S37.E08: We’re Letting Race Brain Win

[Guigoaoshi]

Well, not much to say about mom and daughter other that they seem nice, didnt overly stressed or ever gave sign of give up.

Good recovery from team D&D. Not just on other teams mistakes but on their own merits, specially at the roadblock.

 I´m rooting for either D&D or Mark and Brett (that ran pretty perfect leg) to win it. However, I dont have much hope about Mark and Brett just based on the lack of the edit they have (unless editors want to surprise us and are saving a package of their story and more talking heads for the next episodes, but it that happens I would be more inclined as indicator of their elimination).

I predict tho, again, based on edit, that Alyssa and Josiah might win and I will be ok with that. I think the only reason I wouldnt be as excited as having either D&D and Mark and Brett its because it would prove that editors were very obvious (pretty much every episode, despiste they placement, they have a highlight).

Jonathan and Ana, welp, there is Jonathan and nothing more to say.  Han and Holden are nice/grew, but they have communication issues, specially Holden with Han (if you look back, it wasnt the first time that he overly stress/try to demand how she should feel).

A pretty good designed leg, apart from the express pass. First: I wouldnt have it at this point of the competition. Second: Having it right at the beginning of the leg was a bummer. Of course if there was a team with a decent lead, they would be the only ony trying it. Also, not exciting to see at all.

 

[Jaundiced Eye]

On 4/23/2025 at 10:07 PM, KeithJ said:

 

1 hour ago, proserpina65 said:

I'd argue that C&J catching up at the library had a good bit to do with their own racing.  Sure, M&E drove farther than they needed but H&H hadn't made a lot of mistakes at that point.  Both of those teams They're both nurses, so I assume their loans were for nursing programs.

I believe they mentioned one or two master's degrees as well. Higher education is so expensive.

[iMonrey]

13 hours ago, Netfoot said:

I think it was a bit cruel of the editors to point out Erica boasting about her clue-reading skills.  But I'm not surprised they did it.

At least the editors resisted adding the "clang clang clang clang" of doom.

7 hours ago, 30 Helens said:

Or at least something a team might balk at doing. Remember when people had to shave their heads to gain an advantage?

12 hours ago, Fukui San said:

Or eat live baby squid. The fact that no other team went for it makes is obvious, they all know it's going to go to whoever is first. They might as well just hand it to whoever is first and skip the task.

2 hours ago, anniebird said:

I don't understand the antipathy towards Carson and Jack either - they don't strike me as obnoxious at all, and they have a great positive attitude. Also they're not the typical alpha, buff, all-male team that seem to have an unfair advantage. I wouldn't mind at all if these guys won.

You know, I don't understand it either, and yet there is something vaguely off-putting about them I cannot put my finger on. I don't know what it is. I agree they're nice and capable and positive and all that. But for some reason? They bug. Not a lot, but they do bug.

[chaifan]

32 minutes ago, iMonrey said:

You know, I don't understand it either, and yet there is something vaguely off-putting about them I cannot put my finger on. I don't know what it is.

I'll say it again... it's the headbands!  😂  I want Tan and Jonathan from Queer Eye to meet them at their final mat, and just say "OK, girls, you're coming with us for a wardrobe and hair makeover!"  Yeah, I'm being horribly stereotypically judgmental petty catty wanting all gay men to be fashion forward.  But the black socks, horrid choice of whatever shade of greens they're wearing, the headbands, Carson's middle part... aaargh!  And Carson also vaguely reminds me of Jim Carrey, who I'm not a fan of...  

I do like them.  I like their dynamic together, they're decent racers, they're nice to everyone.  And they understand this is a Race! 

[Ilovepie]

9 hours ago, Rodney said:

Nancy & Emily never did much better in their placings, either.  They got (checks Wikipedia quickly) two third-place finishes and were in the middle and back of the pack, otherwise.

Also, it's comparing apples to oranges - season one looks like a completely different show compared to what we have now. The race travel was the important thing, and the location challenges were nowhere near the complicated tasks that we have now. Who knows how they would fare under the current show circumstances where navigation is second to doing well at the tasks?

[proserpina65]

19 minutes ago, Ilovepie said:

Also, it's comparing apples to oranges - season one looks like a completely different show compared to what we have now. The race travel was the important thing, and the location challenges were nowhere near the complicated tasks that we have now. Who knows how they would fare under the current show circumstances where navigation is second to doing well at the tasks?

