The Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet 2, Episode 9 - Arch-Nemesis

Previously on The Gauntlet 2: Jillian accused Susie and Cara of being in an alliance with three of the Veteran men. The Rookies won “Team Strength” and Ace was defeated by Derrick in the Gauntlet.

Jillian tells Cara and Susie that it was she who told Kina about the alliances. Susie asks why Jillian said “you guys” when she was there. Jillian says she was approached with it. Great defense there. Jillian says that if she would’ve said something it would have looked bad. Cara says that it would have looked bad, but for Jillian! Susie tells us that to her team Jillian is the hero and Cara has been officially villainized.

Cara goes to Kina and says that she wants to have another meeting because of what Jillian had just said to her. Kina and Ibis say that if Jillian says what she said to them it’ll make Cara look bad. When Ibis and Jillian share stories, they’re very different. It looks to me as if Jillian has been hanging out with Beth for too long and wants to start drama. Now she’s getting caught. Kina snaps at Cara and Jillian says she doesn’t want to have a meeting.

Cara asks what she was thinking when she thought Kina was approachable, because she is “so not approachable.” That’s because the status of “team captain” has gone to her head. She’s never had to fight with it. The only person she’s gone to the Gauntlet with was Cameran the quitter. Kina walks away and Cara announces that that wasn’t effective.

Robin is talking to some of her teammates and shares the story of the Cara/Susie/Kina debacle. David says that it was supposed to be him, Timmy, and Brad working with Susie and Cara. He says the reality is that he wouldn’t trust Cara as far as he can throw her. Brad asks to speak. He says that Cara brought that to her and because there were so many from the X-Treme cast, she felt concerned that she would be kicked off. Brad says he has no motive to be in an alliance with her. He tells his team he feels violated. Great choice of diction, Brad.

Timmy wants to end the losing streak the Veterans have. Beth says being the captain is the suckiest position that anyone can be in. She doesn’t want to bitch-fight anyone in the Gauntlet. Julie says that with Beth as the captain they are all forced to swallow their pride and suck up to her. Montana: “Everybody knows that Beth is a weasel. Beth has all the credibility of a late night infomercial.” Beth says Montana and she are never going to be friends and if the Vets lose, she’ll be going into the Gauntlet.

They go to the challenge site and T.J. explains the new challenge, “Balancing Act.” There is a hanging apparatus above the water and two teammates are going to have to get from one side to the other on a rope using only another rope between the two. If they let go of the rope at any time their turn is over. Along with the $10,000 for the team bank, the winning captain will get a $1,000 gift certificate from Fossil Jeans. The losing captain (Beth or Kina) will have to go to the Gauntlet.

Jamie says that the Rookie strategy is for each pair to be of equal size and weight. Alton and Landon are first up. The go back and forth to the ledge a few times but eventually make it across to the other side with a time of 11:28.

Syrus and Mark are next. They’re struggling and Syrus falls into Mark and both fall into the water. Jillian and Kina go a few inches and Kina falls. I smile. Derrick and Katie fall. Susie and Cara make it farther than Kina but fall. When Susie and Cara come back to the shore Kina gives them a hug and tells them “good job” which Cara appreciates.

Julie and Robin fall. Jeremy and Jamie fall. Montana and Aneesa fall. Randy and M.J. change it up a bit and fall. David and Brad are next and T.J. (?!) interviews that they are the most likely team to give the Veterans another point. One of them goes back on the ledge but they both let go of the rope and get DQed. Jodi and Ibis go about halfway and fall.

Timmy and Beth are the last team. Beth gets spooked and goes to the side. Timmy tries talking to her but she isn’t doing anything. Julie is yelling like a crazy woman on the side. Timmy says that Psychology 101 isn’t working out and Beth basically wimps out. They count down ten seconds and the Rookies win.

At the deliberation room everyone votes and Montana is chosen, unsurprisingly. T.J. spins the wheel and it lands on “Captain’s Choice.” Beth chooses “Reverse Tug-O-War.” M.J. says that Beth is the seventeenth team member for them. She’s more effective than Jo…

T.J. explains the event that has been played about forty-eight times already on this series. They start and it’s hard to tell who is doing better but it seems that Beth has the lead. And Beth indeed gets the flag. After her victory Beth goes to her team’s side where everyone congratulates her. She says that she’s sure they wanted Montana to win and Derrick says that he did want Montana to win because she’s the meanest person he’s ever f***ing known. Aneesa calms them down and Beth goes back and shakes Montana’s hand.

Aneesa: “Beth is just like (high, whiney voice) hey, I’m back! (Normal voice) And we’re just like, f**k! We gotta congratulate her, now we gotta kiss her ass so she doesn’t throw a mission. In the end you know Beth is just (deep voice) Beth.”

Montana says that it was hard and that it shows that good doesn’t always win over evil. Beth tells us she’s sad that she had to kick Montana’s ass.

Alton says they had a crazy little week. Jamie thinks this is all high school. Cara says that she liked when Kina came up to her and Susie and told them “good job.” Kina say that she doesn’t trust Cara and Susie.

Derrick says goodbye to Montana. Montana says that she doesn’t think that any woman could beat Beth at “Reverse Tug-O-War.” I’m going to miss Montana and her mean but oh so witty insults about Beth. That comment about the only thing that’s grown for Beth has been her thighs? Classic! As Montana leaves Beth shares that she is happy that she got her revenge on Montana because she was so mean to her, and that karma is a bitch.

Next week: Jodi and Alton hook-up. Robin and Katie fight at the mission. Timmy: “Idiots!”

Chris Jakobi is not sure if he can take on as many crazies as there are on this show, but he is willing to try. Fan mail, hate mail or advice can be sent to cjakobi9@yahoo.com.

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