Season 12 Episode 4

 Last Night of Qualifiers

So, we finally got to see the last night of qualifiers! There's not too much to say for an intro, so let's dive right in to all the excitement of the night.

The Course

First, let's talk about the course. I was pretty shocked by Sideways, although it is an excellent obstacle. I just figured, as I stated last time, that I thought the bungee obstacle from week 1 would be back in place considering they repeated Ferris Wheel. Between weeks 2 and 3, the courses didn't seem too different, and I suppose that there were similarities across all the weeks that we usually don't see in a regular cross-country season. However, it just seemed weird that they would have the Ferris Wheel twice, but then have two different obstacles for the other weeks. I don't know the order that everything was filmed, and maybe that all had something to do with it, but it seems almost unfair. Typically, the entire course is different across the cities they visit, so I kind of thought it would still be that way just with the separate nights. Then, between week 1 and 2 and then week 2 and 3, we saw a few repeat obstacles, which was new (for qualifiers, anyway). It just had an air of inconsistency. Again, I completely understand why they have different obstacles--to shake things up and make sure it isn't boring across the weeks--but the argument still remains: different obstacles do make it slightly unfair. Of course, when they all get to Mt. Midoriyama, it's all the same, and the formal for the courses is similar, still you can't exactly say everything is even throughout. 

That said, I did really like Sideways. I didn't mind the other obstacles, either. Beehive made a return, as did the spinning bridge. I don't exactly remember if Off the Hook was in week 1 (and I'm too lazy to check, sorry). It's not new, though. I think it was better than the ledges one that week 2 and 3 had. Way too many people fell on that one on week 3. Overall, I think this was a well balanced course. I don't mind the Ferris Wheel or the bungee obstacle (sorry again to those who know the name and are bothered by my calling it 'the bungee obstacle.' I'm just too lazy to go searching for it). Sideways just seems like a very ANW obstacle. It's also something that someone can easily replicated and train on. Maybe that makes it a worse obstacle? I don't know, but I liked it. It's a good test. Beehive isn't particularly my favorite, and I've definitely seen better obstacles in its place. I still think it's weird that they kept some across multiple weeks and then switched it up. I don't know if that has to do with who was running which course (if they were trying to rig a certain outcome?) or if they didn't have the supplies to change it up every week, or if it's about the order they filmed? I am not privy to the behind-the-scenes details, so I suppose I'll never know. Yes, it kind of bothered me, but there's nothing I can or would do about it. That's pretty much it for the course. I think this might have been my favorite one. Of course, I don't clearly remember the others, but I think this was a good overall test for the athletes. 

Athletes

Speaking of athletes, they're really at the heart of ANW, aren't they? So, I missed a few runs in the first 15-20 minutes because I was flipping back and forth between the Chiefs-Patriots game (Go Chiefs!), but I think I saw most of them. Most of what I missed seemed to be bios and commercials. 

What I find ironic is that just last post, I made the comment that I think I know the formula for finishers. I said that they don't usually have a finisher until at least the 30 minute mark (since it's all edited), usually around the 40 minute mark. Then (of course!) the next week, we see a finisher 10 minutes in! When Vance Harris ran, and was making good time and looking good, I was thinking, "wow, he's doing well, but surely he doesn't hit the buzzer. It's way too early." Then, sure enough, there he was at the Warped Wall. I was definitely shocked. Not necessarily because he made it, because if he had been shown an hour in, I would have easily believed it, with the way he worked and all. It's just at the beginning like that, you don't expect people to finish. That's just the way it's been in the past. So, immediately as I post about that, I have to be proven wrong. Naturally. Although, it's still great to see younger people doing so well. We get caught up in all the veterans who know the courses so well, that we sometimes forget about the "next generation." At one point, that used to be people like Jake Murray, Daniel Gil, and Grant McCartney. Now those guys are fan favorites and complete pros. 

Along with Vance Harris was Amir Malik. I wanted to make sure I remembered him because I was really impressed when I saw him run. He was a rookie, I believe, but the way he moved on the course was so, so natural. I absolutely love seeing people like him who move so easily on the course. Everybody trains hard for this, everybody has to. You can't just walk onto the stage and run it after never having done so much as a pull-up in your life. But at the same time, you can definitely tell when someone is a natural at this. A vet, you expect to move fluidly and confidently, but someone like Malik ran exactly the same way. He wasn't super excited or shocked whenever he completed an obstacle, he just kept on moving, and that is a pro mentality. I just watched it last night, and I can't conjure up the memory perfectly, but I remember being super impressed and hopeful about this guy when he ran last night. There are other people like him, too, that I really hope continue to do well and carry the show on. For example, the guy from week 3 who I thought looked 12 years old. He looked really good out on the course, too. I don't exactly expect these guys to go all the way and beat out the best, but it's encouraging to see that there are new faces who can continue the legacy and are a lot of fun to watch. So, I will definitely be on the lookout for these new faces. 

