The Summit Premiere Recap: A Treacherous Journey Begins With a Shocking Twist — Grade It!

New Zealand just might find itself flooded with American tourists after CBS’ The Summit airs. When the series premiere opens, we’re greeted with gorgeous raging rivers, plummeting waterfalls and thunderous mountains. Soak it in. It’s all breathtaking, even from the comforts of the couch, isn’t it?

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Host Manu Bennett ( Spartacus, Arrow ) explains the setup. Sixteen Americans will be tasked with climbing a monstrous peak in just 14 days. If successful, they’ll earn their share of $1 million. But challenges and stunts will test them along the way, including difficult decisions that will force them to flex some strategy and turn against each other. Ropes will be cut and feelings will be hurt! Let’s break down the first episode of this already wowing reality adventure series.

Seconds in, the tears are already flowing as the participants reflect on their reasons for being there. But you know what they can use to dry their tears? COLD HARD CASH. Bennett explains that if anyone quits the game, their share of the moolah exits with them. They also must travel together, so they can only move as fast as their slowest member. If they miss the 14-day deadline, everyone goes home with nothing. Zero, zilch, squat. Rough stuff. Each day, the group must reach certain checkpoints, otherwise they’ll be sleeping in the elements.

A Mountain Keeper will be watching over them, sort of like Deal or No Deal Island ‘s banker, except the guy flies around in a helicopter and watches them suffer. And all of those difficult decisions that loom ahead of them, those all come straight from the Mountain Keeper.

DAY 1 | The group begins their journey, which will take them over 100 treacherous miles. To get to their first checkpoint, they must traverse a deep valley and a 2,000 foot incline. No big, right?

Trauma nurse Dennis tells us he’s willing to manipulate and cheat his way up that mountain, while others, like mom squad member Amy, says she’s not really a camper and has only seen snow once in her life. (Ruh roh, Shaggy.) Therron, meanwhile, knows the strategy element is going to rear its ugly head. Shweta, meanwhile, thinks she’s going to run circles around everyone else. Let’s hope this pint-sized corporate strategist isn’t all bark and no bite.

Robert’s kumbaya, camp-counselor attitude quickly starts to grate on people, as does the very first sight of an incline. Some trekkers want to move faster, while others almost immediately fall behind — and they hike 45 minutes in the wrong direction! Needless to say, it’s a rough start… and it’s about to get a whole lot tougher.

FIRST OUT | We learn all about Tony’s story. He was over 400 pounds, but once his son was born, he said he could feel himself dying. He wants to stick around to see his son grow up. He went from being very obese to running a marathon and losing over 140 pounds. Making his story even sadder, he becomes the first person taken out of the competition. After the altitude and incline get to him, he gets dizzy and collapses. The medical team rushes in and a chopper comes shortly after. He doesn’t want to leave the trek, but the doctors, worrying about how his heart will manage, pull him from the show.

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We’re then treated to some of Bo’s backstory. He’s a 52-year-old basketball coach and teacher who says he can hang with the “young bucks.” However, with all the lost time, the group misses its first checkpoint, which contains comfy tents and food that will help them along the way. So what does that mean? Setting up a bivy camp and eating the freeze-dried food in their packs. Some of the cast are nervous that Pati, Amy and Bo’s physical abilities will slow them down.

DAY 2 | The journey continues with the trek’s very first stunt. They must cross a difficult ropes course in order to traverse a deep gorge. They choose Becky as the leader and she selects Rose as her partner. There are two ropes for them to sidestep on. The only thing they have to hold on to is each other, challenging their balance and fear of heights. After a gnarly fall, they make it across on their second attempt. Punkin and Jenny go next and are also successful, but the group quickly realizes there’s an odd number of players left. Will the odd man or woman be left behind?

When everyone is across except for Bo, the Mountain Keeper drops a package via helicopter. The group has to decide: Go “rescue” Bo using the provided gear OR leave him and his money behind to save some time. The majority votes to save Bo, which costs them some time, but brings a smile to Bo’s face.

CHECKPOINT | Shweta and Therron are very concerned about making it to base camp, but everyone makes it to the checkpoint, which is chock-full of fresh food, wine, huge tents and a large bonfire. Spirits are lifted! Which is the perfect time for Manu to come in like a wrecking ball and kill the vibe. (Read the room, man!) He tells them they’re moving way too slow. Also: The checkpoints come with a twist. Every time they reach one, they must vote someone off of the mountain. The person with the most votes leaves the show, but the cash of those sent packing will be divided among the rest of the players.

Bo is clearly on the chopping block for many of the younger contestants, but Rose’s name comes up, too. Dennis and Shweta talk about how Rose has rubbed people the wrong way and brought the energy down. They’re also concerned the moms will stick together as a powerful voting block. Rose, meanwhile, wants Jennye gone for… being too awesome? Jennye is one of the power players. Front of the pack. Come on, Rose! This dumb idea is quickly shut down.

When it’s time to sit around the fire and talk it out, Bo does get a few votes, but nine people — the majority — raise their hands for Rose, and she becomes the second hiker out.

Did The Summit pique your interest? Grade the episode below, then let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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