The Challenge 40 episode 12 recap: Nehemiah and Laurel purged while Bananas takes revenge in elimination

The Challenge season 40 episode 12, titled The Era of the Purge, was released on November 6, 2024, at 8 pm ET/PT on MTV and Paramount+. The episode saw the challengers take on two different battles as they fought to survive another week and reach the finale for the $1 million cash prize.

The episode saw Nehemiah and Laurel immediately get purged after they failed the first challenge. Meanwhile, Bananas took on Theo in the elimination round and won it, thus staying in the competition.

In the previous episode of The Challenge season 40, Nia Moore left the competition after fighting against Michele. While Nia could defeat her opponent in the physical challenge, she lost after struggling with math puzzles.

The official synopsis of episode 12 reads:

"The challengers get their first taste of what a final could look like while battling to avoid being purged from the game. One challenger tries to put the final nail in the coffin for their foe."

TJ Lavin returns as the host of The Challenge, one of the longest-running reality shows.

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What happened in The Challenge 40 episode 12?

The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras continued with The Era of the Purge, where contestants fought to avoid elimination. Michele made Bananas, Jordan, and Nehemiah the targets the last time while she considered an alliance with Cara Maria, who lacked solid friendships.

Rachel revealed her reluctance to win the next competition, as it would force her to choose which alliance member to eliminate. She attempted to strengthen her position by forming a potential alliance with Kyland, recognizing the benefits of cooperation.

Aviv struggled with an injury from the previous challenge, worrying about its impact on her performance. The daily challenge, "Duned," was a mini-final and purge, with the last-place man and woman facing automatic elimination.

In "Duned," contestants raced to checkpoints, completing tasks such as digging for keys and paddle-boarding. The first man and woman to finish would guarantee safety and head the table during tonight's chamber. Theo faced a two-minute penalty due to his poor performance in the previous challenge.

Jenny initially led the women, but Tori overtook her. Meanwhile, for the men, Bananas was in the lead, with Kyland close behind. The memory game at Checkpoint 3 proved challenging, with Kyland ultimately winning.

Among the men, Kyland finished first, and the rest of the men who followed him were Jordan, Cory, Josh, Bananas, Dererk, Theo, and Nehemiah, respectively. Meanwhile, Tori was in the first position among the women with Rachel, Jenny, Olivia, Aviv, Cara Maria, Michele, and Laurel, respectively following her.

Nehemiah and Laurel were purged from the game, marking the end of their journey. Theo, finishing second-to-last, headed to the elimination arena against Bananas, chosen by Tori.

In "Cramping Out," the elimination challenge, players had to strategically place eight poles through their opponent’s cylinder. Theo towered over Bananas by a few inches, but in this challenge, someone with a smaller stature had the advantage. Bananas won the challenge as he was able to fit through the cylinders. Theo's loss marked the end of his journey.

Bananas identified Olivia, Michele, and Cara Maria as targets for next week, setting the stage for intense competition. The remaining contestants must strategize to stay in the game.

Next week on The Challenge 40, alliances will be tested, and new relationships may form. Rachel's potential partnership with Kyland could shift the dynamics, while Aviv's injury may impact her performance. Cara Maria's floating position makes her a desirable ally for Michele, Olivia, and Kyland, but also a potential target.

The remaining contestants are Rachel Robinson from Era 1, Avivi Melmed, Cara Maria Sorbello, Derek Chavez, and Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio from Era 2. They are joined by Era 3's Cory Wharton, Jordan Wiseley, and Tori Deal, along with Era 4's Jenny West, Josh Martinez, Kyland Young, Michele Fitzgerald, Olivia Kaiser

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Fans can watch The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras on Wednesdays at 8 pm ET/PT on MTV and Paramount+.