Fresh Meat 2 Episode 8 Recap

Sometimes, I sit down to watch an episode of The Real World of The Challenge not knowing if I have an angle to approach the episode about. Quite frankly, any good ideas I have I usually don’t use for an episode recap. But that’s ok because sometimes just watching the show is enough to generate enough pithy comments. Kind of the beauty of the show in that it writes itself…hopefully. So I present you with the first installment of “Things that popped into my head during the Real World/The Challenge.”

-Why does Ryan (Fresh Meat) even do these challenges? He has no chance of winning unless it is one of those contests where each team has 6 players by the final challenge. He isn’t strong, not very quick, and nowhere near as agile as other “small guys”. What does he bring to these shows? Here’s my theory:

Ryan was a Fresh Meat player, meaning he was never on a Real World or Road Rules season. This also includes Evan Kenny and Evelyn. Ryan was a fan of the show, and the chance to be a part of the culture is all he really ever wanted. So despite knowing he has no chance of winning, he keeps going on these challenges. The bigger question is; why does MTV keep inviting a player who really doesn’t bring anything to the table? Maybe it’s part of the more popular players’ contracts that he be on the show so they have an easy target to vote off.

-It seems clear at this point Ev and Luke are going into exile until they get beaten or make the final three. Methinks a mini alliance will be formed. Since everyone seems to be fine with Kenny calling the shots, his team is obviously one of the final three. That leaves Jenn & Noor, Pete & Jillian, and Ryan & Theresa. At leat one of those three teams is getting left out. Of those teams, Ryan & Theresa were the last to officially join the alliance. Add in that they are the weakest team and it’s clear who is getting left out. Here’s how I think it’s going to play out:

Ev & Luke go against Landon & Carley. Let’s assume Ev & Luke. That team probably won’t win an immunity challenge so they are going right back into exile. Ryan & Theresa aren’t winning a challenge either, which means they will get thrown in as well. Ev & Luke will win that exile.

Unless Ev & Luke win the challenge, which they won’t, they go in yet again. Kenny has no reason to make a deal with Ev so I doubt she would get saved in a vote. I believe Kenny will send in Jenn and Noor since they weren’t as loyal as Pete & Jill, who have also gone to exile before. I’ll take a chance and say Ev & Luke pull off another shocker and survive three consecutive exiles. I just can’t see there being no wild card in the final three. And it isn’t that far fetched. Ev a& Luke are better than Ryan & Theresa and evenly matched with Noor & Jenn since Ev is superior to Jenn.

So that’s my final three. Kenny and Laurel are far and away the best and they should easily take this one.

-Quote from Landon “My biggest weakness on these challenges is my inability to be deceptive.” That’s like a hockey player saying their biggest weakness is they can’t skate. Being deceptive is almost as important for Challenge members as not having a real job.

-I have to say this season there has been some great strategic moments. Kenny has been a wizard. Who knew this person who is an imbicil in almost every other aspect of life would stumble upon the one situation where he is actually the “smart guy.” Kenny, that’s who.

-Evelyn is a bitch, no other way around it. Pure evil as far as Challenges go. And when she tries to act nice but it is clear she is only trying to save herself, I hate her even more. While her being a great female competitor is good for these male female teams, having her and Luke together really is a bad fit. Luke is a stoner, Ev a psycho butch uber-competitor. Not a shock that she is treating him like a child. You don’t yell at the stoner kid, you just don’t. How can anyone be mad at him? He’s adorable. You smoke your weed and do your snowboard thing, Luke. You’re just great.

-Quote from Lauren: “I don't mind being strung up by my ankles” ….Sure it’s slightly out of context, but you still gotta love it.

-The prize for this challenge is actually decent, a trip. Stealing from Bill Simmons once again, have people noticed how bad the prizes have gotten in the last few seasons. They went from trips to Europe to cd players, literally. So it’s nice to see a good reward. Although I have to laugh at TJ Lavin highlighting business class seats and free in flight cocktails. Not to sound like and old timer, but in my day, they got first class seats, free drinks, and two pillows! Stupid kids and their stupid Lady Gagas.

-Noor is probably my favorite cast member, good combination of goofiness, humbleness, and he's actually a good competitor. He’s actually a lot like Derrick. You wouldn’t think much of them based on their size, but they are definitely good competitors. We can only hope he has Derrick’s penchant for alcohol abuse.

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-Man I hate Ev. Luke's the man, clearly he's stoned. Now Ev says Luke screws up every challenge. You don’t yell or make fun of the mentally disabled, just not cool.

-So disappointed TJ Lavin isn't saying "killin it." What happened to him? Hh wait, his biking career is over and he has to spend months on a time with d list celebrities. When you go back and watch old seasons, it is night and day the level of enthusiasm he displays. It’s akin to Ken Griffey Jr rookie year when he was full of promise, potential, and joy for the game versus 40 year old Griffey who now sleeps in the clubhouse during games. Lavin needs to start killing it again.

-Ev and Landon are having a conversation and Landon is wearing nothing but skin tight boxer-briefs. I don’t know what’s funnier, the fact that his entire package is blatantly exposed in front of a girl (well, she is a lesbian) or the massive gut Landon has. Someone should remind him that when you take steroids, you still need to work out your muscle groups.

-Wow, Ev is really psyching herself up! Heavy breathing, ten foot sprints, awesomeness! In case anyone was wondering what happens if a female takes steroids, exhibit A.

-So Landon and Carley are in the exile against Ev and Luke, and Carley hits a wall. She starts smiling and laughing but is completely out of it. This is weird. She is not acting right. Of course, Landon is just urging her to continue. Because it is really normal to be laughing and spacing out during a grueling physical activity and sporadically collapsing to the floor. This is just like in Rocky IV when Rocky should have thrown in the towel as Drago was pounding Apollo. Come on Landon, throw in the towel!! She’s not gonna make it! C’mon Rock!

- Ev makes an executive decision and bypasses the puzzle, which would have saved her team 5 minutes. Will this bite her in the ass? Looks like we have to wait until next week to find out. I can’t wait and I hope you can’t either. See you next week.