Based on this first episode, I think that this season is going to be a lot better than prior versions. It seems to me that they picked a cast of people who they thought would be good racers (maybe with a telegenic quirk or two), rather than pairs who would be adequate but might make good television. I’ve seen enough child trying to reconcile with estranged parent or cheerleader roommate teams. Indeed, the two that got bounced seemed to be among the few vapid but pretty boy/girl types that are on this season. Most significantly, with this format, there aren’t any teams that have glaringly obvious seeds of their own self-destruction.
Military and police/fire types seem over-represented, but first responders and service members often have a combination of intellectual ability, street smarts and physical ability that makes them successful on TAR. I do think that it will take me a while to get straight in my mind which is the police sergeant and which is the drill sergeant, which is the K-9 cop and which is the gay cop. And Team fun seems like it actually will be fun, and competent as well.
I’m cautiously hopeful that this season will be a big improvement, and even carry me interested through the end.
I agree it wasn’t strategic, except in the sense that his strategy was to partner with an attractive female who would fall in love with his superior intellect and quirkiness. I don’t think that’s going to pan out for him. I don’t think I could last two legs with him, and I don’t even have to worry about him being attracted to me. He’s my least favorite, but he did contribute to the funniest exchange of the episode:
VANCK: Up ahead, make a 135 degree right turn.
ASHTON: (sighs, sees the entire race flash before her eyes)… I don’t even know what that is.
Some unaired footage on Youtube shows Vanck, acting as navigator, repeatedly getting them lost. Ashton must have the patience of a saint for not blowing her top. If they can keep it together, they might actually go far.
Every season my family (me, wife, 2 pre-teens) draw team names out of a hat. The teams we draw are ‘our’ teams and whoever wins at the end of the season gets some kind of prize, like where the family goes to dinner or something.
I drew three teams: the long-haired Asians (eliminated episode 1), the “swole sisters”, whatever that means (eliminated episode 2) and Joey and Tara, who finished in 7th place last night. I’m not liking my chances. Secretly I’m rooting for the first responders, Olive and what’s his name (Matt?)
And boy, Shamir looked pissed at the mat. I’m not sure if it was embarrassment or if he felt like the challenge recklessly endangered his testicles, but he was not happy. I feel bad for his partner. But no worries, I’m sure his Wall Street investment banker buddies will not give him a hard time about his swollen balls at all.
Phil looked pissed at him, too. I’ll bet that there was a lot more of that tirade that we didn’t see. I’m surprised (and more than a little disappointed, frankly) that he didn’t get a penalty for breaking that window. That might be why Phil was upset–he knows the show has to pay for that!
Vanck and Ashton worked together surprisingly well this time, and Vanck continues to be JUST SO nerdy. “I approve 120 percent–even though that’s mathematically impossible!”
No, the two women who were eliminated last night teamed up together intentionally because they had worked well together at the very beginning when they went looking for the luggage with the Panama flag on it.
I was surprised the two teams I figured were out next came in first and second.
Shamir must have threatened to quit the race or something. Two big babies. I’m picking them to get eliminated next, if they don’t quit over a hangnail or something.
I don’t know if you’re being sarcastic, but you’re completely wrong.
They actually yelled at each other during the Panama flag hunt at the beginning. Francesca, the Army drill sergeant was leading their group, then Jessie, the 6’2" cop realized they were going the wrong direction. When the group huddled to figure out what to do next, Jessie told Francesca “You were leading us the wrong way, I’m not even going to listen to you any more.”
And they absolutely were the last two left during the team picks. They had no say in who they were teamed with, and seemed pretty ambivalent about it at the time - Jessie said “We had a few words earlier…”
ETA: It was interesting that the clue for the Roadblock was right where it was being done, so later teams could see other teams doing it and knew who to pick. Usually the vague clue is all you have to go on to select the team member to do the task.
I’m surprised Matt and Redmond were so nonchalant about ignoring their deal with Ashton and Vanck. The words they said made sense, sort of, but strategically they gave up a lot for very little gain. And the fact that they placed after Vanck and Ashton is all the more useless. They made an enemy for no reason.
The ‘deal’ itself was hokey, but really, at that point take the hit and hope to reap the benefits later. Having another team willing to help you in the race is way more useful then being in first place for one leg. And they didn’t even manage to keep their lead!
On Vanck and Ashton’s side they came across as the winners in that pathetic attempt at a ‘backstab.’ Now they know the true nature of Matt and Redmond and it cost them nothing. Plus, they were arguably more sympathetic than a military vet with one leg. Crazy! Post-race PR isn’t going to help them win the million, but being viewed positively is a nice bonus.
The whole Shamir thing was hard to watch.
After leg one, Scott looked a bit annoying, but after leg two it looks more like he’s carrying his team.
