The Amazing Race (Spoiler)

[murielm99]

I was not sad to see the engaged couple, Amanda and Kris, leave.

I don't dislike them. I simply have other favorites. I have too many favorites this season.

The outcome was fine with me.

This race seems to be more fast-paced than last time. I think the editing is better, too.

[lazarus]

1. Thing is

since I didn't remember Kris and Amanda from their original race, I had predicted them to win, based on the tradition all-star seasons have of having someone nobody remembers winning. :D

Going into the race, I was really pulling for Kent and Vyxsin and Gary and Mallory. I still like both those teams, but my third favourite team has moved to the top of the list: Zev and Justin.

These two are surprisingly competent racers, and they're hilarious. "This is the outback. I don't see many steakhouses, though." Rewound and watched that one a couple of times.

Back to the YDC (Young Dating Couple): This means the only team ever to survive doing a U-Turn is still Brook and Claire, and that's because another team was U-Turned at the same time. If the U-Turn becomes the new penalty for a non-elimination leg, that's just too much. May as well eliminate them on the spot.

I thought the Detour was unbalanced. Natural World was clearly much faster than Spirit World. You just had to get the trick of spraying the paint.

Kent and Vyxsin did a great job of putting their mosaic together, but forgot to Read the Fucking Clue. That's killed more teams in the course of the race than all the bad taxi drivers combined.

I wonder if TPTB need to do something about smart phone use by Ferns. Christina and Kent were, I believe, the only two to get the chemicals right without looking it up, and it didn't help them at all.

Good race so far.

Edited to add: I'm not happy with the editing, but that's a trend in the later seasons of the Race. The specific issue is the artificial cliff-hanger they have to have at every commercial break, with a quick recap of the cliff-hanger coming back from the break. Eats up several minutes per episode that could be spent on showing us more racing. We didn't have that in the early seasons, and I would much prefer not having it now. Other than that, the editing is pretty good. It's hard to cover eleven teams and not leave someone out.

[Qanisqineq]

2. I was happy with the elimination

they were the only team I do not remember at all.

[murielm99]

3. I was sad over tonight's elimination.

I guess it was bound to happen soon. Mel and Mike simply could not go on. Mel was not strong enough to continue.

I don't think I understand what really happened with the Globetrotters. I Tivoed this and replayed it, but I am not sure about it. I had the impression that the Globetrotters thought the fanny pack was dropped accidentally and they were placing it in a changing to make it easier for the owner to find. Is anyone else more clear on this? Maybe we will find out more next week.

[Phentex]

4. We tried to figure it out, too...

Seems like they would know it wasn't theirs when they saw it but what is unclear is what they intended to do with it. Did one of them think it was the other's and take it? And then once they realized it wasn't, did they figure the other team would just find it in the changing area?

Seemed like an honest mistake to us.

[lazarus]

5. I was happy with this elimination

and it had nothing to do with Mel or his weakness. Mike quit because he was too weak to continue. He used a supposed concern for his father in a cowardly way to hide his own desire to quit.

I have no time for quitters, and that's what Mike is. Glad to be shut of him.

As best as I can tell on Fanny Pack Gate, the GTs picked up the wrong fanny pack, didn't realize it until later, then left it in the changing room.

The reason they deserved a penalty is quite clear to me. R/C hadn't left the fanny pack in the changing room, they had, for whatever misguided reason, decided to take it with them to the waterfall. So they had no reason to look in the changing room, and it was actually much harder to find there.

An example for you: Let's say you and your partner always keep your car keys on a hook by the front door. You've come home and put the keys there. Your partner needs to get something out of the car, and decides to leave the keys in the ignition. Easy place to find them, but decidedly not where you left them. Would you think to go look, or would you tear up the house first?

R/C lost time panicking, because we've seen that not having one's passport is death on the race. The only reason they found the pack is that they had given up looking and decided to go the pit stop, hoping someone had picked up the pack and turned it in.

Kent has turned into more of a jerk, but I still love Vyxsin and want to have her babies. The cowboys don't do cities very well. Zev and Justin are clearly dominating so far. They made up more than hour with clear running and no wasted time.

Lastly, I couldn't believe how many teams chose to do the needle in a haystack detour. It didn't seem to really cost anyone, but those are rarely a good idea. It's pure luck.

[Qanisqineq]

6. I agree about Mike

I thought he seemed too eager to quit early on in the challenge. He kept stopping (or so it looked from the editing) to complain and worry about his dad. I was getting tired of his whining.

I also agree with your assessment of the fanny pack incident. Seemed like an honest mistake to me, then they simply left it in the changing room because they wanted to get out of there in a hurry. I agree with the dad (forget his name) being upset, but I am a little sick of his belittling everyone (even if it is only behind their backs).

