Legends: Rebirth-The Unused Chains of Red Legs Greaves

[The Bandit King]

Episode 53: The Unused Chains of Red Legs Greaves

The camera winds and twists its way through a thick jungle of strange and exotic plants.  After a few wrong turns, it finally stops in front of an ancient Mayan temple.  At the base of the temple, a giant stone head sits.  Suddenly, a torch on either side of the head begins burning.  The head’s eyes light up, and it begins to speak:

“Legends of the Hidden Temple: Rebirth!”  These words appear on the screen.  “With your guide, Kirk Fogg!  And here he is now!”

A middle-aged man wearing a denim shirt and blue jeans rides in on an ATV.  He dismounts the vehicle and runs up the Steps of Knowledge, microphone in hand.

“Thank you!  Thank you very much!  Nice to see everyone!  Nice to see you, Olmec!  Welcome to Legends of the Hidden Temple: Rebirth.  The rooms are filled with lost treasures protected by mysterious Mayan Temple Guards.  Only Olmec knows the legends behind each of these all-new treasures in his temple…which one are we gonna hear about today?”

“The legend of the Unused Chains of Red Legs Greaves,” Olmec replies.

“Ooh, the Unused Chains of Red Legs Greaves,” Kirk repeats.  “Well, the legend is set, and one of these six teams will have a chance to retrieve the Unused Chains—will it be:

“The Red Jaguars?”  The camera zooms in on each team as they are introduced.
“The Blue Barracudas?
“The Green Monkeys?
“The Orange Iguanas?
“The Purple Parrots?
“Or the Silver Snakes?

“They’ll have to pass some tough physical and mental tests, but in the end, only one team will have the right to enter Olmec’s Temple.  But first, they’ll have to cross that Moat, and Olmec will tell us how they’ll have to do that today…”

Olmec begins to explain the Moat Crossing:
“Before you hangs a row of ancient suspended rings.  When Kirk gives the signal, one player from each team will reach up and grab the first ring, then swing out to the next one and grab onto it with their other hand, on their way across.  Once you reach the other side, it’s your partner’s turn to cross in the same way.  If you fall, you must go back and start again.  Once both players are safely across, run over and hit the gong.”  Kirk hits the Silver Snakes’ gong to demonstrate.  “The first four teams to hit their gongs will go on to the next round!”

“Okay, let’s get started,” Kirk says.  “Is everybody ready?”
All six teams scream and cheer in response.
“And Olmec, are you ready?” asks Kirk.
“Let’s rock and roll,” Olmec replies.
“Sounds good to me,” says Kirk.  “On your mark, get set…GO!”

All six teams’ first members reach up and grab their first ring.  Everybody slowly makes their way to the second ring, but the Purple Parrots’ boy slips and falls in the water.  “There’s really no way to rush this game…you just have to take it nice and slow,” Kirk narrates as the teams continue to cross.  The Green Monkeys’ boy takes a slight lead as he makes it to his fourth ring as the other teams reach their third.  The Orange Iguanas’ boy almost slips off his fourth ring when he reaches it, but he holds on for dear life and that doesn’t happen.  The Green Monkeys’ boy makes it across a good ten seconds before any other teams do, but they close in quickly—except for the Blue Barracudas’ girl, who falls as she’s reaching for her sixth and final ring.  “Oh, she has to go back,” Kirk laments.  “And after all that work to get over!”  The Orange Iguanas’ boy, Red Jaguars’ boy and Silver Snakes’ girl make it across within seconds of one another, and their partners now start to cross.  The Purple Parrots’ boy makes it across on his second try, and the Green Monkeys’ girl is having a little trouble reaching her fourth ring while crossing.  The Blue Barracudas’ girl falls for a second time trying to reach her third ring, and so does the Purple Parrots’ girl.  The other teams’ second members slowly continue crossing, and at 1:03, the Red Jaguars’ girl slams down on her team’s gong, with the Silver Snakes’ boy following suit about three seconds later.  “Two teams, we need two more—no, three teams!” Kirk narrates as the Orange Iguanas’ girl slams down on her gong.  The Green Monkeys’ girl is on the verge of slipping, but she recovers and hits her team’s gong to end the Moat Crossing at 1:39.

