Yet another fine episode, though a bit anticlimatic once the ousted team missed their flight. I'm amazed by the level of competitiveness shown by the teams. And I'm also amazed by the shuffling in the ranks throughout the leg! My thoughts on the teams this week:
Mel & Mike: First place, and well earned! I do like this team, and I do like that they're still thriving in spite of Mel's groin injury. They raced well and smart and deserve to still be in it!
Amanda & Kris: I don't know. I like them okay, but at the same time, they bore me something fierce. It seems that most of the things they say always has to have "babe" at the beginning or end of it. Plus, I feel like I barely know a thing about them, and it's already episode three!
Kisha & Jen: Nice to see them getting along a lot better, and great to see them make a huge jump from seventh to third! I'm liking what I see of them so much more, and I'm loving their abilities in the tasks.
Margie & Luke: They're still in my heart, and I'm still finding myself enjoying them a lot, but the editors need to stop pushing the angle of Luke's deafness. I'm not blaming Margie or Luke for this, but I could get annoyed with them very quickly, anyway. I do love their bond with Jaime & Cara, though.
Mark & Michael: Made a nice rebound after their flight error last week. Despite their small sizes, they show no fear or caution in anything they do, and can even outrun taller people, as shown by their footrace with Christie & Jodi. Good job to see them both still in it.
Christie & Jodi: The flight attendants made a nice jump up in the ranks after their close shave last week. I'm glad they weren't anywhere near last this week. They did well on their tasks and richly deserved to survive.
Jaime & Cara: Ouch. An incompetent cab driver was not what the cheerleaders needed tonight. They probably could've scored a slightly higher placement without that happening to them (like at least finishing in front of Mark & Michael), based on their speed in finishing the Detour (although that coffin did look like a bitch to drag). They're still my favorite team, though, and their bond with Margie & Luke certainly does help them.
Tammy & Victor: So the siblings were hit by hubris. Mainly, Victor's. They faltered at the Roadblock, got lost at the Detour, broke down when they messed up badly (well . . . Victor did), and only escaped elimination because one team had so much bad luck. I'm still loving Tammy, but Victor's officially starting to annoy me.
Brad & Victoria: Aw. These two definitely were the new Bob & Joyce -- they were an older couple who did well early on and then got screwed over by a bad flight. Unlike Bob & Joyce, however, Brad & Victoria did take an ill-advised risk on a flight with a tight connection and missed it only because their first flight got delayed. So while they kind of didn't deserve it due to that bad luck, they also kind of did for making that bad luck. Sorry, guys. But I hope you at least have fun with Preston & Jennifer and Steve & Linda in Thailand!
The tasks were interesting, although the Roadblock was a bit of a yawner. I'd have easily had my partner do it. For the Detour, I'd have done Vampire Remains, as it looked easier on paper. But Gypsy Moves turned out to be faster in practice, so it probably would've been better to do that one.
And after three episodes:
LOVE: Mel/Mike, Kisha/Jen, Margie/Luke, Mark/Michael, Christie/Jodi, Jaime/Cara, Tammy
LIKE: Amanda/Kris, Victor
NEUTRAL: No one
DISLIKE: No one
HATE: No one
Still good casting! Still don't hate anyone, at least no one left!
Can't wait to see Siberia next week!