ArtRojasDesign

This was the best investigation they’ve had so far. Even though there were some obvious blunders there was a lot of activity and for the most part the teams held up well.

The main problem was Eerie Paranormal forgot to turn on the voice recorder and missed out on capturing evidence while the Mel Meter was going off. Who knows what they missed out on and it shows they were either nervous or a little unfamiliar with the technology.

Both teams heard a lot of bangs and a lot of metal on metal sounds like doors closing or something hitting the bars. One interesting item was the sound of a metal key hitting the floor. They find the key, but where did it come from? Was it in fact paranormal? Could it have been on the ground all along and one of them just happened to kick it?

On multiple occasions, Darcy from the Eerie Paranormal team says she is getting touched. Also, as Eerie Paranormal is working with the camera it suffers a power drain right as they hear noises. But you have to ask, did it really drain or did they forget to set it up correctly? They’ve had a couple of blunders so it’s hard to not think this is just negligence. Before the investigation is over they actually lose their digital recorder. They put it down and can’t find it again. Someone is wearing a ribbon of shame for that one.

As far as evidence goes they didn’t have anything that I consider to be all that solid.

For Eerie Paranormal they present an EVP of “Let’s go” and “They’re not built like us”. Their video evidence is basically two orbs floating around. I don’t like orbs so I don’t like this evidence.

Steel Town Paranormal offers up “a long loud moan” and the phrase “Gang rape … this girl” then Melanie from the team gets touched. I don’t hear that phrase at all, just fyi. And neither does Dave.

The video evidence is an orb and a shadow of someone sitting on the bench. Neither of those are really worth anything.

But before a winner is chosen the “Let’s go” of Eerie Paranormal is investigated a little further and we run into some problems. It’s not a voice from beyond at all. Unfortunately its Eerie Paranormal committing another blunder.

I thought the teams did much better this time around and there was a lot of things to pay attention to. Lots of noises even some moans. Eerie Paranormal may have committed some amateur mistakes, but at least they weren’t bickering constantly or standing around wondering what to do. But they did goof, and it cost them.

Maybe this show is getting better. What do you think? Are the teams getting better? Are they getting decent evidence? Do the teams need a refresher course before they head out?

Other Articles of Interest:

• Paranormal Challenge – Jerome Grand Hotel – S01E12
• Paranormal Challenge – Old South Pittsburgh Hospital – S01E08
• Paranormal Challenge – Western Virginia Penitentiary – S01E05
• Paranormal Challenge – Eastern State Penitentiary – S01E02
• Paranormal Cops – Stirring Up The Dead – S01E03
• Paranormal Challenge – Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum – S01E07
• Paranormal Challenge – Waverly Hills Sanatorium – S01E06
• Paranormal State – Bedroom Eyes – S05E13
• Ghost Adventures – Ohio Reformatory
• Paranormal Challenge Ohio State Reformatory S01E03

I keep hoping this show will get better so I keep tuning in. Plus, Zak keeps going back to some of my favorite places. But as usual this episode and this set of teams did not impress.

Things did not start of well for the New Jersey Ghost Hunters Society as one member clearly stated he had no idea how to use any of the equipment. I had to cringe at that one. Even if that’s true don’t say it outloud!

Another thing that made me cringe is all the damn fighting between the members of Quest Paranormal Society. After 30 seconds I wanted them all to shut up! Even if that is the way they conduct investigations it’s grating and if I was a spirit I wouldn’t be hanging around to talk to that band of loud mouthed jerks. Honestly these teams were more annoying than the last batch – I didn’t think that was possible.

One complaint I do have which is entirely up to the editors is to turn down the dramatic music. That is insanely annoying and not needed. Let’s cue the horror music and build dramatic tension. It’s cheesy and we all know nothing is going to happen.

But what kind of evidence did they capture?