“That’s it—four teams, right there!” says Kirk as he heads over to stand beside the Silver Snakes.  “Silver Snakes just took it slow and steady, one ring at a time; and that paid off, ‘cause they’re goin’ on to the Steps of Knowledge…along with the Orange Iguanas…”  Kirk pauses between each team’s name to allow for applause.  “…and the Green Monkeys…and the Red Jaguars!  The Blue Barracudas and the Purple Parrots didn’t quite make it, but that’s all right—here’s what we’ve got for them!”  They receive a $50 gift certificate from Old Navy.

[The Bandit King]

Kirk and the remaining four teams are now standing atop the Steps of Knowledge.  “As the quest continues, it’s now time for Olmec to tell us about the Unused Chains of Red-Leg Greaves.  But teams, pay attention, because your knowledge of the legend could bring you a step closer to Olmec’s Temple…”

Olmec begins to tell the story:
“One of the meanest—and luckiest—pirates in history was Red Legs Greaves.  Born in Barbados to Scottish parents, Greaves was orphaned at an early age, and was raised by a man who beat and tortured him as a teenager.  He joined up with a pirate ship crew when he was nineteen, and three years later, was captain.  For many years, Greaves made a living as a ruthless buccaneer, but he eventually became tired of the pirate’s way of life and decided to retire.  He settled down on a small farm in the Caribbean where he raised fruits and vegetables, distancing himself from piracy—however, it may not have been enough distance.  Legend has it that in 1680, as Greaves was settling down in his favorite chair with a good book, a team of men burst into his home.
“‘We’re looking for Red Legs Greaves,’ said one of the men.
“Greaves reluctantly got up from his chair and looked at the men.  ‘Look no further, then.  What can I do for you gentlemen?’
“Suddenly, the men all pulled out guns and pointed them at Greaves.  ‘In the name of the King of England, you’re under arrest for despicable acts of piracy!’ the head man shouted.
“Greaves was taken away to his trial in Port Royal, where he was sentenced to be hanged in chains.  But the very night before he was to be hanged, a huge earthquake struck the area.  Most of the buildings on the island, including the dungeon in which Greaves was being kept, were destroyed or submerged underwater, and as one of the sole survivors of the destruction, Greaves saw his chance.
“‘It’s now or never,’ he said to himself.  ‘I’ve got to make my escape!’
“Greaves easily slipped out of the dungeon, and was picked up by a passing ship.  After being officially pardoned by the king of England, he went back to his plantation and became known as a philanthropist, donating most of his wealth to charity before he died of natural causes, and the chains that were never used to hang him made their way to the Temple.  Your quest is to find the Unused Chains of Red Legs Greaves and bring them back here.”

“Thank you, Olmec,” says Kirk.  “But tell us, where are these Chains?”

“The Unused Chains of Red Legs Greaves can be found in the Lightning Ball Room,” replies Olmec.  The camera zooms in on a cluster of black, rusty chains arranged around the Lightning Ball and hanging off the guardrail of the room before fading back to Kirk.

“Teams, you’re now standing on the Steps of Knowledge,” Kirk explains.  “In a moment, Olmec’s gonna ask you a question.  If you think you know the answer, I want you to stomp down on the ancient marking in front of you.  If you’re right, you can move down to the next level, but if you’re wrong or you run out of time, I’m gonna give the other teams a chance to answer.”  Kirk begins descending the Steps.  “The first two teams to make it to the bottom level will be one step closer to Olmec’s Temple.  Olmec—we’re now ready for your first question.”

Olmec begins:
“Was Red Legs Greaves born in: Cuba, Barbados, or Jamaica?”
The Red Jaguars ring in.  “Barbados?”
“That is correct,” Olmec replies.  The Red Jaguars proceed to the second step.
“Step down, Red Jaguars,” says Kirk.  “Next question.”

“Were Greaves’ parents from: Poland, Scotland, or Ireland?”
After a few seconds, the Silver Snakes ring in.  “Ireland?”
“Incorrect,” Olmec replies.
The Green Monkeys ring in.  “Scotland…?”
“That is correct,” Olmec replies.  The Green Monkeys join the Red Jaguars on the second step.
“Green Monkeys are on their tail, though,” Kirk observes.  “Next question, please.”

