Parents' Guide to

The Challenge XXX: Dirty 30

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Return of reality competition more manipulative than ever.

TV MTV Game Shows 2017
The Challenge XXX: Dirty 30 Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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What's the Story?

THE CHALLENGE XXX: DIRTY 30 is the epic 30th installment of MTV's popular reality series The Challenge. Hosted by BMX rider T.J. Lavin, the series stars 30 of the most competitive and devious players in the show's history competing for cash. The cast, divided equally by gender, share a beautiful house in Cartagena, Colombia, and are summoned to compete in a series of difficult challenges that require physical and mental toughness. The twist? They think they're playing for a mere $350K, but Lavin knows that they are really playing for a piece of a $1 million prize. As the "dirty 30" compete, vote people into elimination rounds, build alliances, and try to narrow down the contestants any way they can, they also find time to argue, hook up, and get into all sorts of trouble. Meanwhile, the show's producers create a chain of events that take everyone by surprise.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This predictable series features all the drama historically dispensed by this over-the-top reality show. There's lots of tough, physical challenges, arguing, cursing, and sexual encounters. However, this cycle distinguishes itself by forcing cast members into situations where they must unexpectedly double-cross as many of their fellow competitors as possible, and celebrates how manipulative everyone must be to stay in the game.

Challenge XXX isn't mean to be taken too seriously, but it's full of negative messages about sportsmanship and respecting one another. Folks who are already fans of the series won't be surprised by much of what they see here, and may be further drawn to it thanks to reappearance of some of the show's most notorious cast members. But it's hard to ignore the show's overall message, which is that playing dirty will result in positive results.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the reasons people compete in reality game shows like The Challenge XXX: Dirty 30. Is it for the money? For attention? For the notoriety? Do you think they behave the same way in their real lives?

  • Do you think The Challenge XXX: Dirty 30 emphasizes being sneaky and manipulative? Is this kind of behavior what makes the series so popular? What about showing other risky activities?

TV Details

  • Premiere date: July 18, 2017
  • Cast: T.J. Lavin
  • Network: MTV
  • Genre: Game Shows
  • TV rating: TV-14
  • Last updated: February 3, 2023

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