH and VERSUS their bloodlines, and of course this will turn family into foe. And like any other twist we see on these shows, this unprecedented shake-up will get more twisted and complicated when the OG's will find out that their fates will be combined with their bloodlines'. Just as it was last year in Uruguay, it will surely be anybody's game where family will mean everything as even with putting in their best the competitors could go home if their relatives fall short. $350,000 is at stake, along with family honor, and of course when there's money and drama, blood will no doubt ensue.

THE CAST AND THEIR BLOODLINES

This season's Challenge cast sees a good combination with some of The Challenge's big names and those familiar to viewers of the MTV Trifecta. We begin with the veterans, followed by the two sophomore teams and finally the four rookie pairs.

> Aneesa & Rianna (Cousins)
For Challenge stalwart Aneesa, she's been in this world for 14 years and despite many valiant efforts, she's not tasted Challenge victory. For her latest efforts, the longest-tenured veteran still competing has brought her energetic and unpredictable cousin Rianna to Turkey with the hope they can guide through all the politics without worries and keep their eyes on the prize. Aneesa feels she and Rianna need to watch for one another without being part of the drama and if anything happens, she'll be ready to keep an eye out. We have a sense they could be in for some drama once again with them.

> Johnny Bananas & Vince (Cousins)

Last season saw something we've not seen from The Challenge's best-known & winningest player since CT turned him into a backpack on Cutthroat: Johnny Bananas tasting an early exit prior to the final when he & Nany lost the last elimination. For someone who's won his five crowns as part of a team, with a partner and by himself - a unique trifecta, this time JB has brought his rough & tough cousin Vince along for the ride. Vince does have a cocky attitude that may fuel some political flames, and Bananas feels that if they still keep their focus and their tempers, they can excel in Turkey.

> Camila & Larissa (Sisters)

The last time we saw Camila, we saw her struggle in her elimination loss to Theresa, while much of her mind was on the passing of her dad just before going to Uruguay. She has brought some double trouble in her sister Larissa to the party, and with them being as fiesty and hotheaded as you can get on this show, you can be sure there will be fireworks. Camila makes sure that if you mess with Larissa, you'll hear them roar. The Brazilian duo will sure to take the competition by storm and we could be in for more of her signature temper to take place this season.

> Cara Maria & Jamie (Cousins)

After Sarah's Exes 2 win, Cara Maria became next in line in being the best competitor to not win a Challenge. She's more than motivated to take her name off that list, and she's brought her tank-sized, corrections officer cousin Jamie to the big dance. He can put his prison experience to work to keep players unruly to work just as it is in New England with prisoners, and Cara says if there's something sketchy he will get to work on it. If they can stay out of drama they can finally win her first title, but with these Challenges anything is possible and they need to keep each other in check.

> Cohutta & Jill (Cousins)

Last year, Cohutta enjoyed a rather nice return engagement to The Challenge when he made a deep run on Free Agents and had a romance with Nany as well. This time, he's brought a slice of rural Georgia to Turkey in countrified cousin Jill, and they are able to show great versatility in their experience working on the farm. She's even postponed her own wedding and sacrificed planning time to help her underdog cousin this season, and they're hoping he can do well to give her some good money. Last year, he made a deep run, and don't be surprised if they are this season's dark horse.

> Leroy & Candice (Cousins)

On Exes 2, Leroy enjoyed a breakout season when he made it into the final, first with Nia and then with Theresa as they finished 2nd. With his humor, determination & sharp focus, he's the most well-liked Challenger of this current generation, and RoyLee's brought wide-eyed cousin Candice for Bloodlines. Being the big brother type to his cousin will mean that Leroy will have to find a way to balance his aspirations on giving Team Vegas its first Challenge win with family responsibility, and Candice knows she has expectations to not disappoint him this season. They could make a deep run again.

> Nany & Nicole (Cousins)

A perennial contender who's made a deep run in all of her four starts and has also been part of drama as well, Nany is more fired up than ever. She returns to the site of her first Challenge with fierce-tempered cousin Nicole to heat things up in the Turkish sun. But for someone who wants to keep things business-like, she also has to share quarters with old flames, and good thing Nany has Nicole with her to maneuver her way through the drama as well as a person to put her full trust in. And don't be surprised when Nicole sparks some flames in the house too...that's the way it is.

