The Amazing Race 29 - complete strangers

[Lilia A]

Did anyone watch tonight? Not sure I love the idea of having total strangers pair up. I mean, they already did it for the (fail) blind date season for half of the teams, but this time no one knows anyone.

As if it weren't already hard enough for me to keep track of who's who, this is making it harder. Team "Fun" is alright, but we'll see how they handle a tough situation. Also, I love that the two people who had the first sort of fight of the season ended up being paired together.

I don't hate anyone so far, but the guy who keeps saying 'son of a bitch' every two seconds (IIRC the one who messed up the flag) is getting on my nerves. Also, I feel bad for the cowgirl. It seems that Mr. Mega Beard has a short fuse in difficult situations.

Last but not least, I'm glad we're back to "real" people even though they're not the good old fashioned teams. It's better than Youtubers and Instagramers.

 

[genevieve]

I can't believe it's taken them this long to come up with this twist.

I won't be watching this season, just because I'm on my own long term Amazing Race (and have had a few classic TAR moments already), but look forward to reading about it here

 

[Rogue]

I'm still trying to figure out how the pair Phil took to the airport wound up on the 2nd flight. My only guess is that some cabdrivers knew shortcuts that Phil didn't know. But wouldn't it be fun to have Phil as your chauffeur?

 

[Aceon6]

I didn't even know it was back. Time to figure out why TiVo missed it.

 

[annie720]

Team Boulder!

 

[smurfy]

I can not keep anyone straight. They could have at least given them color matching tops once teamed up. I find that helpful in the beginning.
the smart geek guy and the lady - I feel bad for her - he can not read a person at all.
I hope it will be interesting to watch the dynamics of these people. I am not thrilled with the premise.
And yes - I would love for Phil to be my limo driver.!

 

[Anemone]

I watched it last night as well. Despite getting to choose, I think there are several pairs that are going to be a lot of drama - which I hate. AR tends to air quite a bit of the drama (particularly if the previews from the next episode they aired last night are any indication), and I'd much rather watch team working on the tasks/roadblocks than drama. I don't think I have a favourite team at this point, although there are a couple that I think I will find annoying as the season progresses. It does look like the team that won the leg last night is going to be one of the strongest teams this season though.

 

[Aceon6]

I caught up online. I think the leftovers may be one of the strongest female teams in the history of the race if they play their cards right. For a female to make K9 or drill sergeant, there's a good chance that she is intelligent, can read situations, is persistent, and has the requisite physical skills. That's a powerful combo in TAR.

 

[Deleted member 1204]

All I'm sure of is that Becca is truly annoying.

 

[BaileyCatts]

I didn't even know it was back. Time to figure out why TiVo missed it.

It will be on Thursday nights at 10p EST.


I'm not liking the complete strangers thing. Its going to be hard to try to get behind a "Team" when they have no connection to each other. One of the things I like is watching the relationships between the Teams and how they work together, know their strengths and weaknesses, and the ensuing drama that will naturally come.

I appreciated the fact that the First Guy who got to pick, picked the first woman to arrive and stated that as his fair reason, rather than just pick the other strongest guy there (okay, sure, she looks like one of the strongest women there but still, she WAS the first woman to arrive at the line ....). I know there have been male/male teams before, but especially in a version where they are all strangers, they should have had a requirement of male/female teams. The Second Guy who just clearly picked who appeared to be the strongest guy left .... I won't like that Team just for that reason.

Too bad for the Surfer Dude. He might have been very entertaining. And it was HER fault they are out because when they were looking for that Tower he pointed the right way and she was all 'no this way', so I blame her. I don't like Red Beard guy at all, so now I am going to have to hate that Team, so I feel bad for his partner. The only hashtag name I remember is "Team Fun" and I think I am going to like them. That guy is funny so as long as they don't get ttooo annoying, I think I will like them. I can't really make a call on anyone else because its hard to remember them when there is no relationship status to use to remember them by.

Man its going to be hard remembering these Teams where there is no correlation to make, like mother/son, married, sisters, co-workers, etc. I don't know what to call anyone!

 

[Garden Kitty]

It will be on Thursday nights at 10p EST.


I appreciated the fact that the First Guy who got to pick, picked the first woman to arrive and stated that as his fair reason, rather than just pick the other strongest guy there (okay, sure, she looks like one of the strongest women there but still, she WAS the first woman to arrive at the line ....). I know there have been male/male teams before, but especially in a version where they are all strangers, they should have had a requirement of male/female teams. The Second Guy who just clearly picked who appeared to be the strongest guy left .... I won't like that Team just for that reason.

