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: Happy birthday Bananas! But also: Two vets get a key win and another vet screws up another political decision before another notable pairing is eliminated in a very challenging edition of The Zone.
1
Devin and Tori
Despite the fact that they didn’t finish in the top-three of this week’s challenge — in which competitors strapped to a harness had to jump from a moving truck to various cars and retrieve locks from their partners to snap into place — I still think they’re in the lead, especially after Devin’s political savvy helped them navigate through some serious in-house drama.
2
Bananas and Nany
They’ve recovered after some initial hiccups, finishing top-three in the weekly challenge. Also, Bananas celebrated his 40th birthday!
What do YOU think the safe pair is gonna do??? 😬 #TheChallenge38 pic.twitter.com/dw12PcUbMi
— The Challenge (@TheChallenge) December 1, 2022
3
Jordan and Aneesa
The winners of this week’s challenge, who perfectly played their cards as those who chose the four teams to go into elimination. I’m really digging their chemistry as partners this season.
It’s giving ✨ 𝓶𝓪𝓻𝓿𝓮𝓵 ✨ #TheChallenge38 pic.twitter.com/Kw6JSwriy0
— The Challenge (@TheChallenge) December 1, 2022
4
Horacio and Olivia
Despite the fact that Nelson did Olivia dirty by choosing her and Horacio to go in over Faysal and Moriah (more on that in a sec), we were reminded that these two are a true threat even as a rookie-rookie pair. If they keep this up, they’re a lock for the final.
5
Kenny and Kaycee
We haven’t seen much from these two as of late … but I’m treating them like athletes who go 50 percent in the preseason before pouring it on in late in the season. They’ll be contenders, without a doubt.
6
Chauncey and Amber
They’re much more in the mix than in earlier episodes, and they hit their stride after last week’s elimination win. Chauncey’s still getting the hang of things, but if he keeps improving? They’ll move up for sure.
7
Faysal and Moriah
WOW. These two dodged a bullet when Nelson — who pulled the SAFE dagger in The Zone — inexplicably decided to send Olivia and Horacio in instead of them.
Given that we were reminded of Faysal throwing in Nelson into elimination in past seasons, Nelson would have been more than justified to throw in his friend.
Nope! And these two benefited. Big time.
8
Nelson and Nurys
Look, I sympathize completely with Nelson having to pick between Olivia, who he’s dating, and his buddy Faysal. The Challenge is full of moments like this in which competitors have to choose between the game or friendships/relationships. It’s rough.
But: DON’T SEND IN OLIVIA!!!!
Combine this with last week’s struggles with the political part of the game and you’ve got what has been Nelson’s foil in the many seasons he’s participated in. Not good.
Frenemies be like 😬 #TheChallenge38 pic.twitter.com/ahS9nCNqVi
— The Challenge (@TheChallenge) December 1, 2022
9
Jay and Michele (eliminated)
We knew this was coming after their choices as weekly winners made the entire house, top to bottom, furious. And when you anger Jordan and Aneesa, you know you’re getting thrown in.
It was a particularly tough elimination this week. The competitors had to get in giant wheels on either side and roll back and forth to do a puzzle, and Jay struggled to hear Michele as everyone screamed instructions at Olivia and Horacio.
