Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Inferno, Episode 10 – Hail to the Hero

I have a confession to make, dear readers. Up until now, I haven't been feeling this season. It's symptomatic of my views of reality television so far this year. Survivor: All-Stars is now made up of people whom I'd rather not see win $1 million, and I've written off Real World San Diego altogether. And since I'm not in the business world (or employed, for that matter), The Apprentice is mostly lost on me. As for the Challenge? It's the usual mix of toxic personalities, lame missions, and crack editing... emphasis on "crack." But today, one episode has brought me back from the brink, and one player has restored my faith.

Previously on Inferno: Darrell and Leah spent a lot of time together. Road Rules thumped Real World in Come Sail Away, boosting their bank to $60,000. Coral didn't want RR to win anymore. David and Shane were nominated and subsequently selected to go into the Inferno. CT interviewed that David is his good friend, and he wants him to stay until the end.

Villa. Darrell is at the window, chatting up Leah, who is poolside. In a miraculous development, Abram's hair has grown out, and his mohawk from last week is gone. Bad editors... if I notice something like that on the second view and with nobody me, then something's wrong. "That's the beautiful Leah right down there trying to get a tan," Darrell tells us. "She's trying to get as black as she can be so she's trying to [bleep] with me." Charming. Leah lies on a chair, and she has a nice tummy. "Why do y'all think I'm doing so damn good on these missions?" Darrell asks, pushing the TMI envelope. "I'm getting sexual healing every morning, every night, three times a day, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and sometimes a late night snack." I know it's wrong for him to say that and for me to quote him, but dammit, you try not quoting him. In the pool, Leah and Darrell flirt and sweet talk each other. Darrell interviews that Leah is cool, but it's not a relationship. "When's the last time Darrell did a relationship?" he asks. "Darrell don't do relationships!" Darrell also don't do first-person.

Night. David and CT check to see if David wet the bed. Alrighty, then. CT interviews that he's known David for a long time, and they're both from the Boston suburb of Charleston . "To have David here is a comfort," he adds. "I know my experience would be different if he wasn't here." He then demonstrates what he found his buddy doing on the bed. David laughs, interviewing that he's had a great time with CT.

Daytime. Giant platform. Dave welcomes the players to Bungee Bound. The object: bungee 160 feet off the ground, grab a flag, and throw it to the water below. The team that has the fastest time wins $10,000. The catch? The players are handcuffed behind their backs. Veronica explains that they have to get out of makeshift handcuffs made of two wristbands attached to three carabiners. Between "carabiner" and "candelabra," my vocabulary's getting bigger. Dave continues, adding that all jumps will begin with the sound of the air horn. The players will have five minutes to jump. If a player doesn't jump within that time, that person will get the slowest time, plus a five minute penalty. Please get a red pen, and circle, underline and put arrows around what I just wrote. There will be a test later. CT reminds us that RW has lost the last three missions, and he hopes everybody jumps. Dave adds that the best players on each side will win the Aztec Lifesaver. "I want to have the best time," Shane interviews, "we win, we get $10,000, and then I send David's ass home tonight." And to think I once liked him. Shut up, Shane.

Abram gets strapped and cuffed. As you might figure, he's a little too excited. He interviews that the only problem he sees is getting the cuffs off. Dave blows his airhorn, and Abram drops immediately. As he bounces back up, you can see the traffic on the ground. Abram gets free and throws his flag at 52 seconds. He interviews that the only problem was getting the carabiners off. His mohawk has returned in all its punk glory.

Montage! Mike drops. Timmy drops. Julie drops, and the POV camera shows us all 145 of her front teeth. Syrus drops. Mike finishes at 0:23. Timmy shouts "dammit!" as he finishes at 0:40. Julie: 0:26. Syrus grits his teeth, getting out at 0:38. Coral interviews that RW is kicking RR ass.

Cumulative times: RW 1:27, RR 1:32. No averages? I'm guessing that this was supposed to be a "gimmee" mission for RW, given their small numbers. Christena drops and spins around smiling, finishing at 0:24. Kendal does a somersault off the platform, clocking out at 0:35. CT voiceovers that he really wants to come through for the team, and he wants to come in first. He clocks out at 0:18. Timmy interviews that it's not a good day for RR. Coral steps off the platform feet-first, finishing at 0:25. David: "All we have to do is sit there and cruise. Get pretty good times and we got it won." Times: RW 2:10, RR 2:31. Veronica jumps, and the editors get fancy on us, showing stills of her face while in the air. She finishes at 0:19.

Leah and Katie walk hand-in-hand, both nervous about the jump. Katie interviews that Leah has never jumped. "I'm trying to act like I know what I'm doing," Katie adds, "but we're both very nervous." On the platform, a shuddering Leah tells Katie to go first. As Katie suits up, Leah has a case of the dry heaves. She tells Katie that she can't feel her hands. Katie is panicking because she's going first.

Air horn. Most of the RR team is already screaming at Katie, who is sobbing. I don't get it... I know she's bungeed at least once. While the thought of being handcuffed behind the back is scary, I figure it would be a better option than going with a 50-something, which is what she did on The Quest. Meanwhile, the editors blur Leah, trying to sell to us that something's wrong. RR is still screaming. Timmy is rubbing his face, unable to hide his frustration.