The Amazing Race - S37

[BaileyCatts]

Wwwhhheeeee!!!!!

The stairs at the Buddha. Thank goodness they didn't have to climb all the way to the top. I still never woulda made it to the halfway mark. I can barely climb the stairs in my house.

And then to have to climb that Up and Down tower thing? Yikes. That must have been twice as hard in the rain with that tower being all wet. Spiderman in the blue shirt scampering up that thing was though. Kudos to Purple Lady for making it up that tower.

Why did the Yellow Team have such a hard time getting a cab to take them to the park and the drivers kept telling them no when all the other teams got cabs?

Dancing or Singing .... geez the lesser of two evils for me because I can't do either one. I probably woulda picked the dancing lion one.

It will take me forever to learn their names so I'm just gonna call them by Shirt Color.

 

[Prancer]

Why did the Yellow Team have such a hard time getting a cab to take them to the park and the drivers kept telling them no when all the other teams got cabs?

Because the taxi drivers didn't recognize what they were saying until they showed the clue so the driver could read the name of the park in Chinese.

 

[tony]

Jonathan & Ana are going to be annoying as hell and therefore probably make it to the end. I feel it already. He was so over the top theatric about being excited for leading the pack in the beginning, and then he was beyond pissed for finishing 2nd in their group at the end of the episode.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Jonathan & Ana are going to be annoying as hell and therefore probably make it to the end. I feel it already. He was so over the top theatric about being excited for leading the pack in the beginning, and then he was beyond pissed for finishing 2nd in their group at the end of the episode.

I was ready to shoot him into the sun only thirty minutes into the episode.

Still not a fan of the 90-minute episodes. The singing and dancing challenges often bore me anyway and it was just too much of it.

 

[BaileyCatts]

That sumo wrestler be like push me you little twigs! That was probably like trying to move a brick wall if he really woulda put some force into it. Dude was just standing there and was like oh yeah, I gotta back up to give them the clue.

Those mochi balls looked yummy! But all that work and no samples?!

 

[DreamSkates]

Jonathan & Ana are going to be annoying as hell and therefore probably make it to the end. I feel it already. He was so over the top theatric about being excited for leading the pack in the beginning, and then he was beyond pissed for finishing 2nd in their group at the end of the episode.

Adrenaline !

 

[Prancer]

That sumo wrestler be like push me you little twigs! That was probably like trying to move a brick wall if he really woulda put some force into it. Dude was just standing there and was like oh yeah, I gotta back up to give them the clue.

That was really funny .

Those mochi balls looked yummy! But all that work and no samples?!

I cannot stand mochi even with filling; I can't imagine what it would be like without filling.

 

[Prancer]

I would never have thought the origami challenge would be faster than the ninja one; those spikes looked pretty impossible for everyone.

The nurses seem really sweet, but they were terrible racers. The brother and sister seem like....terrible racers. The Utah parents seem to be having a great time, but he kind of gets on my nerves. He kept referring to how his wife was helping him; um, no, dear, you are doing the challenge together. But he's her husband, not mine, so whatever floats her boat. He seems quite competent, so there is that.

 

[BaileyCatts]

The deer standing on the city street were like whut we doin' here! Poor babies.

I want to ride the Bullet Train.

The origami woulda done me in. So tedious and time consuming, and getting every little fold correct. But never coulda done the ninja thing so I'd be out either way.

 

[Lilia A]

I knew Ana and Jonathan had the potential to become annoying. They got the "we swear we don't fight anymore, we totally get along and we're a great team together until things don't go our way then we blow up and take everything way too personally" edit on the first episode.
I can't believe some teams took so long to switch detours. I understand not wanting to give up, but 38 attempts? And it's not like they were close. Eventually someone would've gotten it but I think it would've taken at least another 38 attempts. That was a hard task. Curious to see what that driver's seat thing is really about. They say whoever gets it decides how much the other teams have to do for the entire leg, so only the other teams? If it's all teams including the team on the driver's seat then it makes more sense because maybe they can eliminate tasks they wouldn't be good at and keep ones they can finish quickly, but if only the other teams depend on the decision then it seems like a bit too much power for winning a foot race or even a challenge, it'd pretty much guarantee a leg win. We'll see how it works out and whether it's worth keeping for future seasons.

 

[Prancer]

The deer standing on the city street were like whut we doin' here! Poor babies.

Yes, that was really random.

The origami woulda done me in. So tedious and time consuming, and getting every little fold correct.

Yes, really frustrating. And to add insult to injury, they had little kids showing them how it was done .

 

[tony]

Jonathan irks me more than anyone else in recent memory by a long way. He's so annoying and then puts on this act for the cameras constantly. I don't ever research the contestants outside the show but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he and Ana have some kind of social media/Youtube channel that they earn significant income from. He has that approach when he's not flustered or struggling. So over the top.

Double U-Turn seemed really unfair even so, with the top 2 teams being set way back almost by default.

