The finale was pretty boring for me. Tbh, I don't think the tasks were awfully challenging for the teams and they didn't allow the teams to overtake and become really competitive with one another.
The bungee swing was entertaining but it really just put more time between each of the teams - something I definitely don't want to see in a finale. I want to see the teams pushing themselves to beat the other team, to be seen racing neck and neck with one another. The only time that happened was in the cabs to the port. The roadblock was boring and lame, the only somewhat exciting aspect of it was when Nat forgot to put the water in the buds - and yet they still managed to leave in first with plenty of time to find a good cab driver. And I agree with Slayton, why was it done in a car park? The memory challenge was okay, but I think it would have been more exciting had we been able to look at the board and try and figure some out, instead of just being shown the teams choosing the right ones or making a mistake. It was better than last seasons, but really didn't challenge either Nat and Kat or Brook and Claire. It was nothing compared to TAR12, TAR13 or TAR14's memory tasks.
What did make it exciting were the teams. They really pushed themselves and their partner to the finish line. And we got a happy ending this time around, it was a lot more joyful than our ugly Brandy/Caite session last season.
I think this finale failed to allow the trailing teams to catch up and move ahead of Nat and Kat. Once the doctors gained the small lead at the port it allowed them to just take off - and unless they would have make a big mistake, there was no way they were going to lose.
But in saying that:
Congratulations to Nat and Kat for winning the race
I think WE are part of the reason for such out-of-the-way / "dull" places. Less opportunity for crumbs of clues to fall our way. Also, with all the helicopters that were used, production was probably limited to where they could film safely.
That said, the team bungee drop was not just a way to put time between the racers. Each team apparently had one team member that was not comfortable with that task. Until they started showing the mid-week pre-final promos, I wasn't sure that Nat was even going to be able to finish the race. Jill looked mightly nervous also. AND Brook certainly wasn't her bubbly self!! This was a TEST of truly how much you wanted the million dollars and the support of your partner when you wavered.
As someone else mentioned, being able to pick a good taxi was also probably a portion of the race. After a multitude of taxi rides, you should have learned to query the taxi-driver before getting in. J/T just got into the first taxi available. B/C had less taxi choice, but had the clarity to ask to go to a hotel. It was clear that even if you were book smart and could answer the first question; or trivia / movie smart and could answer the last question; that the middle question was going to REQUIRE you to get internet / tourist info / other assistance to find the proper answer.
I think the memory challenge was an interesting test. You could record all the information that you wanted about your travels and STILL fail the memory challenge.
Yes, the lead N/K had after the jump would have allowed them to win unless they made a huge mistake. But again, there was no expectation Nat would have actually done the bungee jump or that they could have done so well at the memory task as designed.