Reversible Climbing Wall/Grape Smash - May 8

While we've had a few warm days in Cloquet, MN, but that's nothing compared to the temperature of the Inferno 3.

We start with Alton asking Davis about how he feels to be nominated for the Inferno a second time. He tells him that after Jenn eliminated Rachel in the Inferno, she came up to him and told him how good it felt to win. Davis says that he wants to experience that feeling. Davis instructs Alton to keep the Life Shield in the event he won it because he wants to go in. He also asks him to pass that information on to the rest of the team. Alton reminds Davis that eliminating Danny is instrumental to the Good Guys' strategy.

Meanwhile, Danny's having trouble keeping his mom out of his mind. At this point he mentions that his mother died while he was away taping Real World: Austin. Danny claims to accept responsibility for her death, but Aneesa tells him to not be so hard on himself. Danny says he'll never forgive himself for leaving his mother while she was sick. Aneesa notices that Danny seems to blame himself for everything that goes wrong, whether it be in his life or even in the challenges. He admits that he would like to go home, but not until after the Challenge; he's still here to win.

The teams then drive up to a field where they see a large wall with several pegs sticking out and also meet up with T.J. Their next individual challenge is called the "Reversible Climbing Wall." The teams will be broken down to guy-girl pairs. Two pairs, one from each team, will compete at a time. One member from each pair will stand on opposite sides of the wall. Both will have to communicate and work together in telling them which pegs they need slid through the wall in order to advance and climb up it. Any pegs pushed from one teammates' side will appear on the other for their partner to use. Once at the top, one partner must give their teammate a flag, and then both of them must come back down, repeating the pattern of exchanging pegs. Once both partners touch the ground, their time is stopped. If a contestant falls off or drops the flag, then that pair is disqualified. The team with the fastest average time (in contrast with the usual method of fastest overall time) wins the challenge and $10,000 for the team bank account. It's also very important for the men, particularly Danny and Davis, because Life Shields are also up for grabs. The fastest guy and fastest girl also won bicycles. Since the Good Guys are down one female player, one girl will have to go twice to make sure every man has a partner. Since the Bad Asses only have four men and five women, one girl will have to sit out to make sure all men are represented equally.

Tonya is excited because she's a rock climber, even though she wishes only she had to be on the wall and not to have to trust a teammate. Alton's also excited because he's a climber as well. Aneesa volunteers to sit out for the Bad Asses. The former enemies who partnered together on Fresh Meat, Danny and Evelyn, decide to team up once again for this challenge. Danny says you are only as strong as your partner, and, especially since Life Shields are on the line, he decides that Evelyn is by far the strongest girl there. Evelyn points out how there has been tension between the two in the past (we are then shown clips from the Fresh Meat Challenge of Danny screaming at Evelyn during their Exile), but is happy to report they've patched things up. Colie decides to step up and go twice for the GGs to prove that she's an asset to the team. She and Davis are excited because their job during Real World: Denver was guiding teens on wilderness and rock climbing tours for Outward Bound.

Here are the teams, match ups, and times as follows:

GG: Alton & Colie - Disqualified (Colie dropped the flag) [20:00]
BA: Abram & Tonya - Won [6:43]

GG: Timmy & Susie - [11:52]
BA: Derrick & Janelle - Won [9:20]

GG: Ace & Cara - Won [11:34]
BA: Kenny & Jenn - Disqualified (Jenn fell off) [20:00]

GG: John & Paula - Won [6:44]
BA: Danny & Evelyn - [9:49]

GG: Davis & Colie - [9:16]
*The Bad Asses did not compete this round due to lack of a male player.

In the end the Good Guys' average time was 10:21, the Bad Asses average time was 8:38. This gives the BS another check for $10,000 bring their bank account total to $30K. That's the same amount the GGs have in their team bank account.

It was a very close race for the prizes between John & Paula and Tonya & Abram, but the Bad Ass pair managed to outdo the Good Guy pair by a slim margin, thus Tonya and Abram have won the bikes. The Life Shield winners are John for the GGs and Abram for the BAs. Davis hopes that John will not use the Life Shield so he can go in, beat someone, and make it to the end the way he plans it. Danny also hopes that Abram won't use his Life Shield.

The participants gather in the Inferno to see who'll be the next person to go home. T.J. calls GG Davis and BA Danny down into the Inferno to compete. Davis notices that Danny has a stern look on his face and has written his mother's name on his cheek. Abram opts to leave the decision up to Danny. Danny says that he wants to go into the Inferno. John says that a new guy has to pay his dues, and then leaves Davis to go into the Inferno as well.

The next Inferno game is called "Watch Your Back." There are two platforms, one on the ground and one up in the air directly above it, connected by four ladders (two on either side). Davis will start on the top platform on the right side and Danny will start on the bottom platform on the left side. This is basically a large game of tag: Davis and Danny will run across the platforms and climb up and down the ladders until one tags or passes the other. The first player to win in a best 2 out of 3 match will stay in the game.

After T.J. signals both David and Danny go charging across the platforms. Paula's impressed by how fast Davis is moving, saying he is like "a rat in a little wheel." Danny trips and falls after clumsily hopping down from the ladder, which allowed Davis the opportunity to catch up and pass him, giving him the first point. Derrick immediately becomes nervous about the BAs losing another male player. The second round begins, and noticeably Danny is tired. Cara's amazed at how fast Davis is running. Eventually Davis' endurance prevails, and he passes Danny a second time, giving him the win.

Davis is on top of the world while the GGs all hug him. The Bad Asses are choking back tears and Danny then says that not measuring up in the Inferno is one of the worst feelings in the world, but says he has no one to blame but himself. As Davis to rejoins his team, Danny goes to say goodbye to his. Aneesa tries to comfort and reassure him, but Danny is disappointed, reflecting on how he was sent home first the last time and has now just been the second man to be eliminated. He says that he wanted to be there and help his team all the way to the end, but now realizes that it just isn nott going to happen.

On the way back from the Inferno at the end of the show, the Bad Asses are silent and noticeably depressed. And it could be getting more worse for them as the Inferno 3 continues next time.

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NOTE: Due to circumstances beyond my control, this recap of the second episode from the aforementioned date will be a "quickie" one.

In the "Grape Smash" challenge teams have to collect and smash grapes to create juice that needs to be carried by mouth to bottles. Because of the swimwear involved Ace, Alton and Timmy have refused to participate. Their decision, unfortunately, gave the Bad Asses the win raising their bank account total to $40,000.

Susie of the Good Guys and Jenn of the Bad asses are voted into the Inferno.

Another person will be eliminated in the next double-episode of the Inferno 3.