Full Metal Jousting: Episode 10 “The Championship Joust”

This is it! The Wildcard joust and the Championship joust. How will they pick the Wildcard and who will it be? At the end of it all the first Full Metal Jousting Champion will stand tall. Let’s get started…

Episode 10: ‘The Championship Joust’

The competitors are in the house and Shane and the coaches show up. They all gather together and Shane explains that the jousters, not the coaches will pick the Wildcard match-up. He wants to see one black team member and one red team member.

As the red team is deliberating James Fairclough and Jake Nodar both say they should not be eligible for the Wildcard since they made it to the quarterfinals. Avery has a different view, he believes that he should get another chance at jousting. John Stikes also thinks he deserves another chance and James agrees with him. John states that he is not there for the money, he just wants to joust. Avery clearly states that he needs the money.

As the black team is discussing the match-up Joe thinks that they only two who should be eligible are Rope and Jack. He never reveals his reasoning but everyone agrees with him. They decide that it should be based on performance.

Personally I think anyone who made it to the quarterfinals shouldn’t be eligible for the Wildcard Joust. But there is no such rule yet.

At the Wildcard selection Shane asks the Black Team who they choose and they said they didn’t make a choice. They are going to flip a coin between Jack and Rope. Coach Rod flips the coin, Jack calls tales and Rope is the winner.

The Red Team went with a secret ballot. Coach Ripper tallies the votes the outcome is David: 2 votes, Avery: 2 votes and the winner with 3 votes is John Stikes. John is glad he got the pick. But Avery and David don’t agree with the pick.

Pass 1:
Red Team, John: Miss
Black Team, Rope: Strike +1

Pass 2:
Red Team, John: Miss
Black Team, Rope: Miss

Pass 3:
Red Team, John: Miss
Black Team, Rope: Miss

Pass 4:
Red Team, John: Miss
Black Team, Rope: Miss

Pass 5:
Red Team, John: Strike +1
Black Team, Rope: Miss

Pass 6:
Red Team, John: Miss
Black Team, Rope: Miss

Pass 7:
Red Team, John: Miss
Black Team, Rope: Broken Lance +5

Pass 8:
Red Team, John: Strike +1
Black Team, Rope: Miss

Final:
Red Team, John: 2
Black Team, Rope: 6

Rope Myers wins the $25,000 joust.

This joust rivals the Hiltman vs. Klassen as the worst joust of the season. If it wasn’t for the hard hit on the seventh pass it might have been the worst. On Pass 7 Rope was able to deliver a solid hit and almost unhorsed John. The Widlcard Joust is over and now onto the Championsip Joust.

The night before the Championship Joust the guys are celebrating their time on the show. They all reflect on jousting and are ready to joust in the future.

Josh and Matt are both excited for the final joust. Josh is ready and prepared to win. Matt is expecting to hit the sand a few times, but is ready to hit Josh hard.

Shane checks on the jousters and wishes them well.

Pass 1:
Gold Team, Josh: Broken Lance +5
Black Team, Matt: Broken Lance +5

Pass 2:
Gold Team, Josh: Strike +1
Black Team, Matt: Miss

Pass 3:
Gold Team, Josh: Strike +1
Black Team, Matt: Broken Lance +5

Pass 4:
Gold Team, Josh: Broken Lance +5
Black Team, Matt: Broken Lance +5

Pass 5:
Gold Team, Josh: Miss
Black Team, Matt: Miss

Pass 6:
Gold Team, Josh: Miss
Black Team, Matt: Miss

Pass 7:
Gold Team, Josh: Miss
Black Team, Matt: Strike +1

Pass 8:
Gold Team, Josh: Broken Lance +5
Black Team, Matt: Miss

Final:
Gold Team, Josh: 17
Black Team, Matt: 16

Josh Knowles wins the $100,000 prize and the title of first ever Full Metal Jousting Champion!

The joust started out great with two broken lances and ended with a bit of a cliffhanger. Watching the final pass in slow motion, several times it is not clear if Matt had a strike or not. The angles that they showed don’t help. I will say this, if I had to watch it several times from different angles in slow motion and still can’t tell if it was a touch then I don’t fault the judges for their decision. They have to make their decision based on one viewing only. If they had called it a tie it would have been a good call as well.

The first season of Full Metal Jousting is in the books and I thought it was great! I thought it was interesting that the two guys in the final were the two guys that took a lance to the groin earlier in the season. Matt still had stitches in his leg! All the jousters were tough guys for a tough sport! Overall the format and flow of the show was good. I hope this show gets pick up for a second season and beyond. If it does I will report it here.

What are your thoughts on the show? Did the judges get it right or should they have awarded Matt a strike on the final pass? Are you ready for Season 2? Leave your predictions on the champion in the comment section.