This is the fifth in a series of “The Challenge: Rivals 2″ team previews that will lead into the first power rankings of the season. Next up: Jonna and Nany
JASMINE and THERESA
Where did we last see them? Theresa has been off the Challenge grid since Rivals and a calmed down version of Jasmine was last seen being a great Team Cancun member on Battle of the Seasons.
The Rivalry: Destined for a Rivals 2 partnership (and predicted by Jasmine at the time), Theresa and Jasmine came to original Rivals (Camila and Jonna respectively) defenses and had a classic “extracurricular nighttime activity” altercation highlighted by a battle between Jasmine’s fist and a mirror.
Rivalry Meter on a scale of 1-10 (where 1 is a Leroy and Mike from Rivals I “Rivalry? They’re actually really good friends” rivalry and 10 is a Kenny and Wes from Rivals I “they have hated each other for years” RIVALRY) – 5, best Rivals I comparison: Jenn and Mandi
Highlights and Commentary from MTV bio:
“What could possibly fill a 90 lb. girl with so much rage that she put her hand through a mirror? Well, her name is “Theresa.” Jasmine recalls, “I just looked in the mirror and saw Theresa and just knocked it clean in one hit. If she keeps it up with me it might be her face this time.’”
This was a real The Challenge altercation (unlike some of the other fabricated ones this season – Sarah had to even step in to prevent Jasmine from going out the way of Adam Royer) and one of the most heated exchanges that have taken place between any of these Rivals 2 pairings.
“Although both claim to have mellowed and matured since nearly coming to blows, this feisty pair is still as combustible as fuel meeting flame.”
Notwithstanding, Jasmine was a different (refreshingly) person last season on Battle of the Seasons and deserved to stay longer (or so my last season’s power rankings often indicated). She was calm, collected, competitive, and cooperative. She supported her teammates, gave her all in challenges, and helped steer her team to a very strong showing (especially early in the season). There were even a few occasions in which Jasmine played a peacemaker role. Now, do I think she still has some leftover lighter fluid available within her? Probably, but I think this more experienced Jasmine is primed to succeed and will keep herself under control. Theresa was never the hottest of heads, but I always thought she did have a good sense of how to distinguish and separate herself from other Fresh Meat 2ers (not an easy task – does anyone remember Sydney or Sandy?). Her feistiness was more of a calculated act than an obvious character flaw. On Rivals 2, Jasmine and Theresa should be just fine.
“Jasmine arrives in Thailand reeling from her father’s death and is determined to win this Challenge in his memory while Theresa hopes to finally learn how to separate emotions from the game.”
First off, Theresa can separate emotions from the game, but more importantly, this is terribly sad news about Jasmine’s father (and mildly inappropriate for comment on MTV Bio writer land or this post). My heart goes out to her and I hope that another Challenge experience and the inevitably toxic environment that it creates will not be too detrimental to her grieving process.
Best-Case Scenario: Jasmine and Theresa could go far in this game with some shrewd gameplay and wise alliance making. A finals trip is not out of the question, but a win seems a bit of a reach.
Worst-Case Scenario: A bad showing in a challenge puts them in an early elimination against an overmatched opponent and they lose.
The Verdict: They are the female team that I am having the hardest time wrapping my head around. Theresa has been away a bit too long to figure out where she sits athletically against some of the stronger teams. Jasmine’s size has always been a bit of an issue (her wine glass throwing had been as well until a Battle of the Seasons turnaround) and I am not sure how well she can do against some of her strongest opponents. With that said, Jasmine and Theresa are just a little bit removed in the right ways, while still maintaining some strong connections. Ultimately, any finish for these two seems to be in play.
Watch the Jasmine and Theresa pre-interview here.
Other team previews:
David J. Bloom can be reached on twitter @davidbloom7 and writes about MTV’s “The Challenge,” pop culture, and the NBA for Bishop and Company. His weekly “The Challenge: Rivals 2” power rankings will begin the week of July 10.
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