The Challenge: Free Agents - Talk to the Hand

[QUOTE=RubenJay05;420634]My favorite part of the whole episode was when Cara Maria came back to the house and CT pranced over to her, arms open wide, like a little fairy and then punched her in the arm as a form of love tap. Lol. It's also probably funny cause Cara Maria clearly jerks back.[/QUOTE] I loved this, too!! I love CT and Cara Maria's relationship. I like the way he talked about her with the Zach/Johnny, about her needing to catch a break. I enjoy seeing this side of CT.

[QUOTE=Heelin';420354]I don't get Cara. She's a pretty girl who seems confident about many aspects of her life, so I don't understand the paranoia and the rampant insecurity. I want to root for her, but she makes it hard sometimes. .[/QUOTE] Cara Maria is like most people - she's confident in some areas and lacks confidence in other areas. I think her confidence has grown since we first saw her on Fresh Meat 2, but I think she's still very insecure, especially in an environment like The Challenge. Unfortunately, she was an easy target for guys like Wes and Bananas. Also, Cara Maria is full of self-doubt, and people like that tend to need constant reassurance from other people. When she's receiving insults instead of reassurance (e.g., Wes and Bananas), it's a disaster. I just wish she would realize how great she really is and didn't need to rely on others to tell her for her to believe it.

[QUOTE=hannamez8;420361] My favorite scene was Johnny R Dragging Devyn in the water.[/QUOTE] How about Laurel dragging Leroy? How embarrassing for Leroy.

The special was super lame. It was good that they used some of the current cast for commentary, but I wish we got the perspective of former cast members who were involved in those moments, as well. I don't care to hear commentary from a bunch of unfunny people who have never done a challenge. The best part about the special was CT. ****, he was hot! We're stuck with Grizzly Adams this challenge and I had forgotten just how hot he is under all that beard.

You know we're getting close to the end when 2/3 of the episode is dedicated to this juicy plot. Thus far, this episode proved to be the most important one of the entire season. It's a great episode too. [center][ATTACH]5270[/ATTACH] [SIZE=2]Cara Maria vs. Laurel: 2010-Present[/SIZE][/Center] [B]Why Cara Maria & Laurel is one of the greatest rivalries in Challenge history.[/B] There's so much that makes this Cara Maria and Laurel feud such brilliant television. Okay, maybe not Breaking Bad brilliant, but at least by reality television standards with the amount of layers and the progression (and now destruction) of their relationship. There hasn't been too many memorable true rivalries in the history of The Challenge that have lasted more than one season, with perhaps Veronica/Katie and Veronica/Tonya exceptions that have built and come to an extreme conclusion. But at this point, this one is starting to take precedence over those. Think about the history. Fresh Meat 2, Cara Maria went home first and Laurel shined as the star player -- despite finishing second. From there on, leading into Cut Throat, Laurel has painted Cara Maria as this player with weak resolve because she doesn't have the same competitive killer instinct as her. There's a scene in Cut Throat before the final where both of them try to hash it out because Laurel believes Cara Maria is a "JV player going into a final", and neither budge. Next season on Rivals, they're paired together and they're actually mutually beneficial to one another. Cara Maria's sisterly relationship with Laurel calms the beast, whereas Laurel's strength pushes Cara Maria where she develops confidence in herself and in her performances. The two finish second, but a long-lasting bond has been forged. Unfortunately, on Free Agents they revisit the tumultuous end of their relationship with Laurel's quest for dominance denting their relationship. Cara Maria's confidence (which is attributed by Laurel's presence) doesn't allow her to simply take it as she may have before, and now they're at this point. Laurel and Cara Maria's friendship may be the tightest out of any two girls in the cast and their rivalry is certainly the strongest. I'm sure Bunim-Murray didn't intend on this happening, but it's all part of the social aspect of this kind of crazy experiment they're all in. I'm loving experiencing for once, some authentic human nature going on. [B]The Challenge doctors are officially quacks.[/B] Okay, I'm no doctor -- but what in the ****? They're actually going to let Cara Maria compete with a fractured hand? Granted, it makes great television -- but we've seen Dustin go home for scraping his knee and they're letting the chick with the cast compete? Well, she deserves it. And even gets Bananas seal of approval. [B]"It always comes down to the puzzle."[/B] The challenge on this episode was pretty straightforward, and pretty relevant at this point considering we get to see who least sucks at puzzles (because they all suck in their own right) and who sucks the most. But perhaps the only thing that stood out to me in this Challenge was the return of the phrase "it always comes down to the puzzle." Remember how important puzzles were before this Challenge thing just became a marathon of deathly proportions? Remember when people used to contemplate keeping Ibis around because she was good at puzzles? Remember CT losing his first final because he couldn't solve a crummy crossword puzzle? Remember the guys cheating because the girls left their puzzle pieces up in Battle of the Sexes? If this final comes down to a puzzle (which looking at the volcanic structures, it probably doesn't), this could change everything. [B] Another rivalry renewed.[/B] Well, this happened. I'm going to try to do an abridged version of this rivalry, because CT and Bananas is already well-documented (****, they're even starring in a 22 Jump Street commercial with one another because of it). CT & Bananas also have a very interesting relationship, as friends and enemies, with the basis of their friendship forged on XBOX Live (I literally call it the XBOX Live alliance). Since Kenny & Evan have been kicked off Challenges indefinitely, Bananas & CT have forged a trust on Challenges (and even gotten along) because both of them are veterans of this game with really no other players to back them. But they also know that they're both each others biggest competition, and if they want to decisively win, the other can't make it to the end. This is exactly what's happening here. I commend Bananas for actually telling CT to his face that he's voting him in, and in my mind - Zach wouldn't have been an option. The only way to get CT out is to place him in an elimination. [B] Twists that make NO ******ING SENSE.[/B] I purposely think that BM (or maybe the sick ******* known as TJ) throws in these voting twists to: 1. Make sure that there's a solid vote 2. For great television. There's a tie between Bananas & Nany. Why? Because there's two people deliberating and they both have different votes, despite the rules enforced by TJ at the beginning that everyone votes on their own. But since their votes don't match on voting in Theresa & Cara Maria, they're both threatened to go in the elimination round (yes, Bananas too), and to me it makes no sense. Poor Cara Maria. [B] Everyone hates Theresa[/B] Even when she's being nice, people still find a way to hate her. LOL. [center][ATTACH]5269[/ATTACH][/center] [B]Elimination?[/B] We've reached the part of the season with the cliché cliff hanger, because not trying to get a rating out of this huge battle would be stupid. Leroy pulls the kill card in the draw for the second time in a row, out of his six trips to the Draw, and now he's got to face CT. Leroy's strong, but **** -- CT punched a hole through a door and pulled it off the hinges, this is patty cake for him. And now of course fate brings us another huge female elimination, with both facing each other for the first time during the most extreme of circumstances. Sit tight, Cara Maria vs. Laurel - next time, on Dragon Ball Z.

