S37.E06: It Smells Like the Desert

[Tango64]

2 hours ago, iMonrey said:

I noticed they made a point of showing her asking the cab driver for change.

Their allotted money for the leg is almost never mentioned anymore, much less becoming an issue that affects the race. I had figured they just give them plenty of cash now so that it's never an issue, but asking for change makes me wonder.

I know they did away with some of the prior money gimmicks like taking it from the last team and making them beg from the locals, which was the right move. But I did like seeing how they had to portion out limited funds and maybe make decisions that could affect the outcome.

[Ilovepie]

4 hours ago, Tango64 said:

But I did like seeing how they had to portion out limited funds and maybe make decisions that could affect the outcome.

Yes I miss that aspect too, like having to make choices between taking a private car vs. a bus, or a train vs. taxi based on how much money for the leg they had and how they would weigh time-saving vs. cost.....these are the navigating choices I miss. Begging locals was always gross.

[dgpolo]

21 hours ago, joanne3482 said:

I have absolutely no recollection of Alyssa and Josiah in the previous episodes. 

I've got Alyssa and Josiah down, it's Mark and his husband who I keep forgetting, every time they put Mark's name on the screen I thought 'who?' I thought that guys name was Mike, and then they would show him or his husband (whose name escapes me) and I would remember, at least for a few minutes.

[springbarb]

I wonder how close it would've been at the end if the teams didn't have to cover so much ground in the Metro station. They had quite a while in there speed walking before they could start running.

[North of Eden]

Lose, lose episode for me. After waiting years for the return of the Fast Forward it goes to my least favorite team (Well Carson anyway because he bugs) and my second least favorite team who offers ZERO entertainment value bet out Pops and Jeff who I like and live to bore another day.

Darn I wanted to see what was inside the future museum...frankly the entire city looks like something out of a futuristic set sci fi movie.

Strangely few locals...it seemed everything from sky diving to the surf boards were run by foreign nationals.

Look it was a great twist in the game at first but the novelty of there being no NON-ELIMINATIONs has worn off. Next season needs to bring them back. There was always something satisfying when a team you liked was saved by non-elims. Bring 'em back!

[Guigoaoshi]

Couldnt agree more about the editing giving away stuff. Not only on the eliminated team. If they are obvious as It seems, I can predict pretty much the elimination perder and its also giving a pretty clear clue about the only two teams that might win the race. 

[Netfoot]

The leg/episode title should have been "Immersed in Opulence". Not because anyone said it but because it's true.

Sorry to see Pops go. I was hoping he would last long enough to go Bungee Jumping in a subsequent episode. But elimination awaits those who come last, no matter how nice they appear to be.

I like cakes and pastries as much as the next guy. But you will not convince me that gold leaf makes anything taste better.

The E-Type surfboards (prolly not made by Jaguar) always amaze me. It takes a much bigger wing to keep my 5 lb. model aeroplane in the sky. But AI informs me that with all else being equal, the mere change in fluid density from air to water increases wing lift by nearly 814 times!

I still can't name a team that I actually like.

Edited April 12 by Netfoot

[Stardancer Supreme]

In regards to the food they made at the tea, I hope they packed it up and sent it to the pitstop. I'm sure the hotel didn't serve them to patrons and hopefully all that food wasn't thrown out.

[Quilt Fairy]

10 hours ago, Tango64 said:

but asking for change makes me wonder.

There was also at least one team (maybe two) where they showed them specifically saying "You don't have to give me any change back." 

[tkc]

3 hours ago, Stardancer Supreme said:

In regards to the food they made at the tea, I hope they packed it up and sent it to the pitstop.

Yes, delicious looking sandwiches and “deserts!” 😄

Oh, and that brings to mind that we almost got an old-fashioned eat, sleep and mingle at the Bedouin camp!

[Netfoot]

3 hours ago, tkc said:

we almost got an old-fashioned eat, sleep and mingle at the Bedouin camp!

