163 replies to this topic

[TWoP Roxy]

From zap2it.com:

A fear of water sends one team into a panic in Bora Bora; another team is saddled with a game-threatening injury.

[ReadIshmael]

Not sorry to see the twins go after they were ready to take a penalty rather than even trying the other Detour option, and then went about the Oyster task in such a stupid way.

Sorry that Dave hurt himself; I rather like that team. I kind of liked everyone this week, other than Max and Katy, including Team Youtube, who was much less obnoxious this week.

I like Pam and Winnie--and I think they handled their setback well--but I don't think they'll be around long, unfortunately.

[bluvelvet]

As much as I would love to apply and compete in the Amazing Race, the reason I never would is because I am also scared of water and that would handicap me. That being said, I am sure the twin doctors realized that had they done the other challenge first they probably would not have been eliminated.

[Aunt Pearl]

How can doctors be so dense? They could have just done the other detour right away. They seemed to forget it was available since all they talked about was the penalty. It was super easy compared to that pearl diving.

I'm liking the hockey players. Alliance king has to go. I hope this whole alliance BS fizzles out soon. This isn't Survivor, geniuses.

Looks like dad and son are out. Too bad, nasty injury.

[merylinkid]

Apparently this season is "The Amazing Lets Take the Penalty." First the doctors were adamant about not getting in the water. After all the hype about how they can face a tough situation calmly. Yeah, I don't want them deliver none of my babies (you know if I were to ever lose my mind and have any). Then they freak. I get phobias. But c'mon for a million dollars at least try. So they do and we get all the stuff about how they don't quit because their momma didn't quit. I am betting they got home and she smacked them upside the head for that performance tonight.

Then the roller derby moms were talking about giving up at the stilts. First of all, as being on skates so much and being hit while on skates, should' they ahve good balance. But noooooo, it's too hard so let's take the penatly.

Kate and Max, I thought you relished being mean. SO don't get mad that no one wants to play with you. That's the price of being not liked.

I really hope Connor is upset because his dad is hurt and not because they are out of the race. The Race is great and all but your dad is forever. Not that a busted achilles is the end of the world, but still, you only get one dad.

Booo to putting Phil in that helmet so we can't see him. Never do that again.

[TheRabbi]

What was that old proverb about things to know how to do/not be afraid of before going on The Amazing Race? Know how to drive stick, don't be afraid of heights, and KNOW HOW TO SWIM?! I genuinely kinda liked the twins, but can't really feel sorry for them here. Between the 2 teams starting a couple hours behind, and Pam and Winnie getting hopelessly lost, they should have been able to power through much quicker and still easily be in the game. I'm not sure how long they spent first debating whether to quit, and then with the pearls, but they should have tried the second detour much quicker.

I kinda liked the detour setup, because the pearls was more of a risk/reward in that pearls aren't common but you can get a good system going and eventually get through (Joey and Megan did great), and the treasure chest thing was something with minimal skill that you could just power through and do if you didn't want to risk not getting any pearls.

Overall, pretty solid leg design I think. Amazing locales and scenery, great use of waverunners, solid challenges. I hope the father/son aren't crippled by the injury, because they are one of my favorites as of now, but it definitely doesn't look great for them.

I also love Chuck and Wynona. The casting department must have just had an incredibly evil grin on their faces when these two showed up. They are fun to watch, and I was cracking up when they were snorkeling. I really don't mind any of the teams yet. The newlyweds are obviously getting the villain edit, but haven't done anything really noteworthy to set them in that camp yet. And I was ready to hate Joey and Megan for the stuntcasting, but other than his obnoxious antics during the sandcastles last week, they seem pretty pleasant and competitive. And I really like the hockey players; just seem like cool guys with a good sense of humor having fun.

So far, I'm digging this season. I don't know any results, but know most of the locations they're visiting, and am excited for many of the locations as well.

Edited by TheRabbi, Feb 24, 2013 @ 9:10 PM.

[Miss Molly]

So far the Battaglias are looking really good. No drama, they just go through their tasks without complaint and I like their personalties. And Anthony really DOES look like Prince William!

The wife of the Scott Hartnell lookalike is way out of her element. She is way too out of shape for this show and will have to start doing more if they are going to last. Nobody else really bugged me this week, even the newlyweds weren't bad. Too bad about the father/son team and their likely Philimination but I am really sick of the father's tears.

Why do people who are terrified of water go on this show?

[Shocker]

TAR competitors - Grab the clue, open it, take a breath, and READ THE ENTIRE CLUE!

