Amazing Race - Episode Nine
I always feel some sort of cheated every time I watch a non-elimination race. But that’s just me.
This was a pretty tame episode compared to the last. The teams got out of the desert into Wild Wadi in the city of Dubai. The twins should be thanking their lucky stars, cause I can’t imagine them selling ’sexual favours’ for money to the men in the desert. Kimi and Karli’s hunt for cash was pretty funny. I wished they had shown us more behind-the-scenes for that. The teams were even again as the Wild Wadi water park (which was so awesome) will only open in the morning. I love Chip’s comments on wanting Colin to self destruct (this wasn’t the first time he said it, by the way). So do we, my man. So do we. As they get their clues in the water park, they were told that their next destination would be Calcutta! Oh man, you can never go wrong in India. (My poor beloved Tian and Jarre were eliminated there *sniff*)
The Wild Wadi Waterpark in Dubai
Before we get there, two teams made major blunders on the way to the airport. Chip and Kim got into a taxi instead of driving there as instructed. Which part of “driving” didn’t he understand? And the moms accidentally left one of their baggages and had to return and get it, wasting precious time. Oooh and they got into trouble with some a taxi driver as well, though not as dramatic as Colin. Oooh and why isn’t anyone using YIELD yet? They don’t want other teams to harbour bad feelings? Please. This is a race, a race, a RACE! But I have a sinking feeling that they won’t be using YIELD at all this season.
They reached in Calcutta and we hear Colin sarcastically implying “Look how ugly it is”. He’s got to be kidding right? Has he seen a mirror lately? Or at least, evaluated his own personality? I wish I was there so I can smash a mirror in his arrogant face. The mud brick roadblock was interesting, but I wish there were more dialogues from Colin (yeah, just so I can smash a mud brick in his arrogant face). After the mud challenge, there’s a detour, and everybody chose to drive the engineless taxi. I wish I was one of the villagers there, just so that I can shove Colin straight into the nearest cowpile. I thought the other detour was more interesting - finding a garland and dipping it into the Ganges river. It’s pretty symbolic, but unfortunately no one chose that path. So, the teams arrived in the following order Colin and Christie (BOO!! HISSS!!!), Chip and Kim, The Bowling Moms, The Twins. Brandon and Nicole was saved from elimination in this leg of the race. But they might have a super hard time trying to earn some cash next week, seeing how they’re stuck in one of the poorest countries in the world.
My obligatory Colin rant : Colin’s outburst was pretty much nothing compared to last week’s fiasco. How dare you disappoint me, Colin, you abuser! Oooh which brings me to mind a radio ad I heard some days ago. I was listening to Yahoo! Launch radio and a radio ad came on about some guy hurling foul languages, saying hurtful and condescending things to his girlfriend’s answering machine (”I know you’re there. Pick up the phone. What are you? Stupid?” bla bla). Then he says to his friend “I can’t believe she’s treating me like this” Then his friend went,”The way she’s treating you? Dude, what about the way you’re treating her?”. Then the announcer says “Just because it’s not physical, doesn’t mean it not abuse”. It was an ad for http://www.seeitandstopit.com/. It’s sad to see people like Nicole think it’s okay to be shouted at and humiliated in front of other people, and act like everything is their own fault. Really sad. No amount of editing can hide the fact that the scumbag you’re with is an abuser. Get out of it before it’s too late.
The Fast Forward was so original. It was a really good twist to have them BOTH shave their heads off. I find Nicole’s comments of “Oh no, we’re models, we can’t do that” a tad distasteful. Vain much? I’m not saying that she SHOULD shave off her head, but she could’ve been less.. arrogant. The head shaving would’ve been a humbling experience for them both. I don’t know, with Brandon and Nicole, I keep getting these conflicting storylines. On one hand, they’re seen as these two religious freaks, and on the other hand, they don’t really paint a picture of saints, now do they? The part where Brandon just watched Nicole ’suffering’ in the crowded train, and his comments of “Lord Help Her” and not doing anything? That was just so unfuckingsurreal.
On another note, I think the Fast Forward was kinda unfair. I mean, I would have no problems shaving my head off. It’s a race for a million dollars. You need to make some sacrifices if you want it that bad. But putting myself in Nicole’s shoe (or any other woman for that matter), I can understand that they would have a big problem with it. Not everyone’s got a Sinead O Connor state of mind, you know. But let’s say, they do it. They completely shave their heads off, only to know the race ended as a non-elimination leg. They shaved their heads bald for THAT? They shaved their heads bald for entertainment purposes for the folks at home watching? Kinda unfair, don’t you think? But hey, they knew what they’re in for when they signed up for these game - to be the objects of ridicule by millions of viewers. LOL. Anyway, it was one of the most interesting (and comical) Fast Forward that we’ve had in a long while. I hope we don’t get another non-elimination episode next week. Please please please get to New Zealand as soon as possible.
By the way, did any of you guys read The Star newspaper today? They featured an article called Haven of Man and Beast - the place where they tigers are taken care of Buddhist monks in northern Thailand. Didn’t they have a Roadblock here last year in Amazing Race 4?