I disagree  that the challenges were nowhere as complicated in season one; some were, some weren't.  Plus, they were generally given clues as to their destinations rather than being told directly, so getting to the correct places was actually MORE complicated.

[aghst]

Looked like all or most of the teams had delight and joy for at least some of the tasks in this episode.

Everyone seemed delighted at discovering the klek shop and even salty-ass Jonathan enjoyed the dance, though he didn't seem happy that Ana didn't get the dance right on the first attempt.

Did Mark get it right on the first attempt?  But he may have practiced a lot and he looked at the whole troupe doing the dance even after he practiced.  He still did it better than any of the other racers.

The Cyrillic translation task stressed people, especially Alyssa and Josiah.  They would eventually have flipped that disk over but they overthought it like there was a book in the shelves which had the translation key.  Another team would have shown up and they would have noticed them turning the disk over.

BTW, some types of nursing jobs require degrees but others don't .  However, nurses can make a lot of money, well into 6-figures and that was the case even before the pandemic which made nurses very high in demand.  But $400k is just crazy, can't imagine that's only from going to nursing school.  Maybe they did undergraduate degrees and then also went to nursing school afterwards.

So they're down to 5 teams, which implies 2 more legs but there is going to be a NEL?  That would mean 3 more episodes before the finale.  I guess a couple more episodes in Europe and then cross back into the US for the finale.

3 hours ago, anniebird said:

I don't understand the antipathy towards Carson and Jack either - they don't strike me as obnoxious at all, and they have a great positive attitude. Also they're not the typical alpha, buff, all-male team that seem to have an unfair advantage. I wouldn't mind at all if these guys won.

Pictures of them much younger shown in this episode were good.

One of them recognized himself as being gay at a very young age and then found his friend doing a dance to a Lady Gaga song and recognized him.

They were nice but they would have let Melinda and Erika alone to their own devices at the Cyrillic challenge.

Han and Holden felt bad for flipping their partnership from Melinda and Erika to Carson and Jack.  Yeah that may not be good karma, while Jonathan of all people  chose to help Alyssa and Josiah, for possible good karma later on.

[30 Helens]

45 minutes ago, aghst said:

But $400k is just crazy, can't imagine that's only from going to nursing school.  Maybe they did undergraduate degrees and then also went to nursing school afterwards.

It’s definitely a lot, especially when you consider the average student loan debt is less than $40k. So there are probably undergraduate degrees, as well as living expenses like rent and food. Maybe they also did a residency program and needed help during that. But still. They must have lived/studied somewhere very expensive.

45 minutes ago, aghst said:

[Carson and Jack] were nice but they would have let Melinda and Erika alone to their own devices at the Cyrillic challenge.

As they should. Raaaace…

[cowgirlwen]

2 hours ago, iMonrey said:

You know, I don't understand it either, and yet there is something vaguely off-putting about them I cannot put my finger on. I don't know what it is. I agree they're nice and capable and positive and all that. But for some reason? They bug. Not a lot, but they do bug.

To me, it's the constant mugging for the cameras.  Especially the one... Carson?  Jack?  I have no idea who is who in that duo.  

 

[Rodney]

29 minutes ago, cowgirlwen said:

To me, it's the constant mugging for the cameras.  Especially the one... Carson?  Jack?  I have no idea who is who in that duo.

Carson is the taller one with the bigger, brighter eyes and the rounder face.  Jack's the shorter one with the beadier eyes and the beard.

[Ancaster]

7 hours ago, aghst said:

 

Did Mark get it right on the first attempt?  But he may have practiced a lot and he looked at the whole troupe doing the dance even after he practiced.  He still did it better than any of the other racers.

 

 

 

Isn't Mark a professional dancer?

 

6 hours ago, 30 Helens said:

It’s definitely a lot, especially when you consider the average student loan debt is less than $40k. So there are probably undergraduate degrees, as well as living expenses like rent and food. Maybe they also did a residency program and needed help during that. But still. They must have lived/studied somewhere very expensive.

And did they go into it with zero money?  Didn't they have part time/summer jobs during high school that they should have some savings from?  Didn't they work during their university time?  To me a $400,000 debt is irresponsible.  Also there are programs that will pay a very significant % of educational debt (60% +) in return for 2 years work at underserved/understaffed locations.

 

[TeeVeeWatcher]

43 minutes ago, Ancaster said:

And did they go into it with zero money?  Didn't they have part time/summer jobs during high school that they should have some savings from?  Didn't they work during their university time?  To me a $400,000 debt is irresponsible.  Also there are programs that will pay a very significant % of educational debt (60% +) in return for 2 years work at underserved/understaffed locations.

