American Grit – Season 2/Episode 9 – "Cena Says"

Originally aired as part of the two part season finale: August 6th, 2017

This summer is winding down pretty quickly. Did July even happen? Did the July episodes of the show air that quickly to the point of a 2 part finale? It would appear so but I’m sure of one thing; this season was probably better than season 1 altogether. Please don’t tell Tee Marie I said that. However though, all good things must come to an end. The competitors have to head home with their new personalities intact. The cadre must head back into their own lives with representing their own brands and or spreading more conversation about what life is like serving your country. As for Cena, I think we all know what his path outside of the show leads to. But as always, I’m getting way too ahead of myself. Let’s head to the bridge.

17 competitors came to the show to find their grit. It’s the second to last episode of season 2. We all know as the viewing audience that Carla and George rang out. Now let us see how the other competitors will react. We are taken back to the camp and everyone is within their own comfy areas near the kitchen and in the kitchen while waiting for the non-eliminated contestant. To much of the green team’s delight and mostly everyone else, It is Herman who crosses the bridge back to the campsite. Of course though with that triumphant return comes a heartbreaking realization: at least to the other cadre and Cena. Back at the cadre compound Cena gives a reminder rundown that since Carla was the last member of Team Riki and she lost the elimination challenge, Riki must go by example as a leader and ring out as well. Although the departure is obviously a saddening moment, the important thing to say is that Riki gave it her all as a leader and that was never not noticed. Hopefully if the idea of a season 3 all star season is in the mix then she is asked to return and lead a new team but those are my thoughts. Riki heads over to the bell, rings it and as you can tell the rest of the competitors become fully aware of the realness of the Competition. If a team is completely eliminated from the competition, the cadre must ring out. Let me tell you if I was put in that position as a competitor, I would’ve honest to god run over to the bell and voluntarily ring out myself. There’s normal pressure and then there is THAT pressure the competitors are feeling. Back at the cadre compound, Cena amplifies that in the latest elimination challenge, two competitors rang out. Now in a day that repeats itself with a different challenge, Cena states that there will be ANOTHER double elimination. By the look on the remaining cadre’s faces, mostly Grady’s face, that is the one thing they were not looking to see or go through again at this point in the game with the team members and now the cadre factor getting smaller. The next challenge will be focused on, well, staying focused. Should be lots and lots of fun. Back on the competitor compound, everyone is gathered around the kitchen voicing their thoughts on the competition and Herman being the only competitor who has done 3 elimination challenges without the obvious of being sent home. Minutes later Cena appears and he proceeds to hang out with the remaining competitors. In his voice over, he said that the next challenge would be based as a quiz about him. What he says to them will hopefully stick with them. Cena goes on to talk about the things that most fans know about him. Where he’s lived, his love for Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace, his childhood and everything in between that can be searched on the internet or in a rare sense, asking the man himself. Everyone is just full of delight, where as Alison, she goes and kicks in the main idea: everything that Mr. Cena does has a purpose. There is a meaning to the purpose of this story telling conversation. With that, Cena ends the conversation and coins in the keyword; you should pay attention to detail. On that note the remaining cadre meet their teams and repeat Cena’s clue that only Alison of Team Chloe has cracked; good old storytelling. One can only hope that the rest caught on as well.

The next day…Cena presents the next challenge. This is where attention to detail kicks in to high gear, American Grit style. During the night, Cena sat with the competitors and discussed facts about his life. One by one Cena will give the competitors a question. They have to go down a ramp, cross a cold muddy bath, and retrieve 1 out of 6 tiles that have the correct answer. The team member that makes it back up to the ramp first and gives the correct answer will get a point. The team who gains four points will be safe from the double elimination. So there are 6 competitors left, right? I wasn’t paying attention. Minutes later Cena reveals the full challenge to the competitors. Some were noticeably listening while others were simply having a charlie brown moment with the “wah, wah, wah” voice. The challenge starts…

First Question: Who inspires John the most?

Answer/team point earned: Vince McMahon (Team Chloe)

Second Question: What town did Cena grew up in?

Answer/team point earned: West Newbury, Massachusetts (Team Chloe)

Third Question: What was Cena’s first job?

Answer/team point earned: Umpire (Team Chloe)

Fourth Question: How old is Nicole’s nana?

Answer/team point earned: 83 (Team Grady)

Fifth Question: What is John’s favorite exercise?

Answer/team point earned: Squats (Team Grady)

Sixth Question: Which sacrifice has John done?

Answer/team point earned: Getting naked (Team Grady)

Seventh and final question: Where did Nicole and John have their first kiss?

Answer/ team point earned: A restaurant (Team Grady)

Just like that, with the power of love, Team Grady is safe from the double elimination. To sum up their win, a quote from Michael; ”I just hope and prayed that it was a question I knew the answer to, and sure enough and it was about love. and if I can win with love, then love wins”. That was beautiful enough to end the episode on a light and positive note right then and there in my opinion but the show is an hour long. With a light good feeling moment comes the smack dab of reality. Since Team Grady won the elimination challenge, due to team Burk and Chloe’s sizes, Alison, Chris and Hannah are automatically up for elimination. While the competitors are settling in back at their camp grounds and Alison is getting her finger checked out at a nearby hospital, we are taken to the cadre compound. Grady informs Burk and Chloe in true Cena fashion that they need to train their team in an hour or so because the next day, once they wake up, the elimination challenge competitors, they’ll be headed to it. A little later, for a good light laugh, Grady heads to the kitchen to hang with the remaining competitors. Of course, he has something up his sleeve, in this case his pocket. He asks Gigi if she trusts him. After a yes he tells her to put her hand in one of his sweater pockets. What’s inside? An engagement ring? Which in all honesty, I’m hoping for as well but that turns out to not be the case, It is just a medium sized, friendly snake. Just…honestly…

WHO CARRIES A SNAKE? ESPECIALLY IN A POCKET THROUGH A MATERIAL THEY COULD EASILY BITE INTO. SEE THIS IS WHY I HAVE TRUST ISSUES.

Back to the matter at hand; obviously with the appearance of the snake it got a reaction out of Gigi and Hannah which I don’t blame them for since it’s the same thing I would’ve done except I would’ve gone straight to the hospital or another state. Gigi goes on to face her fear and while it took a lot of encouraging, Hannah does as well by holding the snake. Burk walks in and he gains dagger eyes and lands them on Grady for scaring Hannah the day before elimination. Moments later he separates Hannah and Chris for 15 minutes so they could work on the challenge separately. We get an update on Alison’s finger; it’s not broken but at the same time it’s not functional. There is only so much hope that can be given in terms of making it to the finale. Only time and hard work will tell.

It’s double elimination morning and the three competitors head off to their challenge. It will be based off of balance and focus. Just like their 15 minute training, they have to balance their ball on the beam while also walking backwards when Cena says so. If one makes it, they go on to the finale while the eliminated competitors ring out and Cadre ring out if their team is empty. The challenge starts and so far everyone is keeping it steady. The first move is made and so far Hannah is doing good, Alison is doing good and Chris…a side to side movement. 4th move in and in an unfortunate end, Alison is the first to drop her ball and the first to ring out. The next to ring out is Chris. Which means that Hannah will be in the final four. I gotta say that Chris and Alison have grown within their time at camp grit. Alison has proven to be a force of power while Chris has more toughness and sense of confidence. Just like every other competitor who leaves, I hope they take what they have learned at the camp and apply it for the rest of their lives. I would say god’s speed and sign off until next week but it’s a two part finale. So quick god’s speed and see you in a bit.

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