I think that is exactly what it was...  except they didn't show much of it to us!

[seacliffsal]

I really dislike it when racers tell their taxi drivers to hurry because they're in a race for a million dollars.  So what?  What does the taxi driver get out of it.  But, in this episode, Jack and Carson stated that if they got to the Bedoin camp first they would win the million dollars.  Just stop.  I wish the producers would forbid the racers from doing this.  I always resent it and feel for the taxi drivers (or whomever else they say this to) and wish the taxi drivers would win the money for actually being the ones who got the racers to where they needed to go.  This is just an age old gripe of mine.

I had a few tears in my eyes at the exit of Pops and Jeff.  Especially when Jeff stated that he always thought his father was Superman and now he had been able to see him fly.  

[Netfoot]

1 hour ago, seacliffsal said:

I really dislike it when racers tell their taxi drivers to hurry because they're in a race for a million dollars.

I completely agree. What is the taxi driver to think? You are in a race to win $1M. I break road traffic regulations by speeding, drive dangerously, risk my taxi license and in return you pay me the absolute minimum for my efforts because your race funds are limited. Yeah, that works.

In my country, any automotive based competition (like rallying) requires advanced permission from the police and a competition endorsement for the vehicle insurance to cover the period of the event. Anyone care to speculate about road traffic regulations in <insert random country>? I wonder what would be the attitude of the authorities if a vehicular accident occurred and it turned out you were racing on the public thoroughfare?

There used to be a rule about mentioning TAR by name to taxi drivers and the public generally. Maybe that rule is still in place? But the show has had enough exposure now that most people should be able to guess what race you are talking about and the yellow clue and TAR ribbons are a dead giveaway. 

I think a rule prohibiting the mention of racing at all, as well as of any prize would not be a bad idea.

[iMonrey]

16 hours ago, dgpolo said:

I've got Alyssa and Josiah down, it's Mark and his husband who I keep forgetting, every time they put Mark's name on the screen I thought 'who?' I thought that guys name was Mike, and then they would show him or his husband (whose name escapes me) and I would remember, at least for a few minutes.

The editors don't seem very interested in Brett and Mark. Which is why I think they're not long for the race. In fact they've lasted longer than I thought they would based on the screen time they're getting (or lack thereof). 

13 hours ago, Guigoaoshi said:

Couldnt agree more about the editing giving away stuff. Not only on the eliminated team. If they are obvious as It seems, I can predict pretty much the elimination order and its also giving a pretty clear clue about the only two teams that might win the race. 

Exactly.

[Shrek]

On 4/10/2025 at 4:15 AM, shura said:

Wow, that was quite a commercial for things to do in Dubai.  Skydiving over the Palm $750, the scuba pool $490, the motorized surfboard $95 for 30 min (it would probably take me that long just to master the thing).  Afternoon tea with that dessert cart $170 for two people.  Budget-friendly family entertainment…

 

That's the whole point, very few kids to get in the way.

[meep.meep]

If there is a double U turn in the next leg, I think the green guys are going to be targeted.  If not, why is Phil specifically talking to them on the mat about how they can't fly under the radar any longer?

[tkc]

7 hours ago, seacliffsal said:

I had a few tears in my eyes at the exit of Pops and Jeff.  Especially when Jeff stated that he always thought his father was Superman and now he had been able to see him fly.  

That wasn’t flying — that was falling, with style!

I really thought we’d see a bungee jump from Pops, given what he said at the start of the episode. I’d hoped they’d go a bit farther!

[iMonrey]

I've been skydiving. One thing I've noticed when they do this on TV is they never show the twisted risers. About half the time when the parachute is deployed, the risers are twisted, and you have to twist your little body around and around to get them untwisted so you can unhook the pully things that guide the chute. It looks ungainly and takes something away from the majesty of it so that's probably why they never show it.

Atlantis the Royal looks like a giant Lego sculpture. 

