Throwing in Ashley and Aneesa? What are we doing team I am rooting for??? Plus: romance strikes the Rivals house, Katie’s masterclass is in session, not the most graceful of flyers in this group, two very different calls home to significant others, and Steve and Adam continue their potentially historic elimination run! It’s The Challenge All Stars 5 Rivals, Episode 4 recap, topics include:

Cold Open (00:00)

Intro & Agenda (00:42)

Ashley Calls Home, Katie’s Masterclass (03:24)

Daily Challenge Shows Weaknesses (07:40)

Party, Noms, Adam’s Pitch (12:40)

Dumb Pick & Elimination (18:53)

Best Quote, Moment, MVP (26:26)

Power Rankings & Predictions (28:38)

#TheChallenge #TheChallengeAllStars #TheChallengeAllStarsRivals #TheChallengeRivals #Rivals #TheChallengeHistorian #RealityTVRecap #RealityTVPodcast #TheChallengePodcast #TheChallengeRecaps 

The Challenge 41 filming is underway in Chile! I’m breaking down all the vet casting picks in detail, all the rookie casting picks in not so much detail, telling you who I would have called in my own fantasy casting, and breaking down best case formats for this season of The Challenge.

Cold Open (00:00)

Intro & Agenda (00:37)

Vet Cast Breakdown (05:10)

Rookie Cast Breakdown (20:35)

Who I Would Have Cast (32:04)

Best Case Formats (42:31)

#TheChallenge #TheChallenge41 #TheChallengeHistorian #RealityTVPodcast #TheChallengePodcast #TheChallengeRecaps

Sylvia and KellyAnne complete the fastest Rivals season arc ever! Plus: Adam - and maybe some others - are VERY sick, some fears and insecurities are faced and overcome, Devin thinks he’s masterminding while Frank actually masterminds, and the inevitable blow up between Aneesa and Ashley begins it’s countdown! It’s the Challenge All Stars 5 Rivals, Episode 3 recap, topics include:

Cold Open (00:00)

Intro & Agenda (00:37)

Parties and Frank Both Rule (03:26)

Daily Challenge Recap (11:10)

Adam’s Sick, Alliances Shown (15:53)

Elimination, KellyAnne Sylvia Goodbye (23:01)

Aneesa vs Ashley Drama (30:10)

Best Quote, Moment, MVP (37:10)

Power Rankings & Predictions (40:32)

#TheChallenge #TheChallengeAllStars #TheChallengeAllStarsRivals #TheChallengeRivals #Rivals #TheChallengeHistorian #RealityTVRecap #RealityTVPodcast #TheChallengePodcast #TheChallengeRecaps 

TJ is in the house doing group votes and I couldn’t be happier! Plus: Beth’s got jeans from Gauntlet 2, Leroy’s got poop jokes, no one wants to do the daily challenge, Amber is still good but maybe still too nice, Frank is getting busy, Adam and Steve are old but game, and Sylvia and KellyAnne remind the house that this is in fact a Rivals season! It’s The Challenge All Stars 5 Rivals, episode 2 recap, topics include:

Cold Open (00:00)

Intro & Agenda (00:45)

Beer Pong & Beth’s Jeans (03:10)

Heights, Quitters, Amber Fessy Win (07:18)

Frank’s Back, TJ’s In Person, Amber Too Nice (14:24)

Elimination (21:22)

Sylvia & KellyAnne Blow Up (29:06)

Best Quote Moment MVP (34:55)

Power Rankings & Predictions (38:50)

#TheChallenge #TheChallengeAllStars #TheChallengeAllStarsRivals #TheChallengeRivals #Rivals #TheChallengeHistorian #RealityTVRecap #RealityTVPodcast #TheChallengePodcast #TheChallengeRecaps 

Six months ago the monumental 40th season of The Challenge kicked off. Now, a few weeks after it has ended, and as we watch a new All Stars season commence, we take one final look back at how things shook out for Battle of the Eras.

Before getting to the season recap and awards, I dive into The State of The Challenge (or kind of the state of my fandom and all Challenge fandom really) and cover why the show is where it is and a bit of how it can get back on track. If that doesn't sound interesting, then use the timestamps to skip to the season recap.

Then I start the season recap with a list of things I loved, liked, thought worked out, thought didn't work out, and things that just flat out didn't work or they got wrong. Following that we've got the awards (quote, moment, elimination, etc) and of course hand out the coveted season MVP. Finally, the season grade and where it stacks up all time.

Thanks as always for tuning in. Subscribe, comment, rate, review and all that good stuff. DMs are open on Instagram @ChallengeHistorian.

