Ken McElhaney
2014-12-20 01:56:19 UTC
We end the first Friday night season of TAR with four teams in the finals racing to Los Angeles and trying not to pass out because they had been racing all day before without a break. Our final four teams may not be the greatest in TAR history, but they have been entertaining to watch which I suppose is something.
The 25th Season in Total
Arguably the best part of the season has been a trend since the 20th season in that the location selection has been outstanding. From the rarely visited Caribbean to the unusual country of Malta, islands has been a very strong theme this season which has been fully exploited thanks to some well crafted travel shots by the TAR staff. Although not quite the pinnacle of the series which would be TAR22, it is certainly worthy of the best TAR has offered.
Another great part has been the positive nature of the teams themselves. Sure, we got to see a daughter blow up on her mother and the "Survivor" team got all riled up as well, but those were blips on the radar screen this season. Instead, we've been treated to some heated, but friendly competition that highlights the best of what TAR offers. The best example was the last non-elimination leg where all four teams acknowledged each other in terms of their competitiveness. It proved once and for all that you don't need a bunch of squabbling over nothing to draw interest.
The challenges in terms of Roadblocks and Detours have also been quite good, although there is nothing really outstanding apart from the "greasy pole" which threatened to break some serious bones and the dreaded "massage of death" that brought out in Amy and Maya a performance worthy of an award-winning porn film. It showed pretty much how perception can really be flawed when you consider that the Wrasslers and Cyclists completed the "massage/scraping/detoxifying" with barely a peep beyond a complaint here 'n there while Amy 'n Maya acted as if their kidneys were being removed. The race up 'n down the hill in go-karts was nice as well.
We were introduced to the "Save" which turned out to play no role in the season. So I suspect that it will be back next season. Another interesting tidbit is the reduced number of Roadblocks to the point where it didn't really matter if teams kept count of "who did what". Whether this a one-time tryout or whether it portends to the future we will have to see.
If there was low moment, it was in the last episode when three of the four teams in the "Broom & Coconuts" Detour decided to wander around the shopping area without a clue as to where they were going. They even admitted it while they were leaving....so why go at all? It was un-freakin'- believable and a sign that they left their brains at home.
Well, we have four teams left, so who wins the beautiful gold, so-so silver and shameful bronze? Let's find out!
The Final Showdown
We start our adventure having all four teams heading to Los Angeles carrying a big "Manila" envelope which looks a little silly, but hey, this is The Amazing Race after all.
I gotta admit, it was hilarious to see the contestants crash through the glass again and again just like any cheesy movie.
Wow, this is most expansive "find the city in the right order" bit in TAR history. Wow...this could take a while.
Glorious Gold: The Candy Girls
Well, they feel unreal at least and they get to City Hall first which is nice I suppose. Maya gets to do the stunt of course and is excited about it...just like she is excited about everything it seems. Well, Maya is a little scared of falling of course, but naturally she is totally pumped as she is at everything. So pumped in fact that Maya forgets to change clothes which puts them in second place.
Naturally, Amy aces the final challenge, but Maya gets the image of the century by nearly tackling Phil.
So-So Silver: The Dentists
"Low Hanging Fruit, huh?" Well, maybe the Candy Girls are that and a bag of chips or whatever. So, they start off making a huge error in heading to the right place to go. However, they have the Wrasslers living up to their inability to think which keeps them in the race early one. After that stumble, our heroic dentists manage to jump through candy glass and rescue a dummy at sea.
However, they don't quite make it in first place, but they did put up good fight.
Shameful Bronze: The Surfers
Calm, cool and collected is how this team starts off the race just like every other leg. I imagine that Bethany is recognizable to a lot of people, so it wasn't surprising that the fireman recognized her. Still, they naturally kill the Coast Guard challenge while passing Amy 'n Maya to gain the top spot.
Well, it comes down to a couple of numbers, but they did pull off an astounding feat to say the least.
Dishonorable Mention: The Wrasslers
Hey, Brook was at least honest and told the Candy Girls to their faces how she felt. Still, they at least they understand enough to get directions which naturally burns them in the butt as the directions are wrong and they spend the rest of the episode being lost it seems. Fortunately, Phil comes out and eliminates them quickly and mercilessly.
