The Titan Games season two: What’s new and how it works

Dwayne Johnson’s The Titan Games debuts its second season in just a few days. It all kicks off on Monday, May 25 at 8pm EST/PST on NBC. We’ll be watching and covering the show for a few reasons.

• The Titan Games is just exciting, inspiring competition TV when we need it most. It’s flashy. It’s dramatic. Each episode sucks you in and doesn’t let go. You will be looking up the challenges on YouTube afterwards so you can show your friends what you just saw.
• American Ninja Warrior Jessie Graff will be featured as one of Dwayne Johnson’s invited elite Titans. We’re so ready for even more people to discover what a powerhouse our Ninja is on and off the course!
• It’s from A. Smith and Co, the production company behind American Ninja Warrior. We’re here to support the many teams who make Ninja Warrior in any capacity since the taping of American Ninja Warrior’s 12th season was postponed due to the pandemic.

So before the show gets started next week, here’s the lowdown on what you’ll need to know to better understand the action.

How it works:

• The competition is divided into three regions: Central, East, and West.
• Two (one male and one female) elite, invited athletes reign over each region as the “Titans.”
• On each episode, two male and two female contenders face off in the best of three challenges. (The third challenge is referred to as the tiebreaker if needed.)
• The winning male and female contender then face the reigning Titans on Mount Olympus, a ten-obstacle race to lock in the “Titan Relic.”
• If they are able to beat the Titan to the finish line, they claim the title of Titan and must defend it against future contenders.
• Each region will consist of three qualifying episodes, leading to a regional finals episode.
• The regional competitors who previously lost on Mount Olympus will return in the regional finals. (This includes the invited original Titan, if they were unseated.)
• The regions’ champions will advance to the Titan Championship to battle it out one more time.
• The male and female champion will each win $100,000, either for themselves, or for the charity of their choosing if the winner is one of the professional athletes.

Here’s the official explanation from NBC’s press release:

“This season, the competition breaks down into three regional brackets: West, Central and East. Within each region, one male and one female professional athlete will serve as Titans. Each episode during regional competition will see two contenders of each gender battle in a best-of-three competition on epic new and fan-favorite obstacles. They are fighting for the chance to compete on Mount Olympus, Johnson’s all-encompassing final obstacle that tests strength, speed, stamina and heart. In order to become a Titan, the competitors will need to defeat one of Johnson’s professional Titans and then maintain that position on top of Mount Olympus.

Those who lose on Mt. Olympus will have a shot at redemption during the Regional Finals and one last chance to take on the reigning Titan. Ultimately, one male and one female will earn the title of Regional Champion and move on the finale.

In the finale, the reigning Titans will return to battle against one another, with one man and one woman emerging as Titan Champion and each winning a grand prize of $100,000. If one of the professional athletes wins, their prize money will go to a charity of their choosing.”

What’s new:

The professional Titans

In season one, the Titans originated from within the pool of contenders. The addition of the professional athletes heightens the drama in a big way. Now, after proving themselves against other “everyday” heroes, the contenders will face a legend who lives for high level competition and thrives on pulling out the win.

The regional format

You can look back on season one’s winners here to get a sense of how that progression worked. But essentially, each episode produced one male and one female Titan. All 16 then returned at the end of the season to battle it out until only the champions remained.

For season two, the regional format provides a bit of redemption for the contenders. You can lose on Mount Olympus and still get one more shot in the regional finals. That means we’ll see contenders return who have: A) Learned from their mistakes and B) Are out for blood. Buckle up.

The commentary

Season one’s reporting team consisted of Liam McHugh and Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez up in the tower providing commentary, and Cari Champion on the Titan Arena floor, interviewing the competitiors.

This time around, it’s Alex and Cari. They’re in a booth down on the arena floor, calling the action from right in front of their faces. Oh yeah, that guy Dwayne Johnson might be hovering around as well, cheering on the competitors and hyping up the crowd.

When to watch it:

You’ll be able to catch The Titan Games on NBC starting Monday, May 25 at 8pm EST/PST. The debut episode is two-hours long. Going forward from there, the episodes will be one-hour in length.