Ep 2. Tricks of the Trade

Tricks of the Trade is the second episode of the fifth season of the reality television show Top Shot, which aired on February 19, 2013. This season features 16 contestants from different backgrounds and professions who compete in various shooting challenges to win a $100,000 grand prize and the title of "Top Shot."

The episode begins with each team, red and blue, selecting a captain who will lead them in the upcoming challenge. The red team's captain is Kyle Sumpter, a former Army Ranger, while the blue team's captain is Gabby Franco, a former Olympic pistol shooter.

The challenge for the episode is called "Tricks of the Trade," and it involves shooting small moving targets with a rifle while standing on a moving platform over a pool. The contestants must shoot six targets with a total of six shots, and the team with the most hits wins.

Before the challenge begins, the teams are given practice time on a similar platform without the water. Some of the contestants struggle to hit the targets, while others seem to excel. Several contestants comment on how difficult it is to adjust to the moving platform and the water below.

During the challenge, the contestants take turns shooting from the platform while their teammates cheer them on from the sidelines. Some of the shots are close but miss the targets, while others hit them dead-on. The teams remain neck and neck throughout the challenge, with neither team pulling too far ahead.

After the challenge, the teams learn that the losing team will have to face the "Elimination Challenge," where two contestants will face off in a head-to-head shooting challenge, and the loser will be eliminated from the competition.

The red team wins the challenge with a score of four to two and sends two blue team members to the Elimination Challenge. The blue team must now decide which two members will face off against each other.

The blue team's decision causes some tension and conflict among the members, as they must choose between the stronger shooters and the weaker shooters who they believe are more likely to lose the challenge. Ultimately, the blue team chooses Chris Cheng, the winner of the previous season of Top Shot, and Jamie Franks, a self-taught gun enthusiast, to compete in the Elimination Challenge.

The Elimination Challenge involves shooting steel plates while standing on a moving platform once again. The contestants must hit six plates with six shots, and the first to do so twice wins. The competition is close, with both Cheng and Franks hitting most of their targets, but in the end, one contestant emerges as the winner and the other is eliminated from the competition.

Overall, Tricks of the Trade is an exciting episode that showcases the skills and challenges of the Top Shot contestants. From shooting on a moving platform to dealing with the pressure of elimination, the contestants must rise to the occasion if they hope to continue in the competition. The episode sets the stage for the rest of the season and leaves the audience eager to see what challenges and surprises lie ahead.