Last time: goodness, it’s been so long I can’t remember! Azaria and Hendekea got Philiminated after an airplane ticketing snafu.
This week: let’s watch!
What sort of quote is that? Did the editors truly have nothing memorable to use as an episode title? It’s something of a let-down, especially after the wonderful quote a few legs back, “Let’s name our chicken Phil.”
It’s been so long that I can’t remember what interpersonal conflict we were supposed to watch for. Oh wait, now I remember as I typed that out (gotta love the mammalian associative addressing architecture): Team “Gimme a Y!” Goth has a meltdown while driving somewhere.
They really, really should not take a week off from the Race. It disturbs the entire fabric of space/time – missing my Phil phix last week was highly disturbing!
I also saw s potential spoiler in the listings for this week, which pissed me off that it was right there where I couldn’t avoid reading it:
One of the strongest teams suffers a breakdown in Italy; another team considers permanent changes to their bodies to further their position in the race.
So, just guessing based on that episode description, does that perhaps suggest that:
there’s a Fast Forward this week that involves getting a tattoo? I seem to recall seeing a lit “Tattoo” sign in the promo that aired two weeks ago.
Anyway, I’m also going to predict that the Team Goth “meltdown” consists of one or two snapped sentences and then a “pink bunny/goth elf” makeup that makes us all want to gag.
BEST. FAST FORWARD. EVAH!
You thought shaving your head was bad? That ain’t nothing.
They’ve got to get a tattoo that reads FF!
It gets better!
Both of 'em! Don and the Kid!
And then when you thought you’d seen everything
[spoiler]Not one, but TWO car breakdowns.
And a non-elimination leg. With a stiff penalty. The goths will have to do an extra task during a future leg.[/spoiler]
No!
Si!
Drama queen.
Man o man. I was talking with friends about this season and about how it was really good, really blew away all the lingering mess from the Family Season and the one with too many models.
No doubt, this has been a fantastic season! Bring on next week already!
Now I want a hat like the Italian Greeter.
(Best season I’ve seen in years.)
Favorite moment–TK in his stoner voice saying “we have to use our logic.” 
I was so relieved it was a NEL. I didn’t want to see the Pink&Blacks go. Boy, they did have a bad day, but their “meltdown” was pretty mild. Or maybe they’re just nice people that can have a fight with each other without saying horrendous things to each other.
The fake suspense with regard to the tattoo was pretty lame. You totally knew grandpa was going to go for it.
Can someone give a quick recap? The damn DVR stopped recording around 40 minutes. We saw the two get tattoos and that’s it. We saw the very end, where the goths came in last and that’s it. So what was the detour they had to do and did the grandpa and kid come in first?
Green Bean, I think the overkill on the suspense was the indicator that Donald (do I have grandpa’s name right?) was going to agree to do the FF.
The good news was, the FF wasn’t “eat mass quantities.” The bad news was, I would’ve preferred to see that! I had to walk away from the TV during the FF.
Aside from my personal preference, this was a great leg overall. It was a sweat leg like crazy, which I far prefer over short-travel legs. Vyxsyn said at one point that she hadn’t slept in 30 hours, which I am guessing meant at least since the start of the leg. With this much driving, there was truly NO chance for a team to catch up on their rest.
And now we find out what the “speed bump” is. I won’t comment yet since we’re still spoiler-boxing details from this episode.
Based on the travel-related freakouts and what we saw in the previews (which we know are oh so accurate), I’ll probably be rooting next week for Ron & Christina to be eliminated.
The detour was at Leonardo da Vinci’s birthplace and it was “Tradition” or “Invention”. Tradition was to learn and execute a flag routine correctly. Invention was to put together a Renaissance-era crane and lift a stone a foot.
Everyone except TK and Rachel did Tradition. TK went up in the ultralight four times before he saw the destination. The Goths’ car broke down and they had to run to “Tradition”. When they got back, their replacement car was there already. It looked like TK & Rachel were going to beat them to the Pit Stop, but they blew a tire and had to change it. Of course, they beat the Goths to the Pit Stop anyway, as you know, but it was kind of bite-your-nails-who’s-gonna-win time…
Bus to ferry across the Aegean to Italy.
Lots of driving, with a family message received along the way. Four teams route via Bologna; the fifth team arrives at an airfield first, with enough time to get some sleep.
FF choice: Nick & Donald took it and came in first.
Roadblock: Search via ultralight for a clue; TK takes 4 tries (each flight has 30 minutes of flight time).
More driving to Vinci.
Detour: Build a da Vinci - inspired crane, or learn and show a local flag routine.
Kynt & Vyxsyn get majorly lost, car breaks down, Kynt breaks down. TK & Rachel get a flat tire. Editors try to convince us that changing a tire takes longer than learning the flag routine.
Multiple teams almost cry at the Pit Stop.
Did I miss anything? Checking on preview… I think jayjay filled in the details for late in the leg.
It could have been worse.The tattoo could have been that damn Travelocity gnome.
Robot Arm, you win.
Yeah, but Phil would have looked silly announcing the the leg-winning prize would have been free tattoo removal…
I thought of that, Barbarian.
Shave my head? Not a problem.
Eat too much food? Maybe not a problem.
Eat gross stuff? Maybe.
Get a tattoo? No.
My husband said he’d do it if they’d put it on his ass. I wonder if they would have shown that on TV.
Towards the end, I thought it looked like one of my two favorite teams would be eliminated. I’m glad it was a non-elimination leg. Vixen strikes me as a sensible, level-headed young lady, despite the show she puts on. Yes, she and Kent got stressed out and frustrated, but they didn’t handle it that badly. I also liked her reaction to her message from her mother. Showing the the Goths reapplying makeup on the ferry ride was a nice touch, and I liked her point about resting now because it was going to be a madhouse once they landed.
For regular watchers of the show, what would your strategy have been when some of the racers ran into that major traffic blockage? Wait it out or go around? Also, how good are the maps the teams are given, if they’re given maps? I noticed a few teams asked locals for directions.
Is it too early for predictions for winners? Here’s my best shot at prognostication.
I think TK and Rachel are doomed, much as I like them. Between her losing the first clue and him taking four flights to see the second clue, I think they may not have it together enough to win.
If the Goths can overcome their speed bump, I’ll keep rooting for them. They may have the intelligence and the practicality to do it, or at least, Vixen does.
Ron, of Ron and Christina, continues to get on my nerves. Did anyone else notice he wouldn’t shut up, even while she was driving? From what I saw in the preview, he’s not getting any better. When the race is over, I hope Christina will come to her senses, find a good therapist, and realize that trying to please her father’s a losing game.
Jen actually behaved reasonably well, but I didn’t believe it when she told (why can’t I think of his name?) “I love you.” She keeps acting like it will be her decision to end the relationship, but my money’s on him dumping her if he has any sense. They’ve raced competently, despite each other, but I don’t think they’ll make it through. Of course when they get eliminated, she’ll blame him for costing her a million dollars.
That leaves Nick and Donald. Nick actually did something this leg – he did all the driving – and I think they might actually win it and, if they do, it will be because of Donald.
I’m hooked on this show. I might even see if I can pick up a DVD of an earlier season (not the family season!). If I do, has anyone got suggestions?