WARNING: SPOILERS FOR THE CHALLENGE AHEAD!
Ready?
Season 38 of The Challenge is here: Ride or Dies, which pairs up competitors with one family member, friend or significant other as pairs try to win money. There are sure to be twists and turns that we’ll see throughout the season that might change everything.
As usual, we’ll do some power rankings each week to see who’s in the lead … and who could fall short.
In this week’s episode: The house’s best pairing shows why they’re the absolute favorites, a player’s lack of social game does him in, and another twist ending goes down.
1
Bananas and Nany
No. 1 last week, and then they go and win the first daily challenge — “Balancing Act,” in which pairs each had to climb a rope ladder swing on to a balance board on a fulcrum and get it completely balanced — to take over the game.
Shoutout to Nany, who confronted her old pal Turbo about how his attitude was bugging a lot of people in the house. When he didn’t want to hear any of it, whether in there or in interrogation, Nany and Bananas threw him and Tamara in, and rightfully so.
Say it with me: R-E-S-P-E-C-T 😤 #TheChallenge38 pic.twitter.com/y3OQcfcgLa
— The Challenge (@TheChallenge) October 20, 2022
2
Devin and Tori
Could … Devin work with Bananas this season? And how unstoppable would it make both teams?
3
Kenny and Kaycee
After they were forced to leave the game last week, they’re back! And they finished the challenge this week, which is more than a lot of other teams can say.
Long-term? With a defending champ who has her significant other in the house, things are looking up for these siblings.
4
Laurel and Jakk
This is where the next tier of teams starts. We know Laurel is one of the best athletes in that house, and I’m liking Jakk’s social game. So I’ll stick them here for now.
5
Jay and Michele
You could say that they were part of the four teams called in by Bananas and Nany and narrowly avoided elimination.
Or you could say: They’re building a solid alliance AND Michele’s friendship with Nany could help them down the road.
6
Johnny and Ravyn
Probably deserve to be lower given that their big move in ep. 1 suddenly made them a target. But I like their attitude and approach!
7
Horacio and Olivia
When you saw Horacio race across to the balance platform, admit it: Your jaw hit the floor. Dude appears to be a heck of an athlete. And Olivia’s chatting with Johnny, so they could be in a good position if it’s rookies vs. vets.
That said, they were in elimination this week, but they won! They defeated Turbo and Tamara in Memory Lane: A large-scale game of Memory.
This is the best compliment you could ever recieve form TJ 🙏 #TheChallenge38 pic.twitter.com/P4Z7W7sPYZ
— The Challenge (@TheChallenge) October 20, 2022
8
Chauncey and Amber
A quiet ep for these two, but I still think they deserve this spot.
9
Faysal and Moriah
Same for them, although Faysal struggling in the challenge wasn’t good.
10
Nelson and Nurys
Are we going to be reminded all season about how long it’s been since Nelson’s won a daily challenge?
At least he’s honest 😂 #TheChallenge38 pic.twitter.com/rHBj5uRTLy
— The Challenge (@TheChallenge) October 20, 2022
11
Tommy and Analyse
Not much from them this ep.
12
Kim and Colleen
At some point, it feels like this team and the one above will be up for elimination soon.
13
Nam and Emmy (left)
TJ Lavin indicated that Emmy wanted to leave, and Nam didn’t sound pleased. Wonder what that’s all about.
Nammmm 🥺 not again 😓 #TheChallenge38 pic.twitter.com/jKwyHFCnly
— The Challenge (@TheChallenge) October 20, 2022
14
Turbo and Tamara (eliminated)
This is a great reminder that there are three facets to The Challenge: Physical prowess, mental strength, and the political/social game.
Turbo ignored No. 3, and when a house collectively turns on you — and you turn on perhaps your best ally like he did with Nany — it’s all over. If the elimination is a mental test and not a physical one (and your opponents are getting help from the crowd watching), it’s doubly bad.
So the former champ and his partner are out.
BONUS: Jordan appeared at the end of the ep, and the three-time winner is an immediate threat. It’s going to be really weird with Tori in the house, though, especially after what she said about him in this episode before he appeared.
