Previously on “The Challenge: Total Madness”: Dee started making moves after spotting old flame Rogan messing with a new lady in Jenn; resulting in her sending in Jenny for an Elimination Round to get rid of Jenn while Jenny earned herself the necessary red skull mark to qualify for the finale.
Dee is celebrating the fruits of her labor while flirting it up with rookie Jay while veterans like CT, Johnny Bananas, Bear & Wes try to figure out the best strategy in regards to entering an Elimination Round and gaining that red skull. Former champion Ashley is upset when she overhears Bananas is talking about how deceitful she is; getting some verbal comfort from Jenny. But when Bananas and Jenny are alone, Jenny can’t help but reveal the truth.
The next morning arrives for this week’s Challenge: “Decode and Detonate”. Everyone will have to run up a hill, come back down and solve a puzzle. The first two people to complete the puzzle and blow up the two trucks will become two-thirds of the Tribunal. Like most puzzle-centric Challenges, it’s hard to tell who is actually doing well as they have to trek back & forth, gather pieces & returns with the intent of figuring out their solution. Eventually it’s CT who figures out the puzzle first for a grand explosion. CT walks away with the thought of him being in an action movie.
Not far behind CT is rookie Bayleigh as she completes the puzzle. Setting off the detonator, Bayleigh wins with the intent of getting her fiance into the Tribunal alongside her, Swaggy C. After some discussion, CT relents and allows Swaggy to become a part of the Tribunal with the potential of Jay returning to Purgatory to defend his red skull. With Ashley in the conversation, Bananas’ name is starting to float around as well for potential Elimination Round nominations. Cory & Nelson confront Wes with the intent of going after Bananas; not knowing Johnny & Wes are on the same side this season. When it comes time for the non-Tribunal votes, Bananas and Jay’s names are the only people in everyone’s mouths initially. Then Jenna starts a vote for Nelson and the numbers begin piling up in his favor. Nelson snaps and reveals that Kayleigh is the one who revealed Bananas was getting voted for by the majority. Wes stays loyal to Bananas, as does Melissa. Cory switches his standing and votes Jay to officially put him back into Purgatory. When Bananas mocks Ashley’s failed idea, she snaps and dares anyone to vote her in next time.
After a Halloween party, Rogan starts trying to convince people that he can overcome Jay if need be while unsuccessfully clearing the air between himself and Dee; though Dee says she would choose Rogan over Jay as he is her, “…ride or die.” The Tribunal nominates Rogan, Bear & Nelson for Jay’s potential opponents. Afterward, Jay calls out Rogan to warn him that he may be making the mistake of a lifetime thinking the prior is a layup. Arriving in Purgatory, the Tribunal allows CT to go for it all. Today’s Elimination Round is “Take Shelter”: a fortifying of their respective bunker by taking whatever is in the pile in front of them with the intent of stopping their opponent from entering the opposing bunker through the gated front door. CT goes for ropes & chains first to create a bunch of knots while Jay goes for heavy objects to block the path topped off by a flimsy chain. At the one minute warning, CT starts piling up the heavy blocks of concrete & barrels. Jay’s fort is pretty good looking by the end.
But CT’s bunker is a masterclass in crazy knotting.
CT easily removes the weighted objects. As CT is breaking up the stones & cinder blocks to prevent the door from not fully opening, Jay makes it to the ropes and gets to work on those knots. Shockingly the small chain is CT’s undoing as Jay rips open the door to win.
Episode High(s): Take a Chance. Thanks to the change in how Elimination Rounds play a direct role in the finale, veterans & rookies alike are weighting their options a lot more in regards to entering Purgatory. Jay, becoming something of a scapegoat, had to go in yet again while CT stepped up in an effort to earn his red skull. The end result was in Jay’s favor, but it was display as to how things are going to be handled in regards to the Tribunal, Elimination Rounds, and whether or not it’s wise to think of anyone as a “layup” in this season.
Episode Low(s): Dee Supporting Rogan. I get it – the heart wants what it wants, but in this game Dee should know better to trust Rogan. The guy almost got her eliminated last season by throwing her under the figurative bus, then hasn’t supported her the entire season thus far; only coming to her with the intent of burying the hatchet when he needed her.
Weekly Challenge Winners: CT & Bayleigh
Eliminations: Asaf (Episode 1); Jenn (Episode 2); CT (Episode 3)
Most Embarrassing Athletic Display: Ashley. Other than CT and Jay, there wasn’t too much athleticism on display. But the Weekly Challenge saw Ashley’s brain firing on all cylinders to no avail while loudly annoying everyone around her. This would’ve been fine if she won, but she didn’t; let alone succeeded in getting Bananas in Purgatory.
Competitor of the Week: Jay. Once again the underrated rookie proves himself when the pressure is on. Unlike last time, Jay overcame a “Challenge” king when all the odds were against him and he prevailed. It becomes obvious when someone isn’t as weak as you’d think during a season and Jay is proving himself in spades.
Episode Summary in Five Words or Less: Don’t underestimate the rookies.