“How old was Greaves when he joined a pirate ship crew: eighteen, nineteen, or twenty?”
The Silver Snakes ring in.  “Nineteen?”
“That is correct,” Olmec replies.  The Silver Snakes become the third team to make it to the second step.
“Silver Snakes can step down now,” says Kirk.  “This is heating up…next question.”

“According to our legend, where was Greaves imprisoned after he was arrested…”
The Green Monkeys ring in.  “In…in a dungeon…?”
“That is not one of our three choices,” Olmec replies.  “The three choices are: Port Royal, St. Kitts, or Santo Domingo?”
The Red Jaguars ring in.  “Port Royal…?”
“That is correct,” Olmec replies.  The Red Jaguars proceed to the next-to-last step.
“Red Jaguars are now one step away from the Temple Games,” Kirk narrates.  “Still time for the other teams, though…next question.”

“According to our legend, what disaster occurred on the island while Greaves was—”
The Silver Snakes ring in early.  “An earthquake.”
“That…is correct,” Olmec replies.  The Silver Snakes join the Red Jaguars on the penultimate step.
“Silver Snakes just one step away now,” Kirk observes.  “Still time for the other two teams, though…next question, Olmec.”

“Who officially pardoned Greaves after he escaped: the King of France, the King of England, or the King of Spain?”
The Green Monkeys ring in.  “The King of England…?”
“That is correct,” Olmec assures.  The Green Monkeys become the third team to make it to the next-to-last step.
“Nice…Green Monkeys are only one step away now!” Kirk exclaims.  “Still plenty of time for the Orange Iguanas, though…next question, please.”

“After he died, was most of Red Legs Greaves’ money: lost, given to charity, or—”
The Silver Snakes ring in.  “Given to charity?”
“That…is correct!” Olmec booms, and the Silver Snakes proceed to the bottom level.
“We’ve got our first team for the Temple Games!” Kirk exclaims.  “We need one more team, though.  Who’s it gonna be: the Red Jaguars, the Orange Iguanas, or the Green Monkeys?  Next question, please.”

“Did pirates often make their captives: jump overboard, walk the plank, or drink seawater?”
The Red Jaguars ring in as Olmec is giving the third choice.  “Walk the plank.”
“That is correct!” Olmec booms, and the Red Jaguars leap to the bottom step.

“We’ve got our two teams for the Temple Games!” says Kirk as he rushes over to stand between them.  “They are the Silver Snakes, and the Red Jaguars!  Red—uh, Orange Iguanas and Green Monkeys, you guys were great, too.  We’ve got a great gift for you, and here’s what it is!”  They receive a package of Nickelodeon-related games for the Nintendo Wii.
Kirk is now seen standing between the two advancing teams.  “These two teams will be playing for the right to enter Olmec’s Temple, and we’ll see that right after this!”

The camera flies to the left and zooms in on the Tomb of the Headless Kings, stopping on a plastic spider on the guardrail of the room before the title appears onscreen, and we go to a commercial.

[The Bandit King]

We return from the break to find Kirk standing in front of the Temple with the two remaining teams.

“Welcome back,” he says.  “Now, the glory goes to the fastest and the strongest…”

“So let’s hear it for Miguel and Ashlee of the Red Jaguars!”  The audience applauds for the cute brown-eyed girl with shoulder-length black hair and the slightly taller Hispanic boy with brown eyes and wavy black hair.

“And Chris and Amanda of the Silver Snakes!”  The audience claps for the short green-eyed girl with curly blonde hair and glasses and the much taller brown-eyed boy with bushy reddish-brown hair.

“All right, are you guys ready?” Kirk asks the teams.

“Yeah!” they reply.