 

I remember reading they are both nurse anesthetists - that's an additional 3 years of education beyond an RN BSN. I don't think $200K each in loans is all that outrageous given at least 5 years of post-high school education. 

 

[chaifan]

12 minutes ago, TeeVeeWatcher said:

I remember reading they are both nurse anesthetists

Nurse anesthetists make a boatload.  Almost 20 years ago, a NA friend was making $80,000 his first year out, and that went up about $10,000/year for the next few years.  And he only worked 3-4 shifts a week, leaving him time to pick up PRN shifts for something close to $1,000/shift.  A quick google search says starting salaries now range from $140,000-$200,000.  That's starting.  So, $200,000 each is a good investment.  If they're smart, they'll live off one person's salary and dump the second person's salary into their loans and pay them off in a few years.  (Lawyer friends of mine took that approach years ago.)

So, nope, I'm not pitying them or rooting for them for having $400,000 in student loans.  It's a calculated risk, but they shouldn't have to depend on winning a reality tv show to pay them off.  

[tkc]

21 hours ago, SVNBob said:

They're called "Kaba Gaida" or "Rodopska Gaida", because of their origin in the Rhodope mountains of Bulgaria.  And they don't appear to be related to the Scottish bagpipes in origin...

So wherever raising sheep is widespread, you'll find somewhere in that location's history some bored teenager showing their teenager friends what happens when you stick parts of a sheep under your armpit and squeeze -- ta da! The local invention of the bagpipes! 🤪

Edited April 26 by tkc

[SVNBob]

12 hours ago, aghst said:

The Cyrillic translation task stressed people, especially Alyssa and Josiah.  They would eventually have flipped that disk over but they overthought it like there was a book in the shelves which had the translation key.

TBF, that task took place in a library.  Thinking a book might be involved is not that farfetched.

[aghst]

1 hour ago, SVNBob said:

TBF, that task took place in a library.  Thinking a book might be involved is not that farfetched.

 

That would have been another needle in the haystack task, looking for a particular book, presumably all in a foreign language, among all those books.

They'd have taken hours just looking for a particular book.

[Browncoat]

3 hours ago, aghst said:

 

That would have been another needle in the haystack task, looking for a particular book, presumably all in a foreign language, among all those books.

They'd have taken hours just looking for a particular book.

I have a vague recollection of a task like that in a Russian library maybe?  Anyone else remember that?

[Hudson0325]

18 hours ago, aghst said:

So they're down to 5 teams, which implies 2 more legs but there is going to be a NEL?  That would mean 3 more episodes before the finale.  I guess a couple more episodes in Europe and then cross back into the US for the finale.

There are actually 4 more episodes: 4/30, 5/7, 5/14 and then the finale is on Thursday 5/15 9P-1030P ET. (The following Wednesday 5/21 Survivor has its 3 hour finale).

So there must be an NEL and a double leg.

(I work in programming at a CBS affiliate)

Edited April 26 by Hudson0325

[dgpolo]

3 hours ago, Browncoat said:

I have a vague recollection of a task like that in a Russian library maybe?  Anyone else remember that?

Yes, I want to say it was the season with the Rockers and Beekman Boys

I strongly disagree that Carson and Jack are mugging for the camera, why does this complaint only seem to be uses against young gay guys? Why can't they just be themselves without reigning their emotion in to be suitable? I don't get it. I've never seen a team 'mug' for the camera, they may make expressions that might look like they are 'mugging' but to me those are normal expressions for them and they would do them whether or not the camera is there.

I have absolutely no idea why Jonathan and Ana would help a team with an express pass, usually teams are trying to make them use is to get it out of play.

Carson and Jack really should've sat down and been more circumspect about turning the cypher over.

I really wanted to know how much penalty time the women got, I don't remember the standard penalty for taking a forbidden form of transportation, x 4? or 5?, plus 'time saved' by taking it. But I did notice them calling the 'klek' a 'kelk' so I wondered if Erika was slightly dyslexic?

I did think that Holden? or Han, describing it as: the Race Brain wants to go, go, go and my regular brain want to stop and think. -Or something like that-, was a good way to explain how teams make errors.

My daughter and I thought that the camera crew with Erika and her mom might have been grateful for the rest they got taking cabs everywhere.

