DC WRAP: Real World Go Big Finale and The Challenge: Rivals III EP4

BY DC CUEVA                     

> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

As most of you return to work following the extended weekend, and as the month of June arrives and the summer break for others, welcome back to DCBLOG as we roll along with our coverage of the MTV Trifecta. Last week was a chaotic one to say the least, as we saw conflict on both Real World and The Challenge, plus a family reunion and other things as well.

   On Rivals III, we saw a house fiesta turn into a war of sorts between both Nany and Camila, and then Amanda vs. Tony, which then turned into Camila vs. Amanda and the RW establishment vs. the AYTO newcomers. And we also had the latest instance of someone deciding that's enough's enough and TJ noticing it as well. And the next night was the Go Big finale, where one girl decided to go all in on another for the racial tension that was brewing almost from the beginning, and both had to Go Home. We also had Dylan going for Kailah and then revealing a secret about his hookup with Jenna, and there was the emotional reunion between Sabrina and her biological mom.
   Coming up here, a somewhat different WRAP - for reasons we'll explain there after the jump, as we'll be focusing more on the chaotic Real World double finale, plus the usual Winners' List, fan reaction and Fantasy Trax. And on ExtraTime, a different side of one of the season's key competitors and how there's a different side to him than what MTV chooses him to be portrayed, along with news of the latest Team MTV baby. All that is coming up.

DC ExtraTime: What If... - Jason & Nicole

 EDITORS' NOTE: 

Excerpt from DC SocialPulse: Rivals III EP 4 last night, re-posted in the interest of fans for the sake of presenting selected stories on their own and to make the site mobile friendly

BY DC CUEVA                     

> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

If you were with us for our Exes 2 coverage last year, or read the bonus ExtraTime post here just after the shock medevac exit, one of the best stories to come out of that season for me was that of Nia and Averey. They were involved in the most infamous fight we've ever seen on The Real World when an issue of dog poop led to those girls getting into fisticuffs that became one of the defining moments in the show's history. They made up from the moment they saw each other in the house in Costa Rica and instantly put behind them that infamous day in Portland. And obviously, there was the two fights that we saw between CeeJai and Jenna at the end of the Go Big or Go Home season which we will touch on in just a little while here.

