springbarb

I don't think the teams--other than Will and James--cared which team was yielded; they just wanted the second-to-last team to yield the last team. Whether that was the Blondes or Leo & Alana didn't really matter. Just need to give themselves that cushion. My boyfriend pointed out that Will & James are playing TAR likes it's Big Brother. They really shouldn't be "targeting" anyone; you just race as best you can. It's annoying. With the alliance, it doesn't need to actively break up; just everyone should start playing their own games. I don't mid its existence, honestly, but I do think everyone is putting more emphasis on it than it should have. The movie studio was SO cool! That's one of those experiences where even if you get eliminated, it would be so cool to have done.

I didn't like him on Food Network Star, so now I just roll my eyes whenever he pops up. I don't even remember why I didn't like him, other than that he needed to button his shirts more.

I assume it was mentioned in the clue or by the guy at the top of the building, but I think between climbing 15 stories, getting strapped into the harness, and walking down a building, the racers all missed it.

Agree on both points. (Also, Hung and Chee were past the football players in the search for a taxi; if I were Gary and D'Angelo, I'd assume they had seen another taxi and were going for that one.) I'm REALLY hoping that Leo/Alana had to give that song a couple tries; Leo wasn't into it at all in the one we saw. The guy there didn't seem a particularly harsh judge. I'm guessing that the crew examined it and determined that Will and James weren't at fault, but who knows? Maybe we see a penalty at the beginning of the next leg. Well, the Blonde got it by going into the hotel and getting help. So apparently there wasn't a rule that they had to figure it out themselves--Leo and Apama also conferred.

The wasting time is the point of those, but it's so frustrating to watch. I really prefer the setup where they need to find the coffee cup with their name on it. I agree about the sweep still being a bit off. Leslie seemed to talk a bit more about the prices for things in this episode, so maybe they're still finding their way? They seem to be trying to create chaos. In the original, contestants couldn't knock stuff over--they'd be penalized for stuff on the floor. But this version doesn't seem to mind. I wonder if part of the problem, too, is that there are SO many aisles? They're all quite short, so there's a lot more turning corners, etc.

It's frustrating how inconsistent these shows are; they're theoretically not cumulative, but Jeffrey was always going to go home before Megan, despite his pie apparently tasting better. Similarly, I get annoyed at bakers getting dinged for their desserts not looking "holiday" enough, but there were multiple pies in this episode that were more fall themed (with leaves, etc.) and not a single comment. There was at least one dessert previously that had a very fall theme that got called out for not being more "holiday."

I don't really get upset about the latter, but macarons and macaroons are different items. If someone says they're making macaroons, that's what I expect--not macarons.

I think this group actually seems closer than in previous seasons, probably due to them being quarantined together. They have family there, but they've also mentioned a practice tent, where I'm sure they've been spending a lot of time together. They've talked a lot about becoming quite close, and I believe it. Total agree on this. I didn't like the comments about Peter at all. And the spoon segments were done. It seemed like this week spent more time on Matt and Noel's hijinks, which I didn't need. The two of them see to get on quite a bit, but it isn't translating that well. I do enjoy Matt, though.

This sounds really famliar. Do you mind saying who it is? Asking as a big Orioles fan! They showed the first few teams leaving Paraguay, then basically skipped and showed the second group of teams getting on the later flight. It was a bit confusing. Much as I don't like Will and James, probably my favorite part of the episode was Leo talking at the Roadblock about how bad they were at driving, and how he wouldn't be seeing them again--only for them to enter literally as he's talking. Just perfect. (I also don't like Leo and Alana, so I didn't mind him being shown up.)

And these clues are SO much easier than in the original Supermarket Sweep. Some of the classic clues were really hard. I didn't get Wise, but the clue gave enough to get them to the potato chips aisle.

I thought the blondes were at the cello for 4 hours, too--so the two were pretty equal there. I am curious how far ahead the football players were; they had cleared the mat by the time the blondes arrived, so it obviously wasn't super close. I was annoyed that the show had the "7th place" for the football players and "Last Place" for the blondes--it took away suspense. I was pleasantly surprised by how even-keeled the blondes were during this episode. I wouldn't have blamed them for a meltdown. Same for the football players, honestly; their attitude when they hit the mat, assuming they lost, was really good. Even at the watermelons, they were clearly frustrated but weren't tantruming over it.

Nancy annoys me and it's for exactly this reason. More fall than the holidays? I literally swore at the tv.

I'm assuming they're not allowed to grab stuff while waiting for coffee (or the roses, in that first episode).

It looks like that one item--the Yeti cooler, the big teddy bear, the grill--is worth $300 and is just part of the normal things you can buy. (And apparently you just have to have your hands on it, not have it back over the line.) I'm still trying to figure out some of the nuances of the sweep; it seems like the limit on most things is 3 items, but the big cheese looked like you can only take 1.

I'm pretty sure they said there were only two U-Turns in the whole race, so I don't really look on it as wasting it. They have no way of knowing what position they'll be in when the next one pops up--if they're even still in the race. The Beards are growing on me, unexpectedly.

I appreciated Kaysar pointed out the he was gunning for Cody because Cody was basically set from the beginning--you win the first HOH and that means everyone talks to you, wants to set up alliances with you, and you have the power. Cody did a good job playing the game, but I wonder what the season would've looked like if someone else had won HOH. Though I'm sure people would still want to align with him. And while I give kudos to Cody for playing the game, he also pretty much never faced any adversity. He was never in a bad position. Some of that was because of winning comps himself and his alliances, but a lot of it was also luck. It's hard to judge the game when nothing went wrong.

100%. I actually usually skip Halloween Baking because I get so annoyed with the costumes.

Even Aaron and Renee, who got the pass into the final, still had to work during that run-off, and Renee seemed stressed about it.

In a lot of sports and things, it does come down to whoever can win that last game/series. I was disappointed that Renee didn't win, even if it did seem that Sinai made the better tasting cake. I really like the idea of a points system over the course of the competition. (However, I can't complain too much; there have been a few baking championships where I didn't like the best baker...who lost in the finals.)

Contestants could always carry the inflatables/bonus items around; they just had to be at the checkout area (there's literally a line they had to cross) by when time ran out

Yeah, I wasn't sure which it was supposed to be. I'm going to assume an unused clip, though. My favorite part was actually the montage of them requesting stuff from the Diary Room. I love seeing the more logistical side.

I'm assuming that they don't have to say the answer to the clue--but I could be biased because that's how it worked in the original version. Just having the money in hand is enough. But I could be wrong, and I don't remember that first episode clearly enough.

Agreed. Their identities seem oddly caught up in their beards. But otherwise, I haven't watched TAR in literally 10 years and am really enjoying it. My boyfriend started watching after I stopped, so it's interesting comparing notes!

Watching, we couldn't believe that they showed the entire luxury comp/Comics battle instead of montaging it. They really are desperate to fill air time.

That is actually a really good point. Enzo is very aware that he's not in good with Nicole, despite saving her during the triple. Cody probably would've put up Nicole, but Enzo was right to look after his own safety.