Amazing Race 5/4

Cafe Society
1

I haven’t seen a thread, so I thought I’d start because so many things annoyed me.

Yes, Dave is still upset he was U-turned, and it shouldn’t happen to an old man even though it’s part of the game.

Yes, the bulls were rough, and it shouldn’t happen to Rachel who felt they were bullying her, even though it’s part of the game.

Yes, it’s a shame the Afghanimals U-turned the Cowboys and by doing so upset the girls, even though it’s part of the game.

The Cowboys at least accepted their loss with grace.
And that bull costume looked like fun if it was just me and people who couldn’t run or hit any harder than I.

2

:(l:(

3

My boys screwed up with navigation, just as I thought they would.

StG

4

I thought she was making a play on words. Bullying, you know because they were bulls.

Leo and Jamal played it smart and it worked out well for them. They are clearly the strongest team left. I think they will play hard to get Dave and Conner out if they can. Even if they can’t, they are much better than D&C.

5

What, the Cowboys getting lost navigating? I don’t believe it!

The bull challenge looked pretty awesome, though I was thinking someone was gonna injure their legs… and sure enough, someone did.

Not surprised at Leo and Jamal’s choice - the Cowboys are the stronger team, though Brendon/Rachel are a bit underrated. They have the bad challenge every now and then (the bartending one) but when they keep their frustration under control, they’re strong. But the Cowboys, despite their navigation troubles, tend to be challenge masters.

I wonder how bad Jamal’s injury is - it caused them to walk all the way on the last part of the race and Brendon/Rachel pulled ahead of them. Could be something to watch out for.

6

Those bull costumes DID look like fun! As I’m cackling and snorting away watching, The Fella turns to me and says, “You really want those, don’t you?” Me: “YES!”

Sorry about the cowboys, but I’ll bet they’ll be back on another all-stars. This has been an odd race. I would’ve never thought I’d end up rooting for the Afghanimals or Brenchel.

7

I still strongly think that the U-Turn needs to be in front of the roadblock so that a U-turned team has a chance to make it up.

The Amazing producers obviously don’t agree with me.

8

I think the Uturn should be on every leg and the double uturn on random legs.

9

Well, I finally had time to watch an episode after not watching for a few weeks (translation: I stopped watching and therefore stopped starting these threads. No worries!)

I missed the U-Turn Drama, but the fact that Dave would mention it right off the bat…yeah, hurt pride and all that, but you know what? Pack it in and get with the moment OK?

I’m not surprised about the Cowboys. Navigation isn’t their strongest skill, and it always bites them in the arse around this time in the race. I expected somebody to U-turn them. I knew they were goners when they had to complete the flamenco portion because…they have no rhythm to speak of (which season was it when they had to dance on a detour and they fell behind because one of them had trouble getting the steps down, IIRC?)

Brendon/Rachael is a team to watch. They came in third during their season, much to everyone’s surprise. As long as she doesn’t whine nor freak out, they work well together.

The bulls looked like fun, but OMG knees :shudder:

Why are the blondes still around? I like them, but…really?!?

10

Because they’re the ideal Final Three opponent. In Survivor terms, they’re the goat. D&C and the Afghanimals have been pulling them along for a reason.

Of course, there’s always a chance (remote as it may seem in this case) that the goat could win. All it takes is a turn of luck in the last leg.

11

I didn’t think so. They were whining about how untrustworthy the Afghanimals were for U-turning them.

It seemed they were going to lose regardless of the U-turn anyway. They were the last ones to reach the U-turn clue box, and it was just some more walking from there to the Pit Stop. I did like how one of them got to ride a horse into the sunset after being eliminated.

12

The blondes are going to be this race’s Beekmans. Stumble through the race, barely avoiding elimination, and next thing you know they are in the final three and then winning the race.

I wonder if the cowboys are regretting giving them the express pass? Who would have thought that the cowboys would be out before the blondes?

13

I don’t think they were whining that much. No more then most teams who get U-turned. They knew it was a game, just seemed they were a bit more disappointed that The Afghanimals didn’t do what they said they were going to do.

The crappy thing is that next week I’ll not be around for the finally, though the previews said next week, and didn’t say anything about it being the final, or two hours.