NEXT SEASON: More Running, Screaming, Pants-Wetting and Eyebrow Raising
The 25th Season in Total
Arguably the best part of the season has been a trend since the 20th season in that the location selection has been outstanding. From the rarely visited Caribbean to the unusual country of Malta, islands has been a very strong theme this season which has been fully exploited thanks to some well crafted travel shots by the TAR staff. Although not quite the pinnacle of the series which would be TAR22, it is certainly worthy of the best TAR has offered.
Another great part has been the positive nature of the teams themselves. Sure, we got to see a daughter blow up on her mother and the "Survivor" team got all riled up as well, but those were blips on the radar screen this season. Instead, we've been treated to some heated, but friendly competition that highlights the best of what TAR offers. The best example was the last non-elimination leg where all four teams acknowledged each other in terms of their competitiveness. It proved once and for all that you don't need a bunch of squabbling over nothing to draw interest.
The challenges in terms of Roadblocks and Detours have also been quite good, although there is nothing really outstanding apart from the "greasy pole" which threatened to break some serious bones and the dreaded "massage of death" that brought out in Amy and Maya a performance worthy of an award-winning porn film. It showed pretty much how perception can really be flawed when you consider that the Wrasslers and Cyclists completed the "massage/scraping/detoxifying" with barely a peep beyond a complaint here 'n there while Amy 'n Maya acted as if their kidneys were being removed. The race up 'n down the hill in go-karts was nice as well.
We were introduced to the "Save" which turned out to play no role in the season. So I suspect that it will be back next season. Another interesting tidbit is the reduced number of Roadblocks to the point where it didn't really matter if teams kept count of "who did what". Whether this a one-time tryout or whether it portends to the future we will have to see.
If there was low moment, it was in the last episode when three of the four teams in the "Broom & Coconuts" Detour decided to wander around the shopping area without a clue as to where they were going. They even admitted it while they were leaving....so why go at all? It was un-freakin'- believable and a sign that they left their brains at home.
Well, we have four teams left, so who wins the beautiful gold, so-so silver and shameful bronze? Let's find out!
The Final Showdown
We start our adventure having all four teams heading to Los Angeles carrying a big "Manila" envelope which looks a little silly, but hey, this is The Amazing Race after all.
I gotta admit, it was hilarious to see the contestants crash through the glass again and again just like any cheesy movie.
Wow, this is most expansive "find the city in the right order" bit in TAR history. Wow...this could take a while.
Glorious Gold: The Candy Girls
Well, they feel unreal at least and they get to City Hall first which is nice I suppose. Maya gets to do the stunt of course and is excited about it...just like she is excited about everything it seems. Well, Maya is a little scared of falling of course, but naturally she is totally pumped as she is at everything. So pumped in fact that Maya forgets to change clothes which puts them in second place.
Naturally, Amy aces the final challenge, but Maya gets the image of the century by nearly tackling Phil.
So-So Silver: The Dentists
"Low Hanging Fruit, huh?" Well, maybe the Candy Girls are that and a bag of chips or whatever. So, they start off making a huge error in heading to the right place to go. However, they have the Wrasslers living up to their inability to think which keeps them in the race early one. After that stumble, our heroic dentists manage to jump through candy glass and rescue a dummy at sea.
However, they don't quite make it in first place, but they did put up good fight.
Shameful Bronze: The Surfers
Calm, cool and collected is how this team starts off the race just like every other leg. I imagine that Bethany is recognizable to a lot of people, so it wasn't surprising that the fireman recognized her. Still, they naturally kill the Coast Guard challenge while passing Amy 'n Maya to gain the top spot.
Well, it comes down to a couple of numbers, but they did pull off an astounding feat to say the least.
Dishonorable Mention: The Wrasslers
Hey, Brook was at least honest and told the Candy Girls to their faces how she felt. Still, they at least they understand enough to get directions which naturally burns them in the butt as the directions are wrong and they spend the rest of the episode being lost it seems. Fortunately, Phil comes out and eliminates them quickly and mercilessly.
NEXT SEASON: More Running, Screaming, Pants-Wetting and Eyebrow Raising