Author Topic: Expedition Impossible  (Read 69549 times)

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Offline Prophet

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #100 on: July 16, 2011, 08:31:10 PM »
Episode Four was more of the same. I thought the grappling hook task was the best of the season so far and wish it had been the pivotal task instead of being negated by another dumb bunching point in the middle.

I get the sense that people are not watching this as much as it gets into the season. The main problem is still that the episodes are very boring because of task design. Teams basically stay in the same order at all times. And it seems like a majority of the leg is spent in transit rather than skill based tasks.

I can understand the issues with editing and poor hosting since it is the first season. But other successful shows have always been better because of task design.

The second problem is the way the teams have been handled from the beginning. I can finally recognize each team but each one seems to have a "main member" which is one person that does most of the talking and I don't know who the other two are. The only teams I could name more than one member from are No Limits and Fab 3. And of those I only know two people.


BTW, quote of the night: AJ: Let's just keep doing what we do Kari: What? Fight?  :lol3:
Physics alone is not enough.

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Offline Kate04

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #101 on: July 19, 2011, 01:36:00 AM »
It seems to me that there should be a second and even third place prize as The Gypsies seem like such a shoe in for first place.  They have had a lot of all terrain type experience and never seem to break too much of a sweat or chill on whatever task they are attempting.  They are good guys but way out ahead in terms of experience in this type of endeavor than the other teams.

I'd like to see at least one other team's efforts be rewarded!


Offline kadilahopper

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #102 on: July 20, 2011, 10:44:52 AM »
I love the scenery.  I love the concept. BUT ---- there seems to be no "intellectual" challenge.   The race  I put on for my boys each Christmas is more challenging mentally.  I realize that this show is physically challenging, but it could be a lot better if they threw in some mental tasks.  The lantern was the closest thing that they have done that could be considered mental so far and that is not saying much for the show.  I hope it gets better.  They just need to work out some of the kinks.  Make em use their noggins Mr. Burnett.   :umn:   :umn:   :umn:

Offline SuperTux

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #103 on: July 21, 2011, 01:21:20 AM »
I'd rather hope ABC could bring back THE MOLE!!!!!
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Offline SuperTux

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #104 on: July 21, 2011, 01:26:16 AM »
Since it is the position not the arrival time that matters, I think Mark Burnett just wants teams to use their strategies to form their intersections to compete in difficult challenges. But no team did it in this way. :( (Country Boys just wanted to "lend a hand," not deliberately helped the girl's team.)
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Offline captjoe06

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #105 on: July 21, 2011, 11:38:27 AM »

Offline apskip

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #106 on: July 24, 2011, 06:42:01 PM »
I am surprised to not see any recap of the 2 episodes which were telecast while I was away, but that is easy to fix.

EXPEDITION IMPOSSIBLE Ep. 4

This one started in the high Atlas Mountains with teams climbing up to about 10000 feet with temperatures about 28 degrees. They had a task to tie together a bracelet each had with a grappling hook and fish for a cage containing the next instructions. Then they headed back down to a base camp below 8400 feet and 35 degrees for a cold and windy night under tarpaulins. The Gypsies and No Limits were #1 and #2. The Country Boys improved from #10 to #7 by being quick with that bracelet/hook task. The last two teams at that task were California Girls and the Fishermen, who helped the girls get it finished and then escorted them down the mountain not too long after dark.

The next day started with an uphill hike to the Tangerine farming village to get a plow and a donkey to load that plow on to go up 2.5 miles of switchbacks. When they arrived, they received control of a Ford Explorer to transport each team and the plow to the next checkpoint. There were 10 terraces there and each team was assigned one of them to plow up a buried cannister with instructions to the nearby finish line. The Country Boys and Team Kansas both had a struggle going uphill on that uphill hike and they arrived about 2 hours after the first 8 teams. The Country Boys were lucky in their plowing and Team Kansas was not; they were eliminated. The finish order was:

1. Gypsies (4th straight first place)
2. No Limits
3. Football Players
4. NY Firemen
5. The Cops
6. Fishermen
7. California Girls
8. Fab 3
9. Country Boys
10. Team Kansas

Offline apskip

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #107 on: July 24, 2011, 07:06:39 PM »
EXPEDITION IMPOSSIBLE Ep. 5

Teams were given a map to start with, but they had to visit a village henna artist to have that map imprinted on the body of one team member in henna. That gave them the route for a 6 mile trek over the Atlas Mountains to a 200 foot rappel down. As usual, the Gypsies and No Limits were at the head of the pack and the California Girls lagging behind.