[Haleth]

2 hours ago, Hudson0325 said:

There are actually 4 more episodes: 4/30, 5/7, 5/14 and then the finale is on Thursday 5/15 9P-1030P ET. (The following Wednesday 5/21 Survivor has its 3 hour finale).

So there must be an NEL and a double leg.

(I work in programming at a CBS affiliate)

Thursday?? Thanks for the heads up! 

[iMonrey]

22 hours ago, aghst said:

Did Mark get it right on the first attempt?  But he may have practiced a lot and he looked at the whole troupe doing the dance even after he practiced.  He still did it better than any of the other racers.

Mark is a professional dancer per his bio.

1 hour ago, dgpolo said:

I strongly disagree that Carson and Jack are mugging for the camera, why does this complaint only seem to be uses against young gay guys? Why can't they just be themselves without reigning their emotion in to be suitable? I don't get it. I've never seen a team 'mug' for the camera, they may make expressions that might look like they are 'mugging' but to me those are normal expressions for them and they would do them whether or not the camera is there.

I haven't noticed any "mugging" either, and I agree there is something rather pernicious about the accusation as it is usually aimed at the gay male racers. I haven't even noticed Jack or Carson looking into the camera let alone "mugging" for it. And I have never understood why anyone would expect the racers to pretend the cameraman isn't there. They're not actors in a movie, it's a reality show. 

[SVNBob]

If anyone on this season is mugging for the camera, it's Josiah with his (unfortunately) never-ending stream of dadjokes.

[PurpleTentacle]

On 4/25/2025 at 9:48 AM, Rodney said:

Nancy & Emily never did much better in their placings, either.  They got (checks Wikipedia quickly) two third-place finishes and were in the middle and back of the pack, otherwise.

On 4/25/2025 at 7:04 PM, Ilovepie said:

Also, it's comparing apples to oranges - season one looks like a completely different show compared to what we have now. The race travel was the important thing, and the location challenges were nowhere near the complicated tasks that we have now. Who knows how they would fare under the current show circumstances where navigation is second to doing well at the tasks?

Also, also I just learned, Nancy was 46 at the time. Melinda is 66. That's a hell of a difference.

On 4/25/2025 at 7:26 PM, proserpina65 said:

I disagree  that the challenges were nowhere as complicated in season one; some were, some weren't.  Plus, they were generally given clues as to their destinations rather than being told directly, so getting to the correct places was actually MORE complicated.

Sadly you can't do that anymore. One google on a bystander's phone later and the most obscure riddle is solved.

On 4/25/2025 at 7:04 PM, Ilovepie said:

Also, it's comparing apples to oranges - season one looks like a completely different show compared to what we have now. The race travel was the important thing, and the location challenges were nowhere near the complicated tasks that we have now. Who knows how they would fare under the current show circumstances where navigation is second to doing well at the tasks?

I wouldn't call it mugging, but they weren't authentic. I think last episode and even more so this episode they were finally themselves, when they had to work hard to stay in it and even overtake some teams.

I used to be a young gay man. I don't think I've ever seen anybody be so over the top, as they were in the first few episodes, and be genuine. It's always a performance. Some young gay guys just internalise that performance, so they themselves don't notice it anymore after a while.

5 hours ago, Hudson0325 said:

There are actually 4 more episodes: 4/30, 5/7, 5/14 and then the finale is on Thursday 5/15 9P-1030P ET. (The following Wednesday 5/21 Survivor has its 3 hour finale).

The finale is one day after the previous episode? That seems very odd. Are you sure about that one? Also the finale should be a double episode. The timeslot you are giving there is for a single episode...

Would make more sense if the finale was a double episode on the 14th.

[Ancaster]

5 hours ago, PurpleTentacle said:

 

Sadly you can't do that anymore. One google on a bystander's phone later and the most obscure riddle is solved.

 

I wish they would ban asking Joe Average if they could use their cell phone.  I was very happy when they banned "Ferns" (so-called, I believe, after one team persuaded a local woman called Fern to spend the whole day leading them around).

Edited April 26 by Ancaster

[aghst]

Trying to understand why producers would prefer that the racers borrow phones of locals rather than just letting them use their own.

It’s effectively the same thing.

Maybe they like getting locals on camera briefly?  Or forcing racers to interact with locals no matter how brief and basic?

The producers would have to get bystanders to sign waivers.  I don’t believe they ever have to blur faces of locals who lend their phones so every time the racers ask to borrow, they also have to agree to sign waivers too?

