Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Fresh Meat, Episode 7 – Look Out Below!

The last time we visited with the kiddies on the unRealWorld/nonRoadRules Challenge, Wes & Casey beat Johanna & Jesse through the Exile, sending them home. For those of you keeping score, there have been 3 Exiles, Wes & Casey have gone to all of them, won all of them, and sent home 3 of Wes’s "closest" friends. With the rest of the Austinites nothing more than a memory, who will get sent into Exile against Wes & Casey this time out?

Shockingly, tonight we find the kiddies in a bar, drinking and making merry. What really is surprising is that Tonya seems to be sober! She and Johnnie are discussing their situation; they agree that they must try to work together more if they have any hope of winning the game. Wes is on the phone with Johanna, whining that he isn’t having fun and no one cared when he came back from Exile. I’m thinking that might have something to do with the nastiness and bile he’s been yelling at everyone, but what do I know?

The next morning, Evan is on the phone with his mother, explaining that the doctor told him he can’t do any heavy lifting. Our young hero tells us that he has an athletic hernia which requires surgery. Evan tells his mom that the injury could get worse, but he doesn’t want to drop out of the competition. "I definitely have some things to think about," he tells her.

That evening (I think – it’s hard to tell, but it sure looks dark outside), Derrick announces to everyone that they have their next clue, "Try not to get out of line."

Morning once again, and TJ welcomes the kiddies back to the Island Quarry for their next contest, called "Crossed Paths." There is a rope suspended between two platforms. Each team will start with one member on each platform and they must cross the rope to the other side any way they can. Since there’s only one rope, they will "cross paths" in the middle, and must figure out how to get past each other. There will be no harnesses or safety rigging – if they fall, it’s 25 feet down into the water. As usual, Coral & Evan are to determine the order, because they won the last competition. Evan says he doesn’t foresee anyone completing the challenge, he thinks it looks far too difficult.

Derrick & Diem are the first team to go. From his platform, Derrick says he’s ready to go. On the other side, Diem tells us she’s scared of heights, but even more scared of alligators in the water, so she’ll use that fear to stay motivated not to fall. TJ blows his air horn and they’re off. They both get a good start by sliding on top of the rope. When they meet in the middle, Diem lets herself hang under the rope so Derrick can crawl over her – nifty move (although I wonder if it was intentional or just good luck). Derrick’s legs slip and he almost falls, hanging on with his hands alone. To get back up, he grabs onto Diem and for a moment it looks like she’s supporting both of them! They recover and Derrick reaches his platform. Diem, however, is still close to the middle and barely making progress at all. She hangs on, and eventually makes it to the other side, breaking into sobs when she achieves the platform. Go Diem!

Next are Shane & Linette, but he falls almost immediately (head first!), followed by Linette. He tells us he’s "hella" disappointed in himself. "I don’t mind being the gay guy, but I don’t like being the weak guy." Tonya & Johnnie take their turn, with Johnnie going hand over hand the whole way, never using his legs at all! Tonya slides along the top of the rope and it looks like they make good time, although we can’t be sure. Darrell & Aviv go, with Darrell finishing, but Aviv panics and falls into the water.

Tina & Kenny are next up, and they seem to get stuck in the middle. "Her ass is in my face," Kenny tells us, "and this is not a pretty sight." They get untangled and finish strong. Wes & Casey take their turn, and we see Casey muttering to herself "Wes, don’t let me fall." Wes tells us that Casey's size will be an advantage in this event, but he’s still worried. Wes starts well, but Casey looks shaky. Wes crosses under her and finishes going hand over hand, even pausing to do some chin ups on the rope. Casey, however, is stuck and not going anywhere. She tells Wes she has to fall, and he replies that if she falls, she has to promise him she’ll kick ass in the Exile, since they’re definitely going. She agrees, and Wes tells her "Fall on your feet." She lets go and falls on her side, which looks like it hurt!

Theo & Chanda cross in great time, looking very strong. The next team is Katie & Eric. Eric makes it as far as the middle, but falls as soon as he and Katie meet, belly flopping into the water. Tina tells us that he caused a Tsunami (very classy, Tina). Evan & Coral are the last team, and they make short work of the task. When they cross in the middle, Evan lets out a cry of pain, but they finish in good shape.

TJ gives the results and Theo & Chanda win! No prize was mentioned this week, but their win means they cannot be sent into Exile. They have ten minutes to decide who to send in. They discuss sending Wes & Casey, Tina & Kenny, or Tonya & Johnnie. They can take the safe route and vote for Wes & Casey, or else risk offending one of the other teams by sending them in. They decide on the safe option and send Wes & Casey in for their fourth time. Theo interviews that Wes ranted that he would go into Exile every time, and now he has his wish.

Apparently feeling he hasn’t alienated everyone enough, Wes announces that he has been waiting for this moment, since they have no more Austinites to vote in. "Now we’ll see how good friends you really are! And I get to watch all of you smiling [bleep]s stop smiling."

Back at the house, the teams have 20 minutes to deliberate what other team to send into Exile. Derrick is trying to convince people not to vote for Tonya, and he tells us that she’s his friend and he doesn’t want to hurt her, but he also doesn’t want to be the odd man out. Coral & Evan mutter that they don’t like this; they want to win from now on, so they don’t have to be in deliberations again.

TJ comes in and takes the vote. Tonya & Johnnie and Coral & Evan vote for Tina & Kenny. Everyone else votes for Tonya & Johnnie. Diem interviews that she and Derrick changed their vote at the last minute, since it was clear that Tonya & Johnnie were going in, why take the risk of angering another team for no reason? Tonya looks furious and she and Johnnie join Wes & Casey at the front of the room. TJ tells them that they can win tomorrow’s competition and escape going into Exile, choosing someone to replace them. He reminds everyone that for the first time, Coral & Evan are vulnerable to be sent to the Exile.

Johnnie tells us that since the Austinites are gone, people are voting based on who they like and don’t like. Since so many people dislike Tonya, they got voted in. Derrick approaches Tonya, saying that his vote didn’t matter. She tells him that it matters to her. She wishes he had stood up and said something. He raises his voice, saying he did try to say something. She admonishes him not to yell at her; "I’m taking this very well right now!" If pouting and being miserable count as taking it well, she’s golden.

"If anyone would have the guts to just stand up and say ‘I don’t like you and that’s why you’re going home’ I would say ‘Okay, I have respect for you.’ But don’t say that it’s based on merit when it’s not!" She stalks away, leaving Derrick shaking his head. I don't recall anyone saying it had to be based on merit, but maybe I missed that part.

Next time on Fresh Meat: it looks like Theo and Linette are getting chummy. "She has some kind of heart disorder," Theo tells us, "it seems like she has a crush on me." Join us next week for a whole new crop of nastiness, backstabbing and betrayal. I can’t wait!

Those who wish to contact Stacey about the show, or to offer their condolences, can reach her here.

Be sure to sign up for our e-mail update so you can stay informed about new articles on the site! And take a look at the rest of the site. You can find out about some other popular shows at our The Amazing Race 8 page and our Survivor: Guatemala page; and don't miss The Reality TV Hall of Shame. You can even buy reality show stuff at our Reality TV Store!

For more news about reality TV, be sure to check out SirLinksALot: Fresh Meat!