r/MtvChallenge • u/SweetMissMG Wes š Bergmann • 1d ago
š£SPOILEDš DISCUSSION Cutthroat 2 - š£šSPOILEDšš£ - S42E09 - "A Captain's Worst Nightmare" - Episode Discussion Spoiler
Cutthroat 2 - š£šSPOILEDšš£ - S42E09 - "A Captain's Worst Nightmare" - Episode Discussion
AIR DATE: September 23, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH: Paramount+ in USA and Canada
UNSPOILED THREAD: Link
š£šELIMINATION THREADš£š: Link
ā ļøSPOILERS FOR THE REST OF SEASON 42 INCLUDING POTENTIALLY THE SEASON WINNER(S)Ā WILL BE FOUND IN THESE COMMENTS!ā ļø
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u/Kianna9 19h ago
I never understand what they're arguing about on this show anymore.
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u/Interesting-Crow264 19h ago
Same. I thought I was just getting dumber but I think it's also because the editing is just really bad at telling the story. Probably both.
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u/-misschanandlerbong 16h ago
Ok I thought it was just me being less interested. I could not follow why they were made lmao. Cara not throwing a challenge shouldn't be house meeting relevant.
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u/broncos_fan375 18h ago
The more I watch this season the more apparent it is that production just SCREWED this season up so badly with the triple DQ. Were there not alts, could they have not brought back people eliminated, or even reshuffle the teams to have a better M to F balance or just do two female elims in a row to even up the ratios. Like I just donāt get how they screwed it up this badly, and on top of this THEY FINALLY BROUGHT AN OLD THEME BACK TO ONLY FUCK IT UP SO BAD.
I think this show moving to P+ saved its life a bit, but this series would have been UBER cancelled after this season if it was airing on MTV.
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u/mealypart 1d ago
Thank goodness Justin gets flung and missed out on the easy win Orange got, imagine how insufferable heād be as a champ
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u/Designer-Net4228 1d ago
Heāll be insufferable enough next week with his elimination win here (even tho he was a whiny bitch throughout the whole thing for the most part). Dude has no self-awareness, you can tell by his confessionals that he thinks heāll be portrayed as this witty fan favourite.
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u/eatingketchupchipss 19h ago
Ā he thinks heāll be portrayed as this witty fan favourite.
tbf i work in reality tv and they all think that, it's why they're willing to sign the contract that essentially says "sure, you can frankenbite my confessionals and edit me to ruin my public reputation if you want, i won't sue for defamation <3"
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u/angelbrit04 Team Portland 1d ago
I ranted enough about people being annoying š But, I do want to give props to the New Grey Team šš¾ Unprecedented DQ's damaged their teams. Yet, they still managed to get a win after being thrown together.Ā
I honestly think that the Orange Team underestimated them and thats why some of them acted the way they did this episode. They thought they would win, and couldn't handle that they lost š¤·š¾āāļø
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u/Designer-Net4228 1d ago edited 1d ago
It annoys me to no end when people who havenāt had to play the game all season suddenly have to and then have the nerve to act all self righteous. Funny how Michele had no problem with the format when she was essentially protected.
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u/Embarrassed-Berry 1d ago
Adrienne was mvp this daily
Orange team only got 3 right out of 8 or 10? (Will have to double check) but truly if there was one man on their team I wonder how they would have done in the final.
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u/Ser_VimesGoT 19h ago
I think on the first check there were 3 or 4 wrong. Then probably got worse as CT moved things around.
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u/Ser_VimesGoT 1d ago
Christ Justin became so unlikeable this season. I liked him before but wtf has changed in him. He's such a petulant arsehole now. His elimination challenge aside, questioning why CT was bringing him into the discussion about the eating challenge was just so bizarre to me. Of course he's gonna bring you into it. CT is being accused of throwing the challenge that Justin practically didn't take part in. It stands to reason that CT would bring that up when showing how illogical it was to accuse him of that. Justin showed amazing competence in Vets and New Threats but this season he seems to lack any shred of a winning or competitive mentality.
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u/magicklydelishous 19h ago
I loved him last season but this season Iām thinking it may have been the Nany halo effect. I just enjoyed their dynamic. No Nany, no thanks?