[QUOTE=JL81790;420616]I'm interested (and not sarcastically) in what you feel they did on past shows (prior to the Ruins) that wasn't game related that pushed the lines of decenty. Kenny didn't really play much of a part besides the arrogant dumb guy for his first 3 shows and on the Island was nowhere near Bananas level of ********. I suppose you can get Evan for trying to cheat on the Duel but I'm not really sure what else there was. If what you're referring to is the "trim the fat" stuff from the Gauntlet 3, I think people forget that CT, Brad, Danny, Adam King, Easy, Diem, Paula, and Evelyn were all on board with the cutting of the girls that got cut. In fact Diem and Evelyn were the biggest advocates for getting rid of Coral. I agree they're loud and obnoxious, and on the Ruins they were a rare breed, but I'm not sure what exactly they did wrong on prior challenges that wasn't related to the game...[/QUOTE] This is from shaky memory as I really don't have any of the challenges committed to heart (no offense to anyone). I watch and then I move on, I rarely remember one season from the next unless something momentous happens. However, even if I don't recall exact events, I do remember behavior. It's not one specific moment, it's several, an accumulation of watching Kenny and Evan interact with female cast members season to season. I thought their behavior bordered on the misogynistic. I know they have female friends etc, but I think being on that show gave them this excessive power trip that brought out the worst in them. What season was it that Sarah was on at the same time as Kenny? She was in her bathing suit and Kenny made some pretty repulsive remarks about her that he tried to pass off as funny, but were pretty malicious IMO. Stuff they said that they thought was funny was just sarcastic and nasty. I know someone mentioned that it was Johnny who had a list of women he slept with, but I could have sworn it was Kenny. I wish I could give better examples, as I know it sounds like I'm just being bias, but I never had any initial dislike towards those two at the beginning. It was over the course of watching them over several seasons that really brought this behavior to light. It was a slippery slope effect, you just knew they were going to go too far one day and they did. I can't say what I think happened with Tonya that night, but I definitely believe that Kenny and Evan did something to Tonya that was inappropriate. [QUOTE=JayTee;420617]No, there wasn't any other cast members that confirmed her allegations. Even Susie, who was in the same room as her and is a huge catholic feminist, denied the allegations. And how can anyone hate on The Godfather? This show would do a lot better if we have more clever and great challengers like Kenny and Evan. At least we still have Bananas and Mark Long returning.[/QUOTE] Okay, then how did Tonya find out? From what I read, she said she was passed out/asleep when it happened. The only reason she found out about it was because another cast member told her about it. Susie, the reliable character witness? The devout Catholic who supposedly had a threesome with Cara and Jamie during one of the challenges? I wish I had done the running commentary with everyone else when they were on so that I can recall specific instances. Bleh.

