The Amazing Race Review: Way Too Many Buddhas

The Race continued this week with another vaguely worded clue that tripped up the teams and led to a tightly packed finish. It finally dawned on me why I prefer The Amazing Race making things like clues and instructions more difficult – if a team fails it’s because of the their own shortcomings, not because of a lost taxi driver, a flat tire or a broken piece of equipment for a challenge. If you don’t make it to the Pitstop at the end in time, so far this season, it’s the team’s own fault and not just because of bad luck.  The ex-NFL player and his wife showed that a bad taxi driver can slow you down, but doesn’t count you out.

The race is still in Indonesia, and the teams started this leg by donning safari inspired khaki uniforms and taking a bicycle ride with a “bicycle patrol.” The first team to go was Snowboarders Andy and Tommy, and they stereotypically popped-a-wheelie and “surfed” the bikes. The best quote from the first half of the show came from Justin (half of the perpetually arguing Sibling team), when he said “today is a good day to focus on the positives.” Which they seemed to do this time around, with very little fighting. Although, Jennifer did collide with a fence while on the bike.

Ernie and Cindy, Team Asian Persuasion, hit a bump in the road when one of  Ernie’s pedals fell off the bike, and several teams passed them buy while they waited out the repair. As each team passed Cindy freaked out a little more, her stress amplified for the audience by the unflattering close up shot of her panicked face, courtesy of the “bike cam.” They ended up too far behind the other teams as they received the next clue telling them to travel by taxi for the Detour, but TAR really knows how to pump up the drama with editing.

At a rice farm for the the Detour, the teams had to either plant 300 rice seedlings or fetch/feed/water two sheep.  Most teams chose the sheep because “it sounds faster” even though the sheep were very uncooperative. Cathi, of team Ma and Pa, had troubles walking through the rice fields as she fell over and over again. I tried to keep track of how many times she tumbled but I lost count. She is one tough, albeit clumsy, lady.

Amelia and Marcus (ex-NFL) got in a taxi that didn’t know where he was going, so they were the last to arrive for the task. They voiced a positive attitude, not giving up or giving in because their kids wouldn’t give up. It’s a good thing they trekked on because they are one of my favorite teams and I’m glad to say they were not eliminated from the race this week. Laurence and Zac (Sailor Boy) were the only team that didn’t follow the watering directions for the sheep correctly, even though they were warned by the Snowboarders about it- “Read the clue guys.” So they were subject to a 15 minute penalty at the end, which stings.

Side Note: Don’t think I’m forgetting about some of the other teams. The show doesn’t give a lot of screen time to the Dating Divorcees, Jeremy and Sandy, or the Wonder Twins, Liz and Marie. Most of the time, this lack of attention usually means two things: They are boring and/or they are not going to be eliminated from the race this week. So I don’t waste time on them if the show doesn’t.

The teams then head to the awe inspiring  Borobudur temple for the Roadblock, where they climb the many steep stairs to the top of the temple and then count the number of Buddha statues that adorn it, noting their four different hand gestures. The first two to arrive, Laurence (Sailor Boy’s Dad) and Snowboarder Tommy, did the smart thing and teamed up to count the Buddhas together. Eventually all the teams had to work together to figure out the exact number of statues because of (again) the vaguely worded instructions. That is except for Pa Bill, who did it all on his own.

The Snowboarders finished the task with a lot of help from Laurence, after which they decided to try and pay it forward to another team. As they left the temple to check in at the Pitstop, Marcus and Amelia were just arriving, so Tommy tried to pass on the correct number of statues to them. I love it when teams work together like this, especially since these are my two favorite teams. It’s even kind of shady, which is always fun. I hope Marcus later repays the favor.

At the final check-in, Andy and Tommy arrive shortly after Laurence and Zac, but they technically get first place because of a 15 minute penalty the other team incurred. The Snowboarders feel bad about it because they credit Laurence for getting them through the temple challenge so quickly, but they weren’t about to give up the second trip for two they receive for being first, this time to Dubai. Mostly because they can now go on the trips with their wives (they’re married?) and they don’t want to make them angry (understandable). But they did offer Zac and his dad all the snowboarding equipment they could ever need, which is nice because I bet US Olympic snowboarders can probably poop free gear if they want.

The last to arrive are the Vegas showgirls Kaylani and Lisa. Kaylani is a single mom and she says she was doing it for her daughter (who, in a photo, looks like an American Girl Doll- way too cute). It’s a sad moment and the Showgirls are given a nice extended farewell from Phil.

Again, The Amazing Race has felt like an actual race this episode and I am still thinking this will be one of the best seasons. What do you think?

For another opinion, see “Don’t Lay Down on Me Indonesia” by Keshaunta Moton.

Season 19, Episode 3 “Don’t Lay Down on Me Now (Indonesia)” (original airdate October 9, 2011)

The Amazing Race airs Sunday nights at 8/7c on CBS.

Images courtesy of Robert Voets and CBS Broadcasting.