To be honest, even with the blatant Bunim/Murray misdirection, it seemed like Nick might get the heave-ho this episode. He had all those things going against him - you know, like athletic prowess, quiet modesty, pacific demeanor. Clearly he didn't belong. Actually, the real problem he's faced since he joined the crew a few weeks ago has been his official role as outsider. Before Nick even surfaced, Patrick et al. were proclaiming their hatred for Danny's replacement, and then when Nick unsurprisingly shied away from these bitter people, they derided him for not wanting to hang out with them. Some would call it classic self-fulfilling prophecy. The Roadies would just call it "Not cool, man."

Of course, with Ibis's ouster came a new appreciation for Nick. Suddenly Derrick and Patrick, who had been the most anti-social towards the guy, retracted their previously assholish behavior with Patrick babbling that any hostile attitude towards Nick "was more playful than serious". Yeah, he's right. I mean, I often try to make someone feel like a lonely outsider to be playful. Doesn't everyone? I'm sure this change in attitude was influenced less by Patrick and Derrick's introspection than their realization that with Ibis gone, the old crew (or Road Rules X-Treme Classic) no longer holds the majority.

One thing we learned last night was that Nick finally has an ally in newbie Angela. The wardrobe designer from LA thankfully dropped her "I'm so much more mature" attitude, but curiously, that big, blue growth on her neck remained. Some might call it a flower choker, but considering that it hasn't moved in two weeks, we might be dealing with some sort of pedaled tumor.

With angst abounding in the RV, the group drove off to Buenos Aires where they met their new and, once again, increasingly hot Mission Mayors. The actual challenge this episode was somewhat better than previous ones this season, and I was pleased to see a definitive lack of blindfolds this time around. The roommates had to pair off in teams and stand on top of an eight foot platform, clutching each other's arms. A roaring (and highly unnecessary) Mac truck would zoom by and pull the platform out from under the kiddos. Team members had to jump off at the right time and land on their purdy little feet.

Everyone paired up along the lines of physical stature. Someone theorized that if a large person like Patrick teamed up with a small person like Angela, the large person would fall faster and increase the risk of failure. I guess no one ever tooks Physics 101. Otherwise they would have known that all objects fall at the same rate, regardless of size or mass. But who am I to expect, you know, any ounce of education from these guys?