In CBS’ new reality competition series, a group of strangers must work together to climb a mountain in New Zealand’s Southern Alps. But only a select group will actually make it to the Summit.
During their journey, participants will carry a cash prize of $1 million, which will be divided evenly among themselves in backpacks as they reach different checkpoint camps. In the camps they have to vote each other out. Along the way they must overcome obstacles and are forced to make difficult decisions, presented by what is called ‘The Mountain Watch’.
If the entire group of remaining participants fails to reach the summit of Mount Head within 14 days, they will all go home empty-handed.
At the start of Sunday’s premiere episode, 16 players embark on the adventure of a lifetime, but by the end, only 14 are left. This is what happened. (If you don’t like spoilers, this isn’t the story for you.)
What happened at the premiere of ‘The Summit’?
Unrest arises quite quickly among the group, as some players move slower than others and personalities clash. Yet they are forced to work together during the first challenge, which is to walk across a rope bridge in pairs.
Beckylee Rawls, a 29-year-old construction worker from San Diego, is chosen to lead the team through the obstacle. After meeting Arizona Army veteran Rose Mattie as her partner, she must decide which couples will cross paths next.
After a medical evacuation leaves fifteen players standing, Rawls realizes that one remains behind. 52-year-old East Texas teacher Bo Martin ends up alone with everyone else on the other side.
Then “The Mountain Keeper” gives the group their first difficult decision: leave Martin to quicken their pace or help him across. Despite concerns that Martin would slow the group down, the majority decide not to leave anyone behind.
Completing their first obstacle, the group ultimately fails to reach the first checkpoint camp by the end of the day and spends the night on the trail in bivy sleeping bags.
Who was medically evacuated from ‘The Summit’?
Media director Tony Reyes, 36, became the first contestant to leave the season after fainting on Day 1.
The journey proved too much for the Austin marathoner, who insisted that if they waited another five minutes, they would be fine. Ultimately, medical personnel pulled him from the match, despite Reyes’ persistence.
“Tony didn’t give up. His body shut down on him,” Martin said. “That one hit home, because that could be any of us.”
With his departure, the money he had with him went with him, reducing the total prize pool to $937,500. (The prize money only decreases if someone quits or is medically evacuated, and not voted out.)
Who was voted out of ‘The Summit’?
On Day 2, the group reached the first of nine checkpoint camps, where they were treated to food and wine. Their shared celebration was short-lived as host Manu Bennett revealed they would vote out a contestant and split their money evenly.
Martin became the obvious choice until Mattie found herself on the chopping block, after rubbing several others the wrong way. Mattie insisted she wanted to vote out MMA referee Jennye Stirlen, who she called bossy. Unlike “Survivor,” there is no secret ballot, so players are forced to vote for each other.
In the end, everyone voted for Mattie, except South Carolina bank manager Amy Stephens, who remained loyal to her fellow mother. Mattie took the money out of her purse and said goodbye to a heartbroken Stephens, while rejecting everyone else’s goodbyes.
“I didn’t want their fake hugs. Will you take the knife out of my back?’ Mattie said in her confessional. “The mountain will show people’s true colors. Stay true to who you are.”
How to watch ‘The Summit’
“The Summit” premiered on Sunday, September 29 from 8:30-10:00 PM PT / 9:00-10:30 PM ET.
For those who missed it, the season premiere will re-air on Wednesday, October 2 from 9:30-11:00 PM ET/PT on CBS, the standard timeslot moving forward.
The show can also be streamed on Paramount+, live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs.
Who is the presenter of ‘The Summit’?
New Zealand actor Manu Bennett is the host of CBS’s reality series ‘The Summit’.
Where is ‘The Summit’ filmed?
CBS’s “The Summit” was filmed in New Zealand’s Southern Alps. The group begins their 14-day journey to the top of Lake Wakatipu near Glenorchy, a town on the South Island.
Bennett is best known for his work in the films ‘Spartacus’, ‘Arrow’ and ‘The Hobbit’.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘The Summit’ premieres on CBS: Who was voted off the mountain?
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