Or they want to maintain the guise that racers have to navigate the old-fashioned way with large paper maps?  Some racers may be able to only use paper maps for some legs but the temptation is always going to be there, to borrow phones because it’s easier and what they’re most used to doing, even many older racers, who may have used road maps a lot over 20-25 years ago.

 

 

[Netfoot]

21 hours ago, aghst said:

Trying to understand why producers would prefer that the racers borrow phones of locals rather than just letting them use their own.

Because (I guess) they don't want to have every competitor with his face pressed up against a phone for the entire episode. 

And I agree. It makes no sense to prevent them using their own phones but allow them tomorrow to borrow phones from taxi drivers and random passers-by.

Ban all use of mobile devices! Internet access via desktop systems with hardline connections only!

 

Edited April 27 by Netfoot

[dgpolo]

33 minutes ago, aghst said:

Trying to understand why producers would prefer that the racers borrow phones of locals rather than just letting them use their own.

It’s effectively the same thing.

No it's really not. Firstly there is a lot of times where there are no locals around and they have to keep going even if it's in the wrong direction.

Then there's the fact that for every minute they are interacting with a local they are not moving forward and chance that they will be overtaken and passed. If they had their own phones they would save a lot of time so right now it's a judgement call... good directions vs time wasted, because they do have to get waivers for people appearing on camera, and actually one person this episode with a phone had their face blurred so obviously did not sign the waiver.

The show really doesn't mind too much if racers get lost for a while it makes good TV, why would they give them the means to not get lost.

I think it's just another facet of the race where strategy comes into play. To ask or not to ask. Just like to take a cab or the metro. To walk or take a bus.

[QuantumMechanic]

1) am I a bad person for wanting the translation to have been “be sure to drink your Ovaltine” ?
2) how can you not even bother to turn the decoder wheel over, even if only out of desperation??
3) I honestly wonder if the last place team finished last *because* of taking all those taxis.
4) need to be klek stores in the US
5) loved the dance - great music, cool costumes 
6) I was irked at a lot of the tasks though. Boring and didn’t change order. Especially the cross one.
7) I liked someone upthread’s idea of making them look for a specific socialist statue.
8) I wonder if it was a planned no detour or if everyone did the same side and so they presented it on screen as just another task. And if so, which one?

 

[dgpolo]

8 minutes ago, QuantumMechanic said:

7) I liked someone upthread’s idea of making them look for a specific socialist statue.

There was one season where they had to count how many Stalins and how many Lenins were in a sculpture park. The season with Dandrew.

[tkc]

The tech question is a bit tough. If you banned tech altogether, would it be a penalty to get into a cab equipped with GPS? If you asked a local for directions, would you also have to tell them they’re not allowed to use their phone? If you asked a hotel concierge for directions, would you to have to tell them they couldn’t look it up for you on their computer?

In today’s world, I think the balanced approach would be: racers cannot *use* a computer or phone for help unless allowed for in a clue.

On the other hand, if they ask a local for information, how the local gets or recalls that information should be up to them.

[SVNBob]

11 hours ago, PurpleTentacle said:

The finale is one day after the previous episode? That seems very odd. Are you sure about that one?

They're sure, as am I.

From the TAR in the media thread:

 

And it's been known for over a month.

https://bsky.app/profile/realitytvfan.bsky.social/post/3lktavjdg7c2p

 

 

 

 

 

[Hudson0325]

18 hours ago, PurpleTentacle said:

The finale is one day after the previous episode? That seems very odd. Are you sure about that one? Also the finale should be a double episode. The timeslot you are giving there is for a single episode...

I've got the CBS schedule in front of me and that's what it says.

This is from the affiliate website:

"AFTER RACING THROUGH 9 COUNTRIES, 18 CITIES AND MORE THAN 29,000 MILES, ONE TEAM WILL BE CROWNED THE WINNERS AND RECEIVE THE $1 MILLION PRIZE, ON THE SEASON 37 FINALE OF “THE AMAZING RACE,” THURSDAY, MAY 15

“We’re in Miami Baby!” – Teams race to Miami where, after nine countries, 18 cities and more than 29,000 miles, one team will be crowned the winners of THE AMAZING RACE and receive the $1 million prize, on the season 37 finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Thursday, May 15 (9:01-10:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network."

Knowing what's on CBS and when is kind of my job :)

Edited April 27 by Hudson0325

[seacliffsal]

I was so happy to see Bulgaria throughout this episode.  I was there 25 years ago and there has been so much change since then.  Bulgaria struggled throughout the Soviet era as well as emerging from that era. 