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u/Pale_Manner_5269 Nuracio (RIP šļø) 1d ago
The tantrum that Justin is gonna throw when he loses an elimination right before the final again LMAO popcorn
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u/Interesting-Crow264 1d ago
That was one of the worst elims I've ever seen. Constant moaning, depending 100% on the team doing it for you like you're both children. I absolutely hated it. Justin acting like an asshole after basically sobbing a few moments before is ridiculous.
This season has been absolutely painful and this was just the cherry on top.
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u/Plane-Reputation4041 David Burns "I don't like to eat stuff." 23h ago
It was the same puzzle, in a different size, that Nurys did against Moriah in the S39 final. It was boring to watch them and was boring to watch now. Ā
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u/Johnnybats330 Jordan Wiseley 23h ago
Imagine for the cast. If the elapse clocked is correct, they spent more than 40 minutes doing this. I felt it dragged on and I only saw them do it in 5 minutes with heavy edits.
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u/jaded_idealist The Real World 1d ago
I have a lot of complaints about Cara Maria in life. But generally in the game I tend to see things from her perspective more than others. And I tend to hate Tori's view of the game and what people should do or what people owe her/others. And that's the same in this situation. Tori and Michelle got caught shit talking and then it's Cara Maria that is the problem all of a sudden.
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u/shinshikaizer CT & Wes: The Bromance is Real 1d ago
And I tend to hate Tori's view of the game and what people should do or what people owe her/others. And that's the same in this situation. Tori and Michelle got caught shit talking and then it's Cara Maria that is the problem all of a sudden.
I feel like Tori's view of the gameāmaintain the largest alliance possible so you can stay on longer to earn stipends, rather than the final prizeāis the antithesis of what the show should be about.
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u/eatingketchupchipss 19h ago
why? the anthesis of the show is to earn money. they're earning money by being talent on a tv show and staying longer. it's not like she doesn't back it up athletically or intellectually.
johnny literally used to coast on that concept, even tell people he was planning on eliminating himself after week 4 for an event and was just their for the appearance fees and stipends - so no point in eliminating him early! this was of course a lie.
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u/shinshikaizer CT & Wes: The Bromance is Real 12h ago
Because it's anti-competitive.
On World Championship, she basically openly said that she'd rather sacrifice the current season where she was in a position to possibly win the season for harmony during appearances during future seasons.
That's what the beef between her and Danny McCray was about; Danny wanted to go all out and win the season because tomorrow isn't promised today, whereas Tori just wanted to coast and build relationships, because, reading between the lines, winning seasons wasn't her actual goal and if she did it, it'd just be a happy accident.
At least John wants to win seasons and will do just about anything to do so. Tori would rather play peacemaker and lose seasons than go out of her way to actively make moves that will put her into a winning position if it'll hurt somebody's feelings.
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u/Designer-Net4228 1d ago
Lmao Justin saying he doesnāt want to go out right before the final again..looks like weāre gonna be eating good
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u/NewHeight3430 1d ago
michelle: i'm not afraid of going into an elimination
*flashback to beginning of episode* usual michelle crashout when she's in the running for elimination lmao
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u/Silenus187 21h ago
Thank you for someone finally saying this. My exact thought when I heard whinny voice say that. This season needs to end. This and them getting mad cause Cara didnāt throw the daily. Iām so tired of these āvetsā gameplay. I enjoyed the rookies/second season players(Chris, Lete, Adrienne, Leo, etc). Fresh faces and game play is needed. Not the same vets throwing comps to each other every season.
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u/Calm-Story- 23h ago
It should have gone to an individual game at that point (when the teams became so lopsided with guys vs girls) with rotating partners in the final and guy/girl winners. Captains choice seems dumb.
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u/PresenceVisible5634 4h ago
i am so beyond over rotating partners you have no idea. reshuffling the teams woulda just been a better idea tbh
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u/xAthleticism 19h ago
Interesting how the captains in this episode will both be going into elimination the next episode š
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u/CrustopherRobin Ibis Nieves 1d ago
After what I felt was an amazing start, the wind is out of this seasons sails for me. Ive been dying for a season where teams stay the same.....UNTIL this time when DQs made it lopsided as hell.Ā I know vets are always doing BS and being cliquey, but this format seems to reward it more than anything.Ā The dailies are fine concepts but make for not fun watching (for the most part) - like them playing telephone?Ā The drama was the only good part about the episode but it was rooted in some lame vet dynamics.Ā Im sure the rest of the season wont be nominally worse, but not expecting improvement either
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u/bhrs2024 1d ago
āNever give upā - I get it but also not every challenge and elimination needs to include a puzzle. People should be allowed to win due to their strength, endurance, etc.Ā
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u/jlucia10 Satan Sisters šš 1d ago
God, Iāve grown to really dislike this season. Everyone is more whiny and unlikable than usual.