So glad the country singer beat the newlywed groom on the stilt challenge, but I'm not sad that the doctors came in last place.

I like Chuck and Wynona. I had to laugh when he pulled her over the side of the boat and she flopped on the bottom like a fish. I know it had to hurt, but it was funny.

I hope the father of the father/son team is okay. The previews for next week suggest the news is bad. They are headed to New Zealand next week; I've always wanted to go there.

[stopeslite]

So glad to see the twins gone. I hated their "we are great under pressure" comments contrasted with their "break down immediately under pressure" actions.

I hope the dad who looks like Sam Waterston is ok. I can't believe that he could be standing there at all if he really ripped that tendon, but given everything he's gone through, maybe he has a very high pain tolerance. I'm so glad they checked in, though, so the twins would really be out. I wonder how that would affect the legs - would they add in another nonelimination to make up for it?

Liked it, even though the tasks were retreads (they've gone diving for pearls before, and the sitting to a set table underwater looked familiar)

[Aunt Pearl]

That Wynona fish flop was priceless. Especially the way he grabbed her for the last yank.

Anyone afraid of water should really stay off this show.

[bluvelvet]

I gotta defend the doctors a bit, I am a physician myself and in a situation in the hospital when crap hits the fan or someone's life is on the line, you do what you have to calmly it's in your comfort zone, I've been there . So I got what they were going for when they said they were good under pressure. However that doesn't mean outside of work you won't falter under pressure. Had they been thinking straight they would have probably done better, like all the other teams they are out of their comfort zones and phobias are phobias.

My favorite team right now is the father/son team, when he said he tore his achilles, I said to myself "oh no", but hopefully that's not the case. I want them to continue.

Seeing hockey brother without his teeth was interesting.

Edited by bluvelvet, Feb 24, 2013 @ 9:27 PM.

[soapygirl]

Yeah how would the race handle having a team leave for medical reasons? Would they eliminate a second team or turn it into a NEL leg.

Of course given that Connor and David are athletes they might opt to power through, maybe get the leg taped.

[Arekuru]

How can doctors be so dense? They could have just done the other detour right away. They seemed to forget it was available since all they talked about was the penalty. It was super easy compared to that pearl diving.

They did make a comment that they didn't realize you got a diving helmet for the trunk detour; they thought it would also involve snorkeling. That said, I'm not too sad to see them go.

The people of Bora Bora seem to be just as lovely as the scenery. One was using the stilts in the sand behind the twin as he finished, and they were all cheering on whichever of Pam/Winnie was doing the roadblock. I wonder if airfare there is very expensive... A definite win for the board of tourism, if they needed any help advertising.

[dogfoot75]

Boring.

[msburg]

So far the Battaglias are looking really good. No drama, they just go through their tasks without complaint and I like their personalties. And Anthony really DOES look like Prince William!

I think he has more hair than Prince William, though.

And maybe we should start an over/under bet for how long Max and Katy's(?) marriage will last. When she mentioned that he should be embarrassed by his performance on the stilts, I thought that was a fairly cruddy thing to say. It's one thing to go the villain route and snark on the other teams (was she the one making not-so-veiled comments about Joey and his knee socks?). It's another to take some private camera time and really sell out your spouse. Nasty piece of work, that one....

Also, felt bad for the twins, but at least they finished instead of quitting. I can understand irrational anxiety when facing something you're afraid of.

[Melina Detroit]

I've always found it fascinating how other people's phobias seem so ridiculous, yet ours seem so real and sensible. As someone who is terrified of flying, yet whose dream is to dive in waters exactly like the ones I saw tonight on TAR, it's hard for me to understand the Twins' terror, yet at the same time, I applaud them for fighting through it and doing the best they could.

I'd love to know if their two different experiences underwater have helped their phobia. I also wonder - if they'd done the second challenge first (setting the table underwater) if they'd have found it unbearable. Maybe it just seemed easy compared to the first challenge! Again, I'd love to know if the two experiences together have made swimming at the local pool seem like a walk in the park. But kudos to them for facing their greatest fear and doing...not that badly!

Also - I was shocked that one identical twin wanted to quit, while the other wanted to give it their best try. I'm fascinated by that, since (as I understand identical twins) they have the same DNA. Plus they have the same upbringing. I'm fascinated by why one would choose one course, and one would choose another. Clearly, there's a lot I don't understand about identical twins!

Still find the newlyweds deeply scary. They also seem rather paranoid - always assuming everyone else has bad motives. I wonder what life experiences got them to this point?