The next task was to go to a riverbed and find one fish fossil that had been planted there. That fossil was traded for a large fish at the fish merchants that was their dinner for that evening. The first team to check in at the overnight camp was given the special reward of a message from their families. The Gypsies won this honor but told the host they wanted to give it to another team. It was obvious that No Limits is a team they greatly admire in spite of No Limits lagging behind that day. The Football Players, Cops, Fab 3, Fishermen, Country Boys and NY Firemen all finished ahead of No Limits to the overnight camp but when they arrived No Limits got the opportunity to go into a FORD vehicle, view videos of their families and even get a phone call from them.

Teams were released from the overnight camp in waves 3 minutes apart as previously. They discovered a lock task where they had to unravel a Moroccan puzzle knot to see the route. The Fishermen fell behind 30 minutes on that task. It took teams to a gorge 5 miles away and to the top of the Petrified Canyon. Another rappel was there but first teams had to work a key up using fingers through slits to get it up and out and unlock the rappel hooks. The Gypsies made their first navigational error of the competition and went off course far enough that FAB 3 passed them and finished first after one of the Gypsies injured his ankle. The California Girls were left at the back of the pack with the NY Fireman and they were forced to eliminate them in order to stay in themselves. The finish order was:

1. FAB 3
2. Gypsies
3. Football Players
4. Cops
5. No Limits
6. Fishermen
7. Country Boys
8. California Girls
9. NY Firemen
« Last Edit: July 24, 2011, 07:22:44 PM by apskip »

Offline Prophet

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #108 on: July 24, 2011, 07:58:24 PM »
I think this show may actually be improving. Episode five was the first one that seemed more suspenseful and held  my attention better than previous episodes. There was a battle for first and last with one really not knowing what would happen. There was of course the one caveat of the "middle teams" being mostly skipped over during tasks and check-ins.

The repetitive challenges could grow old but there is potential here especially since the show seems to improve as the little known teams are eliminated. I predict the Cops and the Fishermen to go next since they are the remaining teams that were never introduced and I don't know any of their names.
Physics alone is not enough.

Those who forget history are sure to repeat it.

Offline coolio

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #109 on: July 25, 2011, 09:55:56 PM »
Good and Bad Things About Episodes 4 & 5 of EI
Good--------
Editing's better. But that was bound to happen with less teams.
No animals. Takes out that luck factor.
Someone besides the Gypsies won! I think my prediction of Fab 3 winning may come true.
Mental challenges! LOVED the lock and the finger hole thing of Episode 5.
Bad----------
Still don't know some people on the teams. Who else is on the Football players?
With only some teams having a main member, you can tell the teams with all three talking will go far.
My predicted boot list with reasons in brackets
8th- Fishermen [I don't know anyone's name]
7th- Cops [The girl seems to be slowing them down]
6th- CA Girls [The only reason they are this high up is that they are getting a decent edit]
5th- Football Players [Anyone else know a person in this team besides Akbar?]
Finale
4th- Country Boys [Worst of the rest]
3rd- No Limits [Sorry, last two are better]
2nd- Gypsies [They are getting less of an edit than Fab 3]
1st- Fab 3 [Winner's edit. Every freakn' episode they talk about their injuries, and their struggles, and they aren't in danger.]
That's my PREDICTED boot list. Everyone else can feel free to post theirs.


Offline apskip

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #110 on: July 26, 2011, 08:40:29 AM »
I pretty much agree with that ordering of team eliminations.

The next 3 teams out, which I expect to be:
8. California Girls
7. Fishermen
6. NY Cops

I see the Country Boys and Football Players in the #4 and #5 middle group.

I expect the finale to feature No Limits, Fab 3 and Gypsies. Although the obvious choice is the Gypsies, I am rooting for No Limits to come through with an upset victory.