The Second Guy picked the man who had lost a leg. Granted the man with the artificial limb looks like an amazing athlete and seems to have a great attitude, but he may have some challenges with some of the tasks in the race. I'm hoping that he does well.

I like the fact these people all seem like "real people" rather than media semi-celebrities, but I'm sorry there isn't more diversity in age. Most of the time, the older couples leave the race early, but I like seeing a greater range. Most of these people are hard to remember after the first episode.

 

[Fridge_Break]

I am definitely not at all crazy over the strangers concept, especially when in past years the casting department has said that what makes the show works is the relationship between the teammates. That being said, I am super glad TAR is back on the air. It feels like it's been way too long since the previous season.

Names are going to be tough for me to get down this time, I think. Olive & partner are going to be pretty tough to beat. Also was impressed with the fun team, I think they are going to be a great match.

The guy team with the amputee seemed pretty smug and cocky at times. Also when the woman on the team that lost said in the very beginning that she was planning on using her looks to propel her to victory, I was ready for her to go. Exactly how does being pretty get you first place in a race?

Beard guy is going to get on my nerves. His poor partner who has to deal with him. I had to LOL when he was having a complete meltdown with continually losing the canoe races and then proceeded to paddle ever so daintily like they were on a Sunday afternoon scenic tour. Use your upper body strength, dude.

I'm interested in finding out the dynamics of the female team. They obviously didn't start off on the right foot but seemed to be getting along great by the end of the leg. I wonder if we'll have a bit of a story arc going on there.

And team Social Awkward who can't communicate with each other.. despite their difficulties they, too, seemed supportive and close at the mat.

I didn't even know it was back. Time to figure out why TiVo missed it.

My DVR didn't pick it up because it's titled "Amazing Race 29" when previously it was just "Amazing Race." So maybe check for that.

 

[Rogue]

That helicopter ride looked so cool. Kudos to the man who was scared of heights doing the Road Block since his partner was injured. But I'm sad to see the F-F team go, and all because of bad plane tickets.

 

[BaileyCatts]

The "Strangers" theme is so far not helping. I was watching realizing I have no clue who any of these people are (well, typical of a new season, but you at least know know "brothers", "friends", "partners", etc.), and hard to establish any kind of "root for them" for me. I can't even remember names. Yeah, the guy with the fear of heights totally rocked that challenge. I was kinda rooting for him to please don't miss anything because I don't want you to have to do that again! So never having been in a harness before (and also not, like ... being a man) I don't know how overly dramatic the 'OMG my balls' guy was being. But the other men didn't seem to have a problem with it so .... kinda wish they woulda lost. Those girls not seeing the bike rider though ... . She was practically riding circles around them! And what was with Phil and the people he was kinda snarky with. I don't think I have ever seen Phil act like that before. I can't even tell you who the Team was, but Phil was kinda, well .... mean. What was that all about? Because I didn't get why he was acting like that, so I assume I missed something.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

The only person I saw Phil taking a tone with was the "OMG my balls" guy, and I was glad Phil didn't cut him any slack!

 

[smurfy]

So hard to keep everyone straight - give them color matching tops!!!
Guy that harnass hurt him - part of me was wondering if he was faking it - said he was Type A - but seems checked out and body language with his partner. I feel bad for his partner - she seems nice - and was very patient with him.
Girl that hurt her elbow - part of me was wondering if she was faking or exagerrating it.
Yes - notice a trend in my thoughts. That girl was annoying - and the way she grabbed her elbow at certain times - seemed staged.
I did like the window cleaning - and if you rappelled to low, had to go down and start over - so frustrating - but details!
The music detour - was not as exciting as other ones like that - not enough locals laughing at the contestants.
I love this show, but it is really hard to get into. Next week - I think I will record, then wait a week and watch 2 in a row - that might help figuring out who is who.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I haven't watched the show in a few years, so I might be enjoying it because it's all pretty fresh to me. I'm not minding the stranger twist. I kinda like watching the teams figure out their dynamics.

 

[Chemistry66]

I can't believe it's taken them this long to come up with this twist.

I won't be watching this season, just because I'm on my own long term Amazing Race (and have had a few classic TAR moments already), but look forward to reading about it here

They sort of did it in Season 26, where 5 of the teams were "blind date" teams that met at the starting line. It was so much more awkward then, since some of the teams had pre-existing relationships and others didn't.

