Previously on “The Challenge: Total Madness”: Former two-time champion Ashley found herself on the wrong side of the Johnny Bananas-Wes alliance, being eliminated at the hands of Dee while Dee earned her red skull finale qualifier brand.
Bear, Big T, Tori & Kailah decide they want to test the spirits and figure out if the Bunker is haunted. What is really going on is Bear is haunting Kailah in hopes of finally getting his prey that is Kailah. Jenna is concerned that Kailah will ruin her relationship back home as Bear’s advances grow more & more appealing. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Josh and Wes as they’re aiming for each other. Wes also draws the ire of Jordan when he feels Jordan has stuck his nose in Wes’ business. Wes hits Jordan with a low blow.
The next morning arrives after Wes asks Dee for her help in getting Jordan into this week’s Elimination Round. This week’s Challenge is introduced via host TJ Lavin riding in on a car posted on two wheels. “Bomb Squad” will see teams of four who have a puzzle relay race where one player will have to dictate numbers atop container while inside a car on two tires, a second player figuring out a math equation from the numbers provided, the third player decoding said answer, and the fourth bringing the results to the detonator for a potential explosion. Jay, Kailah, Wes & Nany are up first and they get off to a terrible start with Jay missing the first set of numbers to tell math wiz Wes – ending their run immediately.
Tori, Bear, Dee & Bananas go next with the latter being on car duty while Bear struggles to use a walkie-talkie. Bear didn’t hear the beginning of the equation, too. Another round ended prematurely. Mattie, Rogan, Nelson & Big T come next and Mattie gives Rogan the numbers from the car. Everyone is on point with Rogan solving the equation, Nelson sprinting with the colored rods to Big T who then goes to set off the detonator … to nothing for another failed run. Rogan got the answer wrong.
Kaycee, Swaggy C, Josh & Jenny start their heat as Swaggy gets the numbers from Jenny before he tells Josh the potential combination. Jenny retrieves the rods and sets off the detonator to become the first team to actually finish. Melissa’s accent hurts Bayleigh in solving the equation with Kyle and Cory doing the running portion of the race. But Melissa is the team’s least worry as Cory, for some reason, doesn’t know where to place the rods to detonate the bomb. When he finally figures it out, the bomb does go off.
Fessy, Aneesa, Jordan & Jenna are the last team with Fessy giving the numbers, Aneesa solving, Jordan getting the rods and Jenna setting off the bomb with the biggest smile on her face. Though they smoked the Challenge, it was Kaycee, Swaggy C, Josh & Jenny becoming the Tribunal. Josh gladly tells Wes that he’s going home after this while Jay wonders if he may go in yet again.
When it’s time for nominations, Wes starts off by calling out Kyle as a burn vote. Nelson says Bear’s name stemming from the fire extinguisher incident last week. Rogan decides to say Jay’s name while Jay smartly brings up the point he’s earned two skulls and could make it three if they unwisely put him in. But Jay’s words fall on deaf ears and he ends up as the non-Tribunal vote. Rogan steps up later in the night to ask the Tribunal to put him in against Jay. The Tribunal huddle up and decide that it’ll be Nelson, Wes or Rogan taking on Jay. And during all this seriousness, Kailah gives in and actually kisses Bear.
Wes demeans Josh by telling him that he’s the worst player in the game and won’t come after the latter while Jay calls out Rogan for wanting to end his Elimination Round winning streak. The alarm goes off to signal Elimination Round time and it appears Rogan will get what he wants with a trio of barrels surrounding & inside a circle.
After Jay enters Purgatory, host TJ Lavin questions the manhood of everyone who refuses to enter and potentially earn a red skull. In the end it’s Jay demanding Rogan to enter; getting his wish as they prepare for “Fire Ball”: one player will attempt to deposit their fire-encased ball in a basket set in the ring’s center with the other player defending the goal. Jay plays offense first and Rogan lands a takedown that lays out Jay. The episode ends with Jay just lying in a heap.
Episode High(s): Where Do You Stand? For as interesting as this week’s Challenge was and the harrowing cliffhanger, this episode was built on potential confrontations featuring Wes and Josh, Wes and Jordan, and the one that actually did come true in Jay versus Rogan. The seeds have been planted and all we have to do is wait & see if it flourishes.
Episode Low(s): Put Your Money Where Your Mouth is. There were several lows in this episode including Kailah potentially ruining her relationship and the cliffhanger as Jay could be really hurt, nothing compares to the pecking back & forth that saw no one but Rogan step up after stating what he wanted. Rogan wanted Jay and did everything in his power to get him in an Elimination Round. Wes, Jordan and even Josh my be playing the long game, but to vocalize their needs and make themselves look like cowards is never a good thing.
Weekly Challenge Winners: Kaycee, Swaggy C, Josh & Jenny
Eliminations: Asaf (Episode 1); Jenn (Episode 2); CT (Episode 3); Ashley (Episode 4)
Most Embarrassing Athletic Display: Cory. All the work was done for him and all he had to do was deposit the rods. It wasn’t like he was the first person to attempt and yet there he stood going around in circles as everyone called him an idiot. It pays to pay attention.
Competitor of the Week: Rogan. Though the episode didn’t end with a definitive answer as to who won this week’s Elimination Round, Rogan stepped up when no one else would. Rogan, in his first Elimination Round ever, could’ve unleashed the most devastating defeat of someone in an Elimination Round in years.
Episode Summary in Five Words or Less: Slam heard ’round the world.
