The Amazing Race: Get it Done and Have Fun
By Daron Aldridge
May 10, 2017
BoxOfficeProphets.com
With that elimination, we are left with really only one heel on this race and if you don’t know who that is, then you haven’t been paying attention. Psst…it’s Brooke. Scott can be a bit grating but I blame Brooke for bringing out the worst in him.
Before ripping into the first clue, we see a conversation between Liz & Michael. The burly butcher is reduced to a puddle of tears as he is feeling very homesick and missing his daughter. Liz fills the shoes of the sympathetic teammate and talks him through it and they seem more focused on why they are in this race.
Team Fun was number one finally and still unnaturally bubbly. They open the next clue and find out they are going to…I mean…staying in ITALY! The teams will be leaving the home of George Clooney (aka Lake Como) and take a four-hour bus ride north to Venice. It’s not the traditional Race-clumping transportation but close, with three teams on one bus and three teams on another departing 30 minutes later.
And with the bus stop literally only walking distance from the pit stop, the order they leave will be the same breakdown on the buses. Becca & Floyd and Matt & Redmond are there first and have a quick conversation that gives a glimpse in the threat that the teams see in Mom/Dad team of Tara & Joey. Becca said the goal is to beat them “to the bottom,” which she says with a little more menace than you’d expect from the captain of Team Fun.
That’ll have to wait, because Tara & Joey are, of course, the last team on the first bus. That leaves Liz & Michael, Brooke (who expectedly complains about their placement) & Scott and London & Logan on the “party bus” as they dub it. NEWS FLASH…Brooke is actually carrying her own bag. This is notable because I’m pretty sure it hasn’t happened before.
Scott explains that he has found it difficult to be paired with a person who is constantly looking at the negative side. He says that when she starts down that path, he just goes “mute.” But if that was truly the case, then we would NEVER hear him speak.
It’s time to see if the teams will be putting the "nice" in Venice as the first bus rolls into town.
They are directed to go to the unbelievably scenic Piazza San Marco and get their next clue from a spazzino in green. If you speak Italian (like Tara), then you know that a spazzino is a street sweeper. You’d also be better prepared than all those in this race that are not Tara. Recognizing the need to capitalize on her geographic advantage, Team Fun and the dudes decide to just follow them to the next spot.
Tara & Joey hit the square first and quickly snatch up the next clue before the other two see where they got it from. It’s Detour time: Sing It or Bring It. As Phil declares that Italian is the language of love, the teams choosing Sing will have to learn a traditional love song and then serenade a couple on a gondola. When their mandolin player approves of their rendition, they get their clue. For Bring, the teams fill in as porters who must deliver about 10 pieces of luggage on a cart to a hotel. The catch is that the passageways of Venice are primarily winding narrow sidewalks and alleys, as well many bridges over the canals.
Tara & Joey opt for Bring and try to locate that task. Matt & Redmond and Becca & Floyd get an assist from the locals on translating "spazzino." Unsurprisingly, the guys admit that the more physical task is right up their alley and go with Bring. Becca & Floyd go for Sing, but it fits with their race mantra, and they think it will be more “fun.”
Despite heading to the Detour first, Tara & Joey wander the streets and fall to third, as Matt & Redmond find and start Bring and Team Fun gets to Sing quickly.
To highlight the differences in team dynamics, Matt no more tells Redmond, “I’m going to need your help navigating,” then he runs him into a curb. What does Matt do? Nothing but laughs and says, "That’s why I need you to navigate." It’s a guarantee that Brooke & Scott wouldn’t have been this cavalier about just a little thing. It would’ve prompted hysterics from Brooke undoubtedly.
As they get dressed up as Waldo/gondola singers, Floyd declares that he’s pretty confident in his singing ability. That’s not usually a good sign on these shows.
The second bus arrives and they all sprint to the piazza. London & Logan are the first to the spot and notice the Race colors on the sweeper’s broom. With the clue in hand, they dart off, but not before ignoring Michael trying to get their attention. He blows this supposed slight way out of proportion and declares that he helps anyone when they ask. Even from the angle we see, it’s hard to tell if LoLo even could hear them. Regardless, Michael is not going to let this go.
But while I give them the benefit of the doubt, London & Logan do blatantly lie to Brooke & Scott (who is again carrying both bags) about not seeing the clue. Team Heel runs off and London & Logan say they did a bad thing. I may feel different in the heat of the Race but in the cool of my living room, I’m always baffled when these people get so upset when someone doesn’t help them or when they use a U-Turn on them. This is a competition for $1 million. Be cool to each other during the down times but understand that when it’s Race time, you shouldn’t expect help.
Liz & Michael do get their clue, and Michael does live up to his “help everyone” proclamation by pointing Brooke & Scott in the right direction.
Tara & Joey have arrived at Bring and begin their task of lumbering around the streets and spilling luggage at every turn, just like Matt & Redmond. Mom & Dad are joined immediately by London & Logan. The other two opt for Sing.
