The Amazing Race: Taking The Fun Out of Dysfunctional

So, the episode was pretty suspense-free, as Brad and Victoria fumbled at the airport and ended up a good 12 hours behind everybody else.  I’m not sure how exactly they fumbled, and I watched it twice.  I think they hedged their bets on a better flight, which they weren’t able to get on, and so got stuck with a flight that got in after all the other teams.  The cool/cruel thing is that the show waited until they got all of the clues and performed all of the tasks and then ran to the mat before telling the “old” team that they were eliminated.  And, seriously, y’all, they came in after dark while the next-to-last team finished in the light, so the producers really let them suffer a bit.

That next-to-last team?  Tammy and Victor.

Ahh, Tammy and Victor.  We already guessed that they were overachievers, with those fancy schmancy law degrees.  But Victor is the most overachieving-est of the overachievers because when he’s wrong, he’s so very, very wrong. Watching him continue to go up that mountain, following the wrong markers, insisting on continuing when common sense (as embodied by Tammy) dictated that they turn around already was one of the most stunning examples of stubbornness that I’ve seen yet on this show.  And then watching Victor cry like his name was Linda when he finally was forced to admit that maybe, just maybe, his sister has a valid opinion should have been awesome. . .except I actually just felt sad.

It’s like Victor is just kind of broken.  Meanwhile, Tammy didn’t have it in her to take control of the situation and make Victor listen, which also just made me kind of sad.  Only time will tell if they can get past this dynamic where Victor just tells Tammy and they actually just compete and support each other.  You know, like a team.

But, sadly, in an episode that included men in spandex leotards, the Tammy/Victor dynamic was really the only thing of interest in the whole episode.  It was pretty dull, honestly.  Although I am reveling in the newfound friendship of Luke with Cara and Jaime, who have proven themselves to be the only people on the race unafraid of communicating with Luke, overall, it seems that without cheese or pie, these people aren’t particularly thrilling.

Oh well.  Maybe the next leg could feature those kumquats?

Season 14, Episode 3: I’m Not Wearing That Girl’s Leotard (originally aired March 1, 2009)

For another take on this episode, check out The Transylvania Mania by Paul Secrest.

For more on The Amazing Race, click here.

Sundays at 8pm ET/PT on CBS

Photographs courtesy of CBS