The Amazing Race 4/15 - "We Are Trying To Make Love, Not War"

[Scuba_Ben]

After the oh so suspenseful last few episodes, we're down to four teams tonight. We had three consecutive eliminations due to transportation issues -- two eliminations due to airplane flight routings, and one NEL penalty that ran smack into a charter bus schedule that kept them from recovering. What's going to happen tonight?

My take (as discussed at yesterday's Dopefest) is that we've had two non-elimination legs so far, and we're down to four teams. The present NEL penalty is completely useless when assessed on the final leg. Logically, tonight will be a NEL. QED.

Which is something of a pity, as I want to see Eric and Danielle get eliminated, just to see if Danielle borrows Sarah's ironleg boot and dumps Eric on the mat.

The other opinion present was to see Charla and Mirna get eliminated. Apparantly their snarkiness is just too much for some people.

CBS has golf matches this afternoon, which usually don't run late. So TAR will most likely be broadcast on schedule.

[Tangent]

Yeah, I'd like to see Eric and Danielle go home next. Charla and Mirna are at least entertaining to watch. I'm still rooting for the BQ's to win it all.

[BiblioCat]

I'd like to see the BQs or the Cha-Chas win. I don't really like Mirna and Charla or Eric and Danielle.

Although it would be funny to see Danielle dump Eric on the mat like Sarah did with Peter, I don't think she's smart enough to do that. She's too needy.

[Quiddity Glomfuster]

I'd rather the Cha-chas win. If the BQs win, their smug level will fly off the charts and they've got smug aplenty already.

[aktep]

Golf was rained out, so expect this to run on time.

[rockle]

At this point in the ep (22 minutes in), I just want to say: Do those overinflated senses of entitlement that some of the Racers are carrying around fit in the overhead bins, or what? Because that is some baggage to carry around. Sheesh, I think I hate everybody except the Chas.

[aktep]

This is "yield karma" -- the ones who complain about the yield are the ones who should suffer.

[Scuba_Ben]

I think that the Fast Forward ranks as the second coolest stunt I've seen on this show.

And kudos to various racers for their stunt kung fu moves.

[rockle]

I think that the Fast Forward ranks as the second coolest stunt I've seen on this show.

And kudos to various racers for their stunt kung fu moves.Yup -- that Fast Forward and that Detour option are both in my Top Five Amazing Race tasks ever. I think I love Hong Kong oh so very much.

[aktep]

Well, Scuba_Ben was right.

[BiblioCat]

At this point in the ep (22 minutes in), I just want to say: Do those overinflated senses of entitlement that some of the Racers are carrying around fit in the overhead bins, or what? Because that is some baggage to carry around. Sheesh, I think I hate everybody except the Chas.No kidding.
I love how Mirna thinks using the Yield somehow equals playing dirty. It's part of the game, you moron!

[Robot Arm]

I missed the first 10 minutes. What was up with all the Airport Drama? From what I could tell, it looked like Oswald & Danny and Charla & Mirna jumped the line by going to the airline office instead of waiting at the counter. So who was really there first, and what was the bickering about stand-by on the other flight?

And, what happened to the rule that a team could only get one Fast Forward? Danny & Oswald (Intersected with Uchenna & Joyce) took the FF in Poland, how could they take this one, too?

[DrFidelius]

Schmirna went up two notches in my estimation by having roller-sneakers. That was the funnest thing I have seen in years.

[jayjay]

And, what happened to the rule that a team could only get one Fast Forward? Danny & Oswald (Intersected with Uchenna & Joyce) took the FF in Poland, how could they take this one, too?

I'm thinking that Intersected FFs don't count toward that, if only because it would be supremely unfair if one of the intersected teams had previously taken a FF but the other hadn't. You choose your intersection team before you open the envelope, right? There's no way to know if there's an FF in there until you open the envelope.

[Tangent]

My favorite moment was when the BQs joked about making a Beauty Queen sandwich out of Mirna.

Mmmm... a Dustin-Mirna-Kandice sandwich!

:drools:

I'll be in my bunk.