While I really enjoyed this episode, I felt it lagged a bit as it mainly seemed to be go here and go there until the second half of the episode.  I miss seeing more than one team compete for an Express Pass or Fast Forward.  It takes some of the suspense away when everyone else is 'nope, the first place team will have gotten it...' I felt like Alyssa and Josiah were close to using their Express Pass during the cypher task.

Johnathon continues to blame everyone and everything else when something doesn't go his way.  He even said 'why did he do that to us' when a bystander gave him the wrong directions.  I really hope this team doesn't win but it does look likely that they will be in the finale (no spoiler, just my guess).  

Like others, I really wish the mother-daughter team had finished higher just so they would have the penalty for using taxis.  I think both members of a team should read the clues just to ensure that they read them correctly and fully understand them.  

[Kel Varnsen]

On 4/24/2025 at 9:59 AM, chaifan said:

Melinda & Erika cracked me up with their "solving" of the cypher.  MKKXYZ etc.  Oh, come on!  If they've ever watched TAR they know the solved puzzle will be a real sentence, or something related to where they are.  That was just stupid

That was really funny. On top of the whole thing where they talk about reading clues and then ignore the taxi rule, there was also the clip where they talk about how they know scripture and will be able to figure out a Bible verse from the first few words. Then they made that guess.

[iMonrey]

31 minutes ago, Kel Varnsen said:

That was really funny. On top of the whole thing where they talk about reading clues and then ignore the taxi rule, there was also the clip where they talk about how they know scripture and will be able to figure out a Bible verse from the first few words. Then they made that guess.

And if Han and Holden hadn't told them to turn the cypher over they might never have gotten out of there, and Phil would have had to come out and eliminate them in the field like he did with Nick and Mike.

[Browncoat]

33 minutes ago, Kel Varnsen said:

That was really funny. On top of the whole thing where they talk about reading clues and then ignore the taxi rule, there was also the clip where they talk about how they know scripture and will be able to figure out a Bible verse from the first few words. Then they made that guess.

The Amazing Editors really had a field day with all of that.

[PurpleTentacle]

16 hours ago, Ancaster said:

I wish they would ban asking Joe Average if they could use their cell phone.  I was very happy when they banned "Ferns" (so-called, I believe, after one team persuaded a local woman called Fern to spend the whole day leading them around).

I liked the occasional Fern. I think it became a problem when they started casting more famous people and so it wasn't a skill to convince locals to show you around anymore, but came down to a popularity contest.

15 hours ago, aghst said:

Trying to understand why producers would prefer that the racers borrow phones of locals rather than just letting them use their own.

It’s effectively the same thing.

Maybe they like getting locals on camera briefly?  Or forcing racers to interact with locals no matter how brief and basic?

The producers would have to get bystanders to sign waivers.  I don’t believe they ever have to blur faces of locals who lend their phones so every time the racers ask to borrow, they also have to agree to sign waivers too?

The teams / their sound guy have to get the waivers themselves. That at least slows them down somewhat and makes it a strategic decision when to ask somebody.

And yeah, production likes it when teams interact with the locals. Maybe making it a rule "you may not look at a phone" could be interesting, but also quite awkward, when a local tries to show you something and there is a language barrier.

13 hours ago, QuantumMechanic said:

1) am I a bad person for wanting the translation to have been “be sure to drink your Ovaltine” ?

Putting something like that there and making it look like an old bible would have been hilarious.

Or maybe make it the next location. You know a little bit more old school tar where not everything is in a black and yellow envelope.

13 hours ago, QuantumMechanic said:

2) how can you not even bother to turn the decoder wheel over, even if only out of desperation??

They kinda looked like they might have been afixed to the tables. So maybe that was the problem?

[OlderThanDirt]

• I think if the Express Pass option came in the middle of the episode when teams didn't know placement or how far ahead teams might be, there would be more incentive to take a chance on trying for it. The 2nd and 3rd departing teams were wise not to waste time knowing the 1st place team probably took it at the start of the day.

I remember one episode where three teams tried for the Express task which was running the stairs at a ski jump. The first team ran past the entrance, the second team got winded and the third team won the Pass. No clue when that  was.

I gave Jonathon points at the amazing mat when he said something about being happy that they were still in the race.

[Rodney]

1 hour ago, OlderThanDirt said:

I remember one episode where three teams tried for the Express task which was running the stairs at a ski jump. The first team ran past the entrance, the second team got winded and the third team won the Pass. No clue when that was.