“All right…go get ready for the Temple Games,” says Kirk.  “So, in these Temple Games, our teams are competing for…” Kirk retrieves a Pendant of Life from the pouch at his side and holds it up to the camera.  “…Pendants of Life.  The winners are gonna need these Pendants to protect them from those dreaded Temple Guards as they make their way through the Temple.  There are three Temple Games, and Olmec…please tell us about the first one, if you would…”

The black lights under Olmec come on, and he begins to explain the first Game:
“Like most pirates, Red Legs Greaves accumulated a lot of treasure during his pirating career, and often had to hide it so no one could find it.  In this game, you’ll be looking for some of Red Legs Greaves’ hidden treasure.  Before you stands a large cargo net with several compartments around the edge.  When Kirk gives the signal, propel yourself up to the net, climb up to a compartment and break it open.  If you find a jewel, climb down and place it in your bin; otherwise, break open another compartment and try again.  The first player to find four jewels, or…the player with the most jewels at the end of sixty seconds…wins.”

“Going on a treasure hunt,” says Kirk.  “Let’s set the clock for sixty seconds!”  The clock slams down in the corner with a loud gong sound effect.  “On your mark, get set, GO!”

Ashlee and Amanda propel themselves up to the net and break open the first cubbyhole they come to.  Neither one contains a jewel, so they both climb higher and keep looking.  Amanda finds a black jewel inside the top left-hand compartment and brings it down with 44 seconds left.  Ashlee finds her first jewel a few seconds later, and brings it down as well.  Amanda manages to find a ruby in the cubbyhole right next to the one she found the black jewel in, and pulls ahead 2-1 with 35 seconds left.  No one finds a jewel for a bit until both girls find a jewel in different compartments at about the same time, and they both bring it down to make the game 2-3 with twelve seconds remaining.  With five seconds left, Ashlee finds a third jewel, but she gets caught in the net and can’t place it in her team’s bin until after the clock runs out.

“That’s it!” Kirk shouts as he rushes back onscreen.  “Come on down…whoa, careful!  Come down and let’s see how we did…”  Kirk kneels beside the Red Jaguars’ bin first.  “Red Jaguars got…one, two…that last one’s not gonna count, so they got two jewels.  The Silver Snakes got…one, two…three jewels!  The Silver Snakes get the half Pendant of Life!”  The audience applauds for a moment.  “Red Jaguars can catch up in this next Temple Games, though.  It’s worth a half Pendant, too—Olmec, tell us about it, please…”

Olmec begins:
“After he was arrested and tried, Red Legs Greaves was sentenced to be hanged in chains.  In this game, you’ll be attempting to free Greaves by breaking the chains that will be used to hang him.  When Kirk gives the signal, roll your giant wheel toward the first batch of chains on the far end of the field.  There, climb out and use the hammer you find to smash the chains.  Then, roll back to where you started and smash the chains you find there.  Finally, roll to the middle and smash the last group of chains.  The first player to smash all three sets of chains, or…the player that’s further along at the end of thirty seconds…wins.”

“Alright, time to smash some chains, I guess,” says Kirk.  “Let’s put six—thirty seconds on the clock, please!”  The clock slams down in the corner, ready to go.  “On your mark, get set, GO!”

Both boys slowly begin rolling their giant “hamster wheel” toward the far end of the playing field.  They remain fairly close, but Miguel makes it to the first set of chains a few seconds before Chris, and uses the toy hammer to smash the break-away chain links he finds on the pedestal there.  Chris is right behind him, but Miguel maintains a fairly decent lead, making it to his second set of chains and smashing them with ten seconds left.  As Miguel is scrambling to reach the third and final bunch of chains, Chris manages to reach the second set of chains with two seconds left and smashes it just in the nick of time.

“That’s it!” Kirk shouts as he rushes back onscreen.  “Come here, you guys—well, both teams smashed two sets of chains, but the Red Jaguars were closer to their last chain when time ran out, so the Red Jaguars get the half Pendant of Life!”  The audience applauds briefly.  “So now, it’s all tied up at a half Pendant apiece.  Now we go to the third and final Game.  It’s worth a full Pendant—Olmec, tell us about Temple Game #3…”

Olmec begins to explain the final Game:
“After the earthquake, Greaves was picked up by a passing ship and taken back to his plantation in the Caribbean.  In this game, you’ll be transporting Greaves back home.  When Kirk gives the signal, propel your boat off the dock and sail toward your destination.  When you reach it, climb out and load the castaway into the boat.  Then, turn around and sail back.  If you touch the water, you must go back and begin again.  The first team to bring Red Legs Greaves home, or…the team that’s further along at the end of sixty seconds…wins.”