[randwill]

I think you can tell if it's going to be a non-elimination leg. They don't play the "sad" music as the last team approaches the mat. At least that is what I noticed tonight.

[PastAllReason]

I adore Oswald and Danny ever so much.

RobertArm, the airport drama arose, I think, because the teams are very aware of how much difference making flights or not have made on this race in particular. So there are lots of arguments going on about who was first in line and who should be first on the stand-by list because there was a good possibility they wouldn't make the flight. When the teams got to the airport the airline desks were closed. Danny and Oswald and the Scmirnas went to see if there was somewhere else they could go to book flights. They were successful in flagging down employees prior to their arrival at the "official" front desks, and instead seemed to be in their offices. Because they did that, they got booked first.

I wouldn't call it line-jumping, anymore than I would have said that whoever did it in Africa when they went up to the second floor offices, and the teams that stayed in the "ordinary" line ended up being so far behind.

I do wonder why the cameras/editors showed at least twice the rules around flying on Malaysian airlines, that included the dress code when D/O were booking their flight, when it was not an issue at all. Are they deliberately showing "red herrings" now? There was one a few weeks ago when Dustin and Kandace left their backpacks on a bench when they were running somewhere. I recall the bags being showed in a way that might lead one to believe they were going to be stolen.

[aktep]

I do wonder why the cameras/editors showed at least twice the rules around flying on Malaysian airlines, that included the dress code when D/O were booking their flight, when it was not an issue at all.


I paused the DVR on that, and it was just the dress code for the Malaysian Airlines office. Which made it even more of a red herring.

[Hentor the Barbarian]

I think you can tell if it's going to be a non-elimination leg. They don't play the "sad" music as the last team approaches the mat. At least that is what I noticed tonight.I thought it was confirmed when there was no trumped up pseudo-tension and no handheld-camera-foot-POV-shot running up to Phil at the end.

[Draelin]

RobertArm, the airport drama arose, I think, because the teams are very aware of how much difference making flights or not have made on this race in particular. So there are lots of arguments going on about who was first in line and who should be first on the stand-by list because there was a good possibility they wouldn't make the flight. When the teams got to the airport the airline desks were closed. Danny and Oswald and the Scmirnas went to see if there was somewhere else they could go to book flights. They were successful in flagging down employees prior to their arrival at the "official" front desks, and instead seemed to be in their offices. Because they did that, they got booked first.

The BQs were so pissed because, if I remember right, they were the first ones at the airport. That's it. No playing dirty, just playing different. You didn't think of going directly to the airline office? Too bad, is what I say.

I dislike Danielle a very lot. Going any further with that statement will probably involve a lot of swearing. Eric's no prize, either, but something about Danielle makes me want to stick my thumb in her eye and scoop out her brains every time they show her scowly little face.

[Slacker]

Yup -- that Fast Forward and that Detour option are both in my Top Five Amazing Race tasks ever. I think I love Hong Kong oh so very much.
I actually thought that was the lamest FF ever. Yeah, it looked like a ton o' fun, but where's the challenge? All you have to do is sit there. It's not like they're going to die. Make 'em climb something, navigate something, shave something, or God help us, even eat something. Just sit there? Boo.

[Robot Arm]

I'm thinking that Intersected FFs don't count toward that, if only because it would be supremely unfair if one of the intersected teams had previously taken a FF but the other hadn't. You choose your intersection team before you open the envelope, right? There's no way to know if there's an FF in there until you open the envelope.That's probably true, and if it is, it's a sucky rule. It happened in reverse of the way you describe, anyway; the Intersection was first. So what were the consequences; IF there had a been another Intersection, and IF Oswald & Danny had teamed up with Uchenna & Joyce again, and IF there had then been a Fast Forward, only then they couldn't have taken it? Taking the first Fast Forward is hardly a head-scratcher, is it.

There's only three Fast Forwards on the whole race, anyway. If each team is only allowed one, then Intersections should damn well count.

