Topic: TAR 17 EP 1 "They Don't Call it the Amazing Race for Nothin'!" (Premiere)

[georgiapeach]

Another set of teams set off on a race around the world!   thanks to walkingpneumonia for organizational help

Title: credit to theschnauzers



Thanks to woden for the excellent summary - copied here:


TEAM SPOILER SUMMARY
Andie DeKroon/Jenna Sykes (Catholic Birth Mom and Daughter): Dark hair, wearing red/maroon/black (Source); last spotted at Logan Airport in Boston (5/26)
Ron Kellum/Tony (Friends): African-American M/M, one thin, one heavy-set, dressed in orange (Source); last spotted in customs at LHR entering England (5/27)
Rachel Johnston/Katie Seamon (Friends/Volleyball Players): Blonde, wearing bright green; last POSSIBLE sighting on arrival in Stockholm airport (6/1)
Connor Diemand-Yamuan/Jonathon Schwartz (Princeton Grads): Wearing green, dark hair, in 20s-30s (Source); last sighting in Stockholm airport (6/1)
Michael/Kevin Wu (Father/Son): Asian team wearing blue (Source); last sighting on flight to St. Petersburg (6/5)
Gary/Mallory Ervin (Father/Daughter): Gary (52) in yellow (gray hair), Mallory (24) in yellow with black jacket (Source 1), (Source 2); last sighting on flight to St Petersburg (6/5)
Stephanie Smith/Chad Waltrip (Dating): Stephanie (22) blonde hair, wearing black and Chad (25) dark hair, wearing blue/turquoise bandana (Source); last POSSIBLE sighting in Muscat airport (6/8)
Nick/Vicki (Dating): Dark hair, wearing grey/black with lots of tattoos/piercings; last spotted in customs at LHR entering England (5/27), POSSIBLE sighting in Hong Kong (6/12) (Source)
Brook Roberts/Claire Champlin (Friends): One with dark hair (Claire), one blonde (Brook) (Source); likely spotted in Dongducheon, South Korea (6/14)
Jill/Thomas (Dating): M (dark hair) in white, F (blonde) in purple, likely spotted in Dongducheon, South Korea (6/14)
Nat/Kat (Doctors): One in blue (blonde hair), one in black (possibly Asian, dark hair), likely spotted in Dongducheon, South Korea (6/14)




ROUTE SUMMARY
EP01: Gloucester/Boston, MA (USA) to England
Film Date: MAY 26-MAY 27
Air Date: SEPT 26

Leg Route/Tasks:
START: Teams ride lobster boats from State Fish Pier across Gloucester Inner Harbor to starting line at Eastern Point Yacht Club
EVIDENCE: Report and photos (Source)

ROUTE INFO: Drive yourselves (in Smart Cars) to Logan International Airport (Crews following in SUVs)
EVIDENCE: Report of teams asking for directions on East Main Street (Source 1), (Source 2)

ROUTE INFO: Fly to London, England
First 3 teams on AA108 (DEP 7:06pm/ARR 7:00am) (Source):
    Stephanie/Chad Dating (initially wearing blue and black and changed into black at Boston airport)
    Ron/Tony: One thin, one heavy-set, dressed in orange
    Jill/Thomas: M (dark hair) in white, F (blonde) in purple (may be wearing lime green pants?)
Other 8 teams on VS12 (DEP 8:02pm/ARR 7:26am) (Source):
    Michael/Kevin: Asian father/son team in blue
    Connor/Jonathon: Wearing green (dark hair, in 20s-30s)
    Gary/Mallory: Gary in yellow (gray hair), Mallory blonde in yellow with black jacket
    Nat/Kat: One in blue (blonde hair), one in black jacket/blue shirt (possibly Asian, dark hair)
    Nick/Vicki: Dark hair, wearing grey/black with lots of tattoos, piercings (may be wearing lime green pants?)
    Brook/Claire: One with dark hair, one blonde
    Rachel/Katie: Blonde, wearing bright green
    Andie/Jenna: Dark hair, wearing red/maroon/black (changed into pink and blue at Boston airport)
EVIDENCE: Teams spotted at airport (Source 1), (Source 2), Ron/Tony and M/F team with tattoos/piercings spotted in customs at LHR (Source)

ROUTE INFO: Drive yourselves to Stonehenge (near Amesbury/Salisbury, England)
EVIDENCE: Reports (Source), report from Australian blogger (Source), teams photographed at site (Source)

ROUTE INFO: Drive to Eastnor Castle
EVIDENCE: Promo (Source)

ROUTE INFO: Swimming task to retrieve or raise flag (possible drop into water from zipline??)
EVIDENCE: CBS promo (Source)

ROADBLOCK: Hit knight with launched watermelon (possibly with Knights of Middle England ((Source))
PERFORMED BY: Claire
EVIDENCE: CBS Twitter promo (Source), first promo (Source)

PIT STOP: First place team given Express Pass (Source)

Safe from Elimination at End of Leg:
    Brook/Claire: Spotted in Hong Kong, likely spotted in Dongducheon, South Korea (Source 1), (Source 2), (Source 3)
    Nat/Kat Spotted in Hong Kong, likely spotted in Dongducheon, South Korea (Source 1), (Source 2)
    Jill/Thomas POSSIBLY spotted in Hong Kong, likely spotted in Dongducheon, South Korea  (Source 1), (Source 2)  (Source 3)
    Michael/Kevin: Photographed in LHR leaving England on 5/28 (Source), spotted on flight to St. Petersburg (Source)
    Gary/Mallory: Seen on flight to St. Petersburg (Source)
    Rachel/Katie: Photographed in LHR leaving England on 5/28, possibly photographed in ARN on 6/1 (Source)
    At least one M/F couple: Seen on flight to St. Petersburg (Source)
    Connor/Jonathon: Photographed in ARN in Stockholm on June 1 (Source)
   