“This is for the Temple,” explains Kirk.  “Let’s set the clock for sixty seconds!”  The clock slams down in the corner with the usual sound effect.  “I’m gonna get out of the way here…on your mark, get set, GO!”

Both teams push off the dock and sail toward their destination, their boats bumping into one another in the process.  The Red Jaguars make it to the predetermined destination first, and they climb out and load the humanoid burlap figure into their boats, careful not to touch the floor in the process.  As the Silver Snakes make it to their destination with 42 seconds left, the Red Jaguars are working on turning their boat around, which they do after a little difficulty at first.  The Silver Snakes load their burlap person and try to turn their boat around, but the Red Jaguars make it back to the dock with a whopping 29 seconds left on the clock.

“That’s it!” says Kirk, who is standing on the dock waiting for the teams.  “The Red Jaguars made it back first with plenty of time to spare—the Red Jaguars get the full Pendant; they’ve got a Pendant and a half, so they’re goin’ to the Temple!”  Miguel and Ashlee jump up and down in excitement as the Silver Snakes applaud politely.  “Silver Snakes, come here—you guys did great, too; it was neck-and-neck all the way.  You’re not going home empty-handed—we’ve got a great gift for you, and here’s what it is!”  They receive a custom-made Legends of the Hidden Temple: Rebirth watch.

As the prize disappears off-screen, Kirk is now seen standing between Miguel and Ashlee.  “Now we’ll see if the Red Jaguars can make it through Olmec’s Temple; retrieve the Unused Chains of Red Legs Greaves, right after this!”

The camera pans in on the Temple and zooms in on the Chains in the Lightning Ball Room before the title appears onscreen, and we fade to a commercial.

[The Bandit King]

We return from the break to find Kirk standing in front of the Temple with the winning team.

“Welcome back to Legends: Rebirth,” he says.  “Miguel and Ashlee have proven themselves worthy, and have earned the right to enter Olmec’s Temple.  But first, here’s some information to help them retrieve the Unused Chains of Red-Leg Greaves…”

Olmec begins to explain the Temple layout as the camera gives us a first-person walkthrough of the Temple:
“You could start…by running up the stairs to the Crypt!  Grab the book from the skeletons, and pass into the Bottomless Pit!  Swing across the gap, and climb into the Great Seal Room.  Place the correct seal in the central holder, and a door may open into the Candelabra Room.  Light the correct candelabra, and pass into the Room…of the Mystical Keys!  Reach into the compartments to find the two correct keys, and open the door to the SHRIIIIINE of the Silver Monkey!  Assemble the statue and you may be headed toward the Lightning Ball Room.  Connect the power cords to create your own lightning, which will blast open the door to the Pharaoh’s Secret Passage.  Slide down the tunnel to the Dungeon, where you could smash through the wall into the Dark Forest—but beware of the Temple Guards that may inhabit the trees!  Find the key in the tree, and you’ll enter…the Snake Pit!  Place the snakes in the hollow stump, and you’ll gain entry to the Tomb of the Headless Kings.  Pull the vine to release the bones, and attach the missing skull to its proper king, then…race through the Pit, climb through the Ledges, rrrrrrace down the stairs and back through the Temple Gate.  The choices are yours and yours alone!”  Olmec pauses.  “You won 1½ Pendants in the Temple Games.  Who’s going first?”

“I am,” says Ashlee.

“Very well, Ashlee,” Olmec replies.  “When Kirk gives the signal, you’ll race through the Gate into the Temple and make your way toward the Unused Chains.  Hidden inside the Temple are Temple Guards assigned to protect three specific rooms.  You can trade your Pendant for an extra life and go on, but…if you’re caught without a Pendant, you’ll be taken out of the Temple, and it’ll be Miguel’s turn to enter and try his luck.  Hidden somewhere in the Temple is the other half of your Pendant.  If you can find it and you’re carrying the other half, all the…you’ll get an extra life.  If you can reach the Unused Chains, all the doors of the Temple will instantly unlock, and the Temple Guards will vanish.  Return through the Gates with the Unused Chains of Red Legs Greaves in three minutes, and you’ll both be handsomely rewarded…and here’s how!”

