Hey y’all,
This isn’t late today because PinkRose & Gamer decided it was a good idea to post the speculation threads for S37 casting… And then not give us any updates in a full week (besides adding Cooke to up in the air, but I’m not getting my hopes up). So it’s biz as usual 😪
But WOW, we got quite the jump in survey responses this week! We’re up to 358. Keep it going bc I LOVE this! 🚀 Brrrr.
Weekly reminder that I’m unspoiled, so don’t interpret any of comments to be portentous of future Double Agents events.
Player of the Week
- CT — 172
2) Darrell — 115
3) Big T — 30
4) Kam — 14
5) Devin — 12
6) tie with amBer & Nam — 4
8) Leroy — 3
9) tie with Nany & Gabby — 2
leaving urr’one else (Aneesa Cory Fessy Josh Kaycee Kyle) with a 🦆🥚
I actually voted this week so my write-up will probably echo that. I’m not gonna re-read what I wrote so it’s not a total regurgitation, but if you saw my thoughts— this all won’t be a surprise.
CT wins Player of the Week because people stan him. Next.
Jplay (not really, not sorry). CT went in and got his skull in a dominant fashion. They don’t call him Tangram Daddy for nothin’!
He then stole the best woman there, Kam, who he imbecilically refused on the first episode. That all makes sense to give him PotW except… He went about it all wrong. Instead of being the mature, level-headed father figure he is edited to be — he regresses to his Masshole persona from early on his Challenge career (notably the Duels, Gauntlet 3, and Inferno 2 and 3) and burned down his social game in a glorious fashion. In one fell swoop, he pissed off Big T, Kam, and Kyle, along with their allies (seen in T’s convo with Gabby).
Sure, Kam & CT are an intimidating pair, and nobody wants to go head-to-head against them — but the target on their backs is gargantuan. You’d think CT would’ve learned his lesson to lower his threat level, after he and Wes were targeted on the first ep for having a great partner. And once he got a less threatening partner, nobody was coming for him. Same with Darrell, Fessy, and even Kam.
But NOPE he went full on Juggernaut with Kammy, and I’m sure it’ll create strong opposition before the final. Kam is liable to get taken from him as well. It’s kinda like a Pollyanna/White Elephant/that Power of Veto competition, in that sometimes you stay with the second-best option because then it won’t be stolen.
I explained Kam’s votes here — she is seen as the best woman by essentially the whole house. CT is a better partner physically for her, and he comes with tonnes of experience on The Challenge and especially in finals. He’s made 10 finals in his career and won half of them (Rivals 2, Invasion, War of the Worlds 2, Champs vs Stars 1, Champs vs Stars 2). Kyle has only finaled on Vendettas and Total Madness and didn’t snatch first in either, so CT > Kyle here.
Politically and threat-level wise, however — yeah, Kam is worse off.
I personally voted Darrell for PotW. He also got his skull and was arguably more impressive in so doing, since he is not a puzzle master and went up against self-proclaimed genius Devin in it… And sent his grubby ass packing.
What’s different is that he stayed with Bamber (who has been keeping him safe through her Big Brother alliance) and thus didn’t greatly magnify the target on his back, neither by grabbing an OP partner nor by upsetting the house numbers in both senses of the word.
Big T had a great episode, especially when you consider how she was blindsided and discarded by someone she put a lot of trust in. The whole house sided with and comforted her. She swore revenge on CT by saying she’d beat him in a final (edgic GOLD) and came out of his fake apology looking all the better. She is SO rootable.
Devin got votes? After having the luxury of picking his opponent in an elimination that played to all of his strengths, and then losing both his skull and the game? Okay…
I will say he was very graceful in his loss and self-aware in his send-off words. Like Wes and Johnny, Dev dials up his personality and “villainy” because he knows he’s on a reality show, and making good TV is the ultimate goal to keep getting calls and cast. Nice, humble, honest Devin was great to see. And like Theresa, he really made the most of his comeback after multiple seasons off. We’ll see him next season, and I wonder who the new narrator will be for the remainder of Double Agents. I’ll guess Kyle.