As for this season, I like it so far. I haven't watched a full season in a while, but it's good so far. Most of the teams seem to be finding a groove. Vanck and Ashton (Asian guy/blond girl) were so hard to watch in Episode 1 but they seem to actually be learning to communicate better! Matt and Redmond (snowboarder/military guy with prosthesis) have such great spirits and clearly get along very very well (and I keep forgetting Redmond has a prosthesis!) Becca and Floyd (#TeamFun!) mesh so well that I can't believe they actually didn't know each other beforehand.

Also, I wanted to smack Shamir for the way he was acting. I'm not doubting he was in pain and very uncomfortable. However, he was acting like a tantruming toddler.

 

[BaileyCatts]

The only person I saw Phil taking a tone with was the "OMG my balls" guy, and I was glad Phil didn't cut him any slack!

Do'op ..... see, I didn't even realize that was the guy because I can't get the names or faces down. Now it makes sense. I'm glad Phil did that too.

 

[Prancer]

Hahahahaha at the band geeks ruling the samba challenge. Go band nerds!

Phil says the season really takes off in the next episode.

 

[genevieve]

I like the fact these people all seem like "real people" rather than media semi-celebrities, but I'm sorry there isn't more diversity in age. Most of the time, the older couples leave the race early, but I like seeing a greater range. Most of these people are hard to remember after the first episode.

It sounds like teams were chosen by early finishers picking their partners, and of course you're going to have folks picking who they feel will make a strong team - so maybe it's just as well to not have a lot of older folks, because likely no one would pick them.

 

[Prancer]

It sounds like teams were chosen by early finishers picking their partners, and of course you're going to have folks picking who they feel will make a strong team - so maybe it's just as well to not have a lot of older folks, because likely no one would pick them.

Someone would have to pick them, and someone is always going to be the last picked.

That said, I'm glad the women who ended up being the last picks got stuck with each other. I don't think they would have chosen each other voluntarily and they were clearly meant to be friends.

 

[shan]

I haven't watched the show in a few years, so I might be enjoying it because it's all pretty fresh to me. I'm not minding the stranger twist. I kinda like watching the teams figure out their dynamics.

I like this season too!

I skipped last season because I was so annoyed by the social media people, ugh... Perhaps that's why I'm enjoying this season so much. Also, I watched 2 episodes back to back, I think that has helped in id'ing everyone.

I feel sorry for the partners of red beard guy and the guy who had to go in the ambulance due to harness injuries

 

[Chemistry66]

It sounds like teams were chosen by early finishers picking their partners, and of course you're going to have folks picking who they feel will make a strong team - so maybe it's just as well to not have a lot of older folks, because likely no one would pick them.

Yeah, there was an opening challenge to run to a specific luggage store, find a bag with a certain flag on it, and bring it back to Phil, which decided the picking order.

It does make some sense to have some less variety in the group with this method, because of what you said about older people being left until last. However, there's been some older teams in prior seasons that have done pretty well. I've rewatched a few seasons this week and there's some things that being older even helps with. (One team even clearly could have gone farther but the dad tore his achilles badly tripping on uneven ground and had to withdraw)

Plus, there's definite cases of learning to not judge a book by its cover - there was an older man in my Krav Maga class last year who was ridiculously fit and I learned quickly that he packed a lot of power when he'd punch or kick, even when using safety pads.

 

[love skating]

I don't mind the stranger team ups. Am mostly just glad this show is finally back on - as I missed it very much. Something I noticed is they didn't show them all leaving in the beginning... or did I miss something? Seemed like suddenly they all were at the travel agent.

It sure seems like they picked a bunch of super buff people too - I would be very intimated racing them, but then the super buff girls got eliminated - too bad I liked them.

 

[Fridge_Break]

I hope there's a harness challenge every leg so Shamir has to dangle by his testicles again until he's Philliminated.

 

[Moto Guzzi]

I wanted Ball Baby Shamir to go home but more harness challenges would be fun to watch.

 

[Chemistry66]

Shamir just got a splinter and it feels so oddly satisfying.

 

[shan]

Shamir just got a splinter and it feels so oddly satisfying.

I did laugh at that. I love how the camera zeroed in on the local guy's reaction.

at the elimination tonight.

 

[BaileyCatts]

Hmmmm .... at first I did not like Red Beard Guy, but he's growing on me. Sad for the Cop and the Fireman Team, I liked them and they were a good Team. Had a small panic scream when Team Fun lost a Passport. How do you not keep track of your Passport when you cannot play the game without your Passport!! This has happened a few times on the show, hasn't it? I would be checking every 5 freaking minutes making sure I had that Passport! Oh, and while I simply "didn't like them" before, now I hate Matt and Redmond.


Oh, and holy hell at the Local Man who climbed like 100 feet up a tree with nothing but his hands and bare feet!!!