'The Challenge: Cutthroat' Recap

Now that MTV has said goodnight to another season of ‘The Challenge’ I find myself compelled to look back on yet another successful venture. As the competitors showed up in Prague Czech Republic for ‘Cutthroat’ it was pretty evident that the competition was anybody’s to win. With past stars like Evan, Kenny, CT, Darrell, Wes, and Landon nowhere to be found, it was a perfect recipe for open competition. And then it became a team game, which made it even more up in the air. Here are some of the highlights from ‘Cutthroat.’

Best Moment: Although watching Katie leave part of her face on a platform 50 ft above the water, no moment beats CT’s epic cameo. In the ‘Back Up Off Me’ Gulag long time ‘heavy hitter’ CT was brought in to battle the Gulag nominees. In a moment of epic strength he literally stood up with Johnny Bananas strapped to his back, and ‘Transformers walked’ to the barrels and army rolled them over. It ranks up there as one of the best moments in Challenge history.

MVP: I gotta go with Brad. Hell bent on winning his first challenge in a whopping eight appearances, the game savvy Brad managed to avoid the Gulag and run hand and hand with his wife Tori and get across the finish line. He was able to use and abuse his team and get the right mix of players for his red team for the final challenge.

ROY: With a lack of consistent play from the rookies only one was able to stand out. As I predicted during her season of ‘Real World DC’ I knew that Emily would be a great competitor. Being only one of two team members to get to the final challenge (Jenn) she was able to win in the Gulag twice and was the one that twisted the knife that was in Paula’s back (that will be explained).

Underrated Player: With two wins in the final two Gulags and earning his spot in the final challenge Tyler was a man possessed to win Cutthroat. He knocked out the ever-confident Johnny Bananas by outlasting the grizzly bear CT and then defeated one of the most tenacious players of all time in Derrick. His size, strength and endurance were a big part of the red team’s victory.

Doormat Award: The red team was chock full of underhanded tricks and deceit all season long. They had no problem hanging their own out to dry. Early in the game it was evident that they were going to continue to send in Brandon and Camile to do the dirty work for the brain trust. It was also evident to everyone but my doormat award winner Paula that there was going to be a sequel to ‘The Island.’ She continues to trust her friends and get played by the game. You can add the name Dunbar next to Kenny and Johnny Bananas on the Paula list.

Certifiably Insane Award: Captain Jack Sparrow aka Cara Maria is one of the most insane non-Real World Challengers to compete. She is just off the wall and does crazy things and says crazy things, and it was no wonder that Abe took a liking to her. Her survival to the end was a tribute to her sticking with the gray big gun Abe. As for the men, Ty takes the cake, but probably needs to take the meds. His crazy off the wall antics got him on the bad side of his team and his friends. He was carried out of the Gulag after Brandon knocked him over in‘Pole Me Over’ and he was too physically exhausted to continue.

TJ’s Disappointed Moment – It happens every season on the Challenge. TJ gets so fed up with a person or group of people and their lack of competitive spirit and he lays into them. This year Shauvon’s quitting before going into the Gulag left TJ shaking his head. TJ’s disappointment came awake again when Brandon was voted into the Gulag for a 4th time after winning his first three. TJ was extremely disappointed in the red team.

Impressive Moment – In the ‘Surfs Up’ challenge the red team had repeated trouble staying on the zip-lined surfboard suspended in mid-air. Red team member after red team member kept falling to their demise, including Chet. When Chet fell awkwardly it was apparent something may have been wrong. What was impressive is that he swam the course and finished the challenge. He then preceded to turn pale white and almost pass out and was diagnosed with a concussion and had to leave the show. It was a hell of an effort.

Look Away Moment – I could’ve gone without seeing the insides of Abe and Sarah in the final challenge. It was a weird combination of funny and scary watching Abe turn white, stumble around, and speak in tongues to his team and paramedics. It was funny all around watching Sarah cry and puke at the same time, all the while Laurel yelling at her because she was slowing them down. But as I said, I could’ve done without the pukey close ups. Both players were yanked from the final challenge as they were deemed ‘medically unable to continue.’

Unsuccessful Strategy – When Derrick got together with Laurel and Sarah to scheme for the gray girls to throw the final challenge it seemed like an unbeatable plan. This plan would guarantee a blue win securing Derrick in the final, and would give the gray girls their wish of ridding themselves of teammates Cara Maria and Luke. It didn’t work as the blue girls Jenn and Emily were not able to push off all of the red girls and the plan was sunk as gray won the challenge. Consequently Derrick was eliminated in the Gulag and Cara Marie and Luke got a ride to the final. It was another lesson proving that it is extremely difficult to successfully throw a challenge.

‘The Challenge Cutthroat’ was a predictable mix of competition, debauchery, and underhandedness set in the beautiful landscape of Prague Czech Republic. The castmates played hard during the day, and played harder at night. In the end the core of the red team (Brad, Tori, Dunbar, and Tyler) and their plan to cross the finish line together is what set them apart from the other two teams. As TJ would say… “Congratulations…You killed it.”