Its funny Season 4 is often judged as one of the worst seasons of AR, and I never, never understood it.
And how can you not love the first episode Puddin. Sure the canon fodder was first out, but at that point in the shows history that typically wasn't the case.
In fact, in most cases the team I think (based on just the press photos and info) will be first out isn't. Only season 4, 8, 9, and 13 had the teams I just knew should be first go out first. So I can't fault the season for the first time it actually happened.
Plus I loved the location here, its the only time the show has opened in the first leg with snow tasks.
I do think that I was amazed that Steve and Dave made it as long as they did (this seasons Gutsy Grannies).
The only real problems I had with this season is the number of spats between racers and the bitter interactions between team mates.
I hated that Amanda and Chris were eliminated, I loved them even with them fighting.
I think the biggest complaint that really hit the show was the number of all male teams (a series high), the length that those teams made it to the end, and that two of them were what people would call alpha male teams.ANd I do agree that 5 all male teams is certainly one two many, and having 2 strong and fit male teams is one two many. But it certainly didn't impact my enjoyment of this season.
Needless to say casting after this season really, really cut the number of male teams and what type those teams are for the rest of the shows history.
And the "alpha male teams" are now something that rarely gets cast on the show. After season 4. We have had only Brian & Greg (season 7), Eric & Jeremy (season 9) and Tyler & James (season 10, you might also include Erwin and Godwin who were fit and young but were apparently the idea of competition is such a foreign concept to them, I can't put them on this list).
As for tasks and locations, I really loved this one.