PAR, thanks for the recap. Finding an alternate source for airline tickets isn't cheating, or dishonest, but I can't blame Dustin & Kandace for being annoyed about it. I'd hardly expect them to give up first place in line to look for something better. Now, what was with all the squabbling over stand-by order on the other flight. When Danny & Oswald got on the first flight, they tried to give their stand-by slot to Charla & Mirna? Should that have put them ahead of the Beauty Queens, or not?

I want Mirna gone next. Trying to work favors at the airline counter by calling everyone "friend", and concocting some alliance are not why I watch. If I wanted scheming, I'd watch Survivor. Plus, there were her catty remarks about the Beauty Queens. From what I can tell, the BQs are just damn good racers.

Oh, and did all the Danny & Oswald fans notice him outright lying to that first cab driver in Hong Kong?

[amarinth]

one NEL penalty that ran smack into a charter bus schedule that kept them from recovering.I think those charters were supposed to be a lot closer together. Problem is the two last place teams couldn't even get on the provided flights. And the Guidos barely made the second charter. I'm willing to both were moved back, and that second even farther back so they could get everyone on a bus.
Or, in other words, it was originally better planned and the plans fell through horribly.

Anyway, the Yield isn't playing dirty. I don't particularly like the BQs, but their decision to yield was good racing.

The Kung Fu Fighting was an awesome detour. I want to do that. And I'm afraid of heights. C&M do very well in airports, but they lost a ton of time switching between detours and going to the wrong ferry.

[Quiddity Glomfuster]

PAR, thanks for the recap. Finding an alternate source for airline tickets isn't cheating, or dishonest
It's called strategy.
but I can't blame Dustin & Kandace for being annoyed about it. I'd hardly expect them to give up first place in line to look for something better.
If they haven't the smarts to try other, better ways to get their tickets, boo hoo. Everybody has stepped up their air ticket strategy game - these two want to get by on pretty, I guess.

[zut]

Ninjas! Kicking down doors! Flipping over cars! Only a random TANK could be better!

Taxi Assessment

Stuck in the Desert and Officially Detained - or, Philiminated with extreme prejudice.
John Vito & Jill and Kevin & Drew and David & Mary and Rob & Amber and Teri & Ian and Joe & Bill and Uchenna & Joyce- Who are these people again?

Flat Tire - or, not likely to get anywhere soon.
Eric & Danielle - (down from "Rapido!") - Eric & Danielle were essentially screwed not by anything they did, but by what the other teams did better--namely, airport wrangling. But them's the breaks, too bad so sad, and they're lucky not to already be eliminated. Next episode, however, will be a challenge for them. They need a leg that provides some bunching up front and a series of tasks where they can seperate themselves from trailing teams. They can't really count on another team doing something stupid, not at this stage in the race, and they're prime targets for a strategic Yield. It will be interesting to see when Eric & Danielle start next week vis a vis Charla & Mirna, because I'd like to know if Eric's erratic, no-directions driving actually hurt this team or if it was standard TAR hype.

Stopping for Gas - or, not broken-down, exactly, but not a good sign.
Charla & Mirna - (holding steady) - Ooo, a nearly disastrous ferry mistake! Who'd a thunk that from this team? I'm still not quite sure why Charla & Mirna didn't incur a penalty on this leg, when the instructions clearly said to "take the Star Ferry across to Hong Kong Island," and they took some other ferry instead. Anyway, Charla & Mirna are in better shape than Eric & Danielle, but they're clearly outclassed by Danny & Oswald and Dustin & Kandice.

"Rapido! Por Favor?" - or, making meaningless ineffectual comments from the back seat, but in no immediate danger.
No one this week.

In the Passing Lane - or, ahead of the pack, but not quite comfortably.
No one this week.

Cruisin' with Earl - or, drivin' on the shoulder, takin' shortcuts, and generally kickin' butt.
Danny & Oswald - (holding steady) - Nice, nice airport maneuvering by Danny & Oswald in this episode leads to a hefty lead, a fast-forward, and a first-place finish. Barring a meltdown, Danny & Oswald ought to easily cruise into the final three. However, it might be significant that Danny & Oswald have run out of money--if they're unable to pay for a taxi at a critical moment, they might be screwed.
Dustin & Kandice - (holding steady) - All the airport drama essentially came to naught, as both Dustin & Kandice and Charla & Mirna got on the same flight. But while Charla & Mirna dithered and made mistakes, Dustin & Kandice powered through the Detour and the Roadblock for an easy second place.