> KellyAnne & Anthony (Cousins)

Another Challenge season means another return engagement for a member of the last 30-minute Real World as Sydney veteran KellyAnne returns in Turkey. The formidable wildcard is joined by athletic powerhouse cousin Anthony, and he's got his work ahead of him in taming his cousin and guiding her through the competition, the partying and the drama. Ant feels Kel's an outcast and will do everything he can to not do anything bad. If any season she's been on is any indication, there's sure to be drama with her once again, but she's got the experience of making deep runs on her last two starts.

> Jenna & Brianna (Cousins)

When we last saw Jenna, she was with Jay getting put on blast for quitting the Exes 2 final as well as for showing her affection for Zach. This time, she brings her close cousin Brianna to the party, and the cousin admits that this Challenge experience is overwhelming to her and she'll do everything for Jenna. But what happens when dirty laundry from back home in the Big Apple is aired in Turkey? They'll have to overcome that and, unlike her dodging eliminations last year, also earn their way through all the obstacles and not have anything else distract them.

> Thomas & Stephen (Brothers)

When we first saw Thomas on Real World: Ex-Plosion nearly two years ago, the first image of him was of playing tennis with his brother Stephen. Now, after Tom's relative one-&-done on Exes 2, the twin brothers have arrived and with their athletic acumen have a much better chance to progress beyond week 1. They have each other's support and are super competitive, and that translates into the ladies, but there may be a hookup on offer for the more well-known Buell that could be pivotal in the house. Nonetheless, the champion twins serve up aces and will double down for victory here.

Then, there's this season's newcomers: two of them come to us from last year's season 2 of Are You The One? (The season 3 cast will become eligible to join starting next season), a third from Real World Ex-Plosion in San Francisco and the 4th from RW Skeletons in Chicago from earlier this year.

> Christina & Emily (Sisters)

Last year, she was #TeamEleven and Christina's appeal as the 11th girl in the Are You The One? S2 house was the big story in Puerto Rico. The party girl, or party goon as her Goon Squad of Briana, Ellie & Jessica prefer it, left behind broken hearts with many a guy, most notably Brandon. Now for her return, she's ready to wreak havoc on the Challenge house with her splendid sister Emily, who knows they got a target on their back and will want to keep an eye out. With hristina's risqué behavior - including eyeing one of the castmates in the house, anything is possible. It'll be interesting.

> Cory & Mitch (Cousins)

The rookie who's been tipped by many to have the best showing of the four rookies this season is Cory. For someone who's become a fitness trainer since leaving the Bay Area & RW Ex-Plosion, he brings with him cousin Mitch for an imposing combo of brains & brawn. The blonde guy has known his more well-known cousin forever and they're confident they can live up to preseason expectations. But since this is Cory's 2nd show and being a ladies man as well, there could be trouble looming for them in this game. Nevertheless, there's enormously high hopes for Cory in his first Challenge.

> Dario & Raphy (Brothers)

The second of the new AYTO kids making the crossover is actually part of our 2nd pair of twin brothers in Turkey. We saw Boston bad boy Dario last year making rounds with many girls in the PR, and now it's double trouble as Raphy has joined him in Turkey with the hope they can use their biceps & skills to win missions & hearts. They're determined to let the newbies control the game, and Dario reaffirms that if you mess with him or Raphy, you'll find yourself in trouble. And what happens when a vet goes wild for the brothers? Stay tuned, it could be a fun time for them there.

> Tony & Shane (Brothers)

Earlier this year, Tony came to Chicago for Real World Skeletons and emerged from Chicago with a girlfriend in Madison. Tony returns to MTV with lively brother Shane, who gained a cult following when he visited him in Chicago and made out with Bruno's brother. In Turkey, fidelity-weakened Tony will do everything he can to focus on the game and not get involved with girls, but with blondes in the house and his addiction with them things are not certain. And Shane knows that he will have to keep an eye out for his bro and make sure he doesn't get caught in the crossfire.

