The Challenge Historian

The Rewatch Series has hit the mid-way point with the first 20 seasons of The Challenge having been covered in deep detail over the last few months. Being at this big round number that also serves as a transitional moment in the shows history I thought it was time for a break from new seasons to spend a little more time celebrating these first 20 OG seasons and all the greatness that came with them. Thus: the Rewatch Recap Mini Series!

Over six episodes I will be looking back at these first 20 seasons and picking out the best of the best to celebrate one more time. On this the first of six installments I am looking at two things specifically: defining the era's of the show and the evolutions that came with them, and naming the top 5 casts of the first 20 seasons (female, male, and combined). Here's a topic by topic breakdown for you:

Intro and Rewatch Series update (00:11)

Defining the eight specific eras of The Challenge and the evolutions that came with them (07:02)

The top five female casts of the first 20 seasons (22:25)

The top five male casts of the first 20 seasons (29:19)

The top five casts overall of the first 20 seasons (35:05)

Like the show? Then hit that follow or subscribe so you don't miss an episode! And if you'd like to talk Challenge with Jacob, hit him up on Instagram @ChallengeHistorian

#TheChallenge #TheChallengePodcast #WeWantOGs #TheChallengeHistorian #RealityTV #RealityTVPodcast

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Ride or Dies episode 3 was a great one if you in the Fessy Fanclub... and if you're not there is still plenty of room to join! Between Faysal's many moments, Tommy and Analyse's big blunder, love triangles ruining teams, a double decker hall brawl and freaking ex-fiances entering the game we've got a lot to talk about! I break it all down using the following topics:

Cold Open (00:00)

Intro and Programming Notes (00:52)

Cliffnotes recap of the plot of episode 3 (04:26)

Faysal changes names, changes women, wins a daily, and all around has a day (07:50)

Tori's rollercoaster of emotions and her and Jordan's first convo (16:39)

Johnny and Rayvn can't get past the love triangle (21:02)

The Daily Challenge and that awesome Hall Brawl style elimination (25:10)

Analyse and Tommy make a mistake and then double down on it (32:57)

Best Quote, Best Moment and Episode MVP (38:28)

Power Rankings updated and predictions for next week (47:07)

#TheChallenge #TheChallengeRideorDies #RideorDies #TheChallenge38 #TheChallengePodcast #TheChallengeHistorian #RealityTV #RealityTVPodcast

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Team Banany is here and they have an immediate impact! Episode 2 of season 38, Ride or Dies, is in the books and there is a lot to digest. An action packed episode, I cover it all using the following topics:

Cold Open (00:00)

Intro & Programming Notes (00:51)

Cliffnotes Recap of Episode 2 (04:07)

Team Banany is here and they are making an immediate impact (07:48)

Turbo is being Turbo which isn't good for Turbo (15:33)

The whole house helping Olivia and Horacio: fair or foul? (24:25)

Michele and Jay both have hands on the steering wheel (27:15)

A collection of random notes worth shouting out including Nany and Tori's vulnerability, Nelson's daily challenge run, Kaycee reentering the game and more (32:36)

Awards for Best Quote, Best Moment, and Episode MVP (40:52)

Power rankings updated and predictions for next week's episode (51:24)

#TheChallenge #TheChallenge38 #TheChallengeRideOrDies #RideorDies #TheChallengeHistorian #TheChallengePodcast #RealityTV #RealityTVPodcast

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The rewatch series continues and it's finally time to talk about the Bananas Backpack! Plus everything else that happens on season 20, Cutthroat. Which is to say, a lot! What a great season this is, the last of a transitional period for the show, and the dawn of the greatest run in show history. We've got Abram & Cara falling hard, Laurel dominating for the second season in a row, a Blue team looking destined for greatness before TJ brings in CT to ruin it all, Brandon as sacrificial lamb, Paula getting screwed again, and so much more! I break it all down via the following topics:

Cold Open (00:00)

Intro & Programming Notes (00:48)

High Level Overview: season basics, player histories, and history made (04:03)

Abram and Cara Maria's romance and their internal team turmoil with Laurel and Sarah (13:53)

The new format, how well it worked, and how it helped remove some pitfalls prior seasons fell into (21:00)

The highly competitive nature of the season and breaking down each team's story arc (27:48)

Nearly every cast member has a storyline this season and how insane / awesome that is (44:42)

Award for Best Daily Challenge (52:07)

Award for Best Elimination which is obviously the Bananas Backpack (57:56)

Award for Best Athletic Performance (01:08:55)

Award for Best Quote of the Season (01:12:36)

Award for Iconic Moment which is obviously the Bananas Backpack (01:18:52)

Award for Best Episode (01:25:24)

Rookie of the Season and the Full Season MVP Award (01:26:36)

Final Season Grade and where Cutthroat ranks all time (01:35:06)

#TheChallenge #WeWantOGs #TheChallenge20 #TheChallengePodcast #RealityTV #RealityTVPodcast #TheChallengeHistorian

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Season 38 Ride or Dies is here! What an opening episode it was: Turbo being Turbo, Rookies revolting, TJ pulling twists, love triangles already forming, Moles lying, Fessy hot tubbing with blonde rookies, a covid DQ already (kind of), the double cross being back... so much happened! I cover it all using the following topics:

Cold Open (00:00)

Intro and Programming Notes (00:40)

Cliffnotes recap of everything that happened plot wise in the episode (04:23)

Breaking down each segment of the show and the decisions made within, including Turbo vs Laurel on the boat, Nelson's toast, the Johnny/Rayvn/Nurys love triangle, the daily challenge, Jakk being great, Fessy hottubbing, the double cross returning, Turbo not taking a joke, and Devin and Tori's win (08:51).

