First up, that was possibly one of the more enjoyable episodes this season - although in all fairness, nothing can possibly be worse than the episode that was show last week. Secondly, I loved the short recaps from the first episode to the fifth episode - although it was kinda stupid that they totally edited out the real reason why Mai and Oliver was eliminated last week. Thirdly, I have never been so glad for a Non-Elimination Leg till I saw this race. I honestly thought this was going to be a To-Be-Continued episode, what with the extended recap at the beginning of the episode and all.
Teams started off from Taipei from the last leg. Sam and Vince had a comfortable four-hour lead, which led to their constant lead throughout this leg. Henry/Bernie, AD/Fuzzie and Geoff/Tisha were within an hour and a half of each other. Whereas Ida/Tania were trailing more than seven hours behind Sam and Vince. Usually after Fast Forwards, there usually would be an equalizer for the next leg, but that wasn’t so in this case. Takpe lah. No use harping on the flaws of the shortsightedness of The Powers That Be.
Teams were to fly to Hong Kong. Not much airport drama, but I just LOVED the blatant zoom in on the Standard Chartered credit card when they were purchasing the tickets, don’t you? Once there, they had to run through a rugby field in Kowloon to get their next clue. Although, kind of a pointless thing here, I suppose it was kind of fun for the racers. After getting their clue, teams had to take a taxi to central Hong Kong to the next Detour.
The Detour was between (1) Fishy - where they had to clean, gut and scale 15 fish, or (2) Lucky - crack through 300 fortune cookies to get their next clue. Although it seemed a little lop-sided, only one team did the Fishy detour - Henry/Bernie which didn’t surprise me. I know it’s crazy, but I would’ve done the same thing. Can you blame me? I get an instant hardon everytime I use my Zwilling knives. Bite me. The fortune cookie challenge proved to be the easier one though.. and I HAVE to search for that particular Confucius proverb about backsides and waking up with a smelly hand or summink or nuffink (channelling Vicky Pollard - God I love that bitch).
After the Detour, teams had to get on a taxi to Central Pier, get on a ferry and head to Ladies Market for their next Roadblock. The Roadblock clue was : “Who’s got an eye for the ladies?”, which resonated particularly well with AD & Fuzzie.. awww how sweet. The roadblock was to choose a handbag, and spot the exact same handbag among the people and shops at the Ladies Market. I’ll tell you one thing, I would’ve DIED if I was to do this. Sooo not my thing. This is kind of a needle in a haystack type of challenge thingy.. but I thought it was pretty original. And LOL @ Bernie keeping the handbag. Next was the pitstop, and in the order of their arrival :
Show Me The Spoiler
- Sam/Vince : This was truly their day in the sun. Kudos to them coming in first place, and on their own turf too. They’re starting to grow on me.
- Henry/Bernie : They are the champs of come backs. If any teams deserve to be in the Final Three, it’s them. If any teams deserve to be on a possible All Star version, it’s them.
- Geoff/Tisha : They did rather well this week. Much less assholery this episode, me likey!
- AD/Fuzzie : I honestly do hope these two will amble their way to the finals. LOL
- Ida/Tania : Thank God for NELs. They are officially behind Charla/Mirna as my most favourite TAR team ever. <3
Yup.. pretty good episode indeed. And if anyone missed out on the past TARA3 episodes, this episode would be a great place to start - especially with the short recaps that was shown in the first five minutes of the episode. I hope Ida/Tania will be able to make up some grounds in the next leg, cause I do think they are at least 5 or 6 hours (if not more) behind the first team at the next start of the leg.
October 17th, 2008 at 8:27 am
I thought it was a boring episode. I thought the rugby challenge was kinda pointless. Though I must say the Roadblock challenge was original.
Thanks god Tania/Ida didnt get eliminated. But they have to step since I think the rest of the teams are quite strong.
And what???? Still in Hong Kong? Geez!!!!