[Twodognite]

Really stunning underwater photography. I loved watching the fish.

I like the Nashville singers enough to be glad they are still in the race. Also glad the doctors are out of it; WAY too smug in words to back up their nowhere-near-impressive actions.

[alapaki]

I gotta defend the doctors a bit, I am a physician myself and in a situation in the hospital when crap hits the fan or someone's life is on the line, you do what you have to calmly it's in your comfort zone, I've been there . So I got what they were going for when they said they were good under pressure. However that doesn't mean outside of work you won't falter under pressure. Had they been thinking straight they would have probably done better, like all the other teams they are out of their comfort zones and phobias are phobias.

But, take it back a step. I'd think that doctors, especially those who routinely function in the operating suite, know the value of preparation. Yes, if someone pulled them out of Labor & Delivery, abducted them and threw them in a pool, I could understand them freaking out. But when you make the effort to get on TAR, and you have a phobia that you can be nearly certain will be challenged on the Race, you do whatever you have to do to overcome that phobia before the Race starts.

They did make a comment that they didn't realize you got a diving helmet for the trunk detour; they thought it would also involve snorkeling. That said, I'm not too sad to see them go.

At one point one of the brothers said that they'd spent 45 mins hemming and hawing about doing the task. From the logistics it seems like the Trunk Detour was probably very close to the Oyster Detour. (I don't know how much detail the Task description went into, but it's possible that it would've been clear from the clue that the Trunk option didn't involve snorkeling). Either way there was no excuse for not at least checking out the other option long before they did.

[Kel Varnsen]

Anyone afraid of water should really stay off this show.

Seriously twin doctors, the lesson for the kids is not "don't give up" it's "learn to swim".

[uoflfan]

Having been to Bora Bora, I'm disappointed they showed only the beach and ocean. TAR missed an opportunity to show the beautiful island, the World War II cannons and the Polynesian culture. Plus, there wasn't a single shot of a dog or chicken, hundreds of which freely roam the island.

I doubt the twin doctors had ever seen an episode of TAR before submitting their application/being recruited. I can't think of any season that hasn't involved a water task.

[QuePasa]

I highly doubt that father ruptured his Achilles. I've done that, and it's physically impossible to walk on it because that tendon is what allows you to push off your toes. He may very well have injured it, but not ruptured it. It's also extremely painful when it ruptures and he didn't seem to be in that much pain.

[CattyTiger]

I could not believe the twins removed one oyster at a time. I thought the clue even said to pull up the line. Why they would assume the other water task would be equally difficult and not even check it out is not good. But apparently they didn't really read the clue well at all.

I figure the newlyweds attribute bad qualities to others that they themselves possess. That was weird the way they went on about that.

Alabama couple lady is not in very good shape to be on the race. Very funny when he pulled her into the boat though.

[A1 Jackass]

I thought it was hilarious how Max (and maybe Katie, too) complained about the blondes following them. If you're going the right way, then people should be "following" you, dumbass. Yeesh.

When Pam and Winnie were out in the middle of nowhere and talking about Asian stereotypes, I was surprised that they meant their parents were cold and distant. I thought for sure that they were going to talk about not being good drivers and subsequently getting lost. I don't know how they could have gotten so disoriented - that map looked pretty simple to me.

On a final, superficial note, that was one of all time best looking greeters. Yowza!

[Modernwhimsy]

Lovely leg to watch! The race part was not so compelling but I wanted to do all of those tasks. Mr. achilles is screwed. He didn't rupture it else he would have just hit the ground. But regardless since he ripped it, he won't be able to continue. Best case scenario is a boot with crutches and no surgery.

Not too much to snark. Glad the twins are gone...i wanted to scream Man Up too many times. This season seems ripe for Taking the Penalties.

[Jobiska]

I was highly amused that Phil's explanation, and the clues, very carefully didn't use a brand name but referred to "Personal Water Craft," and at least 3 or 4 teams were all "Yay! Jet Skis!"

[Runningwild]

Also - I was shocked that one identical twin wanted to quit, while the other wanted to give it their best try. I'm fascinated by that, since (as I understand identical twins) they have the same DNA. Plus they have the same upbringing. I'm fascinated by why one would choose one course, and one would choose another. Clearly, there's a lot I don't understand about identical twins!

See Ronde and Tiki Barber. Both made it to the NFL, but one is a workaholic team leader, volunteer, philanthropist and family man while the other was a whiny ass detriment to his team who cheated on his pregnant wife with a girl barely out of high school.

