In no particular order
1.) Locations. TAR’s routes affect on how good the episode is. I’m watching it and they are experiencing it 1st hand. I look at it from my t.v., and this looks good, this awesome picturesque sceneries and I come to think of it on how awesome it is if I was there also. TAR 22 nailed it for me, hands down. TAR 27’s route was also great. Also new locations are a factor on making it a good episode for me. New countries are always welcome for me Malta, Monaco, Zimbabwe Colombia, Armenia, Georgia which have been visited in last 3 seasons as well as undervisited ones such as Portugal, Namibia which were visited in Season 23 & Season 26 respectively. I'm expecting revisits in Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Greece, Norway, South Africa, Mauritius, Finland and Czech Republic to name a few which are underused countries and in the future first time visits to Israel, Fiji, Maldives, Myanmar, Latvia, Luxembourg which are countries yet to be visited.
2.) Leg Design – A poor leg design will result in a bad episode which is a trend in recent seasons. Season 28’s Indonesia 10th leg gave us this. It was a bad design, considering the previous Indonesian leg (9th) was absolutely great and delivered on all tasks. Indonesia is a great country with loads of culture and all they did in Leg 10 was deliver coconuts, chickens. Although, seaweed task was great it felt imbalanced given the other Detour was easy. The Roadblock was easy as pie. Another example is Season 26’s 1st leg in Japan. You have a 90-minute premiere where you could at least add more tasks and they did dancing and finding sake and of all places, Japan. I mean Japan is culturally diverse and there are loads of activities to be done. The leg itself felt lacking and bland.
3.) Tasks – The Race has destroyed some episodes for me with their choice of tasks. Clear examples would include Season 24’s Spain leg. They went there to shave a balloon. Really? This is Spain, another country teeming with loads of activities and culture. Season 10’s Mauritius leg was also bad. You have here one of the best African destinations and they completely ruined the episode with mediocre tasks. Mauritius is a melting pot of cultures and the country itself is marvelous. I find it hard to watch sometimes seeing the horrible tasks on some of my favorite countries.
4.) Certain Rewards – The Save of Season 25 was a bad prize in my opinion. It gives you immunity till Leg 9 excluding NEL’s. Very powerful and pathetic at the same time as the team could win it is an unlikable team like Misti & Jim (Only Jim was the bad one though). Another is the Double Your Money back in Season 21. It was a prize and automatically it would put a target on your back. I feel bad for Abbie & Ryan. Double Express Passes give additional drama a la Tim & Marie vs. almost everyone
5.) Drama – This adds that flavor to any episode. Airport drama’s like Nicky & Kim getting on an earlier flight rather than Tim & Marie. Mass quits (S.22 & S.25). Hard tasks where teams bicker at each other like Season 25’s Punting task in London where Amy & Maya fight. It was cute, sadly this was available only on the Secret Scenes. Nici getting an earful from Phil after disrespecting her mom, Shelley in Copenhagen, Denmark (Season 25). Kisha & Jen taking a break that caused their elimination. Suspense finishes, surprise eliminations, meltdowns like Mika of Season 16. Her fear of water and slides caused their elimination, bad for Canaan but funny from a viewers point of view. Colin & Christie's "My Ox is Broken!!"
6.) Underdogs Beating Villains – These are an added factor to make a good episode. Such as when an underdog tramples or gets revenge on a villain by beating them a la Charla & Mirna vs. Rob & Amber (A waste of an Amazing Race cast spot. They should have stayed in Survivor only.) Tiffany & Krista beating Kelly & Shevonne in Rio De Janeiro
7.) Certain Villains – While it may contradict the statement above, certain villains are fun to watch and they know how to play the game very well. Season 22’s Max & Katie are a clear example of this. A villain team but not too loud compared to others and played the game very well. Natalie & Nadiya are loud but somehow they cross the villain side and are very smart.
8.) Cast’s experiences, views, life-changing moments, comments, humor, violent reactions in the countries they’re in and the tasks they’re doing. Them overcoming their fears (Cole of Season 28),completing tasks despite their disabilities (Bethany of Season 25), Luke (of Seasons 14,18 & 24). Their funny comments such as Shelley’s (of Season 25) or Brooke & Claire’s (of Season 17).