Likewise, this episode starts with Kyle, Logan, Cory, and Nelson shitting on Amanda, who just joined the Ruby Cell.

She’s simply an assertive woman who isn’t going to be disrespected by a bunch of boys, which has actually made her a hero in my heart. Amanda also just isn’t the freckled, foul-mouthed Tasmanian devil she used to be, as we see in this episode. Obviously, you have Amanda, who’s willing to light some matches on Twitter, but even her performed villainy has become predictable and stale. It’s also why the reunions have become useless, because no one really hates each other. I’ve noticed something else about this particular group of vets - and why I don’t think they can produce enough drama to keep the show entertaining - is that everybody seems to get along outside the game. To fulfill the sole sniper role, we had to depend on someone like Fessy, who otherwise would have faded into the background. And none of the players seemed to have even a remote understanding of the language they spoke as cutthroat competitors. Last season’s Double Agents particularly sucked because no one, besides Wes and Theresa, was bold enough to challenge the reign of KamRoy. For the past two seasons, the vets have all seemed a little too in sync for my taste or willing to fall in line with the established hierarchy. In the golden age of The Challenge, you would have top dogs like Bananas, CT, Wes, Jordan, Laurel, and Cara Maria all coming for each other’s throats, either out in the open or covertly, while ducking bullets from rookies. In this episode, I see two primary issues: (1) The dominant vets are too unified, and (2) the pecking order seems impenetrable. So far, having the competitors work in teams has yet to result in any particularly explosive moments, bold power moves, or new dynamics among the cast.

Spies and Allies by Patricia Logan