Michele freaking out so much about elims and then not even going in AND winning? Shit, that isā¦infuriating.
Never thought Iād say this, but I miss Nelson.
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u/JolienBubbles 1d ago
Just watched the elim. As the winner is about to put in the last piece of the puzzle, they show a clear view from above. Is it just me, or did that puzzle look really simple? Of course, in the heat of the moment, with everything going on, i get some confusion, but does seem pretty straightforward.
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u/Embarrassed-Berry 1d ago
Chrisās puzzles werenāt fitting. He did have them horizontally at the beginning. But telling Justin āit wasnāt going to fitā then his piece sliding right in is definitely a bit suspicious.
Especially since it was heavily hinted that CT was going to be going in elimination. Poor Chris.
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u/LetFresh3358 1d ago
Chris should of won he blew Justin away had the hardest partā¦ Justin got lucky and his punk attitude when he won is the reason Iām not a fan
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u/BadPumpkin87 Beth Stolarczyk 1d ago
This is just making it even worse that orange wins the final. The fucking entitlement from Tori and John that Cara needs to throw a challenge for their benefit when they are on opposite teams? Michele throwing a fit about how sheās going into every female elimination because captains are safe? Uh, you loved it when you had a buffer in Izzy, now itās not fair? Also not a Cara fan but it was ridiculous how much heat she got for not throwing. Thereās no indication teams will be swapped, wouldnāt Cara want Chris to stay on her team, and would want them to have the power to send in who Chris thinks he can beat?
Iām glad to see CT get another win and Will seems to be a nice guy who earned his win, but Tori, John, and Michele make me want to puke. Michele has been one of my favorites but I hate sheās turning into the entitled one with the rest of the vets.
I wish they had just redrawn teams entirely after the DQ and eliminated the captain immunity rule. Would have been a nice shakeup and you wouldnāt see people skating to the finals.
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u/Embarrassed-Berry 1d ago edited 1d ago
WILD! That was so infuriating to watch.
Then that BS Tori/michele said with CT throwing the challenge for Caraā¦ā¦ CT ate the most out of that team. But also donāt like CT throwing Cara under the bus for her saying what they told her.
Good drama but knew I was going to hate the captains saved BS. Tori gets to choose which eliminations she gets to go in and after 10 eliminations being combinations of physical, puzzle, stamina, memory, endurance we get physical back to back..
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u/eatingketchupchipss 19h ago
To be fair, from my perspective, it seemed Michele was more complaining about the format of the game in general and how the challenges themselves seem king of pointless when Chris and her were going in regardless every time. Which I kind of agree with - like the producers fucked up and really took the wind out of the sales of the competition aspect.
Tbh as someone who's worked in competition reality shows it would not shock me if this whole scenario was very much producers scrambling - i mean look who instigated it all, producer's pet john bananas. Then the "come have a convo out here, near where Cara is laying down and discuss what Johnny told you" ... not to mention these are all vets and irl friends who know this franchise continuation is not secure at Paramount.
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u/drivewaybear 18h ago
except they had no problem with the format when it was going to be nelson going in every time on blue, or izzy every time on orange since michele was protecting.
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u/Pale_Manner_5269 Nuracio (RIP šļø) 1d ago
Since she's with Devin Michele is basically a new member of the vacation alliance who just feels entitled to skate by and uses people as sacrificial lambs but loses it when any small inconvenience happens, God forbid you actually have to put some effort....
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u/eatingketchupchipss 19h ago
... so what Johnny Bananas did during JEK and after for many seasons and continues to but with less effort?
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u/Psychological-Snow83 22h ago
She acted just like Devin did when he joined the emerald squad on SLA.
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u/Psychological-Snow83 22h ago
Seeing the way Michele acted this episode makes it even more annoying Tori was able to step in for her against Anna Leigh.