I don't understand why this episode is "to be continued". I don't read the spoilers, but I think it's pretty obvious who is going to win out of these two matchups.

[QUOTE=Heelin';420668]This is from shaky memory as I really don't have any of the challenges committed to heart (no offense to anyone). I watch and then I move on, I rarely remember one season from the next unless something momentous happens. However, even if I don't recall exact events, I do remember behavior. It's not one specific moment, it's several, an accumulation of watching Kenny and Evan interact with female cast members season to season. I thought their behavior bordered on the misogynistic. I know they have female friends etc, but I think being on that show gave them this excessive power trip that brought out the worst in them. What season was it that Sarah was on at the same time as Kenny? She was in her bathing suit and Kenny made some pretty repulsive remarks about her that he tried to pass off as funny, but were pretty malicious IMO. Stuff they said that they thought was funny was just sarcastic and nasty. I know someone mentioned that it was Johnny who had a list of women he slept with, but I could have sworn it was Kenny. I wish I could give better examples, as I know it sounds like I'm just being bias, but I never had any initial dislike towards those two at the beginning. It was over the course of watching them over several seasons that really brought this behavior to light. It was a slippery slope effect, you just knew they were going to go too far one day and they did. I can't say what I think happened with Tonya that night, but I definitely believe that Kenny and Evan did something to Tonya that was inappropriate. [/QUOTE] That stuff was all the Ruins, which, yeah, even though I like Kenny and Evan, I think they were way too much on that show. I think that some stuff may have been exaggerated (specifically the Sarah stuff; she's come out and said that she and Kenny are very close friends and that most of the teasing was lighthearted. She also said the incident that made her cry was Johnny and it was edited to make it look like it was Kenny), but a lot of it was just dumb and they should've chilled out. But I still don't think on any previous shows that they did anything wrong other than attempt to send some less than athletic fan favorites home (again with CT, Brad, Diem, Ev, and many others being a part of it), and be loud and obnoxious about it which, they were 25 year old dudes. They're supposed to be obnoxious.

[QUOTE=JL81790;420677]That stuff was all the Ruins, which, yeah, even though I like Kenny and Evan, I think they were way too much on that show. I think that some stuff may have been exaggerated (specifically the Sarah stuff; she's come out and said that she and Kenny are very close friends and that most of the teasing was lighthearted. She also said the incident that made her cry was Johnny and it was edited to make it look like it was Kenny), but a lot of it was just dumb and they should've chilled out. But I still don't think on any previous shows that they did anything wrong other than attempt to send some less than athletic fan favorites home (again with CT, Brad, Diem, Ev, and many others being a part of it), and be loud and obnoxious about it which, they were 25 year old dudes. They're supposed to be obnoxious.[/QUOTE] Tons of stuff they did wrong on other shows. 1.Appearing on them. 2.Trying and failing to be funny 3.Being Hypocritical 4.Being Unlikable 5.Acting like Idiots(and not in the good way) 6.Ruining most of the challenges they've been on 7.Not Being Real Castmembers yet somehow controlling the game. So you see. There's a lot they've done wrong and It's a good thin that they'll never appear on a challenge again. Oh and age isn't an excuse for being obnoxious. It's not a good look for anyone no matter how old they are.

Johnny was pretty terrible on the Island and we didn't see that much from Kenny, but him belittling Tonya to the point he did in the first episode kind of speaks for itself. I don't think age is anything to do with how insufferable they could get and/or become. Their actions on the Ruins was more than obnoxious, it was absolutely appalling IMO. I usually stand up for JEK too, when I feel like people are being blinded by thei hatred for them, but those two seasons alone kind of set the tone (at least for me). On the plus side, Kenny looked a lot more mature on Rivals 1, at least.

