The Amazing Race 24: All-Stars
Episode 3 Power Rankings
By Daron Aldridge
March 9, 2014
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Last week was a truly unique beast with essentially seven teams tying for first place. Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration but when you have that many teams all gathered on the mat in front of Phil within a span of five minutes, then there isn't really a clear time advantage in how they finished.
Based on that, these rankings are more indicative of how they raced and what they have shown us the first legs.
Take a look.
1. Jet & Cord: Cowboys/The Lone Rangers. It may cursing the cowpokes but I feel like they deserve to be at the top. Yeah, they stumbled to last halfway through the leg by failing to understand the local man's direction but they blew through both the Roadblock and Detour. On top of that, the brothers were able to unload the second Express Pass to a team that was likely going to be eliminated, which ensured that it would be used immediately. That was their ideal situation for the Pass and Jennifer & Caroline's frustration and floundering at the Roadblock was perfect. The biggest obstacle the guys face is themselves and racing too well. As Flight pointed out last leg, they know the cowboys are strong and efficient racers. That's just foreshadowing of a U-Turn if they aren't careful.
2. Flight Time & Big Easy: Globetrotters. My faith in these fellas is high and shouldn't be undermined but the mid level finishes so far, especially this week's with so many teams neck-and-neck-and-neck-and...so on. They do need to start pulling some tricks out of their bag that made them excel at the Race twice before. While we haven't seen anything magical yet from Flight and Easy, we know it's in them. Tap into your inner competitor, but don't let it take away from your outer/innate crowd pleaser. Still in the top but behind Jet & Cord now in my ranking.
3. David & Connor: Father/Son (aka Team Murphy's Law). Continuing on my path of predictability in my predications, we have the unlucky duo of David & Connor. Luck has still been favorable for them this season but it was the around this time that David's leg gave out in him so anything at this point is already more injury-free than their last attempt. On this last episode, David shined at the "Christmas Eve" Roadblock assembly task. Between him, Mark and Margie blazing through the task, the Race finally had a challenge that was more tailored for parents. I stand by my assessment of this team from the first season, where I pegged them to go the end. Without a medical situation to interfere, there's no reason to think that they can't make it to the end this time.
4. Brendon & Rachel: Big Brother (aka Team Fetch). Time for a trio of surprises from last week. Surprise #1: With every fiber of my being I dreaded the return of this team but they haven't even bothered me yet this season. Granted, it's still really early, but let's celebrate little victories in life. On the Race front, they have been solid and actually got first for the first time last leg. They will likely be sticking around; so let's hope their newfound non-annoying outlook sticks around as well.
5. Margie & Luke: Mom/Son. Surprise #2: The Roadblock last week was a turning point for me in how this team can perform. Margie, one of the oldest racers, blew through toy assembly like a champ or rather a mom at 1 a.m. on Christmas Eve. It was an impressive performance and it served as a reminder of how well Margie can tear it up on building challenges. Sadly, Luke hasn't demonstrated much strength on any particular task in two seasons. That's gonna be their downfall. For now I give them a bump.
6. Leo & Jamal: Afghanimals. Surprise #3: these cousins actually made genuine gestures of niceness last leg that weren't hormonally driven. While the guys were quick to help the pretty, blonde Ice Girls last season because they were...pretty and blonde, such teamwork isn't typically afforded to others. Last week, their Race fandom showed through when they temporarily teamed up with New Kentucky because they are fans of the two teams that formed this hybrid team. They also seemed genuinely sad that Mark & Mallory were eliminated. Add that to a decent running last leg that let them be part of the clumped seven teams and here they are. Honestly, teams four through six here are pretty interchangeable for me.
7. John & Jessica: Newly engaged couple. Here's where I feel a bit more deliberate in the order. The engaged duo is strong and can be a physical threat but as John showed last leg, certain tactile challenges may be an issue for him. They were a bit more reliant upon alliance buddies Joey & Meghan to get through it. But if they remain aligned and both leave a challenge at the same time, John & Jessica have the upper leg on a foot race so that's why I give them the higher ranking. But that depends on the YouTubers continuing to aid them and also not being boneheads in general.
8. Jennifer & Caroline: Country singers. Here's a team that got an unnecessary self-esteem boost. The girls had a meltdown at the Roadblock with a miscalculation on the part of Jennifer's Power Wheels prowess but Caroline began campaigning hard for the cowboys' second Express Pass. Of course, they feel like the flirtation worked in their favor, whereas the brothers actually gave it away to get it off the table for anyone else. Basically, without the Pass, they likely would've been eliminated and now that this advantage is gone they will have to rely upon their Race aptitude for success. Last time, the hockey brothers carried them most of the way and the last leg showed that they really aren't built for independent racing. I think they will barely outlast...
9. Joey & Meghan: Team YouTube. The last couple weeks, it was a bit more difficult to decide who would take the last spot. This time...not so much. Two legs in and the YouTubers have established themselves as perennial second-to-last finishers. How'd they end up with such a reputation? Bad luck on picking the Ferris wheel car on leg one and then putting their alliance partners' success ahead of their own in the last leg. I admire the decency of helping a struggling John & Jessica but they really need to let that be the last time this happens. Like several of the other teams that I came into the season disliking, these friends are coming across much better. Maybe they just need more time to annoy me again but I am afraid time isn't on their side Race-wise.
So that's my stab at Race prognostication this week. The Mumpower/Hollis tandem has been tagged into the ring for this week's episode and rankings. So if history holds episode three will be a non-elimination. Sorry, David and Kim. Y'all have a good week.