This episode of The Amazing Race was disappointing. The reasons are almost too numerous to list... But I won't let that stop me from listing them!
There was (again) too much time spent in the airport. There was (again) too little suspense - it was obvious that the team on the latest flight was in last place. No surprise in the ending, because the show had to have a non-elimination leg in order to have 13 episodes this season. The tasks were way too easy. The show didn't even try to integrate the Travelocity product placement into the tasks, they just stuck a gnome in the least challenging challenge ever. The racers were in yet another country where everyone speaks English, so there were no communication problems.
I might have been able to forgive all of the above (well, sort of) if we got some drama from the teams. But even though everyone was talking about hating the BQ's, everyone avoided bringing it up around the BQ's, so the episode became like junior high with everyone passing notes and gossiping behind the BQ's backs. Cha Cha Cha was in Hong Kong and didn't even shop. And, most surprisingly, Team CrazyPants was not that crazy, and mainly seemed kind of funny and quirky.
We're down to just four teams and the BQ's are the first to leave Kuala Lumpur, getting their clue at 12:28am. We learn that teams must fly 1500 miles to Hong Kong, where they then must travel by taxi to Sun Wah Kiu Laundry.
The Amazing Race likes to give the teams clues that relate to the history and traditions of the location. And for Hong Kong, the show's first choice for the traditions of the city.... A laundry. Yup, a Chinese laundry. Oh, Show, shame on you.
Team CrazyPants is the second to leave at 1:29am. Mirna talks some more about something she calls 'Yield Karma', which basically involves continuing to pointing fingers at the BQ's for using "dirty play" because they yielded Eric and Dani. I feel very strongly that using a part of the game given to you by the producers is not dirty. I also feel strongly that this has nothing to do with Mirna, so she should just buttinsky on out and let Eric and Dani take it up with the BQ's.
Dani and Eric depart at 1:50am, and Cha Cha Cha at 2:19am. Cha Cha Cha decides to call the airport for information and learns that Malaysia Air has a 9:15am flight and China Air has an 8am flight, but both flights are fully booked. They can only get on standby if they are at the airport. Mirna and Shmirna find out the same thing.
The BQ's are the first to arrive at the airport. They decide to go to the Malaysian Air counter, which opens at 4am (China Air opens at 5am). Eric and Dani are the second team to arrive at the airport, and they set off in search of the internet.
The BQ's and Eric and Dani get into the elevator together and I am super excited, because there is no way this isn't going to be awesome, right? What will the BQ's say when Eric calls them "dirty pirate hookers" to their faces? Or "bitches", Dani called them bitches a bunch of times, and it's pretty much guaranteed that the BQ's won't like being called that.
Except nothing happens. No one says anything. They all just stand there.
The BQ's get off the elevator, and Eric finally figures out what he wants to say and it's: "Beauty Queens. Eh. They suck."
You showed them, Eric! A little bit of witty Yield Karma right in their faces!!!
Sigh. This non-exchange is typical of this episode. Being in Hong Kong should have been awesome. Having two rival teams together in an elevator should have been awesome. But yet, nothing awesome actually happens.
The BQ's camp out in front of the Malaysia Air ticket counter, while Cha Cha Cha goes downstairs and finds their actual office. And who knew that you could just wander around airports, stopping by offices? But apparently you can - try it the next time you travel! Just tell them Phil sent you! Anyway, the nice guy who works in the office gets Cha Cha Cha on the wait list and tells them to check in with the code BC-4.
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Comments (13)
I completely agree with your criticisms.
1 of 13 | Posted by Merick![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/shows/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 18, 2007 8:14 AM
should cha cha cha have been allowed to do the yeild? didn't they already do one with uchenna and joyce? does the fact that it was an intersection negate the yeild rule?
2 of 13 | Posted by krinka![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/shows/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 18, 2007 9:19 AM
Awesomeness, I love your recaps. They are better than the show. I am disappointed. Did I imagine it, or did I read somewhere that this season was going to be hard--difficult challenges, non-English speaking countries, etc. They lied to us! This is only slightly more exciting than Family Edition. Yawn!
3 of 13 | Posted by LonnaSaur![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/shows/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 18, 2007 10:56 AM
The thing with Cha Cha Cha and the Fast Forward was confusing. In prior seasons, I believe Phil stated clearly that teams could only use the FF once in the game, so they needed to be careful about when they used it. He didn't say that this season. So perhaps because the FF was part of the Intersection, the rule didn't apply. Or perhaps they just changed the rules. Either way, both FF's were WAY too easy.
