The Amazing Race 7: Episode 5
Tonight was a pretty crazy two-episodes in one sitting that had a LOT happen. So I think the best way to recap is to pay a brief visit to each of our teams (in the order they arrived at the second pit stop):
Ron and Kelly: Yep, my team is in first place. They're holding it together just like I thought they would. Their most compelling moment was in the scenes from next week's show - it looks like there will finally be tension between the two.
Rob and Amber: It amazes me that while in Soweto, South Africa, strangers are walking up to them offering them assistance because they recognize the two from Survivor. At least the bushmen didn't break out with a "BOSTON ROB!" Have I mentioned lately how much I hate these two? Particularly Rob, but Amber chose to marry Rob, so that loses her major points. At one point Lynn and Alex had a mini-van cab and wouldn't allow Rob and Amber to share the ride. To hear Rob talk about it a major sin was committed in that moment. I think he was just upset because if he was in the van he would have done the same thing, but he would have found it necessary to slip the driver of the cab $20 in the process. But the lowest of the low moments tonight was when the brothers had rolled a car and their cameraman was injured - Rob and Amber couldn't even be bothered to slow down and ask if everyone is OK. It may be a race, but you've got to have your priorities straight. Oh wait, I forgot who I was talking about for a moment.
Uchenna and Joyce: For the first time perhaps ever I believe that a team that has gone on The Amazing Race to test and/or strengthen their relationship has actually succeeded in that goal. Given the challenges they were facing at home (layoffs from Worldcom and Enron and fertility issues) I think going to these remote places on the globe help put that all in perspective this evening. Tonight The Amazing Race did a really kick-ass thing in one of the challenges. First challenge: go into a market in Soweto and purchase a list of items. Second challenge: Deliver the items to a local children's home. It's really freaking cool that the teams did a little bit of charity along the route. And the amazing part of it all: These privileged Americans are delivering diapers and t-shirts to a South African orphanage and the kids are cheering the contestants along. Uchenna and Joyce had a breakthrough at the orphanage - I think it dawned on them that rather than spending thousands upon thousands of dollars on infertility treatments they could go out and adopt a kid. Traditionally these two have had MAJOR navigational issues, but today they made a right turn at a key moment that SERIOUSLY helped them out. I'm curious if it was just a fluke or if it's just taken them this long to get their act together.
Lynn and Alex: These guys most definitely earn the style points for the night. Reason #1: At one point Lynn made the comment, "This may be a race, but half of the prize is the experience of it all." Yeah, he gets it. Reason #2: So you know how Rob and Amber didn't even slow down to check if everyone was OK when they drove past the car wreck? Well, Lynn and Alex (who were in spot #3 at the time) stopped the car to see if they could help. The brothers tried to send them on their way urging "Don't lose the race on account of us" but they still hung out for a while to make sure everything was under control. So much for being sacrificial lambs.
Meredith and Gretchen: This was the team that came in last on the non-elimination half of the episode this evening. The past couple of seasons teams have had to give up their money on the non-elimination legs, but this season they have to give up EVERYTHING except the clothes on their backs and their passports. I'm curious if, on future legs, a team is OBVIOUSLY in last place and it MAY be a non-elimination leg they stop immediately before crossing the finish line and put all their clothes on before stepping on the mat, so they aren't left with nothing. Yeah, I like to stretch the rules as far as they go. The race is wearing on this team, I predict they won't be around too much longer.
Brian and Greg: These guys have grown on me, so I'm glad they weren't eliminated tonight. They are providing the humor I was expecting from the southern boys that were eliminated in the first episode. On reading the clue taking them out of the mid-episode pit stop one of them said their challenge was to go home to Mom's and chow down on some good home cooking. They're having fun. So it really, really, really sucks that they rolled their truck in the middle of the African bush when they were sitting pretty in second place. You could tell it shook them up hard. I liked the fact that when they (eventually) got moving again - sitting well in last place - they said a little prayer for the injured camera man. I'm very glad that it came down to a foot race at the end and that they were able to outrun the eliminated.
Ray and Deana: I'm glad they were eliminated, because now there's only one team I hate left in the race. And they deserved to be eliminated because Ray is a dick. At least Deana is willing to stand up to him when he's being a jerk. Even after they were eliminated, when questioning the future of their relationship, he was still kind of being a jerk.
And there you have it. Now all we need is for Rob and Amber to be eliminated, and then I won't be disappointed with whoever wins the race.
Ron and Kelly: Yep, my team is in first place. They're holding it together just like I thought they would. Their most compelling moment was in the scenes from next week's show - it looks like there will finally be tension between the two.
