By DC Cueva
Okay, here we are, or at least, we're just about there. Back on July 10th in the heat of the summer
, we kicked off MTV's The Challenge: Rivals II with 32 great people all paired up with their nemesis, most of whom I've been lucky enough to interact with here in the social media world. And now, with summer in the books, school in session, autumn in the air and nine teams already flown home from Thailand, we've just about reached the starting gate of the final mission, which takes place tonight. And as always, the final in every Challenge always produces great drama with endurance, stamina, patience and stirring all kinds of emotions, all determining who will come out on top. But first comes the final jungle, and the question of who joins Paula & Emily and Cooke & Cara Maria in the final when Diem & Aneesa and Camila & Jemmye contest it right at the top of tonight's episode, which will then be followed by the beginning of the final. Expect the Clip Show to follow that, with the second part of the final to air the next week followed by the Reunion, which this time will be a live affair.
The seven remaining teams that are still in Thailand - five already assured of $15,000 - all have made their case throughout the season to be the one, and all of them have been deserving to be in the final. They have each won a mission, and four of them have won a jungle. The three pairs that equalled Leroy & Mike's feat on Rivals I of going to the final jungle-free include five of The Challenge's biggest names, which speaks to the respect everyone has for the veterans, though one of them got in just barely.
Back when this season began, though I didn't write a predictions post as my Vegas trip loomed at the same time as the premiere, I had a handful of teams who could either win, contend, or sneak in. On the girls' side, I had Paula & Emily to win, Diem & Aneesa as choice #2, and Sarah & Trishelle and Camila & Jemmye as wild cards. For the guys, I had five teams in the running, considering their much deeper talent well: CT & Wes as 1st choice, Johnny & Frank as 2nd choice, Zach & Trey as choice #3, and my wild cards were Leroy & Ty and Jordan & Marlon. I have succeeded on the ladies' top pick, plus the top 2 on the men's side.
Here's DCBlog's team-by-team look at the seven remaining, starting with the final field that's already set in the men's draw.
- CT/WES: They are the only guys' pair where both members are veterans, having done countless number of challenges between them, but only one win to show for it (Wes, Duel 1). Like most other teams in these two Rivals seasons, CT & Wes' campaign on this season began inauspiciously and they didn't perform well in the first few weeks - take one of the missions for example. But as time has flown by in Thailand, it did take time for them to gel and overcome the historical tension these two have had, starting on that first Duel and peaking with that hours-long argument on Rivals I. After getting some help in that 1st mission win in week 5, they definitely earned the last two guys' mission wins, becoming the only guys pair to win three this season. While it isn't possible for the last jungle winners to win the final this time around--as has been the case with recent Challenges, this is a game of momentum and it began to come together for both of them towards the stretch run. And the bond was reinforced with the fight that they had with Johnny and both having a hatred for Bananas. If they're able to do well coming up in this final, and both overcome the haunting memories of them struggling & losing the last time they competed in the last challenge (which was featured in flashbacks during that fight), then my prediction for CT & Wes to win will be realized. They're the favorites to get this thing done and follow in what Evelyn & Paula did on Rivals 1: a team with a big-name veteran who's not won a Challenge finally winning their first final. And this will no doubt certify them as Challenge legends if they get this victory.
- JOHNNY/FRANK: It has been a mixed affair for this pair, after all they had never appeared on a Challenge together and they were paired only by a mere twitter beef, which left many fans shaking their heads. Yes, they won two missions and they, like CT/Wes, got into the final without a jungle visit. But seeing a big flaw on this season of Johnny being exhausted & throwing up at the end of the last guys' mission Rampage, and also not being entirely fit for Rivals II as he has been in previous challenges, will play a factor in the final. While Johnny has done well with the politics, Frank did well competitively but had his politics questioned yet again by sending a friend in & eventually sending Jonna home, just as he did with Marie on BOTS, though they got over that after the season. Both Johnny & Frank know how to carry momentum into the winners circle by winning the last elimination and then the final, but they will come into this final in just about the same position as the rookies: underdogs. Should they not do well in this upcoming test, there's a greater chance they could finish in that uncomfortable position of last in the final behind the vets & rookies, but then again unlike the first Rivals, they already have $15,000 just for getting here. So, they must be able to step up and do reasonably well so they don't finish with a bronze, and do their absolute best to have a reasonable shot at Johnny's 5th and Frank's 2nd straight Challenge win. But from hearing from the fans, I can get a sense that this is the duo that fans would prefer to not win and would like them to finish last.