[dsc]

7. I was sad too

Mel was the oldest on the race and Mike isn't that much younger so they were a pretty old team. For example they are both older than Luke's mom. I was very surprised they did the needle in a haystack challenge. They did well on their season by making choices others didn't. I also will miss having the two gay guys gone. Now only Luke is on team gay.

[lazarus]

8. one of the sisters is gay, too

I think it's Kisha.

Mike's only 40, and may be the most unhealthy looking 40 year old I've ever seen.

[dsc]

9. I thought he was in his 50's.

and yes he does appear unhealthy.

[murielm99]

10. No elimination again? (3-13)

They need to start cutting teams. This gets boring.

I hope to see the Goths recover next week.

[lazarus]

11. it's actually a nice change

if they're going to just do To Be Continued legs instead of those nonsense Non Elimination legs with the lame Speed Bumps.

This is actually about the right time for the first NEL. Things just feel a bit off because nobody was eliminated in Episode 1.

Poor Goths. I've had a Very Horrible No Good Day a few times myself. No real reason, you just make one minor mistake in the morning and the whole day goes to shit, spiraling out of control. Hopefully they can recover.

I want Margie and Luke gone post haste. Hate them with the fire of a thousand suns.

[murielm99]

12. Oh, I agree about Margie and Luke.

The sooner they are gone the better.

[murielm99]

13. I was not unhappy with tonight's elimination.

I have never much cared for those redheads. I was glad to see the goths get it back together. They have had such a hard time.

I hope the next to go are Luke and Margie, then the Chinese father and daughter. After that, I have too many favorites. I like the cowboys, the goths and the Globetrotters. If any of those three teams win, I will be happy.

[lazarus]

14. Goths did that U-turn perfectly

U-turn the team that you KNOW is behind you. Things were too chaotic for them to take a chance on anyone else.

They also did a nice job catching up, helped by a bunching at the train.

I thought the penalty should have applied at the first pit stop, honestly.

[MaineDem]

15. I was glad they were eliminated

Glad the cowboys did so well. My least favorites are Ron/Christina and then Zev/Justin. Ron seems like an unhappy man. I don't dislike Margie/Luke as many seem to. Looks like Luke runs into problems next week.

I think I'm pulling for the cowboys.

[murielm99]

16. I usually try to root for people who play smart

rather than people whose personalities I like best. With this group, it is hard to do that. I end up cheering for the likable ones.

Either they are editing Luke differently this time, or he is having fewer tantrums. In their first race, Luke was very spoiled, and Margie indulged him. She was defensive about him toward other players, and expected them to indulge him, too. Margie did more tasks than her son. There was that incident with the sisters, who are also in this race. They seem to be keeping their distance in this race, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is bad blood between them, whether or not Luke shoved one of the ladies.

[Qanisqineq]

17. I wasn't either

But I was kind of hoping Ron and Christina (?? the Chinese team) would go. The father is driving me nuts. I was so embarrassed for him and his tantrums last episode where they took the wrong bus. Plus, he is always dismissing other people's intelligence. Just rude all around.

I am rooting for the cowboys or the other father/daughter. I didn't expect to like them during their season -- with her so perky and the whole pageant thing -- but I do!

[murielm99]

18. Isn't that amazing?

She really is likable. Usually I can't stand girls like her. I guess it is a mistake to stereotype anyone - even super Christian beauty queens!

[dsc]

19. This year's race is really taxing on the parent child teams

and favoring of the more athletic, younger teams. By having the race continue for longer times without rest. One parent child team is already gone and another one might well have been gone but for the express pass. It is no accident that the teams eliminated so far have been the least athletic ones no matter how much the athletic ones have screwed up. I hope that they slow the pace a bit to even out this. It was a neat gimmick and kept stuff fresh but I think it needs retired.

[murielm99]

20. Hooray! No more

Margie and Luke!

I have to give Luke credit for finishing with the tea. But he is so spoiled. I don't understand why Margie did not do that task. It seemed more suited to her.

I am very pleased with tonight's outcome. I still have so many favorites that I will be happy with any number of winning teams. I like the cowboys, the goths and the Globetrotters. If Mallory and her dad win, that will be fine. They are likable, although not my favorites.

The only ones I am still hoping to see eliminated soon are the Chinese-American father and daughter.

[dsc]

21. actually under the compensating sense theory

he should have had an advantage. The Chinese father was astounding at it, guess he is a bit of a tea hound. I am sad to see them go at this point I don't see any parent child team winning the race unless they stop with the continuing legs.

[murielm99]

22. I have heard so many people say that.

His sense of taste and smell should be increased because he is deaf.

The people who used their sense of smell found the tea faster.

Gary and Mallory are a father daughter team and they are racing very well. They came in first last night, and quite a few other times. Don't worry about the parent child teams.