Offline apskip

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #111 on: July 29, 2011, 08:21:05 AM »
EXPEDITION IMPOSSIBLE, Ep. 6

Teams continued to a village and located the carpet shop where hundreds of carpets were in piles. They had to find any carpet with 5 large holes in it, which was a needle-in-the haystack task with a diminishing number of remaining valid carpets as teams found theirs. The last 2 teams were Fab3 and the Fishermen. The Fishermen found theirs first but could not figure out where to go to place the carpet over one of 3 signs to get the directions to the next checkpoint, which was the waterfall 2 miles from the village. They ended up 5 minutes behind Fab3.

They followed a trail upward to a point where they could take the fast way down to a raging river by jumping about 30 feet into that stream or by rappelling down the rock face. All teams chose the jump, with Erik of No Limits having the most difficult task since he had to jump tandem. After that, the Gypsies passed 2 teams to get 2nd place.

The next task was a zip line across the river to reach sets of locked paddles. Teams had to send one individual to match the picture of an object by wading across to find a cave where 4 pictures were up there for each team, each with a tiny variation from the other. A few teams had to send back their representative for a second try, but most got it right the first time. The key that was liberated was used to unlock the paddles and allow all team members to kayak down rapids.

At some point, they left the river to find a cave and from there a village with markers for the Finish Line was visible. Teams then had to get there by paddling another mile and ascending to the village.

The placement of the teams coming into the Finish Line in that village was:
1. Gypsies
2. Fab 3
3. No Limits
4. Football Players
5. Country Boys

At this point the last 3 teams were almost in a tie. The Cops and California Girls hustled to finish in the next 2 spots, leaving the fisherman close behind as the last team. The final finish order was:
 
6. The Cops
7. California Girls
8. the Fishermen, who were eliminated

Offline Prophet

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #112 on: July 29, 2011, 08:44:33 AM »
I pretty much agree with that ordering of team eliminations.

The next 3 teams out, which I expect to be:
8. California Girls
7. Fishermen
6. NY Cops

I see the Country Boys and Football Players in the #4 and #5 middle group.

I expect the finale to feature No Limits, Fab 3 and Gypsies. Although the obvious choice is the Gypsies, I am rooting for No Limits to come through with an upset victory.

I agree with every word, apskip!
Physics alone is not enough.

Those who forget history are sure to repeat it.

Offline Prophet

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #113 on: July 29, 2011, 08:46:38 AM »
It seems to me that the show is improving as is progresses. Now that all of the "extra" teams are gone, things are more interesting. I also think that the editing has improved. More task drama, more background music, less narrating. I think this show could have potential yet, though they did make a fatal error at the beginning to accept way too many teams.
Physics alone is not enough.

Those who forget history are sure to repeat it.

Offline coolio

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #114 on: July 30, 2011, 09:18:58 AM »
Good & Bad of EI's 6th Episode
Good-----
Even MORE mental! I liked the lock picture thingy.
Editing is even better!
We are seeing more strong teams. Fab 3 did FANTASTIC this stage. Still think they'll win.
Bad-----
I can still tell who will go home. Of the last three teams, only the Fisherman had any airtime that episode, so I figures they would leave. I was right.
 
I still stand by my boot list. So far I'm 1/1!
8th- Fishermen [I don't know anyone's name]

Offline Prophet

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #115 on: August 04, 2011, 07:57:16 PM »
I find myself looking forward to this show now when it is time for it. It could be because I am Race starved :lol3:
« Last Edit: August 04, 2011, 08:00:23 PM by Prophet »
Physics alone is not enough.

Those who forget history are sure to repeat it.

Offline Prophet

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #116 on: August 04, 2011, 08:43:37 PM »
No Limits <33333333333333333

This has been a great show so far. No Limits was my favorite from the beginning and I am liking them even more. Are the Gypsies getting complacent or are they just that good? And this is the first time I can't tell who is going to be eliminated.
Physics alone is not enough.

Those who forget history are sure to repeat it.

Offline apskip

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #117 on: August 04, 2011, 09:17:50 PM »
Prophet,
It's easy to tell who is going to be eliminated if you watch the entire show to 900pm CDT/1000pm EDT. I hoped it would not be Fab 3 and they made a miraculous recovery despite Kari trying to screw up their drive to the finish.