Chapters:

Intro & Agenda (00:00)

State of The Challenge (04:32)

Liked, Worked, Would Have Changed (28:37)

Best Quote & Dan Renzi Award (41:23)

Best Moment (45:42)

Best Elimination (51:19)

MVP of the Season (54:09)

Season Grade (01:03:32)

#TheChallenge #BattleoftheEras #TheChallenge40 #TheChallengeBattleoftheEras #TheChallengeHistorian #RealityTVRecap #RealityTVPodcast #TheChallengePodcast #TheChallengeRecaps

The Challenge is SO BACK! Plus: TJ has a sick bike, Ashley gets leading lady honors, Frank is trying very hard to remain chill, Turbo eats berries and doesn’t speak, Dario is very much considering life as a step dad, and oh so many actual juicy real raw rivalries and emotions are at play and this season is going to rule!! It’s The Challenge All Stars 5: Rivals, premiere episode recap, topics include:

Cold Open (00:00)

Intro & Agenda (00:45)

Open, Ashley Spotlight, Pumped Up (04:34)

House, Jonna & Beth, Nany & Turbo (12:40)

Daily, Stars Twist, Early Winners (25:30)

Devroy, Frank, Ashley & Dario, Stealing (29:54)

Best Quote, Moment, MVP (38:49)

Power Rankings & Predictions (41:45)

#TheChallenge #TheChallengeAllStars #TheChallengeAllStarsRivals #TheChallengeRivals #Rivals #TheChallengeHistorian #RealityTVRecap #RealityTVPodcast #TheChallengePodcast #TheChallengeRecaps 

One week out from the first ever MTV version of All Stars, the first ever themed version of All Stars, the return of the GOAT Challenge format - Rivals, the return of legends Ashley and Frank, a true mix of OGs to downright newbies, and hopefully - fingers crossed - the return of an over the top dramatic and chaotic Challenge season because this thing has a lot of potential! We are power ranking, we are predicting, we are previewing in all it’s hopeful glory The Challenge All Stars 5 Rivals, LET’S GO!

Cold Open (00:00)

Intro & Agenda (00:50)

Power Rankings Intro (06:12)

Jonna & Beth (07:05)

Veronica & Katie (09:59)

Melissa & Nicole (12:17)

Ashley & Aneesa (14:59)

Da’Vonne & Shane (18:49)

Adam & Steve (20:48)

Nany & Turbo (23:12)

Ashley & Dario (25:16)

Big T & Corey (27:20)

KellyAnne & Sylvia (31:00)

Leroy & Devin (32:32)

Sam & Frank (35:51)

Amber & Faysal (38:43)

Location, Format, Trailer (41:53)

Predictions (50:15)

#TheChallenge #TheChallengeAllStars #TheChallengeAllStarsRivals #TheChallengeRivals #Rivals #TheChallengeHistorian #RealityTVRecap #RealityTVPodcast #TheChallengePodcast #TheChallengeRecaps 

Three Champions are crowned (yes, three) as The Challenge 40 Battle of the Eras comes to a close. The Karma Vote plays a major role, Jordan dominates from start to finish, Jenny mostly does as well, Derek and Michele shine in second, Rachel moves all the way up, Bananas gets some solo R&R on the beach, Tori gets some solo singing time, and a whole bunch more in the second part of the final. It’s The Challenge 40 Battle of the Eras Episode 19 aka the finale recap, topics include:

00:00 Cold Open

00:51 Intro & Agenda

04:48 Overnight Checkpoint

10:00 Submerging Terror Checkpoint

12:53 Sandbar Checkpoint

18:47 Champions Cove Checkpoint

20:11 Jordan Wins

26:37 Derek, Bananas, Kyland

31:32 Karma Vote Creates Two Female Winners

50:36 Outro

#TheChallenge #TheChallenge40 #BattleoftheEras #WeWantOGs #RoadRules #TheChallengeHistory #TheChallengeHistorian #RealityTV #RealityTVHistory

Swimming, swimming, and then some more swimming! Plus: gorgeous sunsets, a white whale sighting, simple puzzles but the details matter, some more swimming - not sure if I mentioned that - and the karma points twist partially revealed and it’s as bad as we thought it might be! It’s The Challenge Battle of the Eras Episode 18, yes 18, recap, topics include:

Cold Open (00:00)

Intro & Agenda (00:35)

Karma Points Suck (04:34)

Too Much Swimming (13:25)

Checkpoint 1 (19:33)

Checkpoint 2 (23:53)

Checkpoint 3 (27:13)

Checkpoint 4 (29:50)

Finale Preview (33:45)

#TheChallenge #TheChallenge40 #BattleoftheEras #WeWantOGs #RoadRules #TheChallengeHistory #TheChallengeHistorian #RealityTV #RealityTVHistory

We’ve got plankton eating people, Jordan solidifying his favorite to win status, Michele confirming her puzzle queen status, a short but significant location change, last second birthday parties, new friends, old foes, and one long night in the water for two legends of the game battling for that final finals spot! It’s the Challenge Battle of the Eras Episode 17 Recap, topics include:

Cold Open (00:00)

Update & Agenda (00:37)

Episode 15 & 16 Notes (08:40)

Location Change (13:45)

Daily Challenge (17:38)

Cara Birthday (23:57)

Elimination (26:51)

Final Preview (34:32)

#TheChallenge #TheChallenge40 #BattleoftheEras #WeWantOGs #RoadRules #TheChallengeHistory #TheChallengeHistorian #RealityTV #RealityTVHistory