WHO ARE THESE NEWBIES?

Speaking of those last four pairs, our Challenge custom here on DCBLOG is to help introduce you to new castmates when they're making their first appearance on this show or if they're returning to it after a hiatus. We know a lot of you hardcore fans are used to the veterans, but through Who Are These Newbies?, we make sure you never meet the newcomers for the first time on the premiere, giving them the proper respect they deserve. And we also included the returnee in this section for the benefit of those of you who began watching The Challenge for the first time just recently.

> Cory: When we met Cory last year, he came to the Bay having had a complicated life in trying to do things right with multiple girls, not being able to express himself much, and lost a football scholarship when a lady he was dating had a pregnancy scare. That story ultimately was found to be a hoax, which saw him leave school and then moved to L.A. to become a personal trainer. In the City, he dealt with ex Lauren when she & the exes moved in, and where later a revelation took place of her finding out she was pregnant and ultimately left the house (and eventually she decided to have an abortion). But he had a bigger scenario on his hands in having a friends with benefits relationship with roommate Jenny, which became a complicated one for her when her ex Brian moved in too. Eventually, many a karate move, knife and punch would ensue with this triangle, only part of a very memorable season of Real World Ex-Plosion.
> Tony: From Baton Rouge, LA, Tony came to RW Skeletons earlier this year with ambitions of finding love, but the fidelity issues we mentioned earlier of trying to stay loyal to one girl led to broken hearts & exes aplenty due to his handsome Southern charmer appeal. He's been a hard worker, but his youth was plagued by being awkward, self-aware and overweight, while also being raised by a single mom after she & Mr. Raines divorced while he was young. But being a Southern gentleman, he's not fond of when guys disrespect women and won't hesitate to save someone from despair. In Chicago, he had to deal with two of his skeleton exes visiting him while he was seeing Madison, who he hooked up with on night #1. But they were able to make it out of that visit alive, and both of them shared common life struggles and similarities that they were meant for each other. In the end, they would become boyfriend & girlfriend and became parents afterwards over the summer.
> Christina: When we first saw Christina last year, the Philadelphia native described herself as a "self-proclaimed hippie" with a mix of peace & love, and a dose of bad girl too. She can lay claim to wanting any guy fall for her, but it's not always the right ones who fall for her. And when it came to matchmakers choosing her match, she was relieved but didn't stop her from finding love. In the AYTO 2 house, Christina had early difficulties, but instantly found herself with Vegas prankster Brandon and almost never let go, even after they were an early truth booth no match. Her appeal spread to lawyer John and tattooed ladies man Nathan that were no matches also, but ultimately Layton picked Christina at the last Matchup Ceremony over Tyler that scared the competitors, but still won. And of course, she has a tight-knit Goon Squad friendship with Briana, Ellie & Jessica.
> Dario: And when Dario first graced our screens, he was an aspiring Dominican-American baseball player from Boston with sights set on the majors. But when it comes to the girls, he had to rely on his twin brother (and Bloodlines partner) Raphy to guide the ship. So when he came to Puerto Rico, Dario had to learn to step out of Raphy's shadow and find love, and in the house he was part of an early love triangle with aspiring actress Shelby and Nathan. Later on, he and Layton set their sights on virgin girl Ashley and in the last Truth Booth, he & Ash were sent there and became perfect match #5 and 3rd after their 2nd MC blackout, key in the group's then-remarkable comeback. This new Challenge won't be the only time we see the Medrano brothers on our TV's this fall: a few weeks ago, they made a brief cameo on CBS' crime drama series Limitless.
> KellyAnne: She's not a rookie but as she's a Challenge returnee on Bloodlines, we had to include KellyAnne in this section. When we first saw her in '07 on RW Sydney, she came to Australia feeling the sting of her parents' divorce & a boyfriend breakup. It may have led to trouble trusting guys but also fueled her to become the life of the party. There in the Harbour City, she became very close with Cohutta but also endured the worries of a broken condom. And their relationship, albeit a friendly one, translated into two Challenges: The Island and The Ruins, where in spite of drama that took place (including dealing with Dunbar on the former and her becoming a BF of Wes on the latter), she still made it to the end - last elimination on Island and the final on Ruins. And yes, had it not been for something that happened three years ago we'll never know, this Bloodlines Challenge would've been her 4th appearance and not her 3rd, but it's good to again have Team Sydney here.

