Location: Dominacal, Costa Rica Host: TJ Lavin Aired: 2011 Champions: Johnny/Tyler and Evelyn/Paula Overall Thoughts: We have finally reached my pick for the greatest season in Challenge history. When the cast, theme and trailer were dropped back in 2011, the expectations for this season were sky high. (CT’s “Now it’s my turn” still gives me chills.) Rivals lived up to the hype…

Location: Acapulco, Mexico Host: Dave Mirra Aired: 2004 Champions: Road Rules (Timmy, Abram, Darrell, Veronica, Holly, Christena, Kendal and Katie) Overall Thoughts: While I’m a big fan of several of the “OG” seasons of The Challenge, no season makes me more nostalgic than The Inferno. Only the second season with eliminations, the show was still trying to figure out the format in season eight. Some of the daily challenges were…

Location: Phuket, Thailand Host: TJ Lavin Aired: 2013 Champions: CT/Wes and Paula/Emily Overall Thoughts: After the success of Rivals, it was inevitable we’d be getting a follow up season. And while it was impossible to live up to the lofty standards of the original, the sequel was still excellent (although it has to have the worst film quality in Challenge history). Rivals…

Location: Sosúa, Dominican Republic Host: TJ Lavin Aired: 2012 Champions: Johnny and Camila Overall Thoughts: Coming off the heels of the biggest season of all time in Rivals, The Challenge followed it up with another classic season. Battle of the Exes is one of the best competition seasons in Challenge history. …

Location: Whistler, British Columbia, Canada Host: TJ Lavin Aired: 2010 Champions: Landon and Carley Overall Thoughts: I don’t want to boil such a great season down to one storyline, but it’s impossible to discuss this season without talking about Kenny vs. Wes. It can’t be overstated how big of a rivalry this was coming into the season, and it more than delivered. From a…

Location: Armação dos Búzios, Brazil Host: TJ Lavin Aired: 2006–07 Champions: Wes and Jodi Overall Thoughts: If you’re a fan of pure, unadulterated competition, this is likely one of your favorite seasons. While The Duel is fairly light on house drama, it more than makes up for it on the field. This season features some of the greatest daily challenges of all time, and…

Location: Manzanillo, Mexico Host: Dave Mirra Aired: 2005 Champions: Good Guys (Landon, The Miz, Darrell and Jamie) Overall Thoughts: To me, Inferno II is where The Challenge really started becoming The Challenge. This is when Justin Booth became executive producer and transformed the challenges from mostly lighthearted with minimal amounts of athleticism required to (at times) military-like, as evidenced by the opening Surf Torture mission.

Location: Pedasi, Panama Host: TJ Lavin Aired: 2015 Champions: Sarah and Jordan Overall Thoughts: As difficult as the first four episodes are to watch as it features two castmembers who tragically passed away after filming — Diem and Knight — Exes II is still a joy to watch. It’s one of the best political seasons of all time that has an excellent…