14

Nope. One of them matter of factly stated that you could not trust the Garanimals. No whining involved.

15

Future episode information spoilered, because some people hate even knowing that:

May 11 is a standard one hour episode. May 18 is the one hour finale.

16

When they saw the U-turn sign, Jet said:

“I told ya. Those two dirty suckers. They u-turned us we told you Leo and Jamal, you can’t trust them two guys - I knew that when we started.”

which is fine - it’s normal to bitch about the team that U-turns you in the heat of the moment. But then, they cut to one of the post-leg confessionals where they’re just interviewing the racers, and Jet said:

“We weren’t surprised to see our face up there. But then on the other hand we were really disappointed in Leo and Jamal. You know, you can’t trust anybody. When you throw a million dollars in the mix it really kind of brings out the worst in some people.”

That strikes me as whining. Yeah, when you’re racing for a million dollars, you do what is legal in the rules of the race to increase your odds of winning as much as possible. That’s hardly “the worst in some people.”

17

Anything’s possible but I find that hard to believe. There are at least a half dozen times they would have been sunk without help. Once they stop getting help surely they will fail at something.

18

I agree that the cowboys whined about the U-Turn. “Matter of fact statement”? Ha! We see what we want to see, I guess. I definitely saw whiners.

I remember the Beekmans as being worse.

19

Leave me alone, I’m old! I’m old!

Sayonara, Cowboys, too many mistakes finally caught up with you.

20

Taxi Assessment:

Stuck in the Desert and Officially Detained - or, Philiminated with extreme prejudice.
Natalie & Nadiya and [del]Bopper[/del] Mallory & Mark and Joey & Meghan and Margie & Luke and John & Jessica and Flight Time & Big Easy - (already eliminated)
Jet & Cord (down from “Cruisin’”) - The Cowboys lost fair and square this episode - even though they were U-Turned, they looked unlikely to catch up with Caroline & Jennifer even had they not had to do the flamenco task. And, really, they had no one to blame but themselves. There’s no reason they couldn’t have caught the first flight, and there’s no reason they couldn’t have gone fast enough to make sure Brendon & Rachel were behind them rather than in front of them. They got lost a few times, and messed up part of the bull-fighting task, and the other teams - even Caroline & Jennifer - snuck ahead of them. That’s not the first time this has happened to the Cowboys, but in this episode they weren’t lucky enough to catch up with the rest of the teams, and home they go.

Flat Tire - or, not likely to get anywhere soon.
No one

Stopping for Gas - or, not broken-down, exactly, but not a good sign.
Caroline & Jennifer (holding steady) - I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but Caroline & Jennifer really truly are the weakest team left. However, here at the end of the Race that means less than it did before. True, the competition is tougher, but all Caroline & Jennifer need is for one other team to have a bad leg (witness the Cowboys this week) and they’re in the final three.

“Rapido! Por Favor?” - or, making meaningless ineffectual comments from the back seat, but in no immediate danger.
Brendon & Rachel (holding steady) - An excellent leg from Brendon & Rachel this week, who managed to overcome the (probably small, but still…) time penalty from taking the later flight, and wormed into second place ahead of Leo & Jamal.

In the Passing Lane - or, ahead of the pack, but not quite comfortably.
Leo & Jamal (holding steady) - I’m not quite sure what to make of Jamal’s knee pain. On the one hand, it seems kind of significant given their slow plod to the Mat. On the other, we saw Jessica’s blistered feet a few episodes ago, which seemed important at the time but was never mentioned again. Knees, though, are kind of a big deal, and I’m guessing that we’ll hear more about it next week. The real question will be how much, if at all, it slows the Afghanimals down.

Cruisin’ with Earl - or, drivin’ on the shoulder, takin’ shortcuts, and generally kickin’ butt.
Dave & Connor (holding steady) - Dave & Connor have had a fantastic Race so far, coming in first four times and in the top four on every single leg. That bodes well, but placement in the first eleven legs doesn’t really count, as long as you’re not last. You don’t have to go any further back than last season to find Travis & Nicole, who finished in the top four on every single leg all the way to the end…where they finished third. Still, with a limping Jamal and the slow and weak country singers still behind them, Dave & Connor have an excellent shot at making it to the final three.