Next week: a Yield, and we are coyly led to believe teams join up to Yield Dustin & Kandice...or do they? The obvious team to Yield would be Eric & Danielle, because they would be so easy to knock out of the race.

Props to Mullinator and his Raj Ratings.

[rockle]

The BQs were so pissed because, if I remember right, they were the first ones at the airport. That's it. No playing dirty, just playing different. You didn't think of going directly to the airline office? Too bad, is what I say.This is the exact same thing that bothered me about Eric getting his panties in a knot last week, too: Everybody knows it's a race, so you can't really get pissed off when people out-race you. Well, I mean, you can, obviously, but you shouldn't. It is not a reasonable expectation that other people are just going to drop everything and let you pass them. "Honoring the line" is only a valid concept if all parties agree to it. Race smarter. And for the love of God, stop whining! This was not the first time that the BQ's saw Danny and Oswald use their patented airline office technique. At this point, you would think that they'd know to follow D&O around.

I want Mirna gone next. Trying to work favors at the airline counter by calling everyone "friend", and concocting some alliance are not why I watch. If I wanted scheming, I'd watch Survivor. Plus, there were her catty remarks about the Beauty Queens. From what I can tell, the BQs are just damn good racers.Mirna doesn't do anything other Racers haven't done since the beginning; she's just louder about it, and doing it in a random accent. And anyway, Mirna is not nearly as catty as Danielle, I don't think, and even she's got nothing on Eric. He's the bitchiest cuss I ever saw. No matter what Mirna says about the BQ's and their padded bras, it's not ever going to be as bad as calling someone a "dirty pirate hooker," nor is it as insulting as some of the things that Eric said on his last Race about his own current girlfriend. (Can't find a cite yet, but I'll keep looking -- I know there was a lot of talk about it in the TAR9 threads, but I can't find any specifics just yet.)

[Robot Arm]

I'm still not quite sure why Charla & Mirna didn't incur a penalty on this leg, when the instructions clearly said to "take the Star Ferry across to Hong Kong Island," and they took some other ferry instead.Their taxi driver accidentally took them to the Star Ferry terminal on Hong Kong Island, and they rushed to board a boat that was about to leave. It took them back to the mainland side. During the ride, they figured out the problem, stayed on board, and rode it back to the island. Strictly speaking, they fulfilled the instructions, and it might not have cost them any time at all.

[zut]

PAR, thanks for the recap. Finding an alternate source for airline tickets isn't cheating, or dishonest
It's called strategy.
but I can't blame Dustin & Kandace for being annoyed about it. I'd hardly expect them to give up first place in line to look for something better.
If they haven't the smarts to try other, better ways to get their tickets, boo hoo. Everybody has stepped up their air ticket strategy game - these two want to get by on pretty, I guess.
Well, a couple things. First of all, if I was outfoxed by other teams in a game for a million bucks, I'd be annoyed, too. That's not a reflection on the propriety of the other team's actions, it's just annoying in general to be outfoxed.

Second, and more important, there's a couple things going on here (as I recall from the episode). Both Danny & Oswald and Charla & Mirna got on top of the standby list on China Air (the first flight). However, only Danny & Oswald got on top of the Malasian Air standby list.

When Danny & Oswald got on the Air China flight, they gave their standby code for Malaysian Air to Charla & Mirna. Charla & Mirna then claimed that, because they had this code, they ought to be at the head of the line, before Dustin & Kandace, despite the fact that it was Danny & Oswald who had obtained the code.

So Dustin & Kandace's beef wasn't that they'd been outmanouevered by Charla & Mirna, the beef was that they hadn't been outmanouevered by Charla & Mirna. I think you could make an argument either way here, and I don't blame either Dustin & Kandace or Charla & Mirna for arguing as vociferously as they could.