- MARLON/JORDAN: If you saw Jordan & Marlon on Real World Portland and then had them in the final 3, you're very lucky. In a deeply stacked field full of big names & newcomers, Team Rookies have definitely made a name for themselves with what has to be the best rookie performance ever on the Challenge. Like what we saw with Leroy & Mike on Rivals I, these two first-timers flew to Thailand with their RW not on TV yet and everyone else in the blue of what they have in store competitively. The combination of the All-Big XII experience Marlon had at Texas Tech and Jordan being versatile in a number of sports despite having only one full hand has made their rookie campaign all the more impressive. Something the Vegas bromance didn't do in Costa Rica was that the Portlanders went into elimination not once, but twice. And not only did they win both of them, they also took out a contender - Leroy & Ty - in stunning fashion in their very first jungle. And they were also brave enough to handle the politics very well, even sacrificing an alliance they had with Theresa just to keep themselves in the game, the only drama that they were involved in aside from the hookups they had with a few in the house. They definitely earned their way into the final and deserve all the respect they're receiving, from competitors to fans, to even Mr. Beautiful, Kenny. And thanks to Johnny not being entirely fit for this season, Team Rookies have a better shot of finishing ahead of Johnny & Frank and if they can dig deep, they can challenge CT & Wes too. Don't be surprised if they shock the world in the final.
Now for the ladies, starting with the two teams who've already punched their ticket to the final...
- PAULA/EMILY: When you pair someone with CrossFit experience who's already become a big name in 3 Challenges with a true veteran who's been able to handle the endurance aspect of these shows, you get a super team on this season. And from the opening horn, it would be a sure thing that Paula & Emily would eventually win Rivals II. And the last duel competition week, the one before last week, was the one that cemented Paula & Emily as the overwhelming favorites for the ladies. They've gotta be one of the most dominating teams that we've seen on The Challenge with six mission wins of the ten, including the first four. And they're the only ladies pair to make it into the final without going into the jungle, though they came very close in that last deliberation after not winning True Colors and getting that automatic ticket to the final. From watching them this season, they have communicated very well in competition and they have handled the politics well too, not being involved in much drama. With the combination that they have, it will be hard to think that they won't win the final, and with the final always having endurance and stamina on the offering, it will look to be a done deal and don't be surprised if they win this comfortably and finish ahead of one or more of the three guys' teams. The question that will enter this is who will be the team that will challenge them and eventually push these two harder to get this one done. For now, they are the team to beat, it's gonna be a battle for 2nd.
- COOKE/CARA MARIA: Coming into this season, most people, including me, didn't have Cooke & Naomi as those who could possibly contend to be in the final 3 (i.e. Naomi on Exes). But when Naomi made the wise decision to fly home to her ailing dad and Cara Maria coming in to replace her, the game has dramatically changed and Cooke's odds have gone up, and have made them contenders in the snap of a finger. Her experience of being a soccer player her whole life & being able to handle the rigors of playing a full match of 90 minutes (plus stoppage time & w/o halftime) and running 6 miles' worth on the pitch will play a key role in this final. And while Team Portland has grabbed new fans with their stellar rookie showing, Cooke has also had a very good debut too, performing well in most of the missions. For Cara Maria, this is her sixth straight Challenge, and Rivals II will be her 3rd trip to the final in four seasons, and the first without her Rival-turned-BFF Laurel. The redhead has been through this experience before, cashing in both Cutthroat & Rivals and that will obviously help them this time around. Before True Colors, I had them at 50-50 in their chances to go either to the final or to the jungle. But now that they won last week in stellar fashion, as well as notching two jungle wins just as Marlon & Jordan, they have a legitimate shot of upsetting Paula & Emily. But in the end, they will be the ones will eventually push Paulmily to victory. They should be able to finish 2nd and pocket $35K.
- DIEM/ANEESA: At the start of this season, Diem & Aneesa were my second choice to win this season. After all, they have the most combined experience of not just the final ladies foursome, but all the female teams at 16 combined Challenges. Yes, they did win a mission - back in week 7 & gave Diem a reason to do a victory dance, but as we saw in the last episode, this team can be a bit stubborn when it comes to drama in the house. Back in week 3, Aneesa got in a fight with Trishelle (featuring what my buddy Andrew Kirk @CSUAKirk called "the people's elbow") that eventually saw the Vegas vet pack her bags and partner Sarah was screwed over yet again. In the last episode, we saw a whole different side to Diem after getting into words with some of the ladies after getting voted in. And of course, there's that distraction known as CT. Competition wise, they have done well, not only the win in Blind Leading the Blind, but also competing every week to get to that top position, coming close on a few occasions. But there has also been some questionable things too, such as voting for certain guys' teams in voting, breaking a couple alliances in the process. Nonetheless, they are in the last elimination and if there is a sentimental favorite in all this, it's the one who has overcome ovarian cancer not once, but twice and would be very deserving of the final if they progress out of tonight's jungle.