[QUOTE=Debut Album;420678]Oh and age isn't an excuse for being obnoxious. It's not a good look for anyone no matter how old they are.[/QUOTE] So much irony...

[QUOTE=toenails;420682]So much irony...[/QUOTE] I was just about to post that. Some people need to look in a mirror.

[QUOTE=JL81790;420677]they were 25 year old dudes. They're supposed to be obnoxious.[/QUOTE] That's no excuse. There are plenty of grown men who are not loud, obnoxious, and immature. People always say "boys will be boys" and it's like, no... boys will be held accountable for their actions just like everyone else.

[QUOTE=Youssarian;420690]That's no excuse. There are plenty of grown men who are not loud, obnoxious, and immature. People always say "boys will be boys" and it's like, no... boys will be held accountable for their actions just like everyone else.[/QUOTE] My comment about their age was not in reference to the Ruins. I said they were way too much on the Ruins. It was in reference to them being goofy *******es on Gauntlet 3, the Duel 1, etc. They needed to grow up, but they weren't malicious.

[QUOTE=Fresh Meat;420681]Johnny was pretty terrible on the Island and we didn't see that much from Kenny, but him belittling Tonya to the point he did in the first episode kind of speaks for itself. I don't think age is anything to do with how insufferable they could get and/or become. Their actions on the Ruins was more than obnoxious, it was absolutely appalling IMO. I usually stand up for JEK too, when I feel like people are being blinded by thei hatred for them, but those two seasons alone kind of set the tone (at least for me). On the plus side, Kenny looked a lot more mature on Rivals 1, at least.[/QUOTE] I remember Leroy saying on one of his old ustream vids(back when he cared lol) that JEK were funny guys, but sometimes that didn't know when enough was enough. He said they would seem to not know when they've crossed the line.

[QUOTE=JEKFAN;420638]I agree. I see Nany being big in the challenges. She has done good every season she has been on. Seasons she did great on and won a tough elimination with Dustin, Alton threw the elimination but she still did well. On Rivals 2 her and Jonna were second most of the challenges. Then this one she has been on the winning team a lot and has proven herself. Zach always talks about how big of a beast she is even when he couldn't stand her. Bananas said she was killing it this challenge he was paired with her. Nany is a really good competitor and keeps improving.[/QUOTE] I was listening to the Right Reasons podcast last week, and Juliette said Nany was good for the show, because she's crazy. I kinda agree, and you know she's gonna be hooking up no matter what. If Cohutta isn't on the next one, then you know she'll be smashing another dude, and even if he is, she still might.

[QUOTE=Wannabe90;420609]Really not liking Theresa and her sneaky character.[/QUOTE] I know right! How sneaky of her to talk to two of the other nine people in the house on a night out. What a *****. I think Theresa has been sneaky in the past but she was nothing but nice to Cara, specifically went out of her way to not talk about voting and Cara ****s all over it because she's ****** about going on. I like Cara but she let her emotions get the better of her at deliberations. p.s. If we're going down this routine Cara's crying before deliberations had even started could be construed as pretty "sneaky"

[QUOTE=Debut Album;420678]Tons of stuff they did wrong on other shows. 1.Appearing on them. 2.Trying and failing to be funny 3.Being Hypocritical 4.Being Unlikable 5.Acting like Idiots(and not in the good way) 6.Ruining most of the challenges they've been on 7.Not Being Real Castmembers yet somehow controlling the game. So you see. There's a lot they've done wrong and It's a good thin that they'll never appear on a challenge again. Oh and age isn't an excuse for being obnoxious. It's not a good look for anyone no matter how old they are.[/QUOTE] The only part of this that I disagree with is that they ruined the challenges they appeared on. They don't have the power to ruin anything. Those season were good despite their loathsome presences. They're nothing.

I think Bananas electing to send in CT over Zach was very smart on a few fronts. 1. Having seen the elimination games this season and knowing there was a 50% chance that whoever he picked would end up facing Leroy, CT and Leroy match up much closer physically than Zach and Leroy do. There is at least a chance that Leroy would be able to beat CT at something in the Arena and thus eliminate a strong competitor for Johnny to worry about in the final. 2. Not only would Zach have been a 100% guarantee to go into the Arena and come back, but he's also been stronger in the daily challenges than CT and would have pretty favorable odds at winning the last challenge day as well. And, by doing so, he would be in the position to return the favor to Bananas and throw him into the Arena as payback.

