Season 2 had so many great things.
Of course it s best known as the best race to the mat ever...Oh which it absolutely is (and one of only two places I had any sympathy for Wil during all 13 episodes). But also had the most visually pleasing opening (as the cars go through the desert, though I do wonder if that was staged later), to teams having their first interactions with airports after 9-11. This is a season that doesn't have the best locations or best tasks (though it of course does have some wonderful locations and wonderful tasks), it was driven by the racers themselves and the dynamic they had with other teams.
We got Fern (thank you Fern, and all those that followed). We had Wil losing his clue on the last leg, and their recovery afterwards. We had the great multiple task roadblock in Australia (loved that). Loved seeing Tara really step up and take charge and show that she could race with the boys (which was the same with Margarita, who I loved in season 1). We got the afternoon shopping spree (another absolute classic moment in the shows history). While I admit to hating Wil, I think the casting on this season was awesome. Even cannon fodder like the Gutsy Grannies (who were anything but Gutsy), managed to connect with me. Really if anything the only casting changes I would have made is Hope & Norm and Cyndi and Russell. Not because I didn't like them (they both seemed like very nice people), but that they seemed like the same team.