It feels like normally you would need hours of training before you can go scuba diving, so I suspect the Fast Forward took longer than it seemed when training time is factored in.

Were they wearing underwear or their own swimwear during the eFoiling? It looked like Han was wearing a thong.

[Netfoot]

1 hour ago, iMonrey said:

It feels like normally you would need hours of training before you can go scuba diving, so

You can learn the basics in 15 minutes or less, after which you can make simple dives under supervision. I have seen tourists taught the basics and then escorted on a dive off the beach, all on one tank (about 45 minutes worth of air). Of course, the more complex the dive and the deeper the depth, the longer and more arduous the training.

[aemom]

On 4/10/2025 at 10:23 PM, Quilt Fairy said:

You're confusing the Fast Forward with the Express Pass.  The Fast Forward is part of that leg only, it cannot be saved.  That being said, I did not like how they used it here, there was no chance for more than one team to compete for it.  Very poor race design.  

Very disappointing! In the past, there would be multiple teams trying to accomplish the task first and the losing teams would get burned and then have to hustle to do all of the other challenges. It made for an exciting episode!

By having one team get into a single available car to go to the dive place, they were 99.9% guaranteed to finish the FF and head to the pitstop.

 

5 hours ago, iMonrey said:

Were they wearing underwear or their own swimwear during the eFoiling? It looked like Han was wearing a thong.

I remember that she wore the same thing for the other surfing challenge. 

[KittyMom4]

On 4/10/2025 at 1:04 PM, Ilovepie said:

I really wish they would stop staggering their start when they are already pre-booked on one flight. That basically means the first-place team from the prior leg is actually being punished by having to leave first with no actual advantage for coming in first last leg. It feels like the same thing every episode: Everyone on one or two flights, run for taxis and be driven from one place to the next and to and from an airport

I will be alone at my table but I like the bunching at the beginning of the leg. I hated how far ahead the lead teams got, knowing that there was no way the last team was going to catch up. The advantage the first place teams get is the prize that Phil hands them. The advantage should come with getting to the task the quickest and/or completing them quickly. 

On 4/10/2025 at 10:01 PM, Stardancer Supreme said:

Still not giving Jonathan a pass. Ana was pushing it with the "we wuz friends, why did you vote for us?" spiel with Carson and Jack. Ma'am, this is a game; roll with the punches or be quiet!

Jonathan can leave any time. So can Ana's "c'mon babe!". Ick.

[Ilovepie]

23 minutes ago, KittyMom4 said:

I will be alone at my table but I like the bunching at the beginning of the leg. I hated how far ahead the lead teams got, knowing that there was no way the last team was going to catch up. The advantage the first place teams get is the prize that Phil hands them. The advantage should come with getting to the task the quickest and/or completing them quickly. 

YMMV, I guess. I miss the actual race being a factor in placement. Little navigation skills or travel savvy are necessary these days and the challenges are more important. But to me that diminishes the point of this being a globe-trotting race if everyone is just being move wholesale from one point to another. And while I agree some equalizers are necessary to not have people strung out on totally different continents (as happened sometime in the old seasons), I actually like some separation as there have been some spectacular comebacks and horrible stumbles that are just not feasible in this current format when everyone is bunched up and just following each other around from task to task.

[KittyMom4]

@Ilovepie I do agree there have been some spectacular come backs, (and when it's a team I am rooting for I was more than happy to see the time advantage), however I think more often than not it became a 'done deal' when there was a giant time difference between the starting teams and the last place team(s). Good navigation skills and attention to detail make a much more exciting watch, IMO.  

I am enjoying this season much more than I thought I would. I feel like there are more evenly-abled teams and the challenges have been interesting. 

[ljenkins782]

24 minutes ago, KittyMom4 said:

@Ilovepie I do agree there have been some spectacular come backs, (and when it's a team I am rooting for I was more than happy to see the time advantage), however I think more often than not it became a 'done deal' when there was a giant time difference between the starting teams and the last place team(s). Good navigation skills and attention to detail make a much more exciting watch, IMO.  

