The Challenge: Double Agents Episode 6 Recap — Winners & Losers

It was a messy night in Iceland. Now that you’ve settled down from last nights mayhem and poor decision making sit down in your favorite chair, light up your favorite cigar, and settle into another edition of Double Agents: Winners & Losers. On this week’s recap we talk condiments, Disney channel best friends, a bunch of different relationship advice, and so much more…

Winner: Hot Sauce

Condiment caddies are nothing without hot sauce. Everyone’s got their favorite, but it’s an important part of any great eating area. And luckily the Challenge Gods provided the gang with a plethora of options. I spotted Franks Red Hot, classic Tobasco, and Sriracha throughout the house. I would have liked a bit more of a verde variety, or maybe some Valentina, but solid collection nonetheless.

Winner: They’re Just Like Us!

Something about watching Lolo Jones do a totally normal task like drying dishes makes me way happier than it has any right to.

Winner: Mature TJ

In any relationship, it’s important to understand the likes and dislikes of your partner. These little things you eventually learn to avoid saying or doing are necessary because you know it’s sandpaper to their soul.

As fans we’ve been in somewhat of a tour guide/tourist relationship with TJ Lavin since at least 2005. That’s a long time to be with anyone. And in this relationship, we know that this particular partner hates quitters more than anything

Last season, on Total Madness, Melissa found out she was pregnant DURING the Final Challenge. Fans, for the most part, knew about her pregnancy all season. Her and the cast during filming obviously did not. So when she announced to TJ that she was quitting mid-final, my heart skipped a beat. I thought TJ was just going to lay into her and I was already regretting it for him. No. Quitting. Period.

But to the shock of everyone he took it easy on her, which leads us to this week. Lio went home because he realized this shit is hard and honestly not that fun. He didn’t fight his gut, he was dealing with a lot of mental health issues and took it upon himself to remove himself from the situation and get to a better place. Good on him, The Challenge really isn’t that important.

If this was 2010, Lio would have stood no shot against the wrath of TJ Lavin. But now, in 2021 (holy shit, is it really?) TJ completely understands. We all get soft in our old age, it’s just a matter of time.

Loser: True Love Between a German and an Olympian

Just when you thought you clicked on a Challenge recap, here’s another fresh steaming plate of relationship advice for ya!

Another key to a healthy long lasting relationship is how you handle adversity together. Whether it’s turmoil from within or outside pressure, the best relationships are able to maintain their core values through it all.

I guess it doesn’t really matter how hot Nam is when you’re carrying an awkward log through five miles of treacherous Icelandic terrain. Lolo and Nam didn’t do great this week. In fact, I’d argue it was the most disappointing performance of the season overall. These are two top notch level athletes in a competition where athleticism is all you needed to succeed.

These two crazy kids just faced their biggest challenge yet. Their relationship was a shining beacon of hope for all those jaded lovers out there. I can only hope the cobble things together before it’s too late.

Winner: Clarity

The teams that stand out above the pack really made themselves known last night. This was a mini-final through and through. Only thing it was really missing was an eating challenge and sleeping on a jagged rock surrounded by venomous snakes who haven’t been fed in three weeks.

It was a good reminders for the Darrell and Theresa’s of the world as to what a Final is like, and a harsh lesson for all the newbies. If you couldn’t handle this, then you have no chance at TJ’s real final.

Loser: Excuses

Totally.

Speaking of…

Winner: Patience

It was almost Challenge tradition for awhile there for toxic masculinity to leak out into competitions like this. The alpha male would get aggro against his under performing female partner who, God forbid, doesn’t do five hours of cross-fit a day. I still get uncomfortable thinking back to the Zach/Jonna partnership on Exes 2.

But those antics just wouldn’t fly these days, and Fessy couldn’t have been more patient with Aneesa. It was actually really nice to see, and honestly I don’t know that I wouldn’t have outwardly shown my frustration towards her. I sure wouldn’t have been Zach about it, but the way Fessy handled it was super commendable.

Down with the patriarchy, one frustrating mini-final at a time.

Loser: Burger King

Protein packs? I’m almost certain Jay and Theresa have their protein situation all sorted out by this point. After a bunch of shitty catered food to miss out on the that unbelievably greasy and delicious Whopper from seasons past must have been tough.

Loser: Amber M.

First off, shout out Lizzie Mcguire’s best friend Miranda

Secondly, during another pointless deliberation when the Ashley rumors were flying full force, she decided to throw her two cents in. These are her words verbatim.

Yeah but there’s also been a lot of other seasons where people want to have great competitors as partners but you have to realize you know that there’s a lot of people who have gassed out in Finals. Who fell down in Finals. Who didn’t make it.

What the fuck are you talking about? Who are you even talking to?

I guess sometimes we all say things just to say them, but we’re rarely being filmed doing it.

Loser: Theresa

Power can be a complicated thing. Some wield it well and with honor, and others maintain an unstable relationship with it.

Watching Theresa write the blueprint on how not to handle that situation was captivating to watch. Like watching a new-born fawn trying to stand up, every step she took was completely tactless. Eventually this move is going to backfire on her as her new found allies start creeping away from her leaving her without a life raft.

Winner: Kam

And I’ma keep ya fresh, let the fish eat ya flesh/Yes sir please confess, just say she’s the best (Killa!)

Loser: Ashley’s Abilities

Ashley needs to stop being good at stuff.

I know that sounds a little backwards, but it’s true. See Ashley’s found herself if an interesting place (Wes is sort of on this island with her as well). Her initial strategy was always to sort of float under the game-radar until all of a sudden the cast was whittled down to the end and she was still around. This strategy of being underestimated all the way to the finish line got her two wins and almost a third.

Secrets out now though, and her move just is not going to work anymore. Her biggest issue is that because she’s not physically imposing, she always has a chance to lose an elimination. Or on the other hand win the elimination, but not necessarily have the heft for any meaningful retribution.

So because the other competitors know that she has a great shot of winning the minute the Final Challenge starts, she is almost always going to have a target on her back. Coming in second in last night’s daily was the worst thing she could have done. Don’t remind everyone why they all wanted you out in the first place.

Not sure what exactly she’s supposed to do about this conundrum. Any team format will benefit her moving forward, in a solo game she’s the embodiment of all the things you cannot train for coming into these shows. Which, in a way, makes her the most dangerous player in the game.

Thanks again for reading! Be sure to check back on Sunday for the latest batch of my Power Rankings. Happy Challenge watching!