MTV’s long-running reality competition has seen some weird twists over the decades. We’ve had rivals paired up, exes forced to live in the same bunk beds, and even "fresh meat" newcomers trying to outpace veterans. But when The Challenge: Battle of the Bloodlines premiered in late 2015, things got weird in a way the show hasn't really revisited since. It was the 27th season, and the producers decided to gamble on family dynamics.
It didn't go smoothly.
The premise was simple enough: every veteran cast member brought a relative. Sometimes it was a brother or sister; other times, it was a cousin nobody had ever heard of. The result was a season that felt less like a professional sporting event and more like a high-stakes Thanksgiving dinner where everyone is already three drinks deep and ready to bring up that thing that happened in 2008.
The Format Swap That Broke Everyone's Brain
The show started with teams of two. You and your cousin against the world. Simple, right? Well, TJ Lavin loves to mess with people. Just a few episodes in, the teams were split into two large "Red" and "Blue" teams. Here was the kicker: if you were on the Red team and your bloodline was on the Blue team, and your bloodline lost in the elimination, you both went home.
It was chaotic.
People were actively throwing missions to save their family members on the opposing side. It felt counter-intuitive. It was counter-productive. Honestly, it was a bit of a mess for the viewers to track. But from a psychological perspective? It was gold. You had players like Bananas and Nany trying to navigate a game where their safety was tethered to someone they couldn't even talk to half the day.
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The Rise (and Fall) of Abram’s Intensity
If you want to talk about The Challenge: Battle of the Bloodlines, you have to talk about Abram Boise. He wasn't even there at the start. He came in as a replacement with his brother Mike, and the energy in the house shifted instantly.
Abram is a legend for a reason. He’s intense. Like, "smearing blood on his face during an elimination" intense. But this season added the layer of his relationship with Cara Maria Sorbello. The drama surrounding Cara Maria, Thomas Buell, and Abram's arrival is still cited by fans as some of the most uncomfortable, raw footage the show has ever aired. It wasn't just "game" drama. It felt like real life bleeding into a reality TV set, which is exactly why it was so polarizing.
Mike Boise, Abram's brother, was the polar opposite. Calm. Level-headed. Just happy to be there. Watching Abram scream at him to get his head in the game while Mike just blinked was a masterclass in sibling dynamics.
Why the Rookies Struggled to Stick
Most seasons of The Challenge introduce a few new faces who eventually become staples. Think of how Fresh Meat gave us Evelyn or Laurel. Bloodlines was different. Because the newcomers were all relatives of existing stars, many of them didn't have that "I need to be a reality star" hunger. They were just there to help their brother or cousin win some cash.
Nicole Ramos (Nany’s cousin) was a standout, mostly for her hilarious commentary and refusal to take the hyper-masculine posturing seriously. Jamie Banks (Cara Maria’s cousin) actually won the whole thing, yet he never became the face of the franchise. It’s a strange legacy. Usually, winning a season cements your status. Here, it felt like the "Bloodlines" were mostly supporting characters in the ongoing sagas of the veterans we already knew.
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The Aneesa and Cory Tension
The season also gave us the beginning of the Cory Wharton era. He came in with his cousin Mitch. While Cory was the physical powerhouse, Mitch was the "puzzle guy." This season proved that you don't need to be a gym rat to make a final. Mitch basically carried their team through the mental portions of the game.
Then there was the legendary fight between Aneesa Ferreira and Cory. It started over nothing—most things do in that house—but it escalated into a shouting match that reminded everyone why Aneesa is the queen of the "tell it like it is" confessional.
The Final: A Trek Through Berlin
The final took place in Berlin, Germany. It wasn't the hardest final in history—that title usually goes to Rivals I or War of the Worlds—but it was grueling in its own way. They had to run through city streets, carry heavy bags, and eat things that definitely shouldn't be eaten.
Cara Maria finally got her first win here. After years of being the underdog and being bullied by the "cool kids" in earlier seasons, she and Jamie took home the top prize. It was a massive moment for her character arc. It's easy to forget, given how she became a polarizing figure later on, but back then, she was the person everyone was rooting for.
The "Bloodlines" format hasn't returned in its original form, and honestly, that’s probably for the best. It was a lightning-in-a-bottle experiment. The stakes were too personal. When you see a guy like Vince (Bananas' cousin) get into it with other cast members, it’s not just a game. It's family. And family makes people do irrational things.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Season
A lot of fans rank Bloodlines near the bottom of their lists. They say the cast was weak or the "split team" twist was confusing. They’re wrong.
Sure, it wasn't a tactical masterpiece. But reality TV is about human reaction. The Challenge: Battle of the Bloodlines forced people to be vulnerable in a way they aren't when they're solo. You can't put on a "tough guy" act when your brother is standing right there knowing you used to be afraid of the dark. It stripped away the personas.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Competitors
If you’re going back to rewatch this season or if you’re a superfan looking to understand the evolution of the show, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the background. The best moments in Bloodlines happen in the corners of the frame. The reactions of the relatives who aren't used to the cameras are gold.
- Analyze the social game. Notice how the veterans used their "bloodlines" as shields. It changed the math of the voting process entirely.
- Pay attention to Cara Maria’s shift. This season is the bridge between "Underdog Cara" and "Veteran Powerhouse Cara."
- Don't skip the "Shit They Showed" special. For this season in particular, the unaired footage of the family members interacting is actually better than some of the main episodes.
The show has moved toward a more "professional sports" vibe lately. Big explosions, cinematic drone shots, and "agents" or "world warriors." Bloodlines was the last gasp of the chaotic, messy, family-feud style of the old school era. It was weird, it was frustrating, and it was undeniably entertaining.
If you want to understand the modern era of the show, you have to look at these experimental seasons. They taught the producers what worked—and more importantly, what didn't. They realized that while family is great for drama, the fans really just want to see the best of the best go head-to-head without having to worry about their cousin's feelings.
Check out the season on Paramount+ if you haven't seen it in a while. Even if just for the Abram scenes. Trust me.