When I first got to follow The Challenge extensively, it was in Bodrum, Turkey for Battle of the Seasons 2. As it returns there for Bloodlines and with a more mixed old/new cast, I have established a solid rapport with Team MTV and I've matured from being just a fan to become more of a Challenge enthusiast who now covers it, Real World and Are You The One on this blog. I've always anticipated every season of the Trifecta, and Bloodlines is no exception with this new twist and now featuring people from all three shows of this eco-system (and maybe a fourth in Road Rules if the buzz is right). From a 5-time champ to Ms. Team Eleven and all of their cousins, family members and the like, it sure promises to be an unpredictable, dramatic and most exciting Challenge. Bring it on.

As we wrap up this preview post, and with the premiere of Battle of the Bloodlines in two days, make sure to follow my social media platforms for wall-to-wall coverage of the new Challenge season and the MTV Trifecta all season long.
● Here on DCBLOG, DC SocialPulse will again offer our signature, exclusive play-by-play diaries of all the moments from the episodes as they happen on social media - allowing fans to see the other show that takes place in the cast's spontaneous interactions to what they're seeing on TV. Introduced during our AYTO3 coverage, DC WRAP - now separate from 'Pulse diaries - will offer the Things to Know recap of the episodes' key moments, Winners of the Night and ExtraTime insight & reflection on anything relating to the episodes & the Trifecta. And DC FORUM will return with some of my fellow insiders discussing the episodes during the season as well.
● My other Twitter hub dedicated solely to event coverage, DCNOW at @DC408DxNow will again be the place to be to experience the action as it happens with live & curated real-time episode tweets (PT viewers only). In addition to Bloodlines, you'll have a front-row seat to all the biggest events in sports and entertainment, plus the hilarious docu-comedy Follow The Rules with Ja Rule & his family airing tonight and any new shows that may come up during the winter.

● And in an effort to further expand the audience and exposure for this site, each weekend my DC Instagram hub (IG @DC408Dxtr) as well as my primary Twitter handle (also @DC408Dxtr) will plan to post quote pics each weekend of the best episode tweets from the cast. You can always follow me there as I'm always ready to talk this show and what else you have on your mind. I'm also on Tumblr at dc408dxtr.tumblr.com, Snapchat @DC408DXTR1 and other platforms too.

● Plus, be sure to follow the group of insiders including Andrew Kirk (@CSUGradAKirk), Brian Cohen (@BusDriversRoute), Ali Lasher (@LashTweets) and Ace Nichols (@AceNichols33). Andrew has his 12th season of webcasts on Google+, Brian & Ali have their always entertaining podcasts on RobHasAWebsite.com & the BDR blog, and Ace's recap videos on YouTube. Be sure to follow me @DC408Dxtr or look to the epilogue of DC WRAP posts for alerts to all webcasts.

And this is just the first of five posts to be presented here as part of premiere week. Tomorrow (as this is being posted on Monday, November 30th), we'll have the first of a two-part DC FORUM Reality Debrief of 2015 as Andrew will join me to recap the year in reality TV, including AYTO Season 3 and the last RW/Challenge cycle, and of course discuss Bloodlines. And watch for the 'Pulse diary of the Premiere and a WRAP of this week's events coming your way over the weekend along with plenty of other goodies - Trifecta & otherwise - here over the holiday month.
   Once again, DCBLOG is anxiously looking forward to bringing you the most-unique coverage of The Challenge: Bloodlines and the MTV Trifecta anywhere in the blogosphere, and we hope you enjoyed this DCBLOG Season preview. For now, thanks again for reading, see you then and, of course, good luck to the cast.

- I AM DC