The Amazing Race > The Amazing Race Discussion
Why the Amazing Race has lost its magic
apskip:
--- Quote from: Kogs on May 04, 2009, 07:44:38 PM ---
--- Quote from: apskip on May 04, 2009, 09:57:16 AM ---
--- Quote from: mswood on May 03, 2009, 02:29:28 PM ---For a few opinions.
Some things I don't like about TAR.
Navigation, Navigation, Navigation - Its a race around the world, I understand that the producers do need to keep some control over the race, but season 13 was simply unacceptable for how teams travelled. Driving should be huge (and if you can't drive a stick or read a map then you have no business being here). I also think you should not be able to pay a cab to direct you ever....Thats been a huge factor especially in season 10 and 11 (just a shocking amount of teams simply buying their way from one location to the next).
And for some positive comments -
In the last two seasons the producers have corrected (in my mind one of the biggest flaws the race has had).
The final leg: This should be the most difficult leg to win. This should be the leg where every mistake cost you. I mean seriously for all but two seasons this has been the easiest leg to win, and thats just monumentally stupid. Sure it gave us a great finish (even if you disagree with the results) in season 2. But that same format (almost a direct copy of how it was laid out) was season 10, and look how completely anticlimatic. I hope this season continues that.
Since season 10, the show has increased the number of clue that teams have had to figure out, it still isn't close to season one but its nice to see.
--- End quote ---
I have a couple of comments. Mswood, I completely agree with you on driving stick shift and rading maps. If an individual is not proficient in both, they should not be cast.
On finales since AR10 (which I agree was just a series of tasks before and after a transatlantic flight, I think World Race Productions has been doing an excellent job:
AR11 - the Old Mint match game was a bit lame, but it was totally innovative and somewhat interesting
AR12 - the scale was one of the most clever endings I have ever seen
AR13 - the placement of task pictures onto the correct slots on the game board was really interesting
AR14 - it looks like this will be a "place surfboards with episode detail into the correct order" task; that will be fun to watch
Going back a bit, other interesting finale tasks were:
AR3 - twirl the animals into the correct sequence they appeared
AR8 - fill in the map of the U.S. with the shape of states
In order words, I like to see the finale decisive task testing the brainpower and memory of the teams. The more of this we get, the better.
--- End quote ---
the maze in tar5 was pretty cool
--- End quote ---
Kogs, I just don't see it that way. That maze took a maximum of 10 minutes for Chip/KIm and Colin/Christie. A good task in the finale should be designed to take more than half an hour. In Amazing Race Asia , the best one (ARA2) was very quick only for the winning team of Collin/Adrian. For the other 2 teams, it did take over 30 minutes. The ARA3 final task at Rang Yai Beach near Phuket, digging in the sand took hours, but I don't consider to be a particularly effective decisive task.
sharkshooter:
--- Quote from: Pedaler on May 04, 2009, 08:16:22 PM ---
--- Quote ---Navigation, Navigation, Navigation - Its a race around the world, I understand that the producers do need to keep some control over the race, but season 13 was simply unacceptable for how teams travelled. Driving should be huge (and if you can't drive a stick or read a map then you have no business being here). I also think you should not be able to pay a cab to direct you ever....Thats been a huge factor especially in season 10 and 11 (just a shocking amount of teams simply buying their way from one location to the next).
--- End quote ---
I really miss the driving and self-navigation. They really only drove once this season in Siberia and that was just around the city. Last year, they really only drove around New Zealand. Think of all of the great driving episodes from the past. It seems like the race is stuck in a plane-taxi cab rut.
On the bright side, many viewers must like the new style since the show is now consistently outpacing Extreme Makeover in the ratings. That definately is a good sign.
--- End quote ---
I also have tired of the taxi sequences. I know taxis are cheaper than having cars available, but really, should someone win or lose based on whether they get a cabby who dosn't know where to go, or should someone win or lose based on their dirving or navigatign skills? For me, there is no question which would, at the same time, be more exciting and more fair.
Kogs:
--- Quote from: apskip on May 04, 2009, 11:15:28 PM ---
--- Quote from: Kogs on May 04, 2009, 07:44:38 PM ---
--- Quote from: apskip on May 04, 2009, 09:57:16 AM ---
--- Quote from: mswood on May 03, 2009, 02:29:28 PM ---For a few opinions.
Some things I don't like about TAR.
Navigation, Navigation, Navigation - Its a race around the world, I understand that the producers do need to keep some control over the race, but season 13 was simply unacceptable for how teams travelled. Driving should be huge (and if you can't drive a stick or read a map then you have no business being here). I also think you should not be able to pay a cab to direct you ever....Thats been a huge factor especially in season 10 and 11 (just a shocking amount of teams simply buying their way from one location to the next).
And for some positive comments -
In the last two seasons the producers have corrected (in my mind one of the biggest flaws the race has had).
The final leg: This should be the most difficult leg to win. This should be the leg where every mistake cost you. I mean seriously for all but two seasons this has been the easiest leg to win, and thats just monumentally stupid. Sure it gave us a great finish (even if you disagree with the results) in season 2. But that same format (almost a direct copy of how it was laid out) was season 10, and look how completely anticlimatic. I hope this season continues that.
Since season 10, the show has increased the number of clue that teams have had to figure out, it still isn't close to season one but its nice to see.
--- End quote ---
I have a couple of comments. Mswood, I completely agree with you on driving stick shift and rading maps. If an individual is not proficient in both, they should not be cast.
On finales since AR10 (which I agree was just a series of tasks before and after a transatlantic flight, I think World Race Productions has been doing an excellent job:
AR11 - the Old Mint match game was a bit lame, but it was totally innovative and somewhat interesting
AR12 - the scale was one of the most clever endings I have ever seen
AR13 - the placement of task pictures onto the correct slots on the game board was really interesting
AR14 - it looks like this will be a "place surfboards with episode detail into the correct order" task; that will be fun to watch
Going back a bit, other interesting finale tasks were:
AR3 - twirl the animals into the correct sequence they appeared
AR8 - fill in the map of the U.S. with the shape of states
In order words, I like to see the finale decisive task testing the brainpower and memory of the teams. The more of this we get, the better.
--- End quote ---
the maze in tar5 was pretty cool
--- End quote ---
Kogs, I just don't see it that way. That maze took a maximum of 10 minutes for Chip/KIm and Colin/Christie. A good task in the finale should be designed to take more than half an hour. In Amazing Race Asia , the best one (ARA2) was very quick only for the winning team of Collin/Adrian. For the other 2 teams, it did take over 30 minutes. The ARA3 final task at Rang Yai Beach near Phuket, digging in the sand took hours, but I don't consider to be a particularly effective decisive task.
--- End quote ---
yes it could have been done better but there was also another picture they had to find that was edited out. i would show it to you but the episode is on my other computer
TARAsia Fan:
It could be insurance issues or local merchants knowing that a US TV production company wants to use cars jacking up their prices, but the producers thinking about budget could think that having a taxi could be much cheaper.
I would prefer watching the racers self-navigate, but you have to look at the big picture. CBS is cutting back on everything.
Coutzy:
It would be nice to have decisive tasks in every leg of the race, but without luck based events, we would very rarely see an upset.
Look at season 13. The entire race was very much a race to get led by the nose to your next destination, with very little luck involved. And we saw the strongest team come out and dominate, winning all bar 3 legs.
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