I have seen someone rupture their Achilles and the guy fell down writhing in pain and could not put any pressure on that leg. I don't think Daddy ruptured his. Plus, in the previews, the doctor (or whoever it was) said he pulled a muscle. Big difference.

And the twin doctors' lesson to their kids was NOT 'don't give up'. It's be prepared!

Edited by Runningwild, Feb 24, 2013 @ 11:07 PM.

[etagloh]

I was highly amused that Phil's explanation, and the clues, very carefully didn't use a brand name but referred to "Personal Water Craft," and at least 3 or 4 teams were all "Yay! Jet Skis!"

CBS legal must have made the call that they can get away with it as a nearly-genericised term unscripted from teams, but not scripted from the host. (Or, more accurately, that Phil only mentions a brand name when they're a show sponsor.)

I don't think it was a bad leg, structurally: a bunch, yes, but enough to have the shots of water taxis racing across the ocean without bringing the 4-hour penalty teams up to the main pack. Not going to call shenanigans there, as the tasks needed daylight, but there was probably a bit of wiggle room for TPTB there, given that sunrise was around 5:15am.

Also, the teams were less "acting out their captions", which tends to happen after the opening leg, especially the YouTubers.

[Lantern7]

Learned something new tonight: if you're recording something on DVR and you fall 30 minutes behind, it will take two hours to catch up. It might be less, what with the Hollywood self-indulgence and Seth McFarlane trying to shove himself up his own ass, but I am pissed that CBS doesn't put this show on a weeknight.

I'm guessing a lot of people are like me, bathing in all of the Oscars' "glory" and only fast-forwarding through the commercials. Here are some things to remember about tonight's episode:

• Indries & Jamil are dopes.
• No, seriously, Indries & Jamil are huge dummies.
• Those two are OB-GYNs, but they couldn't find their own balls.
• They might as well have "RECRUITED" stamped on their foreheads. Who doesn't know that you can swap Detour tasks? Answer: those who don't watch the damn show.
• Maybe those two dummies' elimination is a higher power's way of saying, "Guys? Chill. No Josh & Brent upset this year."
• Meanwhile, as Pam & Winnie got lost, you could hear the writers of satirical shows (Tosh.0, The Jeselink Offensive, Best Week Ever, etc.) become immobilized by massive erections, as two Asian women were unable to navigate.
• "And the award for Best Impersonation of A Fish Out Of Water goes to . .. Wynona McCall!!!" Nice lady, Chuck's cool, but it'll be a miracle if they make it to the final leg. All that was missing was the flopping.
• Shut the fuck up, Max & Katie. Seriously.
• Why couldn't one of the damn Hippies had ruptured a tendon racing for the mat in TAR9? Poor Dan.

At least we got New Zealand next week. Anybody else hoping Phil's dad will come back?

ETA: Adam/"Hornio" from TAR6 laughs at the twins . . . and Phil verbally bitchslapped that guy in the season finale cold opening for being a wuss.

Edited by Lantern7, Feb 24, 2013 @ 11:37 PM.

[auntlada]

Plus, there wasn't a single shot of a dog or chicken, hundreds of which freely roam the island.

There was a dog last week. He peed on the sandcastles.

I was happy to see the doctors go just because of all the whining, but I'm still disappointed the Youtubers did so well, and that the newlyweds are still there.

I think maybe it's not enough just to learn to swim for TAR. You should probably also try to spend enough time in the water to get a little bit comfortable and not panic. (Just as it's not enough to learn to drive a standard. You should spend enough time doing it that you don't stall the car every time you try to take off.)

[possibilities]

I was seriously averse to many of these teams after watching their introductions, but tonight I found many of them much less offensive. Usually I start out neutral on most, and wind up with aversions as the season plays out.

I thought it was interesting that only one team thought to have one racer diving while the other opened the oysters on the boat. At first I thought that might be against the rules, but apparently not. It would have saved the twins a lot of time if the one who wanted to try, tried, while the other one stayed on the boat to open the shells. Oh well.

I like the relative lack of "abuse of teammate" so far. I get the sense that all the pairs genuinely like each other. Even the generally unpleasant newlyweds don't have nearly the level of rancor and rudeness towards each other that many past season teams have shown. I think this is the second season in a row like that, and I'm hoping it means the casting department got a memo telling them to finally cast for something else.

The tourism boosting potential of the show has been really high. I find myself wanting to go places I never thought about before.