Yes, No Limits is truly a superior team even if they do not win this competition. The Gypsies made clear their admiration for No Limits by giving up their videos and call home to No Limits. If Ike's ankle does not recover fast, they have no shot at ever overtaking the Gypsies and will likely go out soon.

Offline apskip

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #118 on: August 04, 2011, 09:52:53 PM »
EXPEDITION IMPOSSIBLE, Ep. 7

The race started by teams having to go to a high point and use binoculars to determine the location of a hidden icon. Then teams had to get there ASAP and find the next clue there. Many teams closely observed where other teams were focusing their binoculars and used that to figure out where that icon was.

Teams had to travel by SUV to the souk and through it to the building which had the icon. There they found the clue with a ticket enclosed to get to the airport for "a one-way trip." In getting back into the car, Ike of No Limits was moving fast and he banged his ankle, previously injured in combat in Afghanistan.

When they reached the airport, they had to give up their ticket and nominate one members of their team under 200 pounds to go on a tandem skydive to visually locate the  next icon corresponding to a spot on their map. Teams 1 and 2's representatives would go in the first plane, teams 3 and 4 in the second and teams 5, 6 and 7 in the final plane. The arrival of teams with that ticket (which cost the California Girls one place) was in this order and the representative was:

Gypsies - Taylor
No Limits - Jeff
California Girls - Brittany
Fab 3 - Kari
Country Boys - Jason
Football Players - Ricky
The Cops - Jim

While Jeff was doing his thing, Ike was getting his ankle wrapped very tightly. He was requested to leave for a needed X-Ray, but he refused to desert and eliminate his team. He was going to pay a huge price for keeping going, having probably rebroken that ankle.

Teams make their way to a sign which was 1 mile after crossing the river by swimming it. That sign had symbols arranged vertically for these activities:
Kayak
Archery
Swimming
Boating
Airplane
Hiking

If you take the first letter only of each one, it spells KASBAH and that is the location of the Finish Line. To get there teams had to make a grueling 3.7 mile mostly uphill trek and then spot the correct location from a viewpoint across the river. The Gypsies went off quickly and finished first after taking a brief sweet tea break in the village while the next closest teams were just visible back across the river. The second team No Limits had lost their map, so they teamed up and offered the clue solution to the California Girls, who joined up with them for the remainder of this episode. The fourth team, Fab3, could not solve the puzzle and elected to go one mile to get an additional clue, which was an Archery symbol and did not help them at all. It still took them a while to solve the clue and at that point they were 20 minutes behind the #6 team Country Boys. The Football Players took over 4th place and the Cops 5th.

The fight for elimination was essentially between the Country Boys, burdened by Chad's difficulties going uphill on the trail, and Fab 3 with Kari slowing them down. After crossing the river, Fab 3 went straight as Country Boys turned up and left. Fab 3 beat them in a very close finish. the country boys were eliminated. The final order of finish was:
1. Gypsies
2. No Limits
3. California Girls
4. Football Players
5. the Cops
6. Country Boys
7. Fab 3

 


Offline theschnauzers

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #119 on: August 05, 2011, 01:49:58 AM »
Some of this episode reminded me of TAR season one in Paris.
-- theschnauzers


Offline Maxi3d

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #120 on: August 05, 2011, 01:10:01 PM »
What do you guys think of the way EI has taken out the driving and taxi equations by assigning a driver for each team instead of having teams either drive themselves or take a taxi to the next check point?

Offline Prophet

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #121 on: August 05, 2011, 01:37:31 PM »
What do you guys think of the way EI has taken out the driving and taxi equations by assigning a driver for each team instead of having teams either drive themselves or take a taxi to the next check point?

The self-transport adds a new element to the game and could be the reason why the Gypsies are always ahead. They almost always have to get themselves somewhere be it by paddling, hiking, etc.

And this is the first time I can't tell who is going to be eliminated.
Prophet,
It's easy to tell who is going to be eliminated if you watch the entire show to 900pm CDT/1000pm EDT.

:noway: So that's why this season is not making sense to me  :lol3: :lol3:
« Last Edit: August 05, 2011, 01:50:48 PM by Prophet »
Physics alone is not enough.