Awards for the Best Quote, Best Moment, and Episode MVP (45:42)

Power Rankings updated and predictions for next week (57:38)

#TheChallenge #TheChallenge38 #TheChallengeRideorDies #RideorDies #RealityTV #TheChallengePodcast #TheChallengeHistorian

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Ride or Dies officially kicked off with the Monday night Launch Special and I am here to recap it all! Now, it wasn't the full true episode 0 like we thought it may be (because that's what it was last time...) but it was still super fun and a little bit insightful to the season to come. Topics include:

Cold Open (00:00)

Introduction & Programming Reminders (00:44)

What the Launch Special was and what the Launch Special was not (02:55)

TJ's season introduction, his always flawless fits, and it's a fall weather season (05:27)

Jordan and Tori is going to be the biggest storyline and created the best moments of this launch special (09:33)

Aneesa and Jordan are partners and MTV tries to troll it's fans and it ain't a good look (18:42)

Olivia is already becoming a fan favorite with the quote of the episode (21:16)

Format updates, what we learned from the special regarding these six super vets and the possibility of the Double Cross returning (23:00)

My final predictions for this season, five random ones, plus my finalists and winners picks (31:04)

#TheChallenge #RideorDies #TheChallengeRideorDies #TheChallenge38 #TJsFinal #TheChallengePodcast #RealityTV #TheChallengeHistorian

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The rewatch series continues with Season 18, The Ruins! A season marred in controversy yet much more interesting and entertaining than one may remember... at least I felt that way upon rewatch. So much to discuss with this season and I get into it all using the following topics:

Intro and programming notes (00:48).

Basics of the Season: where the Challenge was, what past relationships mattered coming into this season, and the evolutions and history made (04:54).

The mistreatment of cast members this season and the lawsuit filed by Tonya two years later (16:28).

Major storyline: the Champions dominate in a historic way and there is nearly nothing the Challengers can do about it (33:23).

Major storyline: Wes vs his entire team and the twisted relationship map of the house (45:39).

Major storyline: Susie and Sarah become besties and stars in the process (53:45).

Awards for Best Daily, Best Elim, and Best Athletic Performance (01:03:34).

Awards for Best Quote, Best Episode, and Iconic Moment which yes, is where we talk about the popped implant and the gnarliest punch in Challenge history (01:11:58).

Picking the Rookie of the Season and the Full Season MVP (01:24:22).

The seasons final grade and placement in the all time rankings of Challenge seasons (01:31:55).

#TheChallenge #WeWantOGs #TheRuins #RealityTVPodcast #RealityTV #TheChallengePodcast #TheChallengeHistorian

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The rewatch series goes back to chronological and hits Season 17, The Duel 2! I love this season, and was a bit shocked at this most recent rewatch where my feelings ended up landing. We cover it all in depth using the following topics:

Intro and programming notes (00:35).

Basics of the season, state of The Challenge at the time, and evolutions and history made this season (04:04).

Major storyline: the CT Adam fight and it's fallout (14:07).

Major storyline: the dominant alliance of Mark, Evan, Landon and Brad and the athletic dominance of Landon and Rachel (21:48).

Major storyline: romance everywhere, Rachel/Jenn/Aneesa, Dunbar/Paula/Kim, CT and Shauvon, Ryan and Davis, Brad and Tori (33:05).

Awards for Best Daily Challenge, Best Elimination, and Best Athletic Performance (43:16).

Awards for Best Quote, Iconic Moment, and Best Episode (51:48).

Awards for Rookie of the Season and Season MVP (01:03:42).

The Duel 2 final season grade and it's placement in the all time pantheon (01:14:12).

#TheChallenge #WeWantOG #TheChallengeHistorian #TheChallengePodcast #RealityTVPodcast #RealityTV

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The Challenge Untold History aired it's final two episodes which means I've got some final thoughts on the whole experience. I give out 15 one sentence thoughts on these two episodes, break down the five most impactful segments from these two episodes, and then give my final thoughts on how the documentary went as a whole.

#TheChallenge #WeWantOGs #TheChallengeHistorian #TheChallengePodcast #TheChallengeUntoldStory

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The Challenge: Untold History aired it's 3rd and 4th episodes last week and I am here to give my thoughts and feelings on everything we saw in these two episodes focused on Underdogs and GOATS:

Introduction and programming notes (00:00).

Episode 3 recap (02:28).

Episode 4 recap (14:20).

#TheChallenge #WeWantOGs #TheChallengeHistorian #TheChallengePodcast #TheChallengeUntoldStory

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