[zut]

Their taxi driver accidentally took them to the Star Ferry terminal on Hong Kong Island, and they rushed to board a boat that was about to leave. It took them back to the mainland side. During the ride, they figured out the problem, stayed on board, and rode it back to the island. Strictly speaking, they fulfilled the instructions, and it might not have cost them any time at all.Ahhhhh... it wasn't clear to me that the ferry they were on was another Star Ferry. That's OK; it made the episode much more exciting when I thought Charla & Mirna would have to sit out a 30-minute penalty at the end, giving Eric & Danielle a chance to catch up.

[scotandrsn]

So at this point it looks like the final leg (is next week the two-hour finale?) is going to be The Chas, the BQs, and...

...some team that isn't going to give either of them a serious challenge.

[Robot Arm]

The problem with the airport scenario is that it acts as a sort of anti-bunching point. Four teams arrive at the airport, and the ticket counter is closed. The first place team has an interest in holding their place at the counter. The last place team has nothing to lose by looking around for some kindly office drone to help them. If they can't find anyone, they come back to the counter and they're still last in line. If they do find someone, it leapfrogs the last place team to first.

Plus, airlines sell a limited commodity, and they're all about first-come-first-served. They have stand-by lists and those little cattle chutes at the ticket counter to enforce the idea. So, if some guy in the back office is willing to book tickets before the counter opens, shouldn't he check to make sure there aren't more people waiting?

It's not a big deal, it's just not my favorite part of the Race.

[scotandrsn]

...I think you could make an argument either way here, and I don't blame either Dustin & Kandace or Charla & Mirna for arguing as vociferously as they could.

Especially the very next leg after a team was eliminated when their failure at airport wrangling dropped them back 24 hours.

[Scuba_Ben]

I think those charters were supposed to be a lot closer together. Problem is the two last place teams couldn't even get on the provided flights. And the Guidos barely made the second charter. I'm willing to both were moved back, and that second even farther back so they could get everyone on a bus.
Or, in other words, it was originally better planned and the plans fell through horribly.After further thought, you're probably right, amarinth. It would make editorial sense to manipulate the times of the charter buses to keep the teams more-or-less together. Since the production staff controls the charters, that's probably how they handled the BQs having a very large lead, of about 18 hours over Guido. So had there not been so much air travel screwage, Guido might have been able to overcome the NEL penalty.

Task-wise, I loved this leg. It's the one leg I've seen in the few seasons I've been watching where I would have loved to do all the tasks. Of course, we all could have done without the airport drama.

I noticed that all teams after D&O assumed that D&O would've taken the Fast Forward, and we were not shown any team checking to see if they had actually done so. This is a good assumption; D&O were using a resource-denial strategy, making sure that nobody else could overcome their first-flight lead. Strategy would've been different had another team been on the first flight into Hong Kong, but hey, them's the breaks.

The preview for next week "showed" that Danny & Oswald team with Eric & Danielle against one of the other teams. Given how much the editing seeks to screw over our perceptions, does anybody want to take a bet on the Beauty Queens teaming with Charla & Mirna out of raw practicality? (They did so before at the Intersection point.)

[zut]

The preview for next week "showed" that Danny & Oswald team with Eric & Danielle against one of the other teams. Given how much the editing seeks to screw over our perceptions, does anybody want to take a bet on the Beauty Queens teaming with Charla & Mirna out of raw practicality? (They did so before at the Intersection point.)The voice-over said something about a "surprise" partnership between two teams. Given that they "showed" a partnership between Danny & Oswald and Eric & Danielle to Yield Dustin & Kandace, but didn't actually say team names, that leads me to believe the partnership is between two other teams.

Dustin & Kandace and Charla & Mirna would seem to be the biggest "suprise." Also, I'll say right now that whatever team is second-to-last next week had better use the Yield, or else they're stupid and deserve elimination.

[Ferd Burfel]

I, too, got a kick out seeing Charla's roller-sneaks...and being pushed through the airport on the baggage cart.