Rob and Amber: It amazes me that while in Soweto, South Africa, strangers are walking up to them offering them assistance because they recognize the two from Survivor. At least the bushmen didn't break out with a "BOSTON ROB!" Have I mentioned lately how much I hate these two? Particularly Rob, but Amber chose to marry Rob, so that loses her major points. At one point Lynn and Alex had a mini-van cab and wouldn't allow Rob and Amber to share the ride. To hear Rob talk about it a major sin was committed in that moment. I think he was just upset because if he was in the van he would have done the same thing, but he would have found it necessary to slip the driver of the cab $20 in the process. But the lowest of the low moments tonight was when the brothers had rolled a car and their cameraman was injured - Rob and Amber couldn't even be bothered to slow down and ask if everyone is OK. It may be a race, but you've got to have your priorities straight. Oh wait, I forgot who I was talking about for a moment.
Uchenna and Joyce: For the first time perhaps ever I believe that a team that has gone on The Amazing Race to test and/or strengthen their relationship has actually succeeded in that goal. Given the challenges they were facing at home (layoffs from Worldcom and Enron and fertility issues) I think going to these remote places on the globe help put that all in perspective this evening. Tonight The Amazing Race did a really kick-ass thing in one of the challenges. First challenge: go into a market in Soweto and purchase a list of items. Second challenge: Deliver the items to a local children's home. It's really freaking cool that the teams did a little bit of charity along the route. And the amazing part of it all: These privileged Americans are delivering diapers and t-shirts to a South African orphanage and the kids are cheering the contestants along. Uchenna and Joyce had a breakthrough at the orphanage - I think it dawned on them that rather than spending thousands upon thousands of dollars on infertility treatments they could go out and adopt a kid. Traditionally these two have had MAJOR navigational issues, but today they made a right turn at a key moment that SERIOUSLY helped them out. I'm curious if it was just a fluke or if it's just taken them this long to get their act together.
Lynn and Alex: These guys most definitely earn the style points for the night. Reason #1: At one point Lynn made the comment, "This may be a race, but half of the prize is the experience of it all." Yeah, he gets it. Reason #2: So you know how Rob and Amber didn't even slow down to check if everyone was OK when they drove past the car wreck? Well, Lynn and Alex (who were in spot #3 at the time) stopped the car to see if they could help. The brothers tried to send them on their way urging "Don't lose the race on account of us" but they still hung out for a while to make sure everything was under control. So much for being sacrificial lambs.
Meredith and Gretchen: This was the team that came in last on the non-elimination half of the episode this evening. The past couple of seasons teams have had to give up their money on the non-elimination legs, but this season they have to give up EVERYTHING except the clothes on their backs and their passports. I'm curious if, on future legs, a team is OBVIOUSLY in last place and it MAY be a non-elimination leg they stop immediately before crossing the finish line and put all their clothes on before stepping on the mat, so they aren't left with nothing. Yeah, I like to stretch the rules as far as they go. The race is wearing on this team, I predict they won't be around too much longer.
Brian and Greg: These guys have grown on me, so I'm glad they weren't eliminated tonight. They are providing the humor I was expecting from the southern boys that were eliminated in the first episode. On reading the clue taking them out of the mid-episode pit stop one of them said their challenge was to go home to Mom's and chow down on some good home cooking. They're having fun. So it really, really, really sucks that they rolled their truck in the middle of the African bush when they were sitting pretty in second place. You could tell it shook them up hard. I liked the fact that when they (eventually) got moving again - sitting well in last place - they said a little prayer for the injured camera man. I'm very glad that it came down to a foot race at the end and that they were able to outrun the eliminated.
Ray and Deana: I'm glad they were eliminated, because now there's only one team I hate left in the race. And they deserved to be eliminated because Ray is a dick. At least Deana is willing to stand up to him when he's being a jerk. Even after they were eliminated, when questioning the future of their relationship, he was still kind of being a jerk.
And there you have it. Now all we need is for Rob and Amber to be eliminated, and then I won't be disappointed with whoever wins the race.
posted by Swankette at 9:24 PM
3 Comments:
I'm really glad Meredith and Gretchen weren't eliminated. I think they did an amazing job staying in the race with as little as they had, and not being the next to last team even. Although the race is especially physically difficult for them, they pull together at every turn and keep going. I'm impressed that they've made it so far.
When Gretchen suffered her head injury in the cave last night I could totally see Sweetie and I in that situation. He's all worried, wanting to sit by her side and do what he can to take care of her. Meanwhile she's all, "I'M OK. JUST GO GET THE DAMN CLUE! WE'RE IN A RACE!!!"
This is so cool! I can keep up on the whole show and not have to worry about actually watching the episodes. :-)
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