It was funny when the others teased Gary and Mallory. She is a nice girl and good natured. They are not my favorites, but I would not be unhappy if they won.

[dsc]

23. they would have been eliminated but for the express pass

but they are good racers but age will catch up with the father if they have too many of those no rest keep racing days.

[lazarus]

24. I've heard that sense thing is a myth

and Luke really didn't seem to have any strategy whatsoever. Just guessing.

Glad to see him go. A grown person shouldn't be curled up in the fetal position crying for their mommy over tea.

I'm at the point now that I would be happy with every team's winning the Race, which has never happened before. Hopefully TPTB see how much people are enjoying the camaraderie and pleasantness of the Race and realize we don't need cockamamie "drama" every leg.

[lazarus]

25. Glad to see this elim

Ron needed to go.

I still love Vyxsin, but I'm over Kent. He was very rude to everybody last night.

Although I don't mind the way he dumped Gary at the RB. Race, after all.

[murielm99]

26. Yes, this was a good elimination.

The only thing I can say in Ron's favor is that I would probably get as frustrated as he does. Getting lost is no fun. Anyway, last week and this week's elimination were what I wanted to see.

I'm trying to be fair to Kent. I have liked this team for a long time. But he was terrible last night. Did he want Vyxsin to stay out of the water because it is so germy, or was he just being crabby? Was the editing done to show him in a negative light, so that we won't be unhappy if the Goths are eliminated soon?

I will keep pulling for the cowboys and the Globetrotters.

[comrade snarky]

27. She was crazy to jump in that water

There's isn't much in the way of sewage treatment in Varanasi, the crowded old city above the Gats largely drains into the Ganges and woo boy is it obvious from a scent perspective. It's septic, literally septic. Also, if they were where I think they were it's about 200 yards from the burning Gats where remains are put into the river. Not everyone is burned before going in either.

It's a good bet that she got quite ill in the next few days. If not good for her, I like her and Kent (I'm a little goth damaged myself) but sometimes she doesn't seem to think before jumping, this time literally!

I was really impressed with Zev, for someone with his condition that place would be hell. The crowds are oppressive, a constant riot of color, motion and the noise never pauses for an instant. He held it together really well.

Still though, I'm with you. I want to see the cowboys or the Globe Trotters win. Just because they are consistently having the most fun.

[murielm99]

28. One of the Globe Trotters is wearing a band-aid on

his head. Do you recall what happened to him?

[lazarus]

29. it first appeared

in the last India leg, after painting the Ganesha statue. There's been no word on what happened.

I read a thing on another site that claims Kent injured a rib (possibly broken) in China when he fell off the stepladder whilst building the giant dinosaur puzzle. If so, I completely understand why Vyxsin is carrying his bag and why he's so cranky.

[lazarus]

30. Kent and Vyxsin update

Kent says on his Facebook page he cracked a rib in China falling on the ladder during the dino RB.

Concerning the tuk-tuk incident: According to a secret scene on the CBS website, the passenger was hung over and the driver didn't even realize he was still in the tuk-tuk, and the driver was trying to get him out, too.

So I don't despise Kent nearly as much as I first did. He's still a bit of a tool, but I'm willing to give him some leeway due to his rib.

[comrade snarky]

31. Well that makes sense.

I'd be crabby too!

Man, am I so addicted to this dang show that I'm going to go to the web site and watch the extras? Well... Yep!

Thanks!

[murielm99]

32. Gary and Mallory lucked out.

Mallory did mention that in their first race, they washed out in the eighth leg of the race. They were lucky it was a non-elimination round.

I'm glad the Globetrotters did not win those little cars. They would have had trouble fitting into them comfortably.

This was an uneventful leg of the race, IMHO.

[lazarus]

33. I was hoping the NEL was a thing of the past

with all the TBC legs earlier in the race, I thought NELs were over. I hate them, much prefer the TBC.

Hated seeing Flight Time pee on the library wall. Very crude.

Stupid decision by the Cowboys on the flight. When in doubt, stick with the group. Had they done that, they likely would have won the leg.

As much as I used to like them, Kent and Vyxsin are getting tiresome. Kent needs to quit whining or verify that he cracked a rib in China on air.

Weird that someone besides Phil did the voiceover for the preview for next week.

[murielm99]

34. I have always disliked the non-elimination legs.

The cowboys have been lackluster. Maybe it is the editing.

I think peeing on the wall could have been edited out entirely. I didn't think about it one way or the other at the time, but several people have been bothered by it.

[MaineDem]

35. I like the 'trotters but I'm glad they didn't win the cars

Pro athletes don't need them. I'm glad they finished second, though.

I don't care for the non-elimination legs either. But it must be a relief to the teams; boring for us.