• Just for making it this far, they’ll get a sports package from Regents.
• If they can grab the Marble Shard within three minutes, they’ll also receive a bicycle from Mongoose.
• And if they can bring the Marble Shard out of the Temple before three minutes expires, they’ll win a trip to Cedar Points Amusement Park in Ohio.

“I can tell these guys wanna go to Cedar Points,” says Kirk.  “So let’s get started…now, Miguel, can you tell me what kind of strategy you guys have on reaching those Chains?”

“We’re, um…just gonna try and take the low path, and go up…maybe that’ll work…” Miguel says, trailing off toward the end.

“Okay, we’ll see if that pays off,” says Kirk.  “Let’s get mouthpieces in…Ashlee, you get out in front.  Let’s set the clock for three minutes!”  The clock slams down in the corner, ready to go.

“Olmec, lower your gate.”  Olmec moans gutturally as the Gate is lowered, and the black lights and torches under him go out.

“On your mark,” Kirk begins, “get set, GO!”

Ashlee trots up the stairs, clutching her team’s only full Pendant.  She soon enters the Crypt, where she pulls all three books before any doors open.  Unfortunately, the only door that opened leads downward, so she descends into the Ledges (2:40).  “She’s gonna have to head down,” says Kirk, and soon Ashlee is seen entering the Ledges—only to have a TEMPLE GUARD grab her by the leg (2:35).  “Oh, Temple Guard was waiting for her!” Kirk exclaims as Ashlee screams.  “She’s got a Pendant, so she can keep going!”  Ashlee hands over her Pendant and begins crawling through the rocky gorges in the room.  She presses the button for the upper crawl tube, opening the door leading into the Bottomless Pit (2:26).  Ashlee crawls through the door and enters the Pit, trudging through the dark-colored balls that litter the bottom of the room.  She finds the actuator for the Tomb of the Headless Kings and tries it, opening the door.  “That’s got it—into the Tomb of Headless Kings!” Kirk narrates as Ashlee enters the room and heads toward the rope.  “She’s an outdoorsy girl—she likes to camp, and that’s gotta be helping her here!” Kirk narrates.  After pulling the rope and releasing the bones into the room, Ashlee finds the skull, picks it up, and places it on the stage-right king, causing the skeleton’s chest to begin pulsating a glowing red, and opening the door upward to the Candelabra Room (2:10).  “There, she made it beat—now she’s—ah, up into the Candle Room!” Kirk narrates, and Ashlee begins climbing the ladder into the room.  She enters and tries two candelabras before one lights up all the candles in the room, opening the door up to the Great Seal Room—but also revealing the second TEMPLE GUARD behind it (1:57).

