Episode four of “Stars on Mars” saw the series’ athletes take control of the show’s politics. A surprise double ejection has only further cemented the jocks’ status, but another surprise could change everything: The show will invite four new contestants to join mid-series beginning next week. Can the new arrivals break the athletes’ grip on power? Here’s how things stand ahead of next week’s huge shake-up.
Past power rankings:
1. Ronda Rousey
Last week: 4 ↑
Ronda secured the base commander role for the first time in Episode Four, and the crew’s successful execution of the mission challenge made her immune from elimination this week. Ronda probably won’t be base commander again next week, but her apparent alliance with the other athletes — competitive psycho Lance Armstrong and the reinvigorated Marshawn Lynch — gives her an enviable position going into Episode Four.
2. Lance Armstrong
Last week: 2 ↔
Lance’s bullying antics in Episode Four may not have endeared him to viewers, but they underscored the theme of this episode: The jocks are in charge now. Lance has key friends in other top players Marshawn Lynch and Ronda Rousey. He’s also not yet been base commander — look for him to finally nominate himself as the potential immunity becomes more precious.
3. Tinashe
Last week: 1 ↓
After topping the power rankings and delighting her CordCutting.com cheering section in Episode Three, Tinashe turned in a strong performance in Episode Four. Her only real issue is that she doesn’t seem to be a member of the athletic clique that is fast taking over the game. Still, Tinashe has proven to be one of the game’s most competent players, and she’s popular with most of the hab. With four new contestants arriving next week, Tinashe could easily shift the balance of power back in her favor.
4. Marshawn Lynch
Last week: 7 ↑
In a conversation with pal Lance Armstrong, Marshawn Lynch appeared to commit to actually competing in this goofy reality show. Marshawn has been phoning it in since at least Episode Two, but if his competitive instincts are starting to take over, then he could become the most dangerous player in the hab.
5. Porsha Williams Guobadia
Last week: 3 ↓
Porsha hasn’t been making much of a splash lately, and her biggest moment in Episode Four involved her leading her team to a dead end during the elimination challenge. She’s not showing a ton of weakness, but she’s not inspiring a ton of confidence, either.
6. Ariel Winter
Last week: 8 ↑
For a second straight week, Ariel seized immunity by acquiring the “mission specialist” role. Other contestants have noticed her strategy, and a few powerful players seem to be sick of her.
7. Adam Rippon
Last week: 6 ↓
Poor Adam, the only athlete who doesn’t seem to be part of Team Jocks, continues to plummet in the power rankings. In Episode Four, he was one of the bottom three in a scenario that demanded two eliminations. Adam outlasted perennial bottom-three loser Tom Schwartz to stay in the game, but now the most consistently bottom-three performer left is Adam himself.
Eliminated: Tom Schwartz (Episode 4)
Last week: 5 ↓
Tom was one of two people kicked out of the hab in Episode Four’s surprise double-elimination (the other was Natasha Leggero). Tom’s ejection seemed to have more to do with accumulation of bottom-three performances than it did with any specific mistakes he made in his final episode.
Eliminated: Natasha Leggero (Episode 4)
Last week: 9
Like Richard Sherman the week before, Natasha actually requested to be sent home. The difference in her case was that she was absolutely getting booted off regardless.
Eliminated: Richard Sherman (Episode 3)
Last week: N/A
In easily the most shocking moment of the show so far, Richard Sherman effectively quit during the elimination phase of Episode Three. Technically in the bottom three but in no real danger of elimination, thanks to Marshawn’s antics and Natasha’s incompetence, Sherman declined to mount a defense. Instead he gave a short speech volunteering to be sent home. Base commander Tinashe obliged.
Eliminated: Tallulah Willis (Episode 2)
Last week: N/A
Tallulah managed to win the base commander job in Episode Two, only to meet with failure in the emergency challenge. The team’s flop made Tallulah eligible for elimination, and mission specialist Natasha Leggero sent Willis packing.
Eliminated: Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Episode 1)
Last week: N/A
Poor McLovin was booted in the series premiere. Things move fast on Mars, and Mintz-Plasse just couldn't get out of the gate cleanly.