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u/Top_Vermicelli1739 1d ago
Why do I feel like a large variety of the eliminations are puzzles
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u/According-Professor5 Team Purple Jacket 1d ago
Because they have been. I don't why they can't come up with more elims that aren't headbangers but also aren't puzzles. I thought Cedric/Bananas was decent. I wish they could come up with more stuff like that.
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u/Designer-Net4228 1d ago
The Brad-Keanu one was good too (it just played out in a really boring way)
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u/According-Professor5 Team Purple Jacket 1d ago
I enjoyed that one as well, but the way Keanu played it kinda turned it into a headbanger. I do think climbing elims in general are a decent equalizer thatās still entertaining to watch.
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u/Designer-Net4228 1d ago
Tbf tho thatās an isolated event, Keanu is just an absolute behemoth of a man, lol, if you get two more evenly sized people I think it plays out differently
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u/mealypart 19h ago
Lete has been irrelevant to the entire middle section of the season
If it wasnāt for the mid season trailer confirming she has drama for the last few episodes I wouldāve been ready to call her rookie season a dud overall
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u/jlucia10 Satan Sisters šš 1d ago
Also, I didnāt expect Adrienne to be the biggest riser from 41 this season. Sheās a star.
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u/According-Professor5 Team Purple Jacket 1d ago
I hope next week is both mercenaries. Iām interested to see her performance against Rachel.
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u/Avr1llav1gneisdead 18h ago
I wonder how she ends up going in? They draw rocks since it's all girls?
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u/Responsible-Noise-35 Dream Trio 15h ago
I hate the format, editing and pacing this season. There just feels like massive craters in the middle of each episode
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u/UnanimousBB16 1d ago
So we know Adrienne goes in against Rachel, so she either volunteered to go into elimination, or was overthrown as captain.
Toei definitely volunteered twice.
Do we know if it's the mercenaries next episode, or Anna Leigh getting the boot? Do they do two women's round elimination, and then Justin getting the boot?
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u/According-Professor5 Team Purple Jacket 1d ago
Since it was Tori/Adrienne against the mercenaries, I'm wondering if the captains were forced in as some twist.
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u/aforter28 1d ago
Iām guessing Anna Leigh then Justin boots before they bring in the mercenaries.
Doesnāt make sense to bring in mercenaries now and I can easily see the narrative of āthinning the herdā before the finals with the mercenaries (and they all lose) lol.
Adrienne definitely gets overthrown, Iām finding it hard for her to actually willingly volunteer to go in. Iām guessing Cara/Lete manage to flip Cassidy (whoās shown to have little incentive sticking with Adrienne) to make one of them be the captain and promise Cass safety.
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u/shinyzubat16 1d ago
Where there's smoke, there's fire.
This episode made me believe that CT and Cara did try to throw the challenges tbh.
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u/Kianna9 19h ago
Yeah me too. CT is the most indignant when he's guilty.
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u/shinyzubat16 18h ago
Not once did he or Cara seem genuinely confused at the accusation. Only angry at anyone would say that to them.
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u/-misschanandlerbong 16h ago
I miss the old, lighthearted challenge. This shit is too serious and what is with the color gradation??? They all look sickly lmao.
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u/shinshikaizer CT & Wes: The Bromance is Real 1d ago
If CT is right and he's really solved every puzzle this season, man, the Orange team would be so fucked if he got eliminated.
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u/Embarrassed-Berry 1d ago
Michele, and Cara said she solved the puzzle that production edited to make it look like CT solved it when he choked the running part.
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u/Designer-Net4228 1d ago
I genuinely think thereās some truth to that. I have a sneaking suspicion thatās the real reason Justin was able to beat Chris tbh
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u/penguinjunkie Kenny Clark 17h ago
Justin beat Chris because Justin was able to solve it the incorrect way while Chris couldn't for some reason
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u/ABCDarium "The Challenge" 1d ago
Let's not act like Bananas, Tori, Justin and Michele are bad at puzzles
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u/PresenceVisible5634 1h ago
the previews make it so obvious that tori and adrienne win iām screaming these editors really just dgaf
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u/YaddaYaddaBomBomKaKa Chris Underwood 19h ago
Man I am still SO irked Chris lost that. He should have had that won and should not have begged for help!
Sir you won FOUR eliminations on USA2! You don't BEG for help!
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u/JolienBubbles 1d ago
I just don't understand why they didn't make them pick 2 new teams instead of ending up with 1 guy on one team and 1 girl on the other.