Much as I have been agreeing with Bananas as of late, hearing him even suggest that CT has to prove himself or even allude to it when he lost his **** at Jordan saying the same thing ****** me off because it reminds me of the hypocritical Bananas I despise.

[QUOTE=LHarkins;420732]Much as I have been agreeing with Bananas as of late, hearing him even suggest that CT has to prove himself or even allude to it when he lost his **** at Jordan saying the same thing ****** me off because it reminds me of the hypocritical Bananas I despise.[/QUOTE] "Earning stripes" or "I've gone in and you haven't" were something I knew was going to come out of his mouth sooner or later to CT. [QUOTE=Debut Album;420678]Tons of stuff they did wrong on other shows. 1.Appearing on them. 2.Trying and failing to be funny 3.Being Hypocritical 4.Being Unlikable 5.Acting like Idiots(and not in the good way) 6.Ruining most of the challenges they've been on 7.Not Being Real Castmembers yet somehow controlling the game. So you see. There's a lot they've done wrong and It's a good thin that they'll never appear on a challenge again. Oh and age isn't an excuse for being obnoxious. It's not a good look for anyone no matter how old they are.[/QUOTE] You simply must be telling with this. I refuse to believe you aren't

[QUOTE=Youssarian;420690]That's no excuse. There are plenty of grown men who are not loud, obnoxious, and immature. People always say "boys will be boys" and it's like, no... boys will be held accountable for their actions just like everyone else.[/QUOTE] You can't be serious. I'm in college right now and guys act way worse than how Kenny and Evan acted on Ruins. I have some female friends that have no problem with me calling them a b**** or making *** jokes because they know I'm just joking and have their back at the end of the day. I honestly doubt that Evan, who went to Princeton, and Kenny who has always been talking about how he's trying to find a way to make good money in this world, would jeopardize their careers by "raping" a junkie in NATIONAL TELEVISION. Get real now. Evan and Kenny aren't complete morons like Vinny from FM2. And Kenny and Evan are some pioneers of this show. They were excellent competitors and kings of politics. Nowadays, you have idiots like Jordan who fail miserably and boring people like Johnny R. instead of television gems like the JEK dynasty.

[QUOTE=JayTee;420736]You can't be serious. I'm in college right now and guys act way worse than how Kenny and Evan acted on Ruins. I have some female friends that have no problem with me calling them a b**** or making *** jokes because they know I'm just joking and have their back at the end of the day. I honestly doubt that Evan, who went to Princeton, and Kenny who has always been talking about how he's trying to find a way to make good money in this world, would jeopardize their careers by "raping" a junkie in NATIONAL TELEVISION. Get real now. Evan and Kenny aren't complete morons like Vinny from FM2. And Kenny and Evan are some pioneers of this show. They were excellent competitors and kings of politics. Nowadays, you have idiots like Jordan who fail miserably and boring people like Johnny R. instead of television gems like the JEK dynasty.[/QUOTE] Cornell not Princeton.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Katie called to defend this and claimed that Kenny/Evan were innocent? If that is true, I feel that Kenny and Evan are 1000% innocent because there's probably no other challenger that would defend them less than her.

I wonder who told Tonya that Kenny and Evan raped her? If it wasn't Katie or Susie...maybe it was Veronica? Maybe Ibis?

[QUOTE=RealCynic;420733] You simply must be telling with this. I refuse to believe you aren't[/QUOTE] What do you mean by that?

[QUOTE=toenails;420756]I wonder who told Tonya that Kenny and Evan raped her? If it wasn't Katie or Susie...maybe it was Veronica? Maybe Ibis?[/QUOTE] Ibis is friends with JEK and has hung out with them outside the show so it would have had to be Veronica?

[QUOTE=dylan76;420704]The only part of this that I disagree with is that they ruined the challenges they appeared on. They don't have the power to ruin anything. [B]Those season were good despite their loathsome presences. They're nothing.[/B][/QUOTE] The only season you really can say that about is The Duel 1(and to a certain extent Infeno 3 and Gauntlet 3) All the other seasons they were on they had a huge hand in ******* up.

[QUOTE=Debut Album;420850]What do you mean by that?[/QUOTE] Trolling, I meant. I hope this "non RW people don't belong here" is just some running joke for you.