 

[BaileyCatts]

Catching up on the last 2 episodes, at the Drivers Seat, I probably would have taken the 15 for myself and knocked it out, and just portion out the rest to my closest allies first then go down the line, saving the 25 for the teams that already don't like me. Why have your allies turn on you at this stage when you know there's stuff coming up that they will want revenge against you? That was not a good place to use that Express Pass. Even I woulda pounded out that 15 pounds of rice. Get out a lot of aggression and not waste the Express Pass yet.

The Pink Team was starting to get a little annoying with the 'we are so slow' comments when they have always finished near the top so I kinda agreed with everyone at the Double U Turn. But I didn't like that open vote and hitting 2 teams, I like the old way where the first Team there gets to choose 1 team to U Turn.

Lugging those heavy coconuts in was it 4-5 round trips when it was probably a steaming humidity dripping 100+ degrees?! Yikes. If I woudn't have dropped dead hauling the coconuts, I woulda drowned at the surfboards since I probably would have chosen to do a task that was 'matching'.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Jonathan irks me more than anyone else in recent memory by a long way. He's so annoying and then puts on this act for the cameras constantly. I don't ever research the contestants outside the show but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he and Ana have some kind of social media/Youtube channel that they earn significant income from. He has that approach when he's not flustered or struggling. So over the top.

Double U-Turn seemed really unfair even so, with the top 2 teams being set way back almost by default.

There have been some real a-holes on the show over the years but I think Jonathan is one of the absolute worst. The way he talks to and reacts to Ana is disgusting. When she reached for the clue and he held it out of her reach like an insolent five year old. ? She should have never gone back to him after their separation.

 

[BaileyCatts]

That diving thing at the Fast Forward was . And if you don't know how to scuba dive, how do you just like ... scuba dive with one little lesson? I never have understood how that breathing thing stays in your mouth. What if you panic and fear takes over and you try to like scream or something? How does that thing stay in your mouth?

That surf board thing looked so fun! But no samples at the pastries? They shoulda got to have samples.

 

[Lilia A]

"That's my girl!....and by that I mean my sister"

I'm finally up to date. Took me a while to catch up.

I've had Han and Holden on my "not great but not bad" list. They're both good at tasks that are purely physical but they've had moments where things went really wrong. I can see them making a final 3 but I can also see them making a major mistake (like driving the completely opposite direction and not noticing until it's too late) and getting eliminated next.

I knew Jeff and Pops were toast the moment they started this leg. They got the "we're getting eliminated next" emotional montage at the beginning of the episode. Also, when it was them against the brothers in the metro station and I remembered Phil announcing an epic foot race, I knew they'd be gone. I liked them but I knew they probably wouldn't make it till the end. Same goes for Melinda and Erica. Melinda won't stop saying "I can't run" or "I can't do X", and I think when a team gets that kind of edit it'll eventually come down to something like that.

Jonathan is, in fact, one of the worst jerks I've seen on this show. He switches his demeanor on and off very quickly and those are the worst. We didn't see too much of him today because they were in the middle of the pack, but I expect to continue to be annoyed by him. They're sufficiently strong to make it far, which irks me to say.

The remaining 3 teams are all male teams. Nick and Carson have been getting the "we're good but people don't realize it, so we fly under the radar" story too many times, so I very much expect them to get U-turned next. I like them, so I hope they last until the end. The other 2 all male teams, I have a hard time telling them apart lol. But the married ones seem strong, and I like them too, so I hope they stay for a while. The brothers are strong in that they're young and in good shape, but so far they haven't had a great leg unless I'm forgetting something.

And I totally forgot Alyssa and Josiah, which explains my general impression about this team. The way I see it, they don't do well when the pressure is on. I'm pretty sure they were the ones who stayed far too long at a detour early on. I don't dislike them, but I don't see them making the final.

So far I feel like no one is getting the winners edit, except for the fact that I dislike Jonathan and Ana (well just Jonathan), so they're almost guaranteed to make the top 3 or 4.

Next week: self driving, wheeeee. I hope they're stick shift cars, for extra drama.

 

[Prancer]

That diving thing at the Fast Forward was .

I would LOVE to do that. It would have been hard for me to leave.

That surf board thing looked so fun!

That. too, although I have a terrible sense of balance and would have fallen off all day long.

But no samples at the pastries? They shoulda got to have samples.

Definitely.

 

[Aceon6]

I, too, just caught up. Sad that Team Pink got caught in the U Turn as I was hoping they’d go a few more legs. None of the remaining teams is my favorite, but I’m definitely NOT team Jonathan. What a prick.

 

[Lilia A]

I can't even begin to describe how much I despised Jonathan in this episode. Babe, you chose the wrong task! Why did you choose this? This was a big mistake, YOUR mistake. You're making us lose so much time. Not nearly as much time as they probably lost being stuck in that ditch, where Jonathan parked. When he messes up he's the victim and oh this is so hard, when Ana does something even slightly wrong then it's all her fault and she's the one slowing them down. Last thing I'll say about him, everyone knows that needle in a haystack challenges can leave you stuck doing that task for hours, just ask Nick and Mike, so he should've known that it wasn't going to be easy, especially when the other option was transporting 200kg of firewood.

