S37.E02: Very Strong Warrior Energy

[iMonrey]

On rewatch it looked like the Mochi judge was pretty lax. Jeff and Pops' mochi balls looked pretty uneven and they got a pass. He was certainly more lax than the Mawashi judge. Funny most people thought the sumo thing would be the easier task, it looked like the rice balls were actually easier. 

[proserpina65]

Okay, I will confess to leaving this episode with higher opinions of Scott and Jonathan(!) than I did before watching it.  I liked how Scott worked with Bernie (I think it was her) on the drum task, and so far he is treating his wife well which is a plus for him.  And Jonathan owning up to his lousy attitude at last week's mat improved my opinion of him, too.

I would've loved that drum task.  Doesn't mean I'd have been any good at it, but it looked fun as hell.  Of the two Detours, clearly the sumo one was faster but I'd have chosen the other one.  I'm sure he's a nice guy and all, but I really wouldn't have wanted to have to push big sweaty sumo wrestler.

On 3/13/2025 at 1:02 AM, Skooma said:

I enjoyed Racers reverting to the time honored TAR tradition of thanking people in every country BUT Portugal (or Brazil) with "Obigato."

I thought they were saying "arigato" but I could've just been hearing what they should've been saying.  It is similar enough that my ears could easily have missed it.

6 hours ago, PurpleTentacle said:

Weren't they back in S35 (that was filmed after S36)?

Yes.

On 3/13/2025 at 11:52 AM, iMonrey said:

So, the reward for winning this leg was hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro? Uh, no thanks. 

I have to admit, even though the 'easy' hiking probably would still put me in the hospital, I'd love to do that.

On 3/13/2025 at 1:44 PM, Ilovepie said:

Even a little airport drama - yay! So far, this season is back on track!

Eh, I hate airport drama, so that can go.  But so far, the rest is working very well.

On 3/15/2025 at 8:22 AM, North of Eden said:

Maybe its just me but if I am 15 attempts behind I would not be wasting time hugging my partner or daughter in a pity fest. That was a time to get cracking and who knows it might have saved the father daughter against the siblings if they hadn't bled time like that. Too bad I liked them. They were barely on last weeks show and now they are gone.

Sometimes a contestant needs that kind of interaction to boost their confidence that they can finish the task.  And I really doubt that hug took up enough time to make a difference at the mat.

[Ancaster]

23 hours ago, Rodney said:

That wasn't an Intersection.  It was a regular task.

Yes, I get that, I was just using that task as an example of someone freezing.

[dgpolo]

16 minutes ago, Ancaster said:

Yes, I get that, I was just using that task as an example of someone freezing.

But nobody here 'froze' Ernest was trying as much as he could.

[Ancaster]

2 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

 

Eh, I hate airport drama, so that can go.  But so far, the rest is working very well.

 

I've never understood the appeal of airport drama.  Unless it's just seeing racers actually racing to get to the gate and it closing before they make it - now that would be fun, especially if schadenfreude is involved.

 

[Giuseppe]

2 hours ago, Ancaster said:

I've never understood the appeal of airport drama. 

For me, it's simple. I enjoy seeing teams jockeying for the best flights. It's a key component in the whole premise of the Race. I don't want to just see tasks. This is a race around the world, and I want to see how they manage that. Airport drama (and other transportation drama) in the early seasons was strategic and showed which teams could be travel savvy in an effort to get ahead. May not have always worked out, but it often provided tense 'will they or won't they' make the early flight/tight connection, etc. moments. To me, this has always been a big part of what makes the race fun and exciting. Obviously, mileage varies.

Edited March 18 by Giuseppe

[Ancaster]

8 minutes ago, Giuseppe said:

For me, it's simple. I enjoy seeing teams jockeying for the best flights. It's a key component in the whole premise of the Race. I don't want to just see tasks. This is a race around the world, and I want to see how they manage that. Airport drama (and other transportation drama) in the early seasons was strategic and showed which teams could be travel savvy in an effort to get ahead. May not have always worked out, but it often provided tense 'will they or won't they' make the early flight/tight connection, etc. moments. To me, this has always been a big part of what makes the race fun and exciting. Obviously, mileage varies.

I agree, and I'm thinking it's the "in the early seasons" that may be the problem for me.  Not that I'll stop watching, but sometimes I can't help but feel nostalgic (and grumpy).

[iMonrey]

15 hours ago, Giuseppe said:

For me, it's simple. I enjoy seeing teams jockeying for the best flights. It's a key component in the whole premise of the Race. I don't want to just see tasks. This is a race around the world, and I want to see how they manage that.

It may not be the most exciting or visually stunning footage, but I agree it's an important component to the race - especially when teams are required to go to a travel agency and find a flight to their next location. I got so sick of teams just being spoon-fed flights. Make them find their own!

[Netfoot]

When racers walk to the counter and say "I want exactly what they got, what ever it is!", the entertainment level is low. But when a team decides to eschew the direct flight and risk a delay of the second flight in order to go for a 25 minute advantage, there is a bit more interest in their goings on.

[proserpina65]

On 3/17/2025 at 8:25 PM, Giuseppe said:

For me, it's simple. I enjoy seeing teams jockeying for the best flights. It's a key component in the whole premise of the Race. I don't want to just see tasks. This is a race around the world, and I want to see how they manage that. Airport drama (and other transportation drama) in the early seasons was strategic and showed which teams could be travel savvy in an effort to get ahead. May not have always worked out, but it often provided tense 'will they or won't they' make the early flight/tight connection, etc. moments. To me, this has always been a big part of what makes the race fun and exciting. Obviously, mileage varies.

For me, that's not particularly interesting, at least not more than once or twice during an entire season.

On 3/18/2025 at 1:21 PM, Netfoot said:

When racers walk to the counter and say "I want exactly what they got, what ever it is!", the entertainment level is low. But when a team decides to eschew the direct flight and risk a delay of the second flight in order to go for a 25 minute advantage, there is a bit more interest in their goings on.

That I agree with.  Especially when we've seen connecting flights not work out in the past.