I am enjoying this season much more than I thought I would. I feel like there are more evenly-abled teams and the challenges have been interesting. 

I don’t know why, but I’m finding the season a bit flat, I don’t have any favorites yet and could not name half the people if my life depended on it. I was sorry to see Pops and Jeff go because they were in the small group I could remember and liked. I guess I’m rooting for the mother-daughter team now. 

This episode felt like a giant commercial for Dubai in a way that felt different than other locations. I can’t put my finger on it but it was slightly off-putting. 

[Shrek]

47 minutes ago, ljenkins782 said:

 

This episode felt like a giant commercial for Dubai in a way that felt different than other locations. I can’t put my finger on it but it was slightly off-putting. 

Everywhere they go is a giant commercial for the place nowadays, but it may be that Dubai is one of those places that is more blatant about it because they don't pretend that it's anything but one giant commercial wrapped in the guise of a race. It's one of those elitist places that most people could not afford to go to & enjoy as everything costs money & there is very little if any natural beauty to enjoy if you don't have plenty of cash to splash. 

[Netfoot]

22 hours ago, Ilovepie said:

And while I agree some equalizers are necessary to not have people strung out on totally different continents (as happened sometime in the old seasons)

That's what HOO and travel bunching is for.

In the purest sense, if your team got three days ahead of the pack, you should be allowed to run three days ahead until some other team caught up to you or you cocked it up somehow and fell back. But logistically I can see how this would be a production nightmare. Regional camera/sound teams would have to be on standby for days on end. The guy who shows them how to make balloon animals and then judges their efforts would have to be available for days on end. Phil can't be at two (or more) places at once to check them in at the mat(s).  So I can say that I understand TPTB finding ways to keep the race runners close and avoid breakaways.

How about this? The first team to arrive obviously departs first. The last (second-last, really) team to arrive departs last and exactly X hours after Team #1. X is a number fixed for the race or different for each leg and set by the race designers. For sake of argument, say 3 hours. So the first team departs at 9 AM and the last team departs at noon. The team that arrived exactly halfway between those two will depart exactly halfway between those two at 10:30 AM. So in effect, you compress the span of time between first and last team arrival, into a arrivals, into X hours on departure. This allows teams that finish well to be rewarded with an early departure in the next leg, without the risk of a runaway lead team getting more than X hours head start on the next leg. 

Edited April 15 by Netfoot

[rr2911]

On 4/11/2025 at 9:05 PM, North of Eden said:

Lose, lose episode for me. After waiting years for the return of the Fast Forward it goes to my least favorite team (Well Carson anyway because he bugs) and my second least favorite team who offers ZERO entertainment value bet out Pops and Jeff who I like and live to bore another day.

Darn I wanted to see what was inside the future museum...frankly the entire city looks like something out of a futuristic set sci fi movie.

Strangely few locals...it seemed everything from sky diving to the surf boards were run by foreign nationals.

Look it was a great twist in the game at first but the novelty of there being no NON-ELIMINATIONs has worn off. Next season needs to bring them back. There was always something satisfying when a team you liked was saved by non-elims. Bring 'em back!

Oh I like the idea that it is an elimination event all the time.  They are racing for a million dollars.  It should be cut throat!  Even though I did like when my favorite team was saved, more often than not, there always was a team that I didn't like get lucky and be saved because it was a non-elimination day. I hope they never go back!!

[chaifan]

@Netfoot, I've made a similar comment in earlier seasons.  Mine is a little simpler - just have a rule that the last team to depart will never depart more than ___ hours after the first team.  Let's say that number is 5 hours.  If the last team is only 3 hours behind the first team, they all depart in the same time intervals as they got to the mat.  Nothing changes.  If the last team is 6 hours behind the first team, they depart at hour #5, getting a slight boost but probably not enough to make a difference.  That would also allow Phil to go Philiminate anyone in the field after the 5 hour mark hits, and he can move on to the next location. 

