So I watched the episodes I missed this season, and honestly... I am proud how far this season has come, delivered, and a new energy of the race is underway. Overall, it is a highly rated second half of the race and one season that certainly displayed merit on its own.
The second Switzerland leg: My opinion: I found the U-Turn vote unimpressive. I felt like the purpose of this was just to fill up some time and I got tired of the forced drama pretty quickly. Literally what Rachel Reilly said, "You're just telling us, we're going home." A better execution would have been just like what I saw in the Australian version and kept the votes anonymous. It keeps the action going and the mystery at bay. I'm excited the task designers found out about the traditional way European farmers used to cut grass (scything) since I had it as a dream task on one of my wishlists ages ago. Was hoping they'd have both teammates scythe a half of the grass plot instead of each tackling one component simultaneously. The Roadblock was alright. I just felt like this could have been a Route Info. Wasn't a great leg, but still watchable.
Split, Croatia: I was THRILLED to see authentic airport drama for once! When was the last time a team had voluntarily been put on a standby list for a flight?! First time I had actually begun rooting for Nicole & Victor and they manage to pull another Charla & Mirna-like miracle to outsmart Colin & Christie's edge.
As for the Detour, the task ideas were nice. I just didn't understand what the point of doing it in Croatia was. This could've been done in Miami or Mykonos for all I care. Loved the Roadblock task itself. I just still dislike how people can still help each other with the answers. And I've been loving the pre-Pit Stop tasks like deciding whether or not to take a funicular or run, or in this case, row a dinghy to the mat. Chris & Bret's unfortunate nosedive after leading the pack this episode was heartbreaking to watch, and Leo & Jamal's lovely constant crashing and burning reminded me so much of classic TAR dating couples fighting. The editing was finally clicking and I had the most satisfied smile run across my face in a while for the show.
Kampen, the Netherlands: I have an idea! Let's just copy and paste the entire second leg of TAR12 and build off of it!
Otherwise, the tandem biking, Detour, multiple navigation errors, and intermediate boat train task were super fun to watch and really brought the rigor and attention to detail. Tyler asking a guy on a tractor for directions, teams interacting with and pissing off the Dutch locals at the canals, and Nicole & Victor and Leo & Jamal this entire leg - I felt like I wasn't watching a current TAR season
. Speaking of Fun, I was so disheartened to see Becca & Floyd lay victim to another bicycling fiasco... and that ONE EGG. Sigh. The times placements had shifted and confidence had fallen made this THE signature episode of the season. I was jumping up and down through the whole episode and seeing many teams crashing and burning took me back to the troubles TAR teams faced in the more adrenaline-pumping seasons. This episode clearly shows that when editing is well done, it creates an unforgettable episode. Upset I didn't get to experience this episode live on broadcast.
London, England: First of all, I'm glad Tyler & Korey admitted that this season is more challenging than 28. I needed that. And the Dunkirk evacuation-inspired Roadblock is next-level type of stuff, the creative historic-and-cultural tasks I had been craving from the race for a while. The Detour I felt was again one of those boring ones (taxicab tour) vs. the memorable action-packed ones (scull rowing). And the new unexpected pre-Pit Stop tasks (not the H2Hs) I've been loving so much especially since teams are actually interacting with locals more now!
This one in particular at the eclectic Camden Market is the best one I've seen and can't wait to see next season if they add onto this new wave of creativity and interactivity I've been seeing.
Detroit, Michigan finale: Before the season started during the live sightings phase, I had fears initially of the Race not bringing attention to the city's bankruptcy and resurgence after GM Motors' dismantlement.... I was underwhelmed after watching the finale. What the heck happened to the Heidelberg Project task we were anticipating and got so many of these eclectic objects displayed at just to see nothing made of it? Such a wasted opportunity.
I really liked the Guardian Building RB, the drum set setup task and the fowling really brought a local sense of Detroit into the mix, but I was hoping to see a lot more. As for the team dynamics this leg, killer work on the editing! I didn't lose adrenaline throughout this entire finale and this is the type of energy and music editing I want for ALL the episodes in the future. Congrats to Colin & Christie on taking home the million after falling short 15 years ago to Chip & Kim and proving the past doesn't dictate the future!
Surprised to say this after a rocky start, Heads to Heads, lousy beginning editing and all, but TAR31 ranks better than Unfinished Business in my returnees seasons list. Kudos!