Credit: IG/@N_Zanatta

   Now considering what we've seen the past two weeks, a question you Challenge fans are asking, "What if the team who replaced Averey & Leroy on Rivals III weren't Amanda & Nelson?" Most likely, we wouldn't have that RW/AYTO bickering that took place on this week's episode. Maybe, we would've had the return of Trey Day in Trey from St. Thomas and RW's own RiRi - his roommate Marie. Perhaps Nia would've had a shot at redemption with Exes 2 champ Jordan had he not headed to Perry's Place. Or maybe for those who follow the elder statesman of the Trifecta, Bruno would've gotten into it with Tony in the house in him being paired with Skeletons castmate Sylvia.
   But a pair that would've made a strong point to be the replacement team is, in fact, Tony's fellow members of the Wolf Pack - a house clique that formed in the Chicago house last year - two of them are pictured above in Times Square when they met this past week there in New York City. When the season rolled along in the Windy City, Tony, Nicole, Bruno and Jason had developed a strong bond in the house, much in the same way as what we saw with the Cool Kids in the Gold Spike. And in some odd coincidence, when both of them were in town Tony's brother, and later Bloodlines partner, Shane hooked up with Bruno's brother, Briah.
   However, there was one night that changed everything for half of the Wolf Pack, and it was the events of what happened on this past week's Real World finale, and what happened in previous seasons, that provides context of what happened here. Towards the end of their stay when Madison's skeleton ex was in town, Tony got drunk during a night out, stole a $20 bottle of wine, got caught and never paid for it himself. Sylvia went off on that act and, just as Amanda did to Mike last fall, called Tony "trash," but then Nicole sticks up to him while the girls are getting mad at him. Jason is also mad over bottle-gate, while Nic hooked up with a random bar guy who, in turn, gives them the money to pay for that bottle.
   All of a sudden, Jason - who was seen as the calm one in the house (and wasn't featured much until late in the season when he becomes a dad and then sees his father in the finale) becomes a much different person as he was yelling from the patio of the house when Nicole decides she had enough and went upstairs to confront him. She gets in his face as Madison worries of what she's seeing as Jason pushes Nicole, then she runs out of the room and gets into his face in the hallway. Knowing the lesson they got for what happened in Portland - and what we would later see with CeeJai and Jenna last Thursday, security rushed in from the batcave to separate the two when he picked her up and threw her up against the wall. In the risk of not alienating viewers (as well as advertisers), the camera cut away to one of the surveillance cameras focusing on the bar when that push took place.
   She says, "Jason, you decide to pick me up. How do you feel about that? You are like my best friend...the fact that you put your hands on me, you're a boy." And Sylvia is left to wonder, "What just happened?" as Nicole runs out of the house. And Jason fesses, "I am ashamed of my actions. I wish that I would've chilled out. I know I was out of character. Very disrespectful. If I would regret it, absolutely. It's kind of scary. I didn't think I can get that angry. I hurt her and put her in a position that was never been in before, it was wrong." When Jason tries to apologize, Nic says that she's had enough with him and refuses to forgive him, citing that no one has ever put their hands on her and will never forget about it, though there's feeling for her by him.
   After their fight, and unlike what happened to the girls the other night, the consequence of it is an intervention by production and a call by Executive Producer (and RW co-creator) Jon Murray. But unlike what we saw when co-EP Jim Johnston came into the loft last Thursday, a therapist is brought in to talk to the group and to teach the house that abuse, both physically or verbally, should never be the answer or solution to any kind of conflict and that the ones we love also get hurt by it too. The house, except for Bruno, takes a break from what they're doing to go through this reality check. Nicole also decides not to go downstairs to meet the therapist, and when Jason begins to speak she heads into the confessional. It was an awkward ending to that season, just as it was this year.
   If what you saw on the AYTO 3 finale last year when Mike threw Amanda across the bed after she antagonized him was one thing - which we discussed here last week, what happened on Skeletons was very similar when the issue came up of a guy putting his hands on a girl, which is obviously against the code and morals. Obviously, the events of what we saw on Thursday left our jaw dropped, and so has other fights over the years on the Trifecta. And that brings us to what you see in the photo above, when just last week Jason flew up to the Big Apple to visit Nicole and Bruno for his birthday. There when they met, they finally had a chance to resolve issues and put this ordeal behind them.
   In his photo caption, Jason captions, "I got a chance to talk to you @n_zanattamtv and I missed you more than anything. It feels great to have you back in my life and I enjoyed our late night run through Times Square with no shirts lol #Legendary #Wolfpack #MTV #WhatYouWaitingFor #GymisLife #Wolfpackforlife 🐺" And in the Instagram caption above, Nicole adds, "Happy birthday to this man right here. After over a year and a half of not talking. Last week we got to talk and vent everything out about what happened the day/night that destroyed our relationship. So happy I got to see you and it warms my heart that we shared a amazing weekend with people that I am extremely close to. See you in August bro, some things are better left unsaid but we had a lot to talk about! ;) @_kazuhnova #wolfpack #brother #mtv #life #love."
   No one knows what might've happened if it was Nicole and Jason being that team that TJ brought on to replace Averey & Leroy, or any other team for that matter, and we all wonder what kind of factor they would've played in the house and in the game, and of what alliance they would form with Tony. But one thing now appears to be certain: if there's a Rivals IV on the horizon, then these two are no longer. The events of what happened at the end of that Skeletons season in Chicago is now behind them.