- CAMILA/JEMMYE: Team Subtitles were one of my two wild card picks to possibly sneak into this final, and Camila & Jemmye have proven worthy to be that team going goes in to that last three. Like Cooke & Cara Maria, Subtitles have won both a jungle - knocked off Jasmine & Theresa in week 6 - and won a mission - they won Swingers in week 8 and avoided the next-to-last girls jungle. Like the three other teams, they've performed reasonably well throughout this season, and they killed it in their mission win, spotting a flaw in Emily & Paula. And they also got involved in drama too: Camila in episode 8 with her going after Johnny in yet another Challenge meltdown, and Jemmye in a rather lighthearted manner in EP4, trying to avoid the wrath of Knight's ketchup bottle. Like Johnny/Frank on the men's side, this team is a mixture of one who's done many challenges & won a final in the process in the Brazilian, and another on her 2nd go after debuting in Turkey, with Jem more than building upon her experience that debut on BOTS. After what happened in the last episode with Johnny voting in his Exes winning partner and then getting into words with Diem, don't be surprised if they prove everyone wrong and win tonight's jungle, go back to the house and go to the final with some momentum, maybe not go all the way but perhaps challenge Cooke/Cara for the $35K.
Now, my predictions. For the field that's already set, it's a carbon copy of the Rivals 1 guys' final three: one team has Johnny Bananas, another team has Wes, and a third team comprised entirely of Rookies. In this season's instance, it's one pair with multiple challenges under both of their resumes (CT/Wes), another pair of veteran & rookie who were put together by just a twitter beef (Johnny/Frank), and a pair of rookies on their first Challenge but have made a name for themselves (Jordan/Marlon). Experience will still make a difference and I predict that CT & Wes will get this finally done. But after watching Rampage and Johnny not being fit for this, along with Jordan & Marlon winning their 2nd jungle easily, I believe that Team Rookies should cap off this fantastic campaign by beating Johnny & Frank to claim the 35K. And this will likely force you to watch RWPDX during this RWSFO lead up.
- GUYS > 1st: CT & Wes > 2nd: Jordan & Marlon > 3rd: Johnny & Frank
And for the ladies, depending upon who wins the last jungle, it's gonna be a matter of who could join them and whether Paulmily's run to the jackpot will get a little more uphill. If Diem & Aneesa win, it's gonna be much the same scenario as the guys: veteran teams, big names, and a rookie, and it'll be a little bit more evenly matched. If Camila & Jemmye win their 2nd jungle, things will be different: one full veteran team, and two veteran/rookie mixed pairs, and we pretty much know which team will likely win, and don't be surprised if Paulmily run away with this. One team has been in the jungle before and won, the other is in their first and they have the experience. As for the final, while I still believe that the vets will win, I predict that Cooke's endurance and Cara Maria's experience will enable them to do well and push Paula & Emily to win. If it's Diem/Aneesa, they should be able to contend with the super team. If it's Subtitles, then expect a good battle for 2nd with Cooke/CM. So, my prediction is...
- GIRLS > 1st: Paula & Emily > 2nd: Cooke & Cara Maria > 3rd: Diem & Aneesa > Cut: Camila & Jemmye
So, after all that, nothing much more to say than, get that popcorn ready. Should be a barn burner. And also happy that I get to relive this again on DVD coming soon.
With the finals now here, DC Blog & Twitter @dc408dxtr, will follow the quest for the cash from Thailand. Tonight, I'll live tweet the episode - both as the cast sees it out East and as I see it on the West Coast, plus I'll be in the chat room for chats with the cast. Later, I'll be writing a wrap up of key moments from this season as the cast saw it on twitter, and highlight those one-liners.
If any of my followers go to next week's live reunion, expect me to give them the scoop from Times Square here, just as I did for RWPDX with Kevin & Kaitlyn. And when the reunion wraps, I'm begin building towards Real World Back to San Francisco taking place right here in my Bay Area backyard. Elsewhere, check out my Instagram for pics from my travels & other things: Instagram.com/dc408dxtr with more to come at www.youtube.com/user/dc408dxtr and www.flickr.com/photos/dccueva.
If you haven't had the chance, check out my previous DC BLOG articles relating to Rivals II:
For now, thanks for reading, have fun, and enjoy Rivals II.
And to all the teams, good luck. I have your support, always.
- DC
