The Amazing Race Recap
By Stephanie DeGateo
November 29, 2006
BoxOfficeProphets.com
The teams travel from Kiev to Morocco, with the Beauty Queens making a potentially fatal mistake by booking an unnecessarily tight connection to get out of the Ukraine first. All the teams meet up on the last leg, however, where they are sent on drive to an antique store. Karlyn and Lyn actually race smart and get there first. When they get the clue that informs them there is a Yield ahead, they spend the entire drive to the Roadblock clue box salivating about yielding Dustin and Kandice, who managed to get to the store last. They are saved when the roadblock clue box and Yield are behind gates that don't open until the morning. It's a foot race to the Yield, where the Models and Rob and Kimberly decide to forgo the Yield. The Beauty Queens, in third, yield the Lyns, leading to a total meltdown on Karlyn's part. The Roadblock consists of chariot riding and the first three teams leave fairly close together. Team Alabama gets through the Yield, gets through the task and they are off. The Beauty Queens get lost and despite the fact that they yielded the Lyns and Kimberly and Rob got a flat (these two have the worst car luck), they get to the Detour last, which leads to them getting to the Pit Stop last. But, as mentioned previously, it's a non-elimination leg, so they live to race another day.
This season seems to be dragging and I have gotten to a point where I wish each of the remaining teams could lose. Here, in order of finish, are the pros and cons to the top four teams:
Tyler and James – these guys are running a fairly consistent race, but could they actually navigate themselves somewhere? All of the teams seem to be way too dependent on hiring cabs to direct them to the next destination, and this, in my mind, is uninteresting. It also leads me to wonder where all the money for these cabs is coming from. Anyway, Tyler and James hire an inordinate number of taxis (or follow Dustin and Kandice). My other complaint about them is that they are so non-descript. Nice looking enough, nice enough, but a bit boring. However, of the remaining teams they certainly deserve a win given their abilities to be in the top two or three for most of the race.
Karlyn and Lyn – at first, they managed to impress me. They got a map, directed themselves into first place and positioned themselves strongly going into the Yield. And then, the hypocrisy set in again. They spent the entire ride to the Yield talking about how they were going to yield the "Barbies," how what goes around comes around. But when the Beauty Queens rightly yielded them, it was because they were evil and had it in for them. Karlyn broke out the "I hope they can sleep tonight" line (I'm sure they slept just fine, Karlyn) and even gave them the finger. Real nice. Lyn, to her credit, told Karlyn to cut it out and it seems to me that Lyn is much more level headed about all this. The other thing that bugs me about them is that they never seem to be having a good time. On this leg, I saw a smile or two, but for the most part, the two of them just seem pissed off or tired or both. No one forced them on this race. Personally, I'd love to see all the things they are seeing on someone else's dime. I really wish they'd lighten up. Speaking of lightening up...
Rob and Kimberly – I'm really beginning to think Rob is certifiable. There are times, when things aren't going his way (which seems to be whenever they are in a car) that he just becomes manic. Boy, he needs to take a few deep breaths. What impresses me about Kimberly and him is that they do manage to overcome their race setbacks and usually are focused enough to make up lost time. Additionally, unlike previous "couples who are seeing if they should take it to the next level" they do seem to be growing and working better as the race moves on. What I don't like about them is the animosity they seem to have for Dustin and Kandice. All of a sudden, Rob's had an issue with them from the start? Really?? Rob was also treading into Karlyn territory when he was bitching about how the Beauty Queens didn't stop to help them when their tire was flat, yet when Rob and Kimberly and the Models were waiting for the BQs to get directions and a group of men approached the girls, they all laughed and drove off. Helping the Beauty Queens was not on his agenda then; why should Dustin and Kandice help him? It's a race. Just shut up and race. Which brings us to...
Dustin and Kandice, who really do need to shut up and race. They need to shut up about how competitive they are. They need to shut up about how they will do what they need to in order to win. And most especially, they need to shut up with the "sistah" comments about Lyn and Karlyn. For a team that seemed to be really focused in previous legs, they are a navigational mess recently. And while I don't think they should have stopped to help Rob and Kimberly, not telling them their tire was flat (and laughing about how they are not telling them) doesn't seem to be competitive but just plain mean. Lastly, either they are clueless or racist – but continuing to refer to Team Alabama as they do is just wrong. Look, I understand there is no love lost between the two teams and the Lyn's use of the term "Barbies" isn't particularly nice and could also be deemed offensive. However, there is something about the Beauty Queens' use of the word and the tone of their voice that seems insidious. It really is a shame because Dustin and Kandice have the makings of the first all female team that can pull this off. I wish they'd pay more attention to the road and less attention to Team Alabama.
So it's down to two more legs for all the marbles. Incredibly, the team I'm pulling for now is Tyler and James and I never pull for the young, male, athletic team. But in this race, where things got more nasty then they needed to be and teams got more annoying as the killer fatigue set in, these guys are the least nasty and annoying. I just hope some good tomatoes are lobbed at the other teams next leg – maybe it'll knock some decency into them.