Normally when the Amaxing Editors cut back-and-forth between the lead team having taxi trouble and the second-place team coming hot on their heels, I assume they’re playing fast-and-loose with time itself, intercutting scenes that happened many mintes apart to make it look like the teams are closer than they are. Imagine my suprise when it turned out that Nat & Kat actually were immediately behind Jill & Thomas, and managed to overtake them to wind up in first.
Taxi Assessment:
Stuck in the Desert and Officially Detained - or, Philiminated with extreme prejudice.
Ron & Tony and Andie & Jenna and Connor & Jonathan and Katie & Rachel and Michael & Kevin and Gary & Mallory and Chad & Stephanie - See you in the final episode.
Drawing Chalk Circles Around African Kids - or, out of the car, wandering around, and seizing on the first random idea to come down the pike.
Nick & Vicki (moved from “Stopping”) - Nick & Vicki are staring down the last elimination, against (presumably) the stiffest competition, and they arrive at the Pit Stop way behind the other teams, plus take a six-hour penalty, plus have to do an additional (although historically non-strenuous) task, plus Nick’s been completely broken by the stress of the race. Given that the producers have abandoned all pretense of airport bunching forming “naturally,” it will be interesting to see if they arrange for Nick & Vicki to catch up (thereby rendering the penalty moot), or if they keep Nick & Vicki lagging behind (thereby rendering any actual Racing contained in the next episode moot). In either case, Nick & Vicki are still the weakest team left, and I suspect Nick’s unwillingness to continue when the going gets tough will slop over into the next leg. As I noted last week, Vicki has to take the rest of the Roadblocks, and this was one where Nick might have done a better job. But that was only one of a series of things which caused this team to fall further and further behind, culminating in Nick’s let’s-quit decision on the Detour. Even if the producers nullify the eight- or ten-hour gap between Nick & Vicki and the rest of the teams, I just don’t think this team (or at least half of it, at any rate) has any desire to keep Racing.
Flat Tire - or, not likely to get anywhere soon.
No one this week.
Stopping for Gas - or, not broken-down, exactly, but not a good sign.
No one this week.
"Rapido! Por Favor?" - or, making meaningless ineffectual comments from the back seat, but in no immediate danger.
Jill & Thomas (holding steady) - Jill & Thomas caught another lucky break this episode when they found the correct boat almost immediately after starting the Detour task. That cancelled out their unwise decision to opt for the sign-finding Detour, although it wasn’t quite enough to get them into first place. Now, being lucky is important, and luck has won this game in the past, but being good is also important. Jill & Thomas aren’t bad, but I still think the teams ranked ahead of them are better.
In the Passing Lane - or, ahead of the pack, but not quite comfortably.
Brook & Claire (holding steady) - Boo on Brook & Claire for being catty with Jill & Thomas about the Yield. On the other hand, they seemed to get over it quickly, and it didn’t seem to me like there was much real animosity there–more just pleasing the producers and taking a justified dig at the competition. I’m still a little worried about Claire’s stamina, and Brook’s getting a teensy bit testy. However, the testiness was only teensy, and Claire gamely chomped through the Roadblock. They’re starting out in third next episode, but with Nick & Vicki almost certain to be eliminated next and two more airport bunches coming up, Brook & Claire are in a good position.
Cruisin’ with Earl - or, drivin’ on the shoulder, takin’ shortcuts, and generally kickin’ butt.
Nat & Kat (holding steady) - Nat & Kat remained in first throughout most of the leg, confirming why they’re the team to beat. They’ve also beaten off their bad-taxi-karma from the first few legs.
[sub]Props to Mullinator and his Raj Rating[/sub]
