The Amazing Race: You're Taking My Tan Off
November 28, 2014 11:25 PM - Season 25, Episode 9 - Subscribe

5 teams raced from Malta to Singapore in a race around the world.

This episode features identical statues, an alliance that crumbled almost immediately, fresh coconuts, high wire walking, people walking by the clue-giver, smug self-satisfaction, low pain tolerances, failure to read and understand fully a clue, a double U turn, good guesses, stupidity, a scary slip, toxin releases of the painful sort, lies, hot crabs, surfing, a dude in a crab suit, hitherto unknown new rules (once you book a flight, you can't book a different one).

One team was philiminated.

The preview for next week promises a return to the site of "My ox is BROKEN!", one of the greatest moments in Amazing Race History
posted by julen (13 comments total)
 
Congratulations Dr. Dentist, you are not the most hated contestant this year! I don't think there's anyway he could catch the dentists with all their self-absorbed, intolerant, paranoid, cruddy conspiracy-mongering, alliance-busting, self-satisfied behavior.
posted by julen at 11:27 PM on November 28, 2014


I'm glad the scientists made it. After the wrestlers lied to them once, I was disappointed they would trust them the second time.

I guess they fell for it because there hasn't been much outright lying this season. Say what you will about Jim's cocky attitude, he does seem to want to win the race on their own merits and not by any means necessary.

I was convinced this would be non-elimination simply because it was the last time the save could be used. If next leg is non-elimination then why bother taking the save out of play? So I was surprised when the cyclists got eliminated and not nearly worried enough when the surfers took the fast forward risk. Shows what I know.

Now that I've shown my intuition is worthless, my guess is next week is non-elimination because they won't want a speed bump in the final leg. It's hard enough to keep the three teams close and competitive in the final episode.
posted by Gary at 11:56 PM on November 28, 2014


Not sure I follow that, Gary. The team with the save finishing last in a non-elimination leg wouldn't need saving.

With four teams left and three episodes to go, it does mean the non-elimination is next. They're not going to run two final episodes with three teams.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 6:17 AM on November 29, 2014


I don't think Jim is the most hated contestant this year at all. I'm actually sort of rooting for them now.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:48 AM on November 29, 2014


roomthreeseventeen: "I don't think Jim is the most hated contestant this year at all. I'm actually sort of rooting for them now."

Yeah - I meant that Jim isn't the most hated contestant - the wrestlers are, and especially her. This is why I shouldn't post in the middle of the night! Such unclarity on my part. (the word "dentists" should be "wrestlers") I think it's kinda funny and typical that Ms Wrestler is the one who organized what she calls the conspiracy and didn't follow through, while undercutting another team.

I still have issues with Jim, but I thought he handled the tightrope slip well and might have gotten a clue what it's like to be barked at when he bristled at his wife's more supportive yelling/encouragement. I also think he has gotten better at handling his frustration, and his wife is definitely growing on me.

I am sorry to see the cyclists go, even though they melted down a bit in this leg (not thinking what the wavehouse could entail, recriminations they moderately reigned in), but I am confident they'll be in a future all-stars season.

I still like the scientists, but they need to channel some ruthlessness. There was a bit of it when the one made the other finish the massage/cupping, but they need to be in out-for-#1-mode now, and they need to think more strategically. That said, I love how much they are enjoying their experience.

I thought the surfers are playing excellent strategy. Knowing that the fast forward not only played to their strengths but was difficult to pick up if you've never surfed no matter how athletic/in shape you are, the amount of time elapsed, it was a reasonable risk to go and try to complete it before novices could.
posted by julen at 11:37 AM on November 29, 2014


Not sure I follow that, Gary. The team with the save finishing last in a non-elimination leg wouldn't need saving.

I figured they would want to make it sound as impressive as possible even if the last week isn't useful.

Anyway, I'm glad the save is finally out of play and hope it won't come back in future seasons. The great thing about the express pass is that there is strategy required to not use it too early but also not go home with it in your pocket. The save requires no strategy to use properly.
posted by Gary at 11:48 AM on November 29, 2014 [3 favorites]


Not happy about being denied a surfers / dentists / cyclists finale. Rooting for a humiliating wrestlers fail.
posted by pmurray63 at 5:56 PM on November 29, 2014 [2 favorites]


Also, I agree with Gary's analysis of the Save. Let it go away and never return.
posted by pmurray63 at 5:59 PM on November 29, 2014


That Maya has spunk! And boy, that Amy just keeps going. Her poor calves/hamstrings/whatever.

Oh, how I love me some scientists! They're the exact contestants who are the best to watch: people who throw themselves into it and just truly love the experience. The show has precious few "regular" contestants anymore, and these girls are doing great.
posted by Madamina at 9:51 PM on November 29, 2014 [3 favorites]


Someone on reddit thinks that Dentist Dude slipped because part of the rigging failed. Did anyone else notice this?
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 2:29 AM on December 1, 2014


I thought it looked like that, too -- one of the lines went really slack. Yeesh.
posted by Madamina at 5:26 AM on December 1, 2014


Yes, and I couldn't believe that he just got right back on. Nope.

I found that whole episode very challenging to watch! Between my feet going all jellyweird and my palms sweating during the high-wire insanity, and then witnessing the evidently excruciating spa torture, I was a wreck. I don't know how these people do it.
posted by heyho at 2:50 PM on December 1, 2014


It looked to me like one wire went slack suddenly as if it popped a connection that was keeping it taut, but didn't break. In any case, I would have had trouble getting back on and going back, but he did it. I think if a wire had broken, he might not have had to/been able to. But who knows. I still salute him for going back.
posted by julen at 8:55 PM on December 1, 2014


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