Possibly Eliminated:
    Andie/Jenna: No sightings since Logan Airport in Boston (5/26), possibly made it to Ghana re: tweet (Source)
    Ron/Tony: No sightings since LHR customs (5/27)
    Stephanie/Chad: No confirmed sightings since Logan (5/26), POSSIBLE sighting in Muscat (MCT) (6/8)
   




EXPRESS PASS:

thumbnail--click-click



per Media reports:

"The team to finish first on the initial leg receives a surprise reward that gives them a possible game-changing advantage."

First spoiled HERE

[georgiapeach]

VIDEOS:


Promo 1



          

            screencaps here:  http://forum.realityfanforum.com/index.php/topic,21994.msg559575.html#msg559575


Promo 2:




            screencaps here:   http://forum.realityfanforum.com/index.php/topic,21994.msg560340.html#msg560340


Promo 3





PROMO 4




         screencaps here:  http://forum.realityfanforum.com/index.php/topic,23310.msg563258.html#msg563258



Right in the Kisser, watermelon smash:



          screencaps here:  http://forum.realityfanforum.com/index.php/topic,21994.msg561792.html#msg561792


Express Pass!!





Promo 5





Promo 6



Promo 7 More on the Express Pass!






Promo 8 ignore the "tomorrow"





Promo 9! Saving the best for last?? >>contains future locations

[georgiapeach]

**saved**

[redskevin88]

Watch the CBS Twitter video carefully, Brooke says the title!! 

[Belle Book]

Watch the CBS Twitter video carefully, Brooke says the title!! 

If we didn't already know Brooke & Claire would survive this leg, Brooke's saying the title would be an indication that she & Claire survived.

Belle Book

[Hooky]

Watch the CBS Twitter video carefully, Brooke says the title!! 

If we didn't already know Brooke & Claire would survive this leg, Brooke's saying the title would be an indication that she & Claire survived.

Belle Book

Not necessarily. Anita said the premiere episode title for TAR 13, but we know they were the first team out.

But in general, getting a title quote is a good sign for a team's survival.

[walkingpneumonia]

There may be more than just the watermelon catapult task.
In this image I've enlarged a jousting trainer - the object is to hit the fake knights shield and avoid the mace that swings around when you do.

[georgiapeach]

Nice pickup! But how would this fit in??

[ZBC Company]

 nalbe it part of roadblock or add on the roadblock it look that

[MamaT]

Perhaps its a task where each player has to perform a different thing.  So, Brook could have done the jousting, then Claire the catapult.  Just a thought, but it does make sense that it could be something like that, as they dont usually have a Roadblock in the first leg.

[DrRox]

Nice pickup! But how would this fit in??

Set decoration

[ZBC Company]

i dont think it detour but still think is roadblock in this leg

[georgiapeach]

Nice pickup! But how would this fit in??

Set decoration

Could easily be!

[Cocoa]

Remember. We have a 90-minute premiere. We have time for both Detours and Roadblocks.

[DavidJunior]

couldn't it be like the Scotland roadblock in Season 3?

have a handful of tasks that aren't EXTREMELY difficult, but could be time consuming if done improperly

sort of like a medieval knights training thingy

[redskevin88]

Perhaps its a task where each player has to perform a different thing.  So, Brook could have done the jousting, then Claire the catapult.  Just a thought, but it does make sense that it could be something like that, as they dont usually have a Roadblock in the first leg.

No offense, but since TAR 14, there has been no detours

TAR14: Find the church, Bungee jump and then cheese wheels, and then find yodelers to pit stop.
TAR15: License Plates, Sushi roulette and then guide the tourists to pit stop
TAR16: High wire, paint the town, pit stop. 

[georgiapeach]

Promo 4 caps: (video in post 2)

1234567891011121314151617

[MamaT]

No offense, but since TAR 14, there has been no detours

No offense taken.  You are right.  I had a brain freeze, and should have thought for a moment before I posted. 
Thanks for setting me straight!

[georgiapeach]

2 new promos in post 2!! Express pass!!

[Neobie]

In before the premiere! I have reason to believe that the tasks take place at or around this location:

[georgiapeach]

Neobie has a riddle for us!!

Location for the tasks:

Not west, nor neither,
A man's home is what you're looking for.

Come on guys, you can do it!!

[TarJunkie999]

Eastnor Castle 

[redskevin88]

Images to compare are here

http://www.google.com.sg/images?q=Eastnor+Castle&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=acmSTKktka6-A6mZ2ecL&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CDsQsAQwAw&biw=1024&bih=580

. It was founded by John Somers Cocks, 1st Earl Somers and is now inhabited by the family of James Hervey-Bathurst, the grandson of Arthur Somers-Cocks, 6th Baron Somers.

In 1984, both the band Slade and the BBC made use of the castle. Slade used it to film their video for Run Runaway and the BBC to film the exterior shots of Abner Brown's theological college in their adaptation of The Box of Delights.

[georgiapeach]

Good Job guys!!

Thanks to Neobie for the MATCH!!

[DrