Challengers-In-Charge: Who Should Lead Team U.S.?
Perhaps there’s no “I” in “team,” yet there’s definitely one in “captain.” And now, the American
War of the Worlds 2 team is struggling to find a new leader that’s up to the task.
On this week's
Challenge episode, amid continued disarray surrounding the eliminations of normal commanders like
Johnny Bananas,
Laurel and
Wes, Team U.S. Looked dangerously close to implosion. Sure, they were picking up wins like sea glass, yet distrust ran thick, and with the Red, White and Blue essentially split in two, the other shoe seemed willing to drop.
But…maybe
Leroy could stop the madness, and finally emerge as a leader?
Yes, it bears mentioning that Leroy, who kicked off his
Challenge career way back on 2011’s
Rivals, has never won a
Challenge. Still, he’s come close a couple times, and whenever he successfully got his team on the same page about an elimination plan of action in Episode 6 — something nobody thought was possible considering the circumstances — Leroy changed the minds of teammates who’d previously counted him out.
“It’s really excellent to be able to see Leroy step up into this role and own that he's a strong player in this game,”
Jordan observed, adding that Leroy’s identity extended in back of Johnny’s obsequious pal. “He does not need Bananas to do this.”
And while Leroy was bringing the zen,
Paulie was trying to prove — contrarily — that pounding his chest was the ideal way to assume the leadership position. Immediately after a blowout with
Josh over voting practices, Paulie demanded attention, and his fellow housemates took notice.
“Someone wants to be the main man of the home right now that Wes is gone and Bananas is gone,”
Bear observed of Paulie’s firestorm. “He wants to be a tough guy.”
And
Theo saw Paulie’s eagerness too.
“With Bananas gone, it’s sort of freed up a power space, plus a person who’s begging to fill that power area is Paulie,” he said.
And then, though it would pain some of his teammates to mention it, Jordan is no doubt an enormous asset to his team, in spite of his inflammatory nature. However he demonstrated some unprecedented contrition on the recent episode, if he swallowed his pride, apologized to
Turbo for a needless bit of heckling and moved to get his team to a point of harmony. Can you imagine that Jordan on
Rivals II or
Free Agents? Ha, not so much.
Finally, these opinions aside, what about the girls?
Cara Maria’s a seasoned vet and one of only two players in
Challenge history to win a season as a solo player. And while
Kam isn’t quite as decorated, she’s proven to be a master strategist and was bold enough to stand up to Laurel as soon as most others cowered. Finally, while
Natalie’s had some bumps in the road this season, let’s not forget that she is, indeed, a Ninja Warrior and was the only woman to cross the finish line last season.
What do you think: Is Paulie the next American to emerge as a leader? Will Leroy finally step up to the plate? Is it time for a female to be the No. 1 leader? Share your thoughts, and be sure to tune in to the next
War of the Worlds 2 episode Wednesday at 9/8c!
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