Along with Malik, I suppose I should mention the rest of his trio. I actually was interested in David Wright, being on Zuri's rookie All-Star team and all. He got some big hype last year, and the fact that I was able to remember his name isn't something to ignore. I think he was a rookie last year, but I could be mistaken. Either way, they said his trio/team was the first (and only) to have all 3 members hit the buzzer. Since the teams thing doesn't really mean anything, it's kind of a hollow record, but I still think that says something. All three of those guys really deserve to be there, and I like the little theme they've got going. 

However, David Wright and Alex Carson were also skipped. So, you knew I would mention it, let's talk about all the people who were skipped. And there were a lot. Lance Pekus, Kevin Bull, Brian Kretsch, Lucas Reale, Jeri D'aurelio, and The Kid were all sidelined. Now, I know they can't show everyone, but seriously, they could cut down on all the bios by a few seconds and surely they could have squeezed in another run or two. Isn't that what the show is actually about, seeing people run the course? Not to mention that half of these people were finishers. I know they don't have sob stories to exploit this year, but they even skipped over people who did potentially have stories to share. They look for the inspirational, heart-warming, comeback people to add emotion and character, but sometimes it falls a little flat. I said I switched back and forth between this and the last few minutes of the NFL game, and sometimes I was on the game, watching for what felt like a few minutes, only to flip back to ANW, and they would just be finishing up the bio. I specifically remember I did this with a girl, Katie something. I flipped when they started her bio, watched a few plays of the game, and when I checked back, she was only finishing the first obstacle!!! Maybe, I wasn't on the game as long as I thought or as long as it felt, but dang, they still must have had a long bio. And that to me is ridiculous. There's no need for someone to get so much attention, especially when we won't be seeing them again for the rest of the season. They really need stricter time limits on those. It may seem a little harsh, and I would be the first to admit that I'm a little heartless, but I also know that I am not the only one who would prefer to see the athletes actually run the course rather than the onslaught of bios. 

Anyway, I know I always go on this rant, and quite frankly, that won't stop, so sorry. It's just annoying because I really would have liked to see Pekus, Bull, and Reale. It was also super shocking that they skipped THE KID! I know he didn't get the fastest time or the Mega Wall, but dang, I wouldn't have expected them to ever skip their star pupil. I think they actually skipped over his whole team. I'm sure he'll get his due attention in later on, but it shocked me when I was watching the clock, knowing that the bigger, faster names go at the end. They save about 10 minutes for the Power Tower, and Meagan was running at 10:35, and they still had Joe, yet I still wouldn't have guessed that they would have skipped The Kid. He definitely had the potential to go for the fastest time and the Power Tower, but it also didn't surprise me that he wanted the Mega Wall instead. It kind of sucks for his teammates, because I'm sure they knew that The Kid wouldn't be able to save them. I think The Kid had a lot of potential to be able to have it all (i.e. the Mega Wall, fastest time, and Power Tower) but at the same time, he might still have some training to go. Drew, Daniel, and Joe (who I'll talk about next) are really the only ones to have this ability, but The Kid would be a good next guess. 

And now Joe. His team mate, Will Schlageter, had a fun story. It was still a story, but it's really interesting to see how long people have waited to actually be on the show, and how much they've been training. The past 8 years (I think it was). That's very dedicated. These stories aren't heartfelt, necessarily, but I think it's hopeful for the future of ANW. I think Tyler Gillett may have had a story like this in his first year? I don't remember, that was a few years ago. The Kid also might have been along these lines, too. Not as long, but a few years before they got their chance in the spotlight. It was disappointing to see him fall because I definitely thought he was going to finish, or at least get to Sideways. The fact that Joe invited him is pretty cool. I guess his other teammate was very interesting, though.