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Offline apskip

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #122 on: August 05, 2011, 01:57:30 PM »
What do you guys think of the way EI has taken out the driving and taxi equations by assigning a driver for each team instead of having teams either drive themselves or take a taxi to the next check point?
Maxi3d,
I don't think there are a lot of options in the remote parts of Morocco for taxi service, so I believe that the hired cars are the only way that reliable transportation can be guaranteed for all teams. With all the difficult forms of transportation teams are facing, they need the opportunity to veg out. On the question of drivers vs. self-drive, I love to see self-drive, but you need the vehicle to be in the right spot to pickup the teams. That would require too much logistics to do for the producers in a self-drive scenario. I think they have made a good tradeoff to go with hired cars and hired drivers. 

Offline apskip

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #123 on: August 12, 2011, 07:33:12 AM »
EXPEDITION IMPOSSIBLE, Ep. 8

This is one brutal race. In this episode, John of the Gypsies rolled his ankle once again, Natalie of the California Girls banged her legs rappeling and Ike of No Limits couldn't walk properly but pushed on anyway.

The start was a brief walk to the ancient Kasbah, followed by a rappel down to a very difficult trail. Once they reached the shore of the Lake, teams had to take 2 kayaks and paddle across to Prison Island. One of the Football Players overturned their kayak. At Prison Island there was some instructions and special hardware to turn 2 kayaks into one catamaran to sail on the Lake. Their goal was Saddle Island. Once landing there, teams had a brief walk to an overnight camp. The Gypsies had a huge initial lead, but they lost their wind and were passed by No Limits (able to capitalize without any constraint on Ike) and the Cops. The finish at the overnight camp was:
1. No Limits
2. the Cops
3. the Gypsies
4. Football Players
5. Fab 3
6. California Girls

For all that effort, No Limits got a 3 minute head start the next morning. The first task was to walk to the closest point to the mainland and then swim across. Then they had a relatively flat hike of miles. This was where all teams passed No Limits (except the gypsies who had already beaten them on the swim). Those teams went to the checkpoint where there was a puzzle to solve. There were 3 questions:
1. How many points are on the star of the host nation? answer was 5 for Morocco. This meant to turn a pole and chain 5 degrees.
2. How many teeth does a camel have (hint: 2 more than humans)? answer 34. This meant turn a second pole 34 degrees.
3. How many miles is 500 km? answer 310. This means turn the first pole replaced at the end of the chain a final 310 degrees and dig up the final instructions.

The first 4 teams had no trouble using a chain, 2 poles and a compass to apply the instructions, solve the puzzle and get the final clue. The California Girls just did not understand the instructions. They were still at it when No Limits arrived after about 1.5 hours. No limits easily figured it out and the California Girls copied that to finally solve the puzzle, but it was too late. The final clue was to go a a 16 degree angle to where they chain was for 600 yards. That was shot enough for No Limits to hold
their lead and eliminate the California Girls.

The finish order was:
1. the Gypsies
2. Football Players
3. Fab 3
4. the Cops
5. No Limits
6. California Girls

There were a few individuals besides Ike who were hurting during this leg. John of the Gypsies twisted the same ankle that he had in an earlier leg. Kari of Fab 3 had the runs and had to frequently stop her team and go to the bathroom. I do not expect that Ike's slowness on his bum ankle will allow No Limits to avoid elimination in the next episode because there will undoubtedly be a lot of walking/hiking. I regret that a great deal.

I should mention that I find the host's relentless pressure to "finish strong" to be inane. What difference does it make how the California Girls finished when they were certain they had lost?

 
« Last Edit: August 12, 2011, 11:06:45 AM by apskip »

Offline Prophet

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Re: Expedition Impossible
« Reply #124 on: August 12, 2011, 11:38:14 AM »
No Limits <3333333333333 May they never die! :jam:

It was time for the Cali Girls to go since they had no more cushions. I just hope that wasn't No Limits' only lucky break. Hopefully Ike won't have as much trouble in the next episode. If The Cops or the Football Players don't go next, then it might be the end of the road for No Limits. :(

I still wonder if it is too predictable or expected for The Gypsies to win, but given the bad editing thus far, it's not completely far fetched.
Physics alone is not enough.

Those who forget history are sure to repeat it.