- I AM DC

DC SocialPulse: Real World Go Big or Go Home - Finale Double Shot

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content 

and spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its long 

length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                     

> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

On this Sunday night of Memorial Day Weekend, welcome back to DCBLOG and the second of our SocialPulse doubleheader covering an eventful week in the MTV Trifecta. Earlier tonight, we brought you the 'Pulse of the week on Rivals III where we saw two shows and two frenamies go to war, while another decided to call it quits. The next night, there would be drama over in Las Vegas as we came to an end of an eventful season of Real World: Go Big or Go Home.

   Last week, the love triangle between Kailah, Dylan and Jenna came to a head and saw Jenna decide to cut it off with Austin back home. The group once again went to the desert to have fun riding riding, while Sabrina did what she does best in her music. But all the pent up anger that took place all season and an epic meltdown lead to what seemed to be inevitable: Jenna getting into it with CeeJai. But that wouldn't be the end of that.
   This week, another Double Shot - the term I phrase for a doubleheader of episodes in the Trifecta, and probably the two most-eventful hours in this ecosystem since last year's 2-hour AYTO finale.
● First, the fallout from that physical fight looms over the house as the roommates deal with the escalating racial tension. When his chance to get close to Jenna goes by the wayside, Dylan begins to pursue a hookup with Kailah. And there's finally some happy news for the singer as Sabrina's big moment comes in finally meeting her biological mom to get answers to what she wants to know.
● Then in hour two, the tension that has brewed all season long finally boils over and then some when a racial slur by Jenna and her friend back home puts CeeJai and the roommate on the edge of an even bigger physical confrontation and threatens to send home, for good, both girls. And as the roommates prepare to say so long to Sin City, Dylan comes clean and makes a stunning revelation.

If you wanna catch up on all the action, reaction and interaction to this jaw-dropping double finale, then dig in below. Plus, we also have the lingering reaction from the previous night's episode of Rivals III where a competitor decided to quit. And after the diary, we'll have info on how you can get involved in our upcoming FORUM Reality Debrief to cover springtime reality TV and preview the upcoming summer slate of shows.

- As we begin, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but they are kept uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So if you are mature enough, please read with discretion. :-)
- Plus, if you haven't watched the episode yet, then do not proceed with reading this post. But need not worry...DCBLOG will compile all of these tweets into these posts after every episode so you won't be in the dark of how your favorites saw this all unfold.

A cat fight over racism, two guys get into it for one quitting, and an emotional mom & daughter reunion. Join DCBLOG for the 'Pulse of the Double Shot Finale of Real World: Go Big or Go Home...straight ahead.

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Rivals III - "I'm Going Home"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content 

and spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its long 

length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                     

> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

As you enjoy your long three-day Memorial Day Weekend, welcome back to DCBLOG and our coverage of the MTV Trifecta. Friday night after the Cavs clinched their spot in the NBA Finals, we brought you our preview of Season 4 of Are You The One?. And later, we'll look at the explosive and emotional double finale of Real World: Go Big or Go Home in Las Vegas. But there's been so much drama taking place south of the border on The Challenge Rivals III through four episodes, you might have a whole season wrapped up in that stretch alone. This week...no different.

   Last week on Mexico's South Coast, a new team came in to replace Leroy & Averey as Amanda and Nelson from AYTO4 arrived, and almost immediately she made a huge impact in the house in letting her mouth do all the work. The teams were forced to work together in the most intimate and awkward challenge they've ever been in that brought a, shall we say, more sexual feeling to Mexico. And after producing the season's first hook-up, Ashley created more drama when they went to the club for the first time, while fellow drama-starter Simone also did what she does best as well.
   This week, as promised by him at the end of last week's mission, TJ throws competitors a fiesta in the Mexican night, where a dirty rumor reverberates around the house and threatens to turn two close friends into enemies in an eyeblink. After the events of last week, bickering begins to elevate among Real World alumni and the newcomers from AYTO, and escalates into a war. And as another mission looms, when the pressures of the game and the house, and the homesickness of being far away from home collide, does it become too much for one competitor to handle?
   We'll have all of action, reaction and interaction of this week in Rivals III covered for you here, all covering the activity before, during and after the episode. And after the diary on ExtraTime, what if the replacements for Leroy & Averey were not Nelson & Amanda? We'll look into a would-be Rivals 3 team and the emotional night they went through just last year.

