The fault is still on producers for not using a venue big enough for an audience.
The UK version had 3 new games (including one brand new game) in itâs second episode - so have used 8 over 10 rounds in the first two episodes. I think youâve had all six heats with the same four games in each.
I believe thereâs only one other game yet to be played though (Battlebridge) and that game was a bit of a failure. So the UK series will have 9 games total whereas the Australian series will have had 8.
It is crazy as you say that Australia thought it would be okay to play the same games in all 6 heats. The setup for Whiplash literally involves rolling a circle of carpet out on the ground, which they couldâve done over the top of the Powerball carpet.
Yes, did wonder if the UK had perhaps showed their cards too early. Probably would have been better to have one additional repeated game in week 2 then reveal the 8th and 9th games in the next two episodes.
Still though enough to mix things up so no two episodes have to be the same.
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I think 10 released the match-ups way too early which gave way the results of the heats.
The contenders competing in the quarter-finals are:
Tonight (Monday): Chris v Jason, Tee v Julia
Tuesday: Kalani v Jonny, Makedonka v Janice
Wednesday: Daine v Danny, Taylah v Sam
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Some thoughts on the events weâve seen so far:
Pyramid - I like how big the Pyramid is, but maybe it seems too big at times as contenders are sometimes unwilling to engage? Still been great though, and the 5 pts step helps keep it interesting. Some of the tackles from the Gladiators have been extremely dangerous, including some spear tackles where the contestants were dumped on their head. They needed more training on the old method of rolling down with the contender.
The Wall - There arenât enough proper foot holds which has led to a lot of the contenders and Gladiators slipping off before things get interesting. Also not enough opportunities for the Gladiators to climb up alongside their contender to get a better grip on them.
Duel - I despise the âno jabbingâ rule they brought in. Some great duels but also a lot of one-hit duds. I love that last nightâs blue female contender used her disqualification to complain about how slow Hammer says the 3, 2, 1.
Powerball - pretty good, but the scoring wouldâve been better with 2 and 3 pts for baskets instead of 1 and 2. Also, the Gladiators can get too close to the safe zones at each end. The injuries have always been an issue with Powerball across all series, and probably seems worse here with it being played every episode.
Eliminator - loving the eliminator and in particular the contenders working out that rolling down the Pyramid is the fastest way to descend. The cargo net seems a bit loose though. Looking forward to the travellator being sped up across the finals.
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None of those shows do well because networks try to do them on the cheap that they pale in comparison to the original versions.
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There would be two guest opponents in tonightâs third quarter-final: Australiaâs strongest woman and Australiaâs Strongman champion. For some reasons, their real names were not revealed on air. However, according to the showâs Instagram page, they are Nicole Genrich and Luke Reynolds.
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They were both great.
Somethingâs been off with Hang Tough. The Gladiators have struggled to get their feet around the contenders, and any half contact results in both of them swinging around endlessly on one ring. Perhaps there is slightly too much space between the rings or the chains holding the rings arenât long enough⌠and probably not enough opportunity to train in the event.
Pyramid seems to be about the only game with any genuine excitement or big hits.
Strange that tonightâs episode featured The Wall running in between the male and female turns on Hang Tough.
Appears from the preview for tomorrow that The Edge is maybe two metres off the arena floor. Compare that to the UK version where itâs closer to nine metres up, with a crash net below. Perhaps space was an issue, but surely you lose something by taking height out of the equation.
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Competing in tonightâs first semi-final are: Daine v Chris, Tee v Taylah
I may have missed the explanation on the show, but how are they deciding the fourth contender for the second semi-final if only three of each gender made it through the quarter-finals?
Theyâll be a âwild cardâ who lost in an earlier show. The UK series is doing something similar, with the wildcards allocated based on the fasting losing time on Eliminator in the heats.
This just reminded me of why I love Whiplash as a game, particularly instead of Tilt. A lot more dynamic and the Gladiators can be defeated if the contenders have the right strategy (and also a lot safer than Tilt).
The Edge was great too. It didnât make a difference that it was closer to the ground than the UK version. Itâs a game that seems to favour the contenders as they dictate the changes of direction and speed, so the Gladiators have to be a lot more cautious when reacting to them so they donât lose balance and fall off.
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According to the preview shown at the end of tonightâs semi-final, the âwild cardâ would be chosen by the Gladiators themselves.
Updated 26/1/2024
The Gladiators had chosen Jason and Julia as the two wildcards.
The semi finals have been a vast improvement over earlier episodes for four reasons:
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They have played an extra event!!.. except they havenât shown them in full. In the first semi they only showed the female Wall and male Duel, and not the male Wall/female Duel at all. In tonightâs second semi, they showed 4 events (Edge, Wall, Pyramid, Whiplash) plus Eliminator in full, but also showed a montage of highlights from the Duels. This is honestly the best way to showcase Duel⌠itâs a shame the extra event wasnât included from the start of the series and it would still be nice to see them show 5 events plus Eliminator in full.
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They have significantly edited down Hammerâs â3, 2, 1âsâ so we only see the full thing once or twice an episode.
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The semi final contenders have been truly fantastic and worthy of standing alongside some of the great contenders/challengers from previous series. Janice is an early nomination for reality show contestant of the year; she has enthusiasm in spades for this.
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The Edge and Whiplash have been fantastic additions. Again - they wouldâve been amazing to have in the opening episodes!! I like the rules theyâre using for Whiplash - i.e. not disqualifying them for leaning on the ground and adding a 5 points option - which are different from previous series. The Gladiatorsâ technique on Whiplash was a lot better tonight than the first semi.
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Does âSeries finalâ mean the show is coming back?
No. Usually season final means itâs coming back. Series final implies end of series and wonât be coming back.
Have they kept in all references to the winners being Gladiators on the next series?
Would be funny if they revived it in 50 years and had to honour that prize.
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âIf youâre grandparents were lucky enough to be in the 100,000 viewers back in 2024 theyâll know just how good this person wasâŚâ
On tonightâs Grand Final Episode, the captions for Beau Ryan and Liz Ellis said âCurrently Looking For Workâ and on Mark âHammer âMcGawâ also said âAlso Looking For Work.â An outlook for another series during the next summer period doesnât look good.