Reality TV is usually a controlled mess. Producers pull strings, editors craft "villain" arcs out of thin air, and we all collectively agree to ignore the cameras in the room. But then came The Challenge: Spies, Lies and Allies. It was the 37th season of MTV’s long-running juggernaut, and honestly, it felt like the moment the genre finally collided with its own ambitions.
The season dropped in August 2021. It was massive. 19 episodes of high-stakes physical carnage set in Croatia, featuring a cast that looked more like an international summit than a game show. We’re talking 34 contestants from all over the globe—stars from Survivor Romania, Love Island UK, and Big Brother Nigeria.
It was a lot to take in.
People still argue about whether this season was a masterpiece or a cautionary tale. If you’ve ever wondered why the modern era of The Challenge feels so different from the messy "Old School" days of the 2000s, you have to look at the mechanics of this specific season. It changed the math.
The Global Expansion that Changed Everything
The casting for Spies, Lies and Allies wasn't just about diversity; it was a business move. ViacomCBS (now Paramount Global) wanted to push the show into every corner of the world. By bringing in "Allies" from international franchises, they weren't just making a TV show. They were building a global ecosystem.
It backfired, kinda.
The veterans—people like CT Tamburello, Aneesa Ferreira, and Cory Wharton—had been playing this game for over a decade. They didn't just know the rules; they lived them. When the "Rookies" arrived, the veterans did something ruthless. They formed a pact. It was simple. It was boring. And it was incredibly effective. They systematically picked off the international players one by one.
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This created a weird tension. On one hand, you had incredible athletes like Emanuel Neagu and Emy Alupei bringing fresh energy. On the other, the veteran "Big Brother" alliance (Josh Martinez, Kaycee Clark, Fessy Shafaat) was playing a game of numbers that made the actual competitions feel almost secondary.
Behind the Lies: The Fessy and Josh Incident
You can't talk about the "Lies" part of the season without talking about the Hall Brawl fallout.
In the middle of the season, a physical altercation broke out between Fessy Shafaat and Josh Martinez. It started over something stupid—pizza, maybe? Or just general cabin fever. But it escalated. Fessy put a hand on Josh's face. In the old days, that might have been a "warning." In the era of Spies, Lies and Allies, it was an immediate plane ticket home.
This was a turning point. It showed that the "Allies" you bring into the house are often your biggest liability. Fessy was a top-tier competitor, a literal D1 football player. His exit shifted the entire power dynamic of the season. It paved a golden path for CT Tamburello to do what he does best: stay quiet, win when it matters, and take the money.
The Strategy of the "Cell" System
Midway through the season, the producers threw a curveball. They ditched the pairs and moved into "Cells"—Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.
Emerald was a juggernaut.
They won almost everything.
This is where the "Spies" element actually worked. Players were constantly trying to "leak" information to other cells to get their own teammates eliminated so they could jump to a better team. It was chaotic. Devin Walker, who isn't the fastest or strongest, basically ran the house using psychological warfare and a high IQ. He proved that you don't need a six-pack to dominate The Challenge if you can convince everyone else to do your dirty work.
The Problem With the "Global" Cast
Honestly? A lot of the international players didn't understand the "meta" of the game. They came to compete. The Americans came to play politics.
- Communication Gaps: When you have a cast from ten different countries, nuances get lost.
- Lack of Pre-Existing Bonds: The US vets had been hanging out at reunions and on social media for years. The rookies were strangers in a shark tank.
- The "Rookie Revolution" That Never Happened: Every year we hear the rookies are going to band together. They never do. They’re too busy trying to flirt or get invited back for next season.
The Final: A Lesson in Endurance and Math
The finale in the mountains of Croatia was brutal. It had everything: mountain climbs, freezing water, and those God-awful puzzles that always seem to ruin someone's day.
CT Tamburello and Kaycee Clark ended up winning the $1,000,000 prize.
But the real story was the "Allies" part. In a shocking twist, the winners were given the choice to share the money with the second and third-place finishers (Tori Huane, Kyle Christie, Devin Walker, and Emy Alupei). They gave away $100,000 to each of the other pairs.
It was a PR masterstroke. It was also a strategic one. By sharing the money, CT and Kaycee ensured that in future seasons, they would have a line of people willing to work with them. It wasn't just charity; it was an investment in their own longevity.
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Why This Season Still Matters in 2026
If you look at how The Challenge is produced now, you see the fingerprints of season 37 everywhere. It was the bridge between the old MTV cable world and the new Paramount+ streaming world. It showed that the brand could survive without the "OGs" like Johnny Bananas or Wes Bergmann (who were absent this season), but it also proved that without a strong central narrative, the "Global" experiment can feel a bit hollow.
We saw the rise of the "vacation alliance." This is the group of players who all go on holiday together in the off-season and then protect each other during filming. Spies, Lies and Allies was the peak of this trend. Fans hated it because it removed the "Lies" from the show. If everyone is "Allies," where is the drama?
Realities of Production
People forget that this season was filmed under heavy COVID-19 protocols. That’s why they were stuck in the middle of nowhere in Croatia. The isolation was real. You can see it in the contestants' eyes by episode 15—they were losing it. That kind of pressure creates a specific type of television that you just can't manufacture in a studio.
How to Watch Like a Pro
If you're going back to rewatch this on Paramount+ or MTV, keep an eye on CT. He’s the "Spy" in plain sight. He barely speaks for the first half of the season. He lets the rookies fight, lets the "Big Brother" alliance take the heat, and then he just... wins. It’s a masterclass in social positioning.
Also, pay attention to the editing of Emy Alupei. She was the breakout star, the "Alien" girl. Her journey from a confused rookie to a finalist who won multiple eliminations is the blueprint for how a new player can actually break into the "Challenge" family.
Actionable Insights for Reality TV Fans and Aspiring Competitors:
- Analyze the "Social Ceiling": In any competitive environment, whether it's a corporate office or a reality show, there is a "social ceiling." If you become too big of a threat too early, you get cut. The winners of Spies, Lies and Allies didn't win by being the loudest; they won by being the most useful to the most people.
- Understand the Power of the "Pivot": When the game changed from pairs to cells, the players who thrived were the ones who could dump their old "Allies" instantly. Loyalty is a tool, not a requirement.
- Watch the International Versions: To truly understand the players who debuted here, you should check out The Challenge: Argentina or The Challenge: UK. It gives you a much better perspective on why they played the way they did in season 37.
- The "Vet" Strategy: If you're ever in a game of numbers, the simplest strategy is usually the best. The veterans didn't overthink it; they just voted for the person they didn't know. It’s a boring way to watch TV, but a great way to win a million dollars.