by Matt Anaya

Eh, this week was OK and The Ruins has not lived up to the hour and a half opening night movie-like premiere. After the first episode, I thought we were going to see a fist fight a week or at least some verbal altercations at least once an episode but since the Champs took it easy on Wes this week, there was barely any drama.

Actually, the only drama this week was a drunk episode involving Tonya nearly killing herself and making out with a townie as well a new potential romance involving Veronica and Evan.

Ew Evan, seriously? Veronica has slept with a few people to say the lease and is sleeping with you because she wants stability in The Ruins, not because she likes you. I think Evan actually has a thing for Veronica. Whatever.

This week Wes was left out of the festivities as he spent most of the episode begging for his teammates forgiveness. Who knows how long Wes will stay honest but this week he played fair and his teammates did not vote him in the elimination round. Kenny and Syrus have been around the game way too long and do not believe Wes, but they did not throw Wes under the bus this week.

Before the challenge event each team has to vote six of their players into the elimination round (three girls three guys) and this week the champs left Wes alone because he promised to play fair.

The Champs voted Evan, Kenny, Syrus, Susie, Ibis, and Veronica and Veronica immediately got defensive and thought her team was turning on her but it is apart of the game and just because you are sleeping with Evan does not mean he can persuade the entire team not to put her in the elimination. (Sidenote: Evan voted for Tonya, not Veronica.)

The Challengers, who are dropping like flies and have yet to win a challenge, voted Brad, Adam, Danny, Brianna, Kim, and Casey into the elimination and seemingly have little chance to win at anything in The Ruins.

But that is why they play the games and the Challengers defeated the Champs in a close quasi relay race. You could place the defeat on Derrick but I went to school with him and refuse to. The Champs lost because they thought the Challengers would quit half way through like they typically do, but the Challengers did not quit and won fair and square.

Good for them, they needed it.

But just because you win the challenge does not mean you are in the clear. You do win money and you do get to play matchmaker in the elimination round but that does not mean your team will not lose a player or possibly two in the elimination.

The Challengers silently vote and they choose Adam and Brianna to go to the elimination. Adam picks Syrus because he is close to Evan and Kenny (who would destroy him in The Ruins) and Brianna picks Susie because she wants to send home the undefeated Queen of the Challenges.

Sadly, in what was an oddly entertaining elimination round, both challengers lost. Even though the Challengers won the challenge, they still lost two more players and with only eight challengers remaining, the Champs are still supremely confident while the Challengers have a lot of ground to make up.

Power Rankings (FYI, Adam and Brianna were last and second to last a week ago)
1. Evan cannot be touched and has not been challenged by anyone.
2. Kenny has also yet to be challenged and it will be interesting to see how he and Evan react when their lives are on the line.
3. Susie jumped a spot because she actually proved herself last episode.
4. Dunbar would be in the top three if he were on the other team.
5. Wes is starting to trust his teammates and vise versa. 
6. Syrus proved also proved himself this week.
7. Johnny Bananas has done little except win on The Island.
8. Derrick might have screwed this week up, but he’s still a fierce competitor.
9. KellyAnne is solid.
10. Brad is ready for anything and might be around at the end. Sleeper pick!
11. Cohutta proved himself in the challenge, outperforming Derrick.
12. Darrell has done very little and gets into a fight later on in the season. Looking forward to it!
13. Tonya got drunk, nearly killed herself, and made out with a female townie. Yes!
14. Katie is another sleeper pick for me but she might get into a fight next week. No!
15. Johanna will end up engaged to Wes by the end of the season, that is how sneaky she is.
16. Danny is my next pick to be eliminated.
17. Veronica is sleeping with Evan, good move babe.
18. Kimberly is cute and … um … does not have much of a chance.
19. Sarah said she is starting to play “the game” and I hope she moves up the list.
20. Casey is super cute and has some fight to her but I think she will be gone within two weeks.  
21. Ibis, um who? Just kidding, she does not have a chance.

I think Tonya is going home since she gets into a fight next week and I feel Danny will be the next dude to go home.


The Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Ruins airs Wednesdays at 10pm ET on MTV.

(Image courtesy of  MTV)

Follow Matt at twitter.com/ShmattShmanaya