That was two seasons ago, on leg eight of TAR35.  Todd & Ashlie missed the entrance, Greg & John got winded, and Rob & Corey got the Express Pass.

Hilariously, Steve & Anna Leigh went for it long after Rob & Corey had won it and found out that they'd climbed the whole ski lift for nothing!

[chaifan]

On 4/26/2025 at 9:52 PM, QuantumMechanic said:

2) how can you not even bother to turn the decoder wheel over, even if only out of desperation??

My guess is that part of the instruction was some limitation on where the decoder could go, and that it was mis-interpreted as don't pick up the decoder.  The reason I say this is that no team took the decoder and pad of paper up to the big book. They all kept going back and forth.  That makes no sense unless there was some sort of directive to keep the decoder where it was.

On 4/26/2025 at 9:52 PM, QuantumMechanic said:

4) need to be klek stores in the US

Those look like they'd be prime picking for grab & run shoplifting.  There is merchandise all over the inside of the doors, which then face the sidewalk when opened.  The clerk is below ground, no easy way to stop someone from stealing.  I'm not saying the US is the only place in the world where shoplifting happens, but I definitely think that type of setup would just be inviting problems here.

 

[chaifan]

From the Parade interview with Erika & Melinda:

Quote

Erika: I mean, from my perspective, Jack and Carson already had it figured out. In reality, they're really good at this game. They figure everything out really fast. And so I was just grateful. And even after, when they left, I was like, "Oh, Jack and Carson already left. That was even kind of them to help us after that. So thank you so much for even telling us, because we would have been there forever not having flipped it." I don't think anyone realizes how heavy the cipher was. My mom actually tried to pick it up once. I didn't really look at it, and she couldn't even pick it up. So it was a struggle.
Melinda: It felt like it was stuck to the mat or something.

So my assumption (above) was wrong.  But I still don't understand why no one just took the cypher and pad of paper and went up to the Big Book.  

[proserpina65]

On 4/25/2025 at 1:46 PM, aghst said:

They were nice but they would have let Melinda and Erika alone to their own devices at the Cyrillic challenge.

So would I.  It's a race, not a friendship contest.  I'm all for being pleasant and not sabotaging other teams but at this point, you probably shouldn't be helping them either.

On 4/25/2025 at 3:16 PM, cowgirlwen said:

To me, it's the constant mugging for the cameras.  Especially the one... Carson?  Jack?  I have no idea who is who in that duo.  

 

I don't see them mugging for the cameras.  It strikes me as just being their personalities.

On 4/25/2025 at 9:28 PM, Ancaster said:

To me a $400,000 debt is irresponsible.

Unless they're asking you to pay it, it doesn't really matter.

On 4/25/2025 at 10:35 PM, chaifan said:

but they shouldn't have to depend on winning a reality tv show to pay them off.  

It doesn't sound like they're doing that.  It's just what they'd use some of the money for if they won.

On 4/26/2025 at 1:54 PM, PurpleTentacle said:

Sadly you can't do that anymore. One google on a bystander's phone later and the most obscure riddle is solved.

Yeah, the world has changed a lot since then, and not all the changes have been great for the Race.

On 4/26/2025 at 1:54 PM, PurpleTentacle said:

I wouldn't call it mugging, but they weren't authentic.

How do you know that?  The early legs they were doing well and it wasn't quite as stressful.  So that was them under less stress where they had more space to have fun and be goofy.  Now it's getting down to the nitty-gritty and they've had an almost catastrophic leg, so this is them under a good bit more stress.  Either way seems authentic enough to me.

On 4/27/2025 at 8:47 AM, seacliffsal said:

I think both members of a team should read the clues just to ensure that they read them correctly and fully understand them.  

Me, too.  Read the clue, read it again and then let your partner read it to make sure you understood it.

 

[PurpleTentacle]

4 hours ago, chaifan said:

There is merchandise all over the inside of the doors, which then face the sidewalk when opened.

In the doors were only pictures of what is on offer and even above the window all the merch was behind glass, so also just for show. You'll have to tell the clerk what you want.

1 hour ago, proserpina65 said:

How do you know that?  The early legs they were doing well and it wasn't quite as stressful.  So that was them under less stress where they had more space to have fun and be goofy.  Now it's getting down to the nitty-gritty and they've had an almost catastrophic leg, so this is them under a good bit more stress.  Either way seems authentic enough to me.