5 hours ago, ljenkins782 said:

This episode felt like a giant commercial for Dubai in a way that felt different than other locations. I can’t put my finger on it but it was slightly off-putting. 

I think it's because the Dubai that we know and see did not come about organically, it was mostly artificial in the sense that Las Vegas is.  It grew so quickly over the last 30-50 years in the "if you build it they will come" mindset, as opposed to people naturally migrating to an area and the city built up as the population organically grew.  So everything in Dubai *is* a tourist attraction.   Everything is the biggest, tallest, most whatever it is in the world.  There is an "old town" in Dubai, but I don't know if has ever been featured on TAR.  Also, I have to assume that the local governments have some say in where TAR can film, and of course they'd want the best of Dubai featured so that's where they are going to grant the permits.  And that's why it looks like a tourist ad.

Something I just thought of...  did any of the racers, especially the women, cover up while in Dubai?  I'm not talking burqua cover up, but just less exposed skin than normal.  Not counting on the beach, of course.  I'm not remembering anything, but I wasn't looking for it.

 

[rr2911]

I don't think the nerdy guys or the married couple needed to apologize to Ana and Jonathan for picking them for that double challenge (I forgot what it's called).  It's a race for 1 million dollars and they are the team to beat!

 

I have to admit that Americans look and act goofy whenever they're in a different country.  I know they don't know the country's customs but still.  

 

I wish the teams would stop telling the drivers to hurry because they're in a race.  I'm sure they have traffic laws also.

[cowgirlwen]

21 hours ago, Ilovepie said:

I miss the actual race being a factor in placement. Little navigation skills or travel savvy are necessary these days and the challenges are more important.

Agree!  The show nowadays is nothing more than a pre-arranged trip around the world, where the teams compete at each stop along the way to see who can finish the challenges fastest.  Travel skills, transportation options, and finances rarely come into play.  Most of the challenges do not even offer opportunities for order change-ups. 

Don't get me wrong... I still love the show for all it's amazing scenery and glimpses into other customs and lifestyles.  But I definitely miss the old days of teams booking their own flights and making crucial navigational decisions that were often different than their competition's.  And enough with all the gimmicks already!!  Just let them RACE!!!

[Ilovepie]

1 hour ago, cowgirlwen said:

The show nowadays is nothing more than a pre-arranged trip around the world, where the teams compete at each stop along the way to see who can finish the challenges fastest. 

THIS! You have just encapsulated what I have been trying to say and why it's bugged me so much!

[ljenkins782]

On 4/14/2025 at 8:13 PM, chaifan said:

 

I think it's because the Dubai that we know and see did not come about organically, it was mostly artificial in the sense that Las Vegas is.  It grew so quickly over the last 30-50 years in the "if you build it they will come" mindset, as opposed to people naturally migrating to an area and the city built up as the population organically grew.  So everything in Dubai *is* a tourist attraction.   Everything is the biggest, tallest, most whatever it is in the world.  There is an "old town" in Dubai, but I don't know if has ever been featured on TAR.  Also, I have to assume that the local governments have some say in where TAR can film, and of course they'd want the best of Dubai featured so that's where they are going to grant the permits.  And that's why it looks like a tourist ad.

Something I just thought of...  did any of the racers, especially the women, cover up while in Dubai?  I'm not talking burqua cover up, but just less exposed skin than normal.  Not counting on the beach, of course.  I'm not remembering anything, but I wasn't looking for it.

 

I think that’s what I found off putting, Dubai just does not appeal to me, the excess of it puts me off. I enjoy the cultural aspects of the other locations with tasks linked to traditions, etc, but like Las Vegas, Dubai doesn’t seem to have an inherent culture so the tasks felt a bit empty.