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To you and others who are new to the MESS Hall, I recommend reading Beef's post at the beginning of another thread titled, 'Welcome to MESS Hall Tribal Council!!!!' It's a short but sweet introduction to what the MESS is all about.

I agree with much of what both DA and fplo said. A strength-based challenge would tip the scales to Colby and Keith. For this reason, Fallen Comrades would make a lot more sense than, say, a canoe race. However, I tend to favor an endurance challenge over a more cerebral one like Fallen Comrades.

Let's examine the past challenges which have been used at key points in the game. S1, first Rattana IC: Snake Island Relay, a combination breath-holding competition and underwater swim race. The Tagi and Pagong tribes entered Rattana with equal numbers, thus this IC could have proven a vital turning point in the outcome of the show. Endurance and athleticism were key elements of this challenge. S1, final 3 IC: Hands on a Hard Idol, a rite of passage involving a fire walk, slathering of mud, then placing one hand on the Immunity Idol. The importance of the outcome of this challenge is obvious. Endurance is the key element, but don't miss the significance of the mud and fire walk as rites of passage. MB loves the cheezy folklorish pomp and circumstance, especially at key dramatic points of the show. S2, first Barrimundi IC: Perch, where each Survivor must stand on a wooden pillar in the Herbert River. Whoever stands on a pillar the longest wins. Again, old tribes merge with equal numbers, thus the outcome of the challenge could prove vital to the outcome, which it was. Endurance the key element.

Another key to each of these challenges (with the possible exception of Snake Island Relay) is the strategy involved. Obvious examples are that Rich let go of the totem in Hands on a Hard Idol. Tina jumped off the Perch for Keith.

Fallen Comrades just doesn't fit the pattern. Not in the display of desire to win by demonstrating the endurance to Outlast, not in the display of the strategy required to Outwit. Any challenge displays ability to Outplay, so I'm not including it in my reasoning.

In addition, one challenge and two tribal councils are going to have to fill 80 minutes. True, this year there are more actual outback days than comprised the final episode last year, but that's a lot of show time to fill with KTC sitting around talking. An endurance challenge would fit better than a couple minute question and answer session to decide the winner of the final IC. It would also fit better in the scheme of a rite of passage involving MB's beloved archetypal ceremony.