And, LonnaSur, you're right - they did promise us a harder season with more difficult challenges and more difficulty communicating with locals. And I'd say that they have not delivered on that.
I am disappointed too, although I still love the Race, and I continue to be hopeful that next week will be better!
4 of 13 | Posted by Awesomeness![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/shows/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 18, 2007 11:36 AM
I love TAR but this season has brought out so many flaws:
(1) Coming in 1st doesn't mean a thing - it's like a series of mini races. Why don't they give teams an extra 30 minutes at the end of the next leg? There's no incentive to come first except for a dumb prize and it has no effect to the ultimate final outcome.
(2) Running out of money means nothing. Oswald and Danny should get penalized for misusing the money. Of course a cab driver is going to agree to "discount" when there's a camera crew in your face
(3) I agree with all of Awesomeness' comments re: airport, easy challenges, easier fast forwards!
You think CBS reads tvgasm?
5 of 13 | Posted by gbanex![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/shows/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 18, 2007 12:26 PM
I'm so glad you pointed out that Shmirna's clue was so low to the ground. Also, did anyone else notice that the doors she was "kicking" were actually just sort of swinging open as soon as she touched them? It bothered me...
everyone is so right-these recaps are so much better than the show-thanks awesomeness!
6 of 13 | Posted by tulip618![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/shows/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 18, 2007 3:02 PM
I would love for team Cha Cha or team pap Smirna to win.
Who decided those 2 blondes sluts were 'beauty queens'? Obviously someone is seeing impaired, or just a horny dude that wanted to hook up with a couple of skanks.
KH
hates beauty queens, in general.
7 of 13 | Posted by KatiesHole![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/shows/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 18, 2007 3:44 PM
Katie, the BQ's were always a topic of discussion on the boards during last season's TAR, so I won't discuss my opinion of them here again. All I will say is that I think they are more palatable this year, because the other teams this season are so out-to-lunch! LOL. I am hoping that most of the eppy takes place outside the airport and that someone actually decides to use the yield and IT HAS AN IMPACT on the season's outcome.
8 of 13 | Posted by slutty_whore![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/shows/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 18, 2007 4:39 PM
"You think CBS reads tvgasm?"
If they do, I'm in a lot of trouble!
9 of 13 | Posted by schoonie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/shows/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 18, 2007 6:56 PM
Did anyone else notice what looked suspiciously like Eric picking his nose while he was driving? He'll probably say it was just a scratch, but from where I was sitting it looked more like a pick to me. It's bad enough when regular folks do a little mining for magic nose goblins while they are behind the wheel (dude, I can SEE you! Those car windows are transparent you know) Eric's not only surrounded by transparent car windows but being filmed by a camera crew too. Get a kleenex already!
10 of 13 | Posted by SkippyMacCheese![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/shows/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 19, 2007 12:04 PM
"no sign of ancient Chinese secrets" LMBO, I loved that!!
I also noticed that Mirna always speaks for Miss Too Hot to Handle....
The challenges ARE weak this season..I still love TAR, though!
Great recap Awesomeness!!
11 of 13 | Posted by Jojobear![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/shows/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 19, 2007 7:54 PM
I thought that the clue said that teams had to take the ferry to Hong Kong Island. But Mirna and Schmirna actually took a taxi there. Why weren't they penalized any time for not following the instructions? Is it because they actually got on the ferry and rode it to the start and then did take it back to Hong Kong Island? Wasn't this an issue last week also? I'm confused.
12 of 13 | Posted by DP Hooker![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/shows/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 19, 2007 8:38 PM
I didn't think Schmirna should have been penalized for going to the wrong ferry location, b/c they eventually went there anyway. The screw-up was penalty enough (although the failure to walk a couple of eps ago should have cost Oswald/Danny and CrazyPants 30 minutes).
Agree that the challenges are lame-o for All-stars. But, the BQ's are actual Beauty Queens, and have actually run two pretty clean races. I am so tired of the self-righteous Mirna crying about them, since she's the biggest manipulator of them all and a huge liar to boot. I predict the alliance this week is Eric/Danielle and BQ's, hopefully, E/D realized that Mirna screwed them inthe airport, but, it could be as the preview showed the BQ's helping ChaCha with money to yield CP. I hope...
One thing I DO like is the 30 minute marked for elimination penalty.
Ciao!
13 of 13 | Posted by jay![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/shows/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 19, 2007 9:53 PM