Liz & Michael get to their rehearsal as Becca & Floyd begin singing for a couple that I hope was paid handsomely for being subjected to these musical stylings.
Of course, when Brooke & Scott arrive and try to find a spot to rehearse, Brooke gripes that “I can’t do it with them [Liz & Michael] singing in my faces.” Mind you, they are probably 50 feet apart. Brooke seems to just look for any chance to blame someone or something for the reason she will inevitably struggle or fail on a task.
Comparing side-by-side, both sides of this Detour are not too interesting for the viewer unless you really enjoy watching luggage being mishandled, as badly as the PR for several airlines recently, or like being subjected to some singing just a step above of William Hung.
Matt & Redmond are the first to complete it and take a water taxi to next spot. After three tries, Becca & Floyd are mercifully given their clue. Over at Bring, Tara & Joey finish first and then London & Logan. It also takes Liz & Michael three tries but Brooke & Scott twice. Based upon the clips we are shown, there isn’t much improvement in any of these variations, so I speculate that the mandolin-playing Simon Cowell was just told to make them do it three times at the most.
At the next clue, it’s time for a Roadblock and Redmond tags in. This roadblock requires a person to choose a member of a comedy improv team and recreate their intricately painted mask. They have an artist on site that will be doing an ongoing demonstration for guidance because it requires a very specific technique.
Redmond is enjoying himself but having to resist the urge to just watch the odd comedy routine going on around him.
As everyone tries to make their way to the Roadblock, Brooke & Scott are understandably having the hardest time. This is understandable, because Brooke is insufferably negative and not wanting to solve their navigation problem but just complain about it. At one point after Scott finally snaps back at her, she has the gall to reply with as much sarcasm as possible, “You’re a pleasure. I love hanging out with you.” That’s rich coming from the racer providing us viewers with the least pleasurable part of this season, aside from Shamir lamenting the condition of his testicles.
For the second time this episode, they use a Brooke meltdown as the prompt to go to a commercial. As my daughter pointed out, “If Brooke is on screen whining that means we are about to get commercials.” I have an observant daughter.
London & Logan solve their taxi woes by hitching a ride with a family on the way to the airport.
Redmond thinks he’s done and gets denied because he didn’t put the final gloss on it. Luckily, this is just an addition to his mask and doesn’t require a complete redo. Floyd and Tara grab the paint brushes and start for their teams. Redmond finishes up and apart from choosing a water taxi that sinks between here and the pitstop, the guys should finally have a first place finish. They are off to find Phil at Campo San Vio.
Next, much like how the overconfidence of Floyd on the singing front didn’t play out, Liz’s declaration of her painting skills may be foreshadowing. As Tara questions whether she is doing it right, Floyd is being very meticulous on his mask to get it right the first time.
As they paint away, Matt & Redmond officially are the first to meet Phil this leg and claim victory.
Unsurprisingly, artist London goes this task for LoLo and feels right at home. Floyd gets a “bellissimo” for his first attempt and the clue. They are securely in second because Tara is next to have her work judged and is told she didn’t blend the paint correctly. Unlike Redmond, she has to start over.
Brooke & Scott arrive and he asks “Do you want to do this?” and, in typical Brooke-fashion says, “I guess. I don’t know if I can.” Much like every other task, she begrudgingly agrees.
Without fail, she asks for the artist to start over on her demonstration, complains she doesn’t know how to start and then asks the people she is competing against to help her. She exhausts me. Liz mutters to herself what we are all thinking: “CAN’T YOU DO ANYTHING YOURSELF?!”
Tara finally gets it done and they are on the way to the pit stop. Speaking of the pit stop, Team Fun takes second and Tara & Joey are checked in as third.
London notes that Liz is not doing her blending right, much like Tara did, and feels confident that she and Brooke will be able to pass her. London’s instincts were right and Liz is denied. This prompts a restart for her and some tears. She then channels her inner-Brooke and asks London what she did wrong. I like Liz, but don’t complain about others begging for help and then just a few minutes later do the same thing.
Because London recognizes that she and Brooke will probably get approved first, she offers a little guidance. London and Brooke do finish and get their clues, which leaves Liz behind.
As they dart off, they agree to share a water taxi because Liz will be done really quickly and they need to ensure both teams get to the pit stop first.
More tears from Liz, but this time because she is thrilled that she finished the Roadblock. Sweetly, her apologies for taking so long are met with understanding from Michael.
No catastrophes on the way to the mat upend this order and Liz & Michael are the last team……BUUUUUUTTT…this is a non-elimination leg. And an actual non-elimination leg and not just a “you’re still racing” leg, which means that Liz & Michael will be required to do a Speed Bump at some point in the next episode.
For the next episode, we will see the return of a U-Turn and your well-rested recappers David and Kim, back from the Wonderful World of Disney. I must preemptively say, “You’re welcome” to them for preventing them from having to cover another non-elimination leg this season, since I know those episodes are the bane of their recapping existence. Welcome home!