Then amBer, Nam, Gabby, Nany, and Leroy got votes. Not sure why. Let’s pour one out for Gabby, who only has 11 votes all season for PotW yet is getting pushed hard by production. Is she this year’s Breakout Rookie? I suppose we’ll find out, but if so — good for her for snatching that title over a dual sport Olympian/world champion, Survivor winner, professional wrestler, and 6' 2" gorgeous exotic mountain of German muscle.
Best social/political game this episode
- Kam — 124
- Big T — 54
- Darrell — 41
- Leroy — 39
- CT — 31
Kam’s political game took a hit this week. She explained it herself in the ep, when she said that having CT has a partner is not good for her game, because he’s pissed off half the house. I am excited, however, to see her flex some manipulative muscle to guide the target off her and his back. I know she can do it.
But… Why did she get the most votes for best social/political game? Ummm… I’m guessing respondents equated people wanting her as a partner to be good politicking or social game. When really that’s about her physical game. So, next.
I voted for Big T because everyone sided with her and was quick to come console her after CT eviscerated her. That is good social game. Same with Nam, actually. People really felt bad for both of them this ep, because of his back and her embarrassment. Big T is now in a worse political position, though, as the Rogue Agent. I don’t see any of the guys jumping to pick her as a partner, either — meaning she’ll get whomever is left over after the shuffling.
It’s such a shame, because the Big CT pairing was perfect. Symbiotic, rootable, fair, good for TV. Nam/Big T would’ve been great too for the same reasons — two fan faves together that seem to balance each other out well — but he was medically DQed. So for now, Tula is in limbo.
Darrell continued his under the radar strategy and stuck with Amber, which will likely keep him safe for the next couple rounds. I have no recollection for what Leroy did besides give a toast at the hot spring and mack on Kam, so I have nothing to remark about his social/political game this ep. Sorry Lee 😔
And then 31 people actually think CT had the best social-political game this episode? Okay… Nothing to say here either because that is objectively false.
Best edit this episode
- Big T — 175
- Darrell — 41
- Kam — 34
- CT — 27
- Devin — 25
- Nam — 16
100% Big T deserved the best edit this week. Two users have finally, belatedly started doing full edgic posts about Double Agents in the past week and a bit. It’s phenomenal original content, and I beseech y’all to check it out. Here is Fireballin117’s write-up and here is rakejicci1’s post. I haven’t read this week (because I want to form my own thoughts here first, before delving into edgic) but it is top-tier analysis. God I f*cking LOVE EDGIC omgah.
Anygay, let’s get back to it. The whole episode surrounded Big T. As the audience, we heard her perspective on every part of the situation. We got multiple confessionals from different people all speaking up in favour of Big T. We saw the conversation between Big T and Gabby, and an earlier exchange with AmBer. In both, Big T swore she’d make it to the final and beat CT in it, to prove him wrong. This was even subtitled, which means the viewers are meant to hear it. It’s shocking. Could Big T become this season’s winner? Her edit says yes, but my logic says no. I guess we’ll find out. CPPP5 if that’s possible, otherwise CPP5. [That’s Complex Person CP Super Positive PP High Visibility)
Kam had a similar but smaller edit this week. She explained her thoughts and feelings to being chosen by CT and how that affects her. CPP4 or maybe a 3. [CP, Positive P, 4/5 visibility]
Darrell had a quiet episode. It was a positive one, definitely, but after winning his skull and showing loyalty to Amber, he disappeared. I’m gonna say MORP3. [Middle of the Road P 3/5]
Devin’s edit was more notable than Darrell’s, actually. I addressed it above — how humble he was in his loss, how self-aware and introspective. Truly a class act when it counted. CPP4 in my opinion. Similar to Nam but his was more OTTP3. [Over the Top P 3/5]
Now for CT’s edit. It wasn’t positive, not at all, but BOY was it interesting and complex. We see the good (him winning the elimination), the bad (how over the top and rude he was when picking Kam, not reading the room, myopic to the repercussions), and the strategic (sending champagne to Big T, the apology out by the fire, trying to explain to her that she’s not ready for a final). It was fascinating. Can’t wait to read Rake’s thoughts on it. CPN5. [CP Negative High Vis]
Biggest misplay this week
- CT — 202
- Devin — 107
- Josh — 16
- Kyle — 12
- Big T — 7
- Nam — 5
CT greatly upgraded his partner but did it in a ham-handed, moronic fashion — burning bridges and pissing off everyone, even people that were solidly in his corner before (Big T and Kyle).