I have to wonder how far behind Carson and Jack were. Han and Holden were already gone by the time they reached the detour, but at the same time, Nick and Mike said they were at the haystack challenge for 6 hours. The U-turn definitely saved them but even if they had been U-turned they might've survived. I think the "other teams don't notice us" thing really was the case here, because it seems that no one mentioned them at all the entire episode and that's probably why they didn't get U-turned.

 

[Prancer]

I can't even begin to describe how much I despised Jonathan in this episode. Babe, you chose the wrong task! Why did you choose this? This was a big mistake, YOUR mistake. You're making us lose so much time. Not nearly as much time as they probably lost being stuck in that ditch, where Jonathan parked.

He's one of those people who expected to be in first place at the end of every leg and is offended that he is being robbed of his rightful position.

I have to wonder how far behind Carson and Jack were.

They kept saying three hours.

I think the "other teams don't notice us" thing really was the case here, because it seems that no one mentioned them at all the entire episode and that's probably why they didn't get U-turned.

I thought it was because they are usually running ahead of everyone and the other teams assumed they'd been and gone already.

 

[Prancer]

Jonathan says his behavior is autism: https://www.intouchweekly.com/posts...dresses-his-negative-behavior-after-backlash/

 

[Aceon6]

Jonathan says his behavior is autism: https://www.intouchweekly.com/posts...dresses-his-negative-behavior-after-backlash/

Hmmmm. Not buying it. Sorry dude.

 

[smurfy]

Re Jonathan - I don't like how when it is Ana's fault, vs when it his - not taking ownership of his errors.
From article - he referenced control environment at home. Over the years on Survivor and Amazing Race - there are people who seem to have such disciplined lives that they do not do well in this fly by the seat of your pants environment.
Ana is very patient. I hope they do not win.

I am enjoying this season. Love the tasks and scenery.

 

[BaileyCatts]

So my choice for my Team is either I drive the stick shift or I navigate the map. Yeah .... my Team would be screwed either way.

I know they didn't have a choice, but Nick and Mike were doing the haystack thing all wrong. First, you know that item you are gonna have to find is going to be small from past seasons. They were grabbing giant clumps and just tossing them. The only way that haystack task will work (other than sheer luck) is if you grab smaller handfuls and like shred the small handful into another little pile outside of the giant pile. Tossing giant clumps will never work because you will just toss it away, just like they did.

I would have never picked the needle in the haystack task (again sheer luck). The wood was harder but at least there was a goal. Just get it done, even if it took me 4 trips, just keep moving and get it done.

Carson and Jack should have stopped for directions a whole lot sooner then they ever did. If I drove for more than 10 minutes and things didn't seem right, I'm getting off at the next exit and asking directions or to use someones phone and goolgemaps it. In fact, I'd ask 3 or 4 people for directions before I ever left the city just to make sure they all told me the same thing.

 

[Prancer]

Carson and Jack should have stopped for directions a whole lot sooner then they ever did.

Stereotypical male driving.

 

[sk8pics]

Re Jonathan - I don't like how when it is Ana's fault, vs when it his - not taking ownership of his errors.

Jonathan is annoying the crap out of me. All the whining, all the complaining, OMG, I don’t know how Ana stands it.

I am enjoying this season. Love the tasks and scenery.

Me too! I can’t believe Carson and Jack caught up to and passed some of the other teams. And I can’t believe so many of the teams didn’t bother to flip their cipher over.

 

[Aceon6]

Read the clue. Then read it again. Then have your partner read it. Sheesh!

 

[Prancer]

Jonathan is annoying the crap out of me. All the whining, all the complaining, OMG, I don’t know how Ana stands it.

I didn't think he was too bad this episode. And my guess is that Ana just doesn't listen to him.

I am amazed that any of the teams found that underground snack bar. I would have missed it for hours.

 

[sk8pics]

I didn't think he was too bad this episode. And my guess is that Ana just doesn't listen to him.

He wasn’t as much in her face as usual but still making the same kind of comments that came across to me as kind of passive aggressive. You are probably right about Ana.

I am amazed that any of the teams found that underground snack bar. I would have missed it for hours.

Me too! I hadn’t noticed the marking at all until the first team to find it pointed that out.

 

[BaileyCatts]

I also never saw the marking on the klek door until someone pointed it out. I would have been walking up and down that street for hours. It just looked like a maintenance door with graffiti on it to me.

So you travel half way around the world, meet some random dude in a field for a few minutes, and meet the same random dude on a bus. That is so .... random!

I also would have spent hours at the cypher. I woulda never thought to pick it up and turn it over unless I saw someone else do it or they told me.

I'm willing to bet someone on FSU has done that walking the coals thing. How hot is it really and doesn't it like cut up your feet?

.

Erika: I'm getting so much better at reading the clues.
Me:

Hypothetical: Let's say due to taking taxi all trip (and if they figured out the cypher quickly), they ended up in 1st. Would they have to sit out a penalty (those are 4 hours, right?), or go back to the starting point, and then proceed via bus/walking to each destination back to the pit stop?