I can't prove it, but like I said before, I know this type of young gay men, these antics and it's never authentic. Nobody is like that naturally.

I don't hate them for it. We all cope with this world in our own way. Some guys act overly straight, some lean into the over the top flamboyant way too much, basically defying society who would shame them for that side. Still, it can get grating and I prefer my racers authentic.

[proserpina65]

2 minutes ago, PurpleTentacle said:

I can't prove it, but like I said before, I know this type of young gay men, these antics and it's never authentic. Nobody is like that naturally.

No, you know some young gay men who act a certain way and you think it's not authentic.  Since neither of us know Carson & Jack, we can't say one way or the other about them.  They could've been behaving the way you describe or that could just be how they actually are.  I prefer to give them, and other racers as well, the benefit of the doubt.

[PurpleTentacle]

1 hour ago, proserpina65 said:

No, you know some young gay men who act a certain way and you think it's not authentic.  Since neither of us know Carson & Jack, we can't say one way or the other about them.  They could've been behaving the way you describe or that could just be how they actually are.  I prefer to give them, and other racers as well, the benefit of the doubt.

Yes, yes can't speak from personal experience anymore. I'm sure Caron & Jack are the exception to everybody I've ever known who acted like them, which aren't few, since gay men tend to run in the same circles. True unicorns! One in 8 billion!

Edited April 28 by PurpleTentacle

[proserpina65]

31 minutes ago, PurpleTentacle said:

Yes, yes can't speak from personal experience anymore. I'm sure Caron & Jack are the exception to everybody I've ever known who acted like them, which aren't few, since gay men tend to run in the same circles. True unicorns! One in 8 billion!

That's not what I said.  My point was you can't extrapolate what you have experienced with people you have personally known to two men you do not know at all.  You've never met Carson & Jack so you have no idea whether they're really like what they've presented on AR.  And neither do I.  Because, again, neither of us have ever met them.  And no, not every gay man is the same, and no, they don't all run in the same circles.  Heck, some of them have never, ever lived anywhere near you so they couldn't possibly have run in the same circles as you.

And that is my last word on this ridiculous subject. 

[PurpleTentacle]

15 minutes ago, proserpina65 said:

That's not what I said.  My point was you can't extrapolate what you have experienced with people you have personally known to two men you do not know at all.  You've never met Carson & Jack so you have no idea whether they're really like what they've presented on AR.  And neither do I.  Because, again, neither of us have ever met them.

Yes, like I said. They are one in 8 billion. Completely unique. Never have there been other people like them. You can never tell how people are because you met people like them before! Every human is a snowflake! No two people can ever be remotely alike.

Even if my experience has never yielded other people who acted like them naturally, they are for sure totally acting that way because they were born that way. Slay. They also stoped acting that way when they had to buckle down, because that is how inherent personality traits work. You just lose them, when they don't currently suit you.

You are so right.

22 minutes ago, proserpina65 said:

And no, not every gay man is the same, and no, they don't all run in the same circles.  Heck, some of them have never, ever lived anywhere near you so they couldn't possibly have run in the same circles as you.

And that is my last word on this ridiculous subject. 

Maybe you should have said less about this reidiculous subject. Maybe then you wouldn't have made up the ridiculous notion that I supposedly said that all gay men were the same. Not sure how you came up with that one.

[Browncoat]

I had a roommate once (straight woman) who was exactly like Carson and Jack.  Perpetually cheerful and upbeat.  Singing when she woke up in the morning because she was so joyous just to be alive.  So I can fully believe that Carson and Jack are as authentically cheerful as they appear to be.

It was a bit annoying, but she was so genuinely nice, I couldn't be mad at her.

[Netfoot]

I am the one who said I didn't like Carson and Jack and wanted them gone.

And it was nothing to do with mugging or anything like that.

I can't remember with real exactitude but at one point C&J decided they were going to abandon a team they had agreed to (or implied they would) work with. They justified this because when Frodo & Sam separated from the Fellowship, things really got to happening for them. 

Look, this is The Amazing Race. You are supposed to lie to and betray the other racers. You are supposed to win!  But when you justify your assholery on the basis that Gandalf told you to do it?  You gotta go.

[North of Eden]

Argh! Way too much helping this late in the race. Johnathan and Anna were particularly stupid. It cost them second place and could have been worse. So dumb.

Anyway we were robbed of an epic payoff to the taxi mistake by the women coming in last anyway. I feel cheated out of what could have been high drama of losing the race THAT way.