Okay, now we'll actually talk about Joe. Joe is in the dilemma that Daniel Gil and Drew could be in. He has the potential to get the fastest/2nd fastest time, but he also has a great shot at the Mega Wall. Fortunately, he is one of the very few who can achieve it all. Most people who have to choose. People like Ethan Swanson, Jake Murray, or Michael Torres are going for the fastest time, whereas people like Nick Hanson don't worry about time, since they've never been the fastest, anyway. I think most people already have an idea of which one they want to pick, but the few like Joe have to think about both. It's rare, but it's so amazing that someone could have the 2nd fastest time, $10k, and save their teammates on the Power Tower. Drew did it last year, and Daniel almost did (and I still believe he could have, even though he didn't this year). Again, the course has something to do with this, I think. I wonder if Daniel ran Joe's course, or Joe had run Daniel's, if the times would have been different. Maybe Daniel would have had a better shot at the Power Tower? I guess they'd still have to contend with Torres, just like they would have to compete with someone like Jake if they had run the same night as him. Those guys are more focused on time than the Mega Wall, so they wouldn't have had the extra weight. Anyway, Joe got it all. I kind of wish they'd give more attention to Joe because he's such an amazing athlete on ANW. He isn't all tall and muscle-y. He's a very normal looking guy, but what he can do on the course is almost unbelievable! He is a big name for the show, yet at the same time, he doesn't seem quite as connected or immersed in the ninja community as others. I think this is probably because he has a family and another job that he prioritizes, but you see some ninjas who really thrive thanks to this show. They've opened a gym, they've met their best friends, they visit people across the country. I was on Instagram, and I saw that Caleb Bergstrom and David Wright are roommates (don't know if they met through ANW, though), and Caleb is dating a fellow ninja. Then, Jesse Labreck, Ethan Swanson, Jake Murray, and Chris DiGanigi were all hanging out (exploring caves or something), and I think that's really, really sweet. Michael and Ethan are friends, too, and Jess and Chris met on the show. Allyssa and James are dating, and people have met each other through the show. Grant and Nick might have met on the show, Najee and Jessie seem to be friends, and it's all really cool how people came together. Joe, just doesn't seem as friendly as some other people. That's totally not a bad thing, I don't want you to think I'm saying it is. I just noticed that Joe, though he does get a lot of credit, doesn't always seem like he gets enough? Maybe that's just because I'm a big Joe fan. He still gets more than a lot of other people, so I guess I shouldn't complain. I hope he did well this season.

Okay, I'll get to the Power Tower, but let's keep talking athletes. Specifically, the women. I was very, very impressed with Tiana and Mady. Mady, in particular. While I don't think these courses are the most difficult they've ever been (I think seasons 7-9 were the most brutal), they're definitely not as simple as they were in the infant seasons of ANW. That said, they're getting more technical and challenging all the time as they grow and develop, so to see Mady in her sophomore year hit a buzzer is huge. Especially, when it took years for some of the other women to hit one. Now, I'm not saying Mady Howard is the best female athlete out there, but she shows a lot of promise for women. I would still bet on someone like Jessie or Jesse, but Mady really looked good on the course. I wasn't expecting it. She seemed very natural and comfortable on the obstacles. Some women get really giddy in between or they take long breaks, but Mady was focused. She was a natural out there, and that surprised me. In a good way, of course. I'd love to see more women hitting buzzers, and I really hope she can keep it up. 

With Tiana, I had seen her before, and she's definitely getting stronger, but I wasn't as surprised at her success because they kept talking about how this was the year she really wanted a buzzer and felt she could get it, and they kept showing her previous years. It's like with Joe. When they keep talking about her falling on the 5th obstacle in qualifiers (or how Joe missed the Mega Wall the last 2 years), it makes it a little more obvious that they're going to change it around this year. Anyway, I do think Tiana is strong, and I would love to see her do well. Mady was just more interesting to me. Partially because she's young and new, and yet she looked so strong on the course. 

I was kind of hoping that Meagan would hit the buzzer, just because it would have been cool to see 3 women finish. At the same time, if she couldn't do it, she couldn't do it. I wonder what we'll see of Meagan. I know she was at the top of the list previously, but last year she didn't make it to the National Finals, and there are women who could potentially edge her out. Mady Howard, for instance, finished a course she couldn't, and maybe she'll do it again in the semi-finals. Meagan gets a lot of hype, and she does really well; she's a rock climber and no doubt she is strong, but she's no longer the only one. New gals like Mady are coming in and are the 'next generation.' Ashley, from a few weeks ago, was like this too. She didn't cut anyone out, necessarily (I guess someone, but not exactly like this situation), but she was really good on her course, too, and it means more women, yes, but it also means more competition. So, I wouldn't be surprised if Meagan's time in the spotlight begins to dim.

So, I don't have much else on anyone in particular. Karsten was a bit of shock to see fall on Sideways. He does really well for his size and weight and all, but he's still a little big to go all the way. After a great season last year, it sucks for him that he couldn't advance. I think he tried to go fast, and really, that's a testament to how skilled the speed demons are. Lucas, Joe, Michael, and The Kid go fast, but they didn't screw up. That has to show real, raw skill. 