This was the first time in two races that Charla and Mirna have done well at a physical challenge and had fun doing it. <snerk: Mirna kung-fu kicking on a bamboo scaffold>

[rockle]

The preview for next week "showed" that Danny & Oswald team with Eric & Danielle against one of the other teams. Given how much the editing seeks to screw over our perceptions, does anybody want to take a bet on the Beauty Queens teaming with Charla & Mirna out of raw practicality? (They did so before at the Intersection point.)The voice-over said something about a "surprise" partnership between two teams. Given that they "showed" a partnership between Danny & Oswald and Eric & Danielle to Yield Dustin & Kandace, but didn't actually say team names, that leads me to believe the partnership is between two other teams.

Dustin & Kandace and Charla & Mirna would seem to be the biggest "suprise." Also, I'll say right now that whatever team is second-to-last next week had better use the Yield, or else they're stupid and deserve elimination.I meant to say something about this earlier. I don't think Dustin & Kandace are going to get involved in any Yield-related drama, because they've already used the Yield and can't use it again. What I'm most afraid of? Is Eric & Danielle and Mirna & Charla teaming up and using the Yield on the Chas. It actually makes sense, in a weird sort of way -- Eric & Danielle would not Yield the BQ's, I don't think, to "prove" that they don't need to "cheat" to beat anyone, and they don't view Mirna & Charla as "real" competition. Danny & Oswald are the only team left who are not so distracted by interteam squabbles that it has impacted their racing.

[Quiddity Glomfuster]

So, if some guy in the back office is willing to book tickets before the counter opens, shouldn't he check to make sure there aren't more people waiting?
No. Why? They're about selling tickets, not about grade-school line monitoring.
So at this point it looks like the final leg (is next week the two-hour finale?)
The site has four more episodes; possibly two hours next week to whittle down to three teams and two for the last episode. Or aren't we about due for a 'the race so far' recap episode?

[Scuba_Ben]

The site has four more episodes; possibly two hours next week to whittle down to three teams and two for the last episode. Or aren't we about due for a 'the race so far' recap episode?Wikipedia claims a 1 hour finale episode will be aired 3 weeks from now. So that sounds like a double-length leg to wear people down. And I don't mean just the racers, I include us viewers. (I don't call this season bad, just that it's turned on airline schedules and flights far too often, especially the last 4 legs.)

[Atrael]

Great episode! Loved the detour task...and the roadblock. The FF was interesting to watch, and probably a lot of fun to do, but nothing really there to compete about. Not like the 'find the right change' fast forward from season 1. I also didn't think Mirna and Charla were entitled to Danny and Oswald's place on the standby list. If your name isn't Dann or Oswald, then you don't get that spot. I can understand the BQs being upset. That would have irritated me. I think what bothers me personally most about Mirna is that she acts like she's not doing anything wrong by stuff like that. It'd be different if in a later video she admited that she really had no right to that spot, but that at this point in the race she had no choice but to try everything she could to get on that flight. Instead she acts like "but of course I'm entitled to someone else's spot on the list!"

edited to add: One thing I wondered about the ferry thing with Mirna and Charla. I thought when I saw it at first that they had gotten onto the ferry at the Hong Kong terminal and were ridding it to another location rather than the one they should have started on. Googling real quick I see that there are 3 possible routes. I wonder if it mattered which terminal you left from as long as it was on a Star ferry going to Hong Kong.

[lorene]

What I'm most afraid of? Is Eric & Danielle and Mirna & Charla teaming up and using the Yield on the Chas.

Oh, what a horrible (yet plausible) scenario.

I feel slightly chilled and must lie down.

Edited to add that one of the Google ads at the bottom is asking what kind of Mom I am, and another is suggesting relaxation techniques. On top of everything else, now I feel judged.

[rockle]

Oh, what a horrible (yet plausible) scenario.

I feel slightly chilled and must lie down.I think Danny & Oswald would recommend that you go shopping, and then go to the airport in a Mercedes. Where you go from there is entirely up to you. The world is waiting ... travel safe ... go! :D

[interface2x]

I don't think Dustin & Kandace are going to get involved in any Yield-related drama, because they've already used the Yield and can't use it again. They can't? I don't remember that rule.