On several occasion we hear what sounds like a door slamming. Elaine claims she got pushed. None of this is caught on camera though. The team from Quest Paranormal sees what looks like a big shadow cross in front of a light. That was pretty interesting but from that distance it could be anything. It’s an abandoned building so let’s not rule out things like animals that call that place home these days. The New Jersey Ghost Hunters Society gets some interesting activity on the Mel Meter as they talk to the spirits and say their going to leave. It’s hard to say what that device is picking up but something might be going on in there.

When it comes to the big reveal and presentation of evidence I have to say I was one again underwhelmed with what they caught. But before they begin Dave and the judges let the New Jersey team know they need to work on their teamwork, they weren’t familiar with the equipment and didn’t know the history of the location. That was all pretty obvious within the first couple of minutes.

New Jersey Ghost Hunters Society presents an EVP of a groan and “I’m nowhere I can’t be helped”. Their video evidence is a shadow on the wall which is pretty weak and the footage of the Mel Meter going off. Interesting but not really that solid.

Quest Paranormal gets marked down for their lack of teamwork and constant bickering. They sort of knew the history but didn’t really use it. And they understood the equipment but didn’t use it to their full advantage.

The evidence they present is an EVP is someone saying “Mary mo” and a “hello” with the Mel Meter going off at the same time. Their video evidence is a door slamming, although we don’t see the door and a photo of a man sitting. I think they’re trying to make that into something it’s not.

Overall I’m sure if this show is getting better or worse. The teams seem to be getting worse and the evidence is still pretty lame. I think they need to give them more than four hours to investigate. They just start to get a plan together when they have to quit. That would have to be a change in the show and would detract from the drama and excitement I guess.

Other Articles of Interest:

• Paranormal Challenge – Western Virginia Penitentiary – S01E05
• Paranormal Challenge – Rolling Hills Asylum – S01E01
• Paranormal Challenge – USS Hornet – S01E11
• Ghost Hunters Season 4
• Paranormal Challenge – Ohio State Reformatory – S01E04
• Ghost Adventures – Pico House Hotel – S04E15
• Paranormal Cops S01E01
• Ghost Lab from the Discovery Channel
• Paranormal Challenge – Linda Vista Hospital – S01E10
• Paranormal Challenge – Waverly Hills Sanatorium – S01E06

Another Paranormal Challenge and another episode that left me scratching my head and wondering who these people were. But it was Eastern State Penitentiary which is such a cool location I had to tune in and watch. Considering all the past investigations I was hoping these two teams were going to walk away with tons of usable evidence. In the end what they had was exceedingly light.

Once again, the two teams left me wanting. One comes across as a madcap group of jerks while the other seems nervous and confused. I don’t like these kinds of matchups. You know, just do the damn investigation, this posturing and acting like your some rebel with a cause is pointless.

As usual, the group that acts the toughest ends up looking like the biggest morons. Scott W. looks like a reject from the Village People with that guard hat on and doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing. He has some grand ideas but can’t seem to actually get anything done. His team seems lost and inefficient the whole time.

The Mel Meter is going off all the time but I don’t really think that qualifies as anything. It’s an interesting device but I don’t know that I have any confidence in it. I mean, what is it really showing us? I do have to say I liked Sharon and her mocking tone as she walked down the cellblocks. I like her "I’m just a girl down here by myself" attitude.

The main excitement of the night was when Tony, who was down in The Hole, starts freaking out and hauls ass out of there. Did he have a panic attack or did something happen? It sort of looks like he worked himself up and his mind started playing tricks. I was expecting some evidence to come from that but I don’t think it did.

Anyway, the investigation didn’t turn up much even though there was lots of banging and odd noises in the dark. However, there is obviously water on the floor so are they just hearing running water or drips? Are those sounds just one of the many animals I’m sure lives in that abandoned space?

And speaking of evidence what they presented was pretty lame. About the only thing interesting was the "Hell no, I don’t think they know how to suck" EVP. I didn’t really hear that whole phrase but the word "suck" does sound like it’s in the mix. It’s not overwhelming stuff but not too bad.