Power Tower

And now, the power tower. I didn't talk about Kyle and Jimmy in the athletes section because I feel like I have more to say about them here. The problem I have with the Power Tower is that the prize kind of sucks. Maybe it's cool to give these people another shot or whatever, but they did absolutely nothing to deserve it. They didn't fight for themselves on the Power Tower, and they didn't complete the course, so they get a freebie because their "captain" is fast? How does that really make sense? Also, if they failed the first time, you can't really bet that they'll do much better the second time. Maybe they conquer whatever the fell on, but how much farther will they get? Anyway, I've already voiced my opinions on this year's Power Tower. And with all that said, I actually kind of wanted Torres to win to bring back Kyle and Jimmy, which is uncharacteristic and chummy of me. I love Joe, and I'm glad he won, and Will should be interesting to see again, but there was a part of me that hoped Torres could save his teammates. They really did show the community aspect of ANW when Jimmy fell. They immediately were at his side comforting him and reassuring him. That's really pleasant to see. My point still stands that I don't think Kyle or Jimmy would have gone too far with a second chance, but for whatever reason, I wanted the happy ending of giving these two guys another go. Will will have his chance next year, possibly, and he's got a lot of years to continue. Will would have made for more entertainment in obstacle terms, but Kyle and Jimmy had the heart. I'm still interested to see if Will can bounce back, but when it comes to Michael, Kyle, and Jimmy, I was actually rooting for Michael.

Also speaking of Michael, he ran really well. That's pretty much all I have to say. There was a part of me that thought he might slip up because he was trying to go so fast. But he was fine. He has a really, really adorable dog, too. That's actually what I wanted to say the most about Torres. If he hadn't been going for time, I would also believe that he would have had a good shot at the Mega Wall. Would he have gotten it? eh, I don't know, but I think he would have been pretty close. 

I'm still thrilled for Joe. He's definitely a rare one for ANW, and I totally believe he can have the trifecta (although he was one person short of the number 1 fastest time). What I also noticed from Joe's run was that he was shown last, obviously because of the Mega Wall, but when he finished, Matt and Akbar told him, while he was on top of the Wall, that he had the second fastest time, thus he would be going to the Power Tower. I thought this was strange because they don't usually tell them if they had the fastest time, or at least they say that they had the fastest time up until that point (maybe phrased differently, but nothing definitive). And Joe reacted to it, to hearing it on the wall from Akbar in the booth. It just makes me wonder if Joe actually ran last? I don't know if the run order is random. I know they edit it in a certain order because the fastest time or the Mega Wall is the last run of the night. It's also especially obvious this season because each team doesn't run at once. They'll show others in between, and I highly doubt that a single team did not run all at once, with the Covid-19 precautions and all. Anyway, I just thought that was intriguing. It keeps me wondering about the specifics of how they film. I'd love to be able to go to a taping and then watch it on tv to see the differences. I know there has to be a lot of technicalities behind the scenes to make it all work and to add the extra flair of the show. 

Wrapping Up

Well, I think that is all I have to say. I think 3/4 nights had 12 finishers. It might have been week 2 (?) that was the only one to have non-finishers advance? That probably says something. Don't really know what, but maybe something to think about? I guess I've been rambling on enough. I'm really interested in learning how the rest of the season will go down. Semi-finals seem to be like the City Finals in a regular season, but what is particularly intriguing is how the Finals will happen. I saw something about the Top 8 racing for the $100k, but I'm not sure how they're doing that. Also, if it's a speed based thing, man look out, because favorites like Joe may have some trouble. When it comes to something slow and grip based like Stage 3, Joe has an infinitely better chance at besting the other ninjas, but if it's solely speed based, then there are a lot of guys out there who could beat the best. Honestly, depending on how the rules play out, these finals might not be something I'd want to bet on. The Power Tower races I wouldn't have bet on, either (and I would have lost 2/3, anyway). 

Actually, what I am the most interested in is how they work around Drew. I have absolutely no doubt that he was on the Power Tower for week 1's course, and that is why we didn't see it on the premiere. No doubt. I also have no doubt that he was heavily featured in the finals. Regardless if it was a speed, strength, or skill based challenge this year, Drew definitely would have been in the top percentile. So, how do you edit that? Especially when all of the Drew drama occurred after filming and after everyone left? Does that hint that Drew didn't win the $100k? Honestly, it could be anyone: Ethan, Adam, Jake, Sean, Joe, The Kid? I don't know. Since they haven't up to this point, I highly doubt they'll make any kind of comment or disclaimer about Drew. I think he's pretty much dead to them by now. However, they definitely had a problem about editing when he was arrested. I won't know anything for certain, but I'll definitely be speculating and sharing when the time comes. If I notice anything weird, I'll be sure to mention it. For now, the semi-finals shouldn't be too troublesome. It looks like Jessie will be running next week, and Grant and maybe Najee? I think they're only doing 2 nights of semi-finals, so everyone will be condensed. 

So, now I'm really done. I'll be tuning in next week, so until then. Bye!!!