My boyfriend constantly makes fun of me for watching MTV’s “The Challenge”, but let’s be honest – I just can’t help it! And “Battle of the Exes” is even more deliciously addicting than the previous seasons. Here’s why I can’t get enough of this season’s dramatic crew as they tear it up in the Dominican Republic.
1. The fact that this is a battle of the exes was an ingenious idea on the producer’s parts. It’s a concept that is so inlayed with drama and love and screaming and hopefulness that I can’t help but sit glued to the television every Wednesday night at 10 pm. I’m surprised that nobody thought of the idea sooner.
2. The challenges just keep getting better and better and I’m pretty sure they are created solely for the purpose of creating awkwardness between the exes. I mean come on – wiping honey off of each others’ bodies into a large plastic container? Jumping from one unstable pole to another so that you land straddled on your exes lap? Having that kind of intimacy with a person that you never thought you’d see again must be the worst. But it’s all about the money, right? In any event, I loved watching them get catapulted off of boards and into the lagoon upon answering questions incorrectly. Flailing bodies flying through the air (especially Jasmine’s!) never cease to entertain me
3. The partnerships on this season are nothing less than perfect. Sure, Jasmine hated Tyrie, but her screaming fits of anger (my roommate compared her to an angry cat) made their partnership completely entertaining. And we can all tell that Diem still loves CT, so my heart beats a little bit faster with excitement each time they talk. Contrary to popular belief, their relationship on the show actually gives me hope for love.
Paula and Dunbar are definitely at their best on this season, especially during this week’s challenge when they had to jump from pole to pole. Aneesa’s explanation of Paula’s raptor hands and shaking body had me succumbing to fits of laughter and I couldn’t help but want to hug Paula when she won the questions challenge. There’s something about her that you just can’t hate so Paula, I admit it, you’re my favorite this season.
I also can’t help but love Camila, especially when she tells the camera (through tears!) that she likes Johnny more than he likes her. Yes, she may have fallen into a crazy drunken rage, but watching her throw chairs across the room was also strangely entertaining. And Johnny actually seems to care about her this season – which makes me wonder, has he finally become less of a jerk?
My favorite partnership was Dustin and Heather, so naturally I was devastated when Dustin’s knee injury sent both of them home. They oddly seemed to like each other more than all of the other teams plus they are both just so darn all-American and cute – what’s not to love?!
I even love Abe and Cara Maria this season. As Abe admits to the cameras that he is head over heels for kooky but beautiful Cara Maria, I kind of want to jump up and down with joy. And when Cara Maria asks him to move in with her, my hope for mankind returns, only to be crushed ten minutes later when she changes her mind about him yet again. Come on, girl, the boy obviously loves you more than the world. Give him a chance to make you happy!
Last, but not least, the girl power of Anessa and Rachel gives me an immense amount of joy. But I can’t help but wonder – if they get put against any other team in the Dome, will one of them have to fight the male teammate? Figure that one out, MTV.
4. This season has also been deliciously exciting because now the rookies aren’t automatically out of the game during the first two weeks. Wes and Mandy’s early exit from the show had me jumping up and down with excitement – could Dustin and Heather really go far in the game? Sadly, they didn’t get a chance to try, but I love that the weak teams, rather than the rookie teams, are being eliminated. Somehow, the Challenge just became a lot more fair.
5. And last, but not least, I love the ridiculous things that the cast members do to occupy themselves on the show. Sure, they spend their days working out and laying in the sun, but I love watching them turn into drunken five years olds at night when they have nothing better to do. This season’s best moment so far came when everyone dressed up as animals – face paint, costumes and all. And then Robin dressed up as a vampire. You go, girl.