[rockle]

They can't? I don't remember that rule.Yes, the Yield can only be used once per team per Race. However, a team may be Yielded more than once.

[candide]

I think Danny & Oswald would recommend that you go shopping, and then go to the airport in a Mercedes. Where you go from there is entirely up to you. The world is waiting ... travel safe ... go! :D

Rockle is so right.

And, the fabulousness of the two is going to get them to the finish.

Now the questions I've got are these:

Do you think that the organizers developed a task where Myrna couldn't see Charla so that they could find out if she was a shrill banshee?

They did. As Charla worked her way up the stairs of the Old Police Building, Myrna couldn't help herself. She yelled and screamed, despite not seeing he cousin.

I'm a bit dissapointed in the lack of Europe. The gang was quickly in Poland where we saw the least of the competitors.

I'm happy we saw lots of South America and Africa, which are hard places to travel well. They're deserved of extra recognition, especially on a game that is geared to All-Stars.

But we missed out on the grope-fest that is usually the Subcontinent. This late in the race they went from Poland to Malasia, which is close to Singapore. There they cane you for vandalism. Many of the producers' "tasks" verge on crime anyway. And the fondling common to India, was avoided this time around. Maybe we'll see the first all-female team to win the Race.

For the record, I've got to say that I liked Charla and Myrna this week. They seemed to have fun with the Detour. I liked that they tossed change into the harbor. Still, I hate Myrna.

Go boys!

[zut]

Yes, the Yield can only be used once per team per Race. However, a team may be Yielded more than once.
Indeed. I would think Eric & Danielle would be prime candidates to be Yielded, because they're already behind by an extra half-hour, and a Yield might take them out of the race completely.

On the other hand, after a little thought, I believe Eric & Danielle would be really, really stupid not to Yield someone else if they have any opportunity at all to do so. I would be very interested to hear Danielle's reasoning here, one way or another.

[StarvingButStrong]

On the other hand, after a little thought, I believe Eric & Danielle would be really, really stupid not to Yield someone else if they have any opportunity at all to do so. I would be very interested to hear Danielle's reasoning here, one way or another.


Why? You know it'll just be hypocritical bullsh*t. If they yielded the Beauty Queens, it'll be 'fair' because they did it first. If they yielded anyone else it will because they are 'forced' into it by the game and thus not *their* fault.

I'm so sick of the moral posturing over the Yield. It's not cheating, playing dirty, ignoble, low, whatever. It's part of the game. You might as well complain about someone sending your ball off to wherever in croquet.

Get over it. It's PART OF THE GAME.

[Liberal]

I don't understand why those things are called "clues". If something said, "Travel to the city that's headquarters for America's largest bank," that would be a clue. But if it says, "Travel to Charlotte" it's just an instruction.

[Scuba_Ben]

I don't understand why those things are called "clues". If something said, "Travel to the city that's headquarters for America's largest bank," that would be a clue. But if it says, "Travel to Charlotte" it's just an instruction.I think I've heard that in the first few seasons, the clues would be somewhat vague. I'm sure someone who has all the seasons on DVD will be by in a few minutes to confirm or deny this. (BTW, if I had the clue that you gave as an example, I'd wind up in Wilmington, DE, and wonder where everybody else was. Hopefully, my teammate would stop me long enough to research the correct destination.)

While I added my BTW comment, I remembered that in the last two seasons they tried one clue per season. In TAR 9, the instruction to go to Kuwait City said "Find the building in this photo." In TAR 10, the instruction was "Go to the city where such-and-such happened." (I don't feel like looking up the details, but I think the answer was Kiev, Ukraine.)

I'd like to see the route instructions generally be less specific on how to get to the next clue. This episode is a good case -- I would have preferred the instruction "Go to the old police station on Hong Kong Island" without the producer-added condition "travelling by Star Ferry to the island." This lets people decide for themselves: The ferry is cheaper (maybe), but a taxi is quicker (maybe). Which is the better choice for us at this moment?