“Whoa, Temple Guard!” Kirk says, and Miguel immediately darts right up the stairs, retracing Ashlee’s steps.  “He doesn’t even have to be told—he’s ready!” Kirk narrates as Miguel descends into the Ledges.  “He runs track—he’s a fast, fast guy!”  Miguel treads through the Pit and climbs into the Tomb, where he’s taken aback a bit by the growling sound of the skeleton that somehow is still playing there.  He climbs up to the Candelabra Room, and wastes little time by climbing up to the Great Seal Room, where he emerges, losing his balance and almost tripping over the central holder (1:20).  He regains his footing and heads to the back of the room, taking two seals and bringing them to the central holder.  He places both seals in the holder, but neither one makes anything happen (1:10).  He heads to the back of the room again and grabs the two remaining seals.  The third one also does nothing, but the fourth and final seal finally causes the door to the Room of the Mystical Keys to open when it’s placed (1:01).  “Into the Room of Mystical Keys,” Kirk narrates as Miguel starts to enter the room, but doubles back and grabs something hanging from the edge of the central holder.  “No, wait—he found the other half of his Pendant!” Kirk accurately narrates.  “He might need that sooner or later!”  Unfortunately for Miguel, it turns out to be sooner, for when he enters the next room, he’s immediately ambushed by the third TEMPLE GUARD (0:50).  “Whoa, there’s the Temple Guard!” Kirk shouts as Miguel reaches for his two Pendant halves.  “Good thing he found that half Pendant, huh?”  The Temple Guard backs off, and Miguel reaches into one of the compartments, finding a key immediately.  The next compartment he reaches into doesn’t contain a key, but the third one does.  He brings the two keys to the front of the room and inserts them into both the leftmost and rightmost pedestal, but nothing happens.  Miguel moves the key in the right-hand pedestal to the center pedestal, and the door to the Shrine of the Silver Monkey opens up (0:32).  “That’s it—into the Shrine!” Kirk says as Miguel presses onward.  “He’s only one room away—I think he could reach the Chains!”  Miguel heads to the back of the room and grabs the statue’s base, which he brings back to the front and places correctly (0:25).  He heads to the back again to retrieve the middle and head, and brings them to the front as well.  Miguel carefully arranges the middle part of the statue (0:16), and jams on the head (0:11).  However, the door to the Lightning Ball Room doesn’t open—the only door open is the one leading down to the Dark Forest.  “He’s got it put together—which door opened?” Kirk asks.  Miguel looks around confusedly for a few seconds before noticing the open door to the Dark Forest.  However, he can only get his feet in the door before time runs out.

“No, they ran out of time!” Kirk laments as Ashlee looks disappointed.  “I thought he had it!  I thought the door was gonna open, but he would’ve had to go around to get the Chains!  Too bad…that’s alright, though, because they still got the sports package for playing, and I know they’re leaving with their heads held high.  We’ve gotta get out of here, but we’ll see you next time, and remember: it’s not just Legends, it’s Legends: Rebirth!  Buh-bye!”

Kirk and Ashlee chat and wave to the crowd as the credits start to roll.  The camera shows a first-person walkthrough of the Tomb of the Headless Kings, the Snake Pit, and the Dark Forest.  Miguel emerges from the Temple, and he, Kirk and Ashlee wave goodbye as the credits finish and the Stone Stanley logo appears onscreen.

[The Bandit King]

The Unused Chains of Red Legs Greaves
Season 2, Layout 1
Artifact Location: The Lightning Ball Room
Team: Red Jaguars (Miguel Suarez & Ashlee Hancock)
Pendants: 1½
Result: Ran out of time

And so we end the first installment of Season 2 with a bummer of an episode.  The Moat was over fairly quickly (for a “swinging rings” Crossing, anyway), and despite the legend being a bit lackluster, the Steps of Knowledge was pretty competitive.  After some tough competition in the Temple Games, the Red Jaguars beat the Silver Snakes 1½-½, sending them to the Temple.

Miguel did great for what time he had to work with.  He blazed to where Ashlee was taken out, and even found his half-Pendant in the Great Seal Room—good thing, because he needed it in the very next room he entered.  Unfortunately, luck was not on Miguel’s side—he had to try every possible combination in the Great Seal Room, eating up valuable time.  He made it to the Shrine, but when he finished putting the silver monkey together, the door to the Lightning Ball Room didn’t open—the only one that did led to the Dark Forest, meaning that the team had to change levels in the Temple at least three different times.  Time expired before Miguel could begin to climb down to the Dark Forest.

Not much to say here—a grueling, convoluted layout cost the team victory here.  The fastest, smartest team would’ve had trouble even reaching the artifact in a layout like this, and this team wasn’t that team.

Rating: 5.5 out of 10

Notes and Trivia: Oddly enough, the pre-Temple Game interviews are cut out of this episode, even though nothing seems to have been that long—the Moat didn't seem like it was all that edited, and the fog didn't even disappear from it during the round.  Only the producers know, I suppose...

[The Ancient Warrior]

I might be wrong, but I think this was the first 1 ?-Pendant run of Season 2. Wasn't expecting that... but then again, I really wasn't expecting a Temple design this difficult, either.  The producers' choices are still pretty interesting, to say the least... Not a bad read either way, though!