- As we begin, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but they are kept uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So if you are mature enough, please read with discretion. :-)
- Plus, if you haven't watched the episode yet, then do not proceed with reading this post. But need not worry...DCBLOG will compile all of these tweets into these posts after every episode so you won't be in the dark of how your favorites saw this all unfold.

A war between shows. A potential early exit. And a fight between frenamies. DCBLOG has the 'Pulse of Episode 4 of The Challenge: Rivals III...coming up next.

DC ExtraTime: Briana's Misfortune

BY DC CUEVA                     
> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

We at DCBLOG hope you're enjoying your long Memorial Day Weekend and the start of the summer season. Coming up, we'll have the 'Pulse of a drama-filled Episode 4 of The Challenge: Rivals III, as well as the explosive double finale of Real World: Go Big or Go Home. And in case you missed it, last night we posted our preview of Are You The One? Season 4.
   First, our vision here is to compliment the various sites that cover the MTV Trifecta by focusing on the stories of the people of the shows I follow most - both those that bring a different side of these castmates and the types of stories that relate deeply to viewers. It's often the ladder that appeals to everyone, and that is the subject of this dedicated edition of ExtraTime.

For this longtime MTV fan, the past four years have no doubt been the best years of the 17 that I have followed this passion. When I joined Twitter in 2012, there was only one show that had followed with immense interest: that first love known as The Real World. By the end of 2012, it had grown to two when I was engaged in watching The Challenge for the very first time. More than year later, Are You The One? would join those two as the shows I follow the most and cover extensively here. And when the news got out of an unprecedented AYTO Challenge crossover, I coined this threesome the name MTV Trifecta. And though it's still tough for the purists to take in, it's no doubt a dream come true for myself and those fellow fans who watch all three shows of this crown.

   Over time, I've established a deep rapport in social world with so many people in the MTV family -- both those in the Trifecta ecosystem and those outside of it too. A favorite castmate of mine who I've talked to many times and have seen her become a great cast member on her two shows is Briana from Season 2 of Are You The One?, and now of The Challenge: Rivals III. Last weekend, like many of you reading this, she experienced her crowning moment of graduating college at San Diego State University. But on Wednesday on Episode 4 of her first Challenge, we saw her stint get cut short abruptly by way of what happened to her partner.
   But for me, my most notable moment of Bri came all the way back on her original season when she went revealed the trauma of a heartbreaking experience that so many people can relate to, and made her relatable to those who had experienced what she went through. We told you this story back during Season 2 of AYTO, but given what's happened in the past 7 days for her, and similar to what took place recently with Teen Mom's Kailyn Lowry, we felt it was appropriate to revisit it for the sake of those watching Briana for the first time and didn't catch her back in the fall of 2014.

MTV Trifecta: Countdown to Are You The One? Season 4

BY DC CUEVA                     
> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

As we kick off this Memorial Day Weekend and the unofficial start of summer, welcome once again to the ongoing saga of drama, unpredictability and craziness that is the MTV Trifecta, covered by the fan blog that covers it best - DCBLOG. We're four episodes into the newest season of The Challenge: Rivals III which has had plenty of drama so far down in Mexico, and Real World: Go Big or Go Home has just wrapped in Las Vegas last night in chaotic fashion, and of course we'll recap them this weekend. But as one show steps aside, another is ready to take the spotlight in the newcomer of the three shows that this site surrounds like no other.

