Okay, I have a lot to say on this one. First off, isn't it interesting when they show, "Previously on Battle of the Sexes" and the scene they show was not aired previously on the show? I do.

Okay, so much to say, so much to say...

We had to pick partners for this mission. Amaya claims that she took a nap and by the time she woke up, everyone had picked their partner. Well, not exactly true. We knew that the missions alternated between partners and singles since we were handed the rules in a giant packet when we arrived. Basically, you could conceivably pick all your partners with back-ups before any of the competitions began. I had pulled aside several people to talk about partner consideration for the future. After the holding your breath mission, while we were still at the location of that mission, Ayanna had approached me and asked me to be her partner for the next partner competition. So, this was days before the 7 Rings of Saturn mission because we had a day or so off in between the last two. It had been done and settled. I knew that Ayanna was a really strong competitor, and I was SO flattered that she wanted me as her partner. In fact, I couldn't believe it. She thought I had a lot of passion, a lot of positive energy, and was really strong. She thought she'd work well with me. I agreed that we would work well together immediately. So, people had been picking their partners because we knew it was coming up. Maybe the sign-up sheet had been filled out within Amaya's naptime, but no one can say for sure. Either way, there was time to put thought into it, and Veronica and Amaya had not done so. So, we all had partners, and they did not.

This is the part that I have a problem with: Ellen volunteers herself to do the switch. She could be Amaya's partner, and Melissa could be Veronica's. Now, the situation could have ended right there, but instead, a meeting was called to discuss the "principle" that no one ELSE was volunteering. According to Tonya and Ellen, Ellen had been backed into a corner do to so, and because she felt "pressured," then she felt she shouldn't have to switch. This makes no sense whatsoever. There was a problem, and it could have been fixed. But instead, it became, "Why do I have to fix it?" It seems as though it is obvious that Ellen did not want to switch and wanted someone else to do so, doesn't it? So, here is a Tonya and Ellen talking, and Tonya pays Ellen this compliment, and Ellen makes this horribly rude expression. This I will blame on editing. I'm sure Ellen thanked her for the compliment.

Unrelated: I think Amaya looks great in her interviews.

Back track a little: I think it's hysterical that Rachel refers to Veronica has "what's her name." Also, Christina had a point. We do NOT all hang out together. There are a million people here, and Amaya and Christina have not talked once. Why wouldn't you want to partner with someone you felt more comfortable with? Sure, we're a team, but we're also competing. If you have to RELY on your partner, there is nothing wrong with wanting to be with someone you can rely on.

Eric's love potion? I want to assume that he is kidding.

Then the girls meeting. This meeting was much uglier than it looks. It was awkward, angry, and bitter. Amaya asked who would switch and no one raised their hand. Yes, this includes Ellen. I would not have minded switching. I realize how that must sound - like I'm preaching about how generous I am, and how I'm such a team player. Honestly, I would prefer Ayanna over the other two, but I didn't care. However, Ayanna stated that she would not switch, and she's my partner, and I didn't want to say, "Well, I'll switch," because that would have been ridiculous. So, I can't change my partner even if I wanted to. Now, Amaya has to go home soon anyway. Ayanna wants to be in this for the long run, so she doesn't want to be with someone who plans on quitting. I understand this as a concept; however, even though Amaya had to go home, she would have still fought her ass off to do as well as she could, and we all knew that.

So, Tonya says she'll take one for the team, and then there is a shot of Rachel reluctantly agreeing. This is NO offense to Tonya, but THIS is how I remembered it happening: RACHEL was the one who volunteered to change partners for her and Tonya. I guess I could be wrong, and I'll own up to that, but I honestly BELIEVE that it is Rachel who offered to help, and it was Tonya who agreed. Tonya did NOT agree reluctantly, and went along with just as much enthusiasm; however, I must reiterate that Rachel made the initial sacrifice. For the purpose of the plotline, I think it would have been more entertaining to show that this is what happened, but I cannot yet say why.

So, now explain to me why Ellen did not say she would do it if she's our biggest cheerleader for team unity. Why shouldn't she be the one to switch partners? Just because she was the first to volunteer? That makes NO SENSE.

Now, this is why I need to discuss Ellen for a bit. Ellen is truly dynamic because she leaps from one extreme to the other. There was a day that I was feeling really shitty about life and some personal business, and Ellen took it upon herself to be there for me all day. That girl listened to all my bitching, she scratched my back, she made sure I was literally taken care of from the minute I woke up to the minute I went to sleep. She took care of people a lot. She made food for everyone. She listened if you needed to talk. Ellen is NOT a horrible person by any stretch of the imagination. She can be extraordinarily generous. However, Ellen can also be a walking contradiction. There is NO reason why she did not "take one for the team" but preached that everyone else SHOULD BE. I don't even think it's up for discussion.

The mission: I love this one. Of course, it's all out of order, as always. Ayanna and I are at the bottom of the list, and the order by which we go is from the cumulative score of the two partners. So, Ruthie and Emily were the first of the girls, but they were not first. Ayanna and I were like second to last to go, I think. Ruthie and Emily kick ass. Colin really is impressive. This mission involves a lot of pressure on your foot, and this guy has no tendon connected here.

Ellen IS a huge cheerleader. She was a cheerleader in high school, I don't think she can help it. Yeah, it really can be over the top, but it feels great when it's your turn and you hear that encouragement.

