Team Reports
Okay with fewer and fewer teams I will be going into a little more detail concerning team behavior (between each other, between teams and between locals).
Dustin & Kandice: Again a fairly strong leg (though not as remarkable as the Poland leg. With the only real difficulty being their search for the bus line to get them to the Batu Caves. But beyond that problem they made smart choices, and worked well at all stages of the race. From using the Yield (They did believe they were in the back of the pack, and they used a rational reason to choose which team, and its one they have mention in earlier episodes on clips. They followed the clue properly in both using the proper forms of transport (i.e. walking), and followed the pattern on the detour. We also see Kandice doing fairly well on the roadblock and is the only person we see not using local assistance in moving the bike (though of course it might have happened). Good job ladies.
Charla & Mirna: They were wise to not give up a computer at the hotel (might not be the smartest at an early part in the season, but its getting closer to the end where you do have to race tighter). A great job in using the net to discover the fastest route to Kuala Lumpur, but a very poor performance at the detour in losing over two hours (both by math, by dialogue in clips and by eye witnesses. This was also a better week for them with locals. Whether this was because they kept a better attitude or was due to fans (hi Izad) helping them and giving encouragement is hard to gauge. But we do see Mirna getting more assistant then any of the other teams. They also failed to follow the clues instructions not just once, but twice. Ladies, remember errors in clues can easily cost you a race. Since this is the team that I personally have the most problem with in their reactions to each other, to locals and to fellow teams, I do need to point out both good and bad. In good. When Eric said no, to her question in the airport, she handled that very well (with only a tiny amount of attitude in saying we don’t need this). But to say he has a valid point is very nice to see from any team. What was much less, was Mirna”s comments about how she doesn’t eavesdrop and follow to get better assistance. Frankly, that’s inaccurate with us having several scenes in this season where we specifically see them doing this. Its cool to promote yourself, just ease up a little on the hypocrisy. It will be curious to see if a penalty is given and if it effects the standings (It could conceivable put them in 4th place if they hadn’t already included it the arriving order.) A so-so job. This teams seems to frequently take considerable longer on most all legs.
Eric & Danielle: An okay leg, with time lost in waiting for a bus (which does fit close to the time frame given by Izad), And a mistake in following the clues instruction in getting to the cookie detour. We also have to wonder if the tire problem Danielle had was due to her actions riding the bike (which is how it plays on air). The biggest problem some fans had with this leg was this teams reaction to the Yield. While it would be so nice to hear a team, so Ok we got yielded its cool (still waiting for that, maybe later this year). Out of the 8 yields used previously, only one team has acted better (and surprisingly it was a team that had turned very nasty to each other season 7’s Ron & Kelly). While we saw some name calling (Dirty Pirate Hookers by Eric and bitches shady bitches by Danielle), this team didn’t do what some of the more extreme things that teams have done over the years. Breaking town into tears and crying, blaming each other for why they got Yielded, losing focus and fighting so much that you don’t realize the sand has run out, being so enraged that your team goes into one of the biggest meltdowns the shows has ever had going so far as encouraging a cab to run people over, and an almost religious zeal in explaining how teams cheated by Yielding you. You could see Eric trying to make Danielle laugh to keep her cool, focusing on the tasks ahead, making sure to keep contact with the hourglass. And while the name calling (even in jest let alone anger which Danielle admits to several times in clips and on the air) isn’t nice it doesn’t bother me that much unless it gets extreme, or in front of them. They kept their focus well and recovered nicely from it. One of their weaker legs actually.
Oswald & Danny: Boy guys you sucked and not in the good way. They did do one thing very well, by researching and getting the input of supervisors on the phone they make the correct choice in taking a safer travel choice. But they had difficulty finding route markers, they had terrible performances at the detour and performed the worst at the roadblock. This leg also featured some very poor behavior by the team. From the failure to work well together, to the failure to properly explain clues to each other, to Danny really being quite upset at Oswald, to calling him an SOB (Twice), to not waiting to watch the detour demonstration for the Bitak cloth dying, to even insulting a local by calling him a loser. Their worst leg to date. Though the might improve in standings if penalties are issued next episode.
Uchenna & Joyce: Well its hard to judge a leg on just one filmed aspect, but you that’s what we have to do. There are times to take risks, but at the beginning of a leg, on a 15 minute connection window, is a terrible terrible thing to try especially after knowing some of the horrible plane luck others have had. And unlike Guido’s and Eric & Danielle who had no choice in getting the flight they had, you did. You knew it was a tight connection, and you took the risk. Points for not losing your cool (at least on camera) with airlines officials or with each other.