Tango64

I was excited for this new season of TAR, even if it really is an older unaired season. I think they've done a pretty good job of making the COVID restrictions like the group plane travel not too obvious. The teams are interesting and likable. But this episode with all the cooperation between teams, outright telling teams the puzzle answers, and alliances blocking others from a task have taken the fun out of it for me. Yes, I get it that everything they did is technically legal under the rules, has been done before, and can provide an advantage sometimes. But I contend it shouldn't be allowed. As a viewer, it takes away from the joy of watching the competition and runs counter to what I see as the spirit of TAR. I felt the same when alliances cropped up in previous seasons and I'll feel the same way when it happens again. It's just a shame that a season I was enjoying turned into something like the mine alliance, which ruined that season for me.

It’s bad enough when they follow each other. Danny looked like he was leading a field trip. “Okay, everyone follow me! Stay together! We’re changing detours, so come on everybody!” But standing next to an opponent and just giving them the solution to the puzzle should get a four-hour penalty.

I think next week Danny is going to start publishing a daily newsletter for his opponents with all the answers and navigation tips. He just wants to help people out!

After that mudfest in the challenge, I was especially struck with how nice Venus and Moriah looked at the tribal council. Venus had nice hair, makeup, and a graceful scarf draped over her shoulders. Moriah's curly hair looked very clean and well styled. They were like the Ginger and Marianne of Survivor. I expect Venus to show up next week in a sequined evening gown.

The firefighters were killing me with the rebus guesses. I'm not sure they even know how a rebus works. They were just getting vague and mostly incorrect hints from the images, then filling in with whatever popped in their heads. "The world is.... the world is.. A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WE SHOULD ALL BE THANKFUL TO LIVE IN SUCH A GREAT PLACE!!! That's it! That's it!"

“Dog crap ees not on de diet.”

I wish they'd be more clear about these things for the viewers. When we're watching intently to see who's doing it right or wrong, and what gets them a thumbs down from the judge, we have to know what the rules are. Even flashing the full requirements on the screen for a few seconds would help. I don't mind pausing to read it.

They shouldn’t do these team events with the kids, especially not this kind where they’re cooking outside for a restaurant full of adults. It’s too much for them, and holding a young captain responsible for the team is unfair. i have admired how Ramsay tones down for these kid contestants and is almost all encouraging, but this time I genuinely felt bad for these kids being berated by their hero over something beyond their abilities. He was too serious and harsh. When Ramsay was chastising the blue team kid for running out of pork chops, I was hoping the kid would say, “Well, you threw one of them against the wall.”

I've noticed that, too. It always seems odd when a "top chef" says they don't know how to make a common dish or use a common technique, or even how to use a common tool in the kitchen. The guy who said "pasta isn't my thing" as an excuse is a good example. If it's not your thing, you don't have to make it in your restaurant. But don't whine when you have to do it on a cooking competition.

Let’s go!!! 🙄

Vanu gave up the fish reward because they don't have fire. Because they don't have a flint. Is that where we are with Survivor now? If Jeffy doesn't give us our precious flint and hold our hands as we try to make fire, we just give up? Just go without fire, not even trying another method as these superfans have seen done so many times in the past? It says a lot about where this show is now.

“Tonight, on a very special episode of The Amazing Race…” (Muted, slow version of TAR theme music)

Oh wow, that coleslaw. She was laboring hard on that mandoline the whole time. Making the slaw, boss! And then no dressing, just plain cabbage on the plate.

I guess if you charge enough for 300 calorie cookies it’s easier for me to lie to myself that they are natural, healthy etc. I’ll bet the shrinkage is low on that DIY store because they’re in relatively affluent neighborhoods. If you put them in neighborhoods where most food deserts are located, the experience might be very different. They also seemed to stock products that looked high end and discretionary, not the essentials that people in food deserts need. (Maybe they would have both or could change for each market.)

I don’t know for sure but I wonder if the protein items they grab are only for show because they have to sit out under hot lights for long periods until they’re ready to shoot. If so, it might make sense that the shellfish is cooked to keep it from getting gross and stinky. Under this theory, the producers would swap out the contestants’ chosen protein for fresh versions off camera.

They’re trying hard to be, but it’s not working.

Where did Not-a-Doctor get all that rope for his rope bed?

Right. I think this would only appeal to ultra-rich people who want a fun gadget to show off. They have staff buy the ingredients, prep and stock them, just so they can take their tennis buddy to the kitchen and say, "Want my robot to make us lunch?" It doesn't provide any savings in time or effort and it costs a fortune. Just a toy.

After the shower guys refused to answer Barbara’s “What about the pressure?” question twice, just replying that their reviews were good, I was hoping she would dump them flatly. The kitchen robot was ridiculous. If you buy a lot of ingredients, chop them all uniformly, measure them, load them in the little containers, pay another $40k so you can have refrigerated proteins, then you can have a robot make dinner — but only if you want a curry or stew type meal that just sits in the bowl and simmers. Sure, that’s real progress. 🙄

Was Venus wearing fresh makeup in the interview where she was whining about her plight? (I've given up on complaining about all the wardrobe changes.)

She seemed so confident making those absolutely basic wings, right down to the celery and carrots with blue cheese dressing. Gotta try something.

Absolutely brilliant. That would counter what we see now in late-stage Survivor in which everyone arrives knowing exactly what will happen, when and how it will happen, what strategies they have to employ, and how they don't have to worry about the actual "surviving" part of the game. Restore the game to "Oh crap, what's happening? What do we do?" instead of "Okay, here's where I lounge on the beach and try to create alliances while we wait for the task where we can earn a fishing kit."

Whew, glad somebody said it. Very off putting.

Amen. I have very little sympathy for people who let their children live in absolute filth -- which I distinguish from mere "hoarding" of too much stuff. Living in a hoarding home is bad enough, but children living in filth because you're too lazy to throw out the trash is inexcusable. The father gets no leniency from me. He left and saved himself but didn't care about his child enough to even know how he was living, much less rescue him.

On MasterChef, the contestants get an off-camera briefing on the particular item they will have to make. Without that, apparently many would be unable to even atempt difficult things like fancy pastries or dishes they've never heard of. I don't know if they do the same thing for NLK, but it would explain how the contestants can say they've never had the dish but then produce some reasonable version of it.