   It's Season 4 of Are You The One?, and it becomes, in Challenge lingo, a veteran as it enters its senior stage with some shoes to fill: the first season and the original cast is the most recent example of a perfect cast and a great season. Season 2 had the 11th girl (and have already made lots of news south of the border), Season 3 was the most controversial, and they all have something in common: great cast members, big time drama and lots of romance. And oh, all of them had the same end result: 10 for 10 and 5-figure pay days for each of the castmates.

   As we indulge in this long 3-day weekend, we're more than two weeks away from premiere night of Monday, June 13th, and once again DCBLOG will follow the ride from this preseason preview to the final act at summer's end. And coming up, we'll be looking ahead at AYTO Season 4 with a full preview, our introduction to the new set of 20 girls & guys who are ready to fight for love, and what we can expect this season. One story to watch is another twist where the cast could get rewarded even more if they get off to the best possible start you can have on this show.

So, Join In with us after the jump as DCBLOG kicks off our coverage of Are You The One? Season 4 and our preview of what awaits us in the islands of Hawaii.

DC WRAP: The Challenge: Rivals III EP3 and Real World Go Big EP10

BY DC CUEVA                     
> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

As we prepare for another week in the MTV Trifecta, we bring you another edition of the DC WRAP. We're a quarter of a way through this Challenge that has been twisted to say the least, and headed towards the end of our third Las Vegas Real World season.
   Last week, episode 3 of Rivals III saw Amanda & Nelson get themselves into a sticky situation in replacing Averey & Leroy, a very sexual second mission, and Ashley's alter ego follow her from the Bay Area to Mexico. And then in Sin City, things blew up with a physical fight, a love triangle reaches a result for one of the two girls getting close to Dylan, and Sabrina's music.
   As the focus now is on our preview of Are You The One? Season 4 coming during the long Memorial Day Weekend, we'll be scaling back somewhat in this Wrap. But ahead, we'll look at three key storylines from last week in the Trifecta, the Winners' List, a Fantasy League update and fan reaction. Afterwards on ExtraTime, which NFL player has aligned himself with a top veteran team? That, and the musical side of one of last season's Bloodlines, is coming up on DC WRAP.

DC SocialPulse: Real World Go Big or Go Home - "The Hits Keep Coming"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content 

and spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its long 

length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                     

> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

As your Sunday night and this weekend comes to an end, and after another great night of music at the Billboard Music Awards, welcome back to DCBLOG for the second half of our 'Pulse doubleheader as we cover Real World Go Big or Go Home, also in Las Vegas.

   Last time in Downtown, we had a double shot of back to back episodes as Dione's ex Amanda and his friends, "The Carnies" as he calls them, arrived in town and she got to make out with him in front of Kailah and plotted her revenge. Jenna's stunning accusation saw CeeJai and Dean blow up, while she and Kailah found themselves in a love triangle when the newest roommate, Dylan, arrived in town to stir the pot. And it didn't take long for "Nicky Showtime" to do his thing as he joined Dean to strip tease the ladies in town.
   This week, the triangle continues as Dylan and Jenna must figure out the next step in their budding relationship, and she makes a decisive move in her estranged relationship with her man back home. The group once again goes out into the desert to go riding in off-terrain vehicles, while Sabrina and Jenna debut a new song. But the feelings of what has transpired all throughout the season and an epic meltdown by one of the roommates leads to what seems to be the inevitable: a physical fight with CeeJai.
   We have all the reaction and social interaction from this penultimate week in Las Vegas, including words from two sides who might be playing for a role to be on Rivals IV. And following the diary on DC ExtraTime, we'll have an update on the inspiring story of Nia and her newfound friend.

- As we begin, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but they are kept uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So if you are mature enough, please read with discretion. :-)
- Plus, if you haven't watched the episode yet, then do not proceed with reading this post. But need not worry...DCBLOG will compile all of these tweets into these posts after every episode so you won't be in the dark of how your favorites saw this all unfold.

Join DCBLOG for the 'Pulse of Episode 10 of Real World Go Big or Go Home...next.