The other evidence of the "help me", "just leave" and crap visual evidence presented by Northampton should have just been thrown out. They were grasping at straws there. I didn’t hear anything in their audio, and video evidence of an apparition and some sort of bubble made me laugh.

Overall this was a pretty disappointing episode again. These teams don’t seem to know what they’re doing and they aren’t actually accomplishing anything. I still think this is a neat idea but there is something missing … oh yeah, evidence. Perhaps they will come up with two teams who are more interested in finding evidence or debunking  than in pounding on their chests.

Other Articles of Interest:

• Paranormal Challenge – Rolling Hills Asylum – S01E01
• Paranormal Challenge – Linda Vista Hospital – S01E10
• Paranormal Challenge – Waverly Hills Sanatorium – S01E06
• Paranormal Challenge – USS Hornet – S01E11
• Paranormal Challenge – Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum – S01E07
• Ghost Hunters Academy – Episode 2 – Wilmington NC
• Paranormal Challenge – Jerome Grand Hotel – S01E12
• Paranormal Challenge – Ohio State Reformatory – S01E04
• Paranormal Challenge – Western Virginia Penitentiary – S01E05
• Ghost Mine – Passageway to the Unknown – S02E10

So this is the premiere episode of Paranormal Challenge where two teams of investigators face off to collect the best evidence within a given space and within a given time period. Not only will they be rated on the quality of the evidence but also on their teamwork, understanding of the equipment they have and choosing the best locations to gather evidence. It’s an interesting idea but quite frankly this inaugural episode fell short of being interesting or entertaining.

To start with the girls seemed nervous and completely out of sorts. They acted like this was their first investigation rather being season professionals. Besides dropping the equipment they came across as tentative and scared. When they got voices on the PX they wanted to turn on the lights. The word "paranormal" coming through the device brought everything to a grinding halt. Rather than following that up with more questions or more investigation they froze and almost came unglued. One of them starts to cry.

The guys were arrogant bastards and after only a few minutes I really wish Dan had been thrown down the stairs by Raymond. They were annoying to watch and while they seemed a little more organized the overly aggressive stance they took with everything was unneeded. Also, Adam, if you’re going to start busting up the place to create dowsing rods perhaps you should know what they are for and how to use them. This just comes across as moronic. Further, Dan, you lose all your cool and machismo points (not that you actually had any) for talking shit to a spirit and then crapping your pants yelling the telltale "Oh My God" when you get a response. This makes you look like an idiot.

Ditch the whole, we didn’t come here to lose mentality too.

So what about the evidence?

The girls presented a very odd EVP of what sounds like a struggle and then some screaming. It almost sounds like it was cut from a horror movie.

The video evidence of the orbs was weak and should be thrown out.

The guys presented an audio of "I am here" which I couldn’t hear at all. They also claim to get "Kill him now or I’m gonna get him" which again I don’t hear at all. I played that part several times and can’t make out a single word.

The video evidence contains orbs so to me that is junk. They have a still photo of what they claim is a silhouette against the wall. That’s a bit of a stretch I’m afraid.

I thought the evidence from both teams was really weak. And quite frankly I thought both teams were really weak. It was the battle of underachievement versus overcompensation. I was completely underwhelmed with this episode on many levels.

Other Articles of Interest:

• Paranormal Challenge – Western Virginia Penitentiary – S01E05
• Paranormal Challenge – Eastern State Penitentiary – S01E02
• Paranormal Challenge – Ohio State Reformatory – S01E04
• Paranormal Challenge – Waverly Hills Sanatorium – S01E06
• Paranormal Challenge Ohio State Reformatory S01E03
• Paranormal Challenge – Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum – S01E07
• Paranormal Challenge – Jerome Grand Hotel – S01E12
• Paranormal Challenge – Linda Vista Hospital – S01E10
• Ghost Adventures – Mackay Mansion – S13E02
• Ghost Adventures – Goldfield Hotel – S04E16