Overview
- Five finalists entered the Nov. 20 broadcast after a season that began with 18 celebrities facing military-style selection on Fox.
- Directing Staff oversaw a prolonged interrogation phase that included dunking, dirty water and exploiting friction between contestants to test resolve.
- Two contestants were removed by staff during questioning for failing to apply directives, and another voluntarily withdrew near the end during the burial simulation.
- Pass–fail decisions were controlled by the instructors in the finale rather than left solely to voluntary exits, consistent with the show’s selection format.
- Post-finale interviews described 12-plus hours under duress, and a podcast recounting from one finalist included an uncorroborated claim about a fellow cast member’s spouse.