Dan falls. When he fell, I'm sure our immediate reaction was to laugh a lot. From where we were standing, it looked like he fell right on his neck, so I remember being concerned, but only half a second later, his head popped up and was like, "Are we disqualified?" When Dan fell, James let out a huge scream. James is one of the most competitive people out there, and Dan falling SERIOUSLY pissed him off. It was a bit dramatic, and I can't decide if it was hysterical or awkward. James was like, "NNNNNoooooo" with the blood filling the veins in his neck and forehead, his hands coming up to the air shaking a "WHY GOD"? I liked Dan and didn't want him to leave, that's all I was concerned about.

MY TURN!!! I'm sorry, I can't help but be excited because this is the most camera time I've gotten all season so far, so yay for me. Now, we were the one of the last groups to go, and it FELT like we went a lot faster than it looks. I thought I was fucking sprinting on those cars. We appeared to go so fast that when we were finished, all the girls ran up to use and gave us a huge hug. They were all jumping up and down. We thought we had actually gone the fastest. I actually believed we might have won this one for the team. It was one of most impressive moments - or that's how it felt at the time. On the show, no one reacts. Ruthie's like "We're doing well." I hoped they'd show how much we jumped on the list, but no...I'm not good TV.

Shane and Antoine are adorable.

I do find it to be great TV to have a clip of Tonya telling Amaya, "I'm not worried about you at all, AT ALL." And then have a clip of Tonya in interview saying, "I feel bad because I do not entire faith in Amaya." Amaya falls and we KNOW that sucks because Amaya had them switch, and then she blows it for Tonya. Tonya hurts herself. No good.

Oh, by the way, I'm in third place at this point. YEAH!

Blair and Jake's turn. Amazing. Had NO idea Jake nearly lost it twice. Holy shit that was great. I don't know if there's anything to talk about - but it was interesting to watch, don't you think? Editing in this episode is fantastic. The scene goes into slow motion and the music changes whenever Jake almost loses it. Also, I like how the playbacks are in black and white except for the single ring that falls...well done, BMP. Very dramatic. Sorta like the flashbacks on the Chicago Real World. Was it not like every single episode that they had some black and white flashback to the episode before? But I digress...

Theo and Puck. Okay, this has a back story going on. Puck and Theo go in the middle of everyone. They do move very quickly, but what stood out to me at the time was how rough they were moving. They slammed onto the cars, they pounded their feet against them, they jumped off the backs and smashed into the ground. It was a violent round. Now, because of HOW rough they were moving, they cracked the windshield of one of the cars. Because the windshield had a giant slice through it, we were not allowed to go in case of injury of cuts. So, even though it takes 15 minutes per team with all the camera set ups, lunch breaks, and whatever the fuck else takes so damn long, THIS cracked window now lends to an additional hour or two of waiting as they fixed it. There was no other car to replace it, so they had to get large slabs of wood and TAPE it to the car to cover the windshield so our damn feet or whole bodies did not come crashing through it. For someone like me who was at the end of the wait, it was goddamn torture. Because they won the whole thing, part of me thought they should be disqualified for damaging the cars in the game. This is also because I thought me and Ayanna were in second place. We weren't, but we thought we were.

Ellen cheering Puck on - everyone cheered EVERYONE on. Guys for girls, girls for guys. We were not enemies because we were on different teams. People were so supportive of each other.

So Eric and Yes go. I think it's interesting that they did not have a plan until they were in the car waiting for the horn. I remember them going SO fast. They were unbelievable how fast they were. They would have completed the mission in 20 seconds, I swear, if they hadn't dropped it. The problem: Eric was grabbing ALL the rings and leaving none for Yes. A bit overzealous and cocky if you ask me. They are awkward, lopsided plastic rings. You cannot fit them ALL in your hand. You can barely fit half. If Eric left some for Yes, then they would have completed it. When Eric dropped it, Dan's IMMEDIATE reaction: "Oh thank God Eric dropped one too. Eric Neis did just as bad as I did!" He was afraid he'd been the only guy to fuck up. It was hysterical.

So, I came in fourth place. That's pretty fucking good and I'm proud.

Antoine, the guys not fighting has nothing to do with how quickly one pair jumps over the damn cars. The guys did not win because they have a better system right now. They won because two pairs were faster than any of the girls. Let's not be dramatic.

Let us also notice that I've significantly jumped on the scoreboard.

The inner circle is interesting. I don't know why, and I think it would be boring to discuss. Well, I don't think it was bitchy of Emily to say that she wouldn't have changed partners. She had Ruthie as a partner. Who the fuck would change if you had RUTHIE as a partner? I wouldn't. I hadn't realized that Emily and Ellen hated each other. Had no idea.

Let me ALSO point out that I am wearing a very cute Crazy for Coral shirt that you cannot read well. I'm pissed about that. I wish it were more obvious.

I liked Amaya. She made me laugh. I thought it sucked that she left.

This conversation between Tonya and Ellen really confuses me. I don't really understand what they are saying. I know that Ellen DID take care of people from time to time, but I also know that it looks really bad that she said, "I'm done trying to be everyone's savior or crusader. I'm done." I don't know if she's a savior. Ellen was no Messiah of BOTS. Though she could be very helpful and was indeed a cheerleader, she's not quite Joan of Arc. "Faaallooooww MMEEEE!"

Next week you do NOT want to miss. It was CRAZY when I was there, so I'm sure it'll look even crazier on TV. Next week is very important. I'm telling you: Do NOT miss it.