And even when he apologized, I got the sense it was all for show. . Setting up this tableau in front of the fire, trees in the background, perfect for the cameras… It reminded me so much of these staged scenes from UnReal. He even said “Don’t assassinate my character” like he’s more concerned with his public image than actually making amends with Tula. Like Widow Von’Du would say — that’s an apolo-lie.
Devin also misplayed this week by choking in the elimination. When you lose to Darrell, of all people, in a puzzle he doesn’t even know the name of 🍊 — yikes on bikes. I don’t know who he should’ve chosen. Cory comes to mind (flashback to counting triangles on Invasion), but he was Rogue and thus ineligible. Lee isn’t great at puzzles, so maybe him — but Darrell shares the reputation, so maybe Devin was f*cked whichever way. Shame that he is eliminated halfway through a season again 😬 His track record actually sucks.
Josh lost the elimination too, so votes make sense. He had tweets about how his harness was messed up — which I totally believe, flashback to Nia and the bands holding Paulie on Final Reckoning — but even if it all were 100% fair and above the table, no way is beating CT in a tangram. Sorry Joshy, see you next szn (and lol to everyone who actually thinks he won’t get cast immediately).
Nam went home with a bad back, Big T was discarded by her strong ass partner, and Kyle also lost his strong ass partner. That’s not really anything they did, but rather stuff that happened to them. I don’t think they qualify as misplays, because it was out of their control, but nonetheless, they got votes.
Fave Momentz
What did people love this ep? Let’s explore 🕵🏼♂️
- CT winning the elim, the weird walk up to the OTF, & Josh going home
- Devin’s confessionals — “I think we both want it, Leroy,” “Eat my ass,” and “I think we have more in common than we thought, Josh”
- Big T telling CT off and “Coach Carter ass speech”
- Darrell confessionals and the tangram/tangerine mixup
- House field trip to hot springs 👙
- “I have one thing to say: Nany, I’m home !!”
And a special Nova shout-out to “there wasn’t :((“ and “can’t say I had one :/” because I FEEL THAT.
I am FURIOUS we had a cliffhanger two weeks ago and then such a filler episode this week. I play in an unspoiled fantasy league and had picked both CT and Darrell 2 eps ago, but not last week because I have to conserve those picks (you only get 5 per player). And what happens? Both get skulls, confessionals, and massive amounts of points 👿
Oh and also? They teased the Security Breach two weeks in a row (and RohAnTheMaker made me believe it was a woman re-entering the game after Lolo left, which screwed up my picks), and then they teased the nightmare mission two weeks in a row AGAIN. Which AGAIN f*cked my selections, because I was banking on Cory vomit points.
And then on top of that — I’m not done. Tomorrow’s ep is only an hour long. So get prepared for only a daily, deliberation, and an elimination to reset the episode trend. OVER IT. Which also means I’m confused by the
Average Episode Rating
which is a 7.26 this week. Still higher than eps 9 and 10, which were “complete” episodes with drama-mission-deliberation-night out-elimination all in it. And then we get two half-assed ones back-to-back, but people love them more?? Make it make sense 😵
But that’s fine. Other people have different opinions than me, and I like that. I’m glad people are enjoying the season, because the constant complaints I see on reddit are a bummer.
One final thing — not one single person voted for Aneesa for any of the categories this week. And yet she’s one of the 3 women very likely to be on Season 37 (so far). Okay…
See you next week! Read those edgic posts! Spreadsheet with results here!
🖤