[aktep]

There was a clue on TAR1 that included a small flag and a photograph, and was just "go to the country with this flag and find this man"

[Atrael]

Oooo...I had forgotten about that one aktep....I was thinking about the first one that was something like "Go to the place that thunders"....I think the first season was one of the only ones that actually had clues....since then they've been more like directions....although every now and then they throw us a clue bone. I didn't see the episode, but from what I understand this season the had one that was sort of a 'figure it out' sort of roadblock.

[Jelymag]

I actually thought that was the lamest FF ever. Yeah, it looked like a ton o' fun, but where's the challenge? All you have to do is sit there. It's not like they're going to die. Make 'em climb something, navigate something, shave something, or God help us, even eat something. Just sit there? Boo.


I thought the other one on this race was kinda lame too. The ones I remember from other seasons were drinking blood, shaving your head bald...

[jayjay]

Ben, it was "Fly to the capital of the country that contains Chernobyl." I remember this because I was really, really hoping at least one of the teams would end up in Moscow...

[Jelymag]

I already deleted it from my DVR, but in Eric's little interview at the end did he actually say something to the effect of "Yeah, so maybe Danielle was right, I should have gotten directions. But I don't blame her, it's not her fault..."

???

[Robot Arm]

Ben, it was "Fly to the capital of the country that contains Chernobyl." I remember this because I was really, really hoping at least one of the teams would end up in Moscow...I'm a recent convert to TAR, so I missed the earlier seasons when the clues were a little more indirect. Did anything like that ever happen, a team get their facts mixed up and wind up the wrong hemisphere or something?

[Scuba_Ben]

I already deleted it from my DVR, but in Eric's little interview at the end did he actually say something to the effect of "Yeah, so maybe Danielle was right, I should have gotten directions. But I don't blame her, it's not her fault..."?I remember Eric saying something much like that. I'm thinking that if Eric was any more of a tool, he should be wearing a Craftsman label.

[Liberal]

I think that really hurts TAR. There's too much luck in it.

[lorene]

I think that really hurts TAR. There's too much luck in it.

Which 'that' are you referring to?

[Liberal]

Which 'that' are you referring to?Oops, sorry. That didn't line up very well, did it. :o

It's the whole thing about moving from one instruction to another without having to actually figure anything out. If it's a race, make it a race. Let people know what the course is and turn them loose on it. But this business of just reading a card that says "Go to Peoria and find Joe's Coffee Shop" only to go there and find a card that says "Okay, now go to Dallas and find Texas Stadium". And in between, there are little tasks, few of which require any mental skill. Even in the Detour split-tasks, it's usually toting the heaviest barge versus finding a needle in a haystack. And then there's the bunching up at choke points, where people who got there hours before someone else lose all the advantage they've earned.

And so, who finishes a leg before whom often boils down to sheer luck — flights getting delayed, dumbass cab drivers, cars breaking down, traffic jams, bad weather, etc. I understand that luck can always be a factor in any game (even chess can be affected by luck), but TAR has eliminated so much of the clue-ness of clues that practically all the strategy centers around how best to hurry. And even that fails if some lucky person happens to find the cookie with the pecan in it by picking it randomly out of a stack of two thousand cookies.

ETA:

I'd just like to see more actual challenge to it.

[lorene]

I'd just like to see more actual challenge to it.

Me, too. Even when we here speak about who has "raced smarter" than other teams, a lot of it comes down to either who has had good airport strategy or who has avoided the detours that are the biggest time suck.

[Atrael]

or just plain luck. I think U&J got eliminated because they missed that tight connections...but C&M got way ahead becaused they happened to make a tight connection...so it can really go either way.

Although I think Liberal has a good idea. Turn teams loose at one point, tell them they have to go around the world...give them a list of countries/cities that they have to visit...maybe have a stamp or something they have to get there. Then for fun, eliminate air travel as a means of getting there. You can take any other available transportation option, but not anything that goes in the air. Now that could be interesting.