October 17th, 2008 at 9:25 am
I was happy to know that it was a non-elimination leg. I like Ida, and wouldn’t mind the ambling team and Geoff/Tisha out!
October 17th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Figured it was about time for a NEL. Also glad that it’s Ida and Tania on the receiving end.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:04 am
When Alan kept saying that Sam and Vince did good in their two legs, I was thinking, “Uh, no. Good luck in finding the correct DVD, which happened to have a FF, which led to a good lead, especially when the other teams fell so behind in a leg that had two find-the-needle tasks back-to-back.” Luck, not strength, played the biggest part in the current lead of Sam and Vince. Not that I am down on them, it’s just that their own and Alan’s patting of them as the strong team makes me laugh.
Ida and Tania never really had a chance to catch up as they fell behind so badly in the last leg and there was no equalizer moments here. But they are still cool. I’m amazed at how they haven’t fallen into the typical all-female team trap of quarreling endlessly yet!
I’m not comfortable with the other team’s alienation of Tisha and Geoff, mostly because I haven’t been allowed to see why Geoff rubbed them off the wrong way. He is not that bad, is he? And poor Tisha looked quite hurt when they realized that Henry/Bernie and AD/Fuzzie had deliberately sat far away from them in the ferry.
Oh yes, the rugby “task” is just pointless. Those guys are too nice or scared to tackle the teams on camera.
Henry and Bernie still rock. I think they can win this, but knowing how things go on this show, they’d probably end up 3rd while Sam/Vince or Tisha/Geoff will bag this thing.
October 18th, 2008 at 8:15 am
This episode was quite entertaining, and I must say that I did giggle a little bit when Geoff retorted, “Confucius say, you been bad boy!”. On another note, I as well, found the rugby thing quite useless and lame, and I’m quite sure the rugby players felt the same way when AD & Fuzzie were just ambling down the field paying no attention to them, LOL.
I do kind of feel bad for Geoff and Tish being labeled the “bad” team, but I’m sure that with Geoff’s attitude, it’d be hard NOT to irritate or rub teams the wrong way. I’m quite sympathetic towards Trish at this point in the race. I also have to admit that this particular team is strong, regardless of their reputation.
On a final note, I must say that I love Ida and Tania’s attitude towards the race. They’re just plain awesome.
October 18th, 2008 at 9:33 am
One thing, IMO, that makes Geoff different from the alpha males (or alpha male wannabes) on the race is that he is actually aware that he could damage his relationship with Tisha if he doesn’t rein it in. He has made some comments to that effect in the previous and in this episode. I think it really sobers him up when Tisha gave him the cold shoulder during the drive to the coal mine in the previous episode. I suspect that most of his more hammy antics are for the camera - he must have listened to his best friend Rovilson’s advice too much. I don’t think he’s that bad, he just tries too hard to be a bad boy.
October 18th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Romeo : Sorry to burst your bubble, but I think they’ll still be in the Far East based on next week’s preview.. btw.. I’ll see you later (I have the DVDs packed and ready to go)
Gallivanter & Synical : I’m glad this wasn’t a NEL leg too.
MrsG : I think you hit the nail right on its head. I too feel that Geoff is trying a bit too much to be the bad guy for the cameras. Not coming to his defense or anything, but I read (post-race) that he was kinda sorry about the whole whistle thingy too. I blame Roviltwat. And.. what? No comments from you on Tania making the mock convo with the Allen-pamphlet? LOL I thought that was cute.
neggo : I have to admit that Geoff does have his little make-you-laugh moments (ie. the over the hill comment a couple of weeks ago made me snicker). And in terms of morale, I don’t think there’s ever been a stronger female team on the race.. ever. (No offense JoeJer/Zab, Diane/Ann.. you know I love you girls too!)
October 18th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
That scene is so cute, I can’t believe I didn’t mention it!
By the way, Alan’s blog has some nice shirtless/bicep-tastic/tight-shirt-tastic photos. Not that I am there to look. I am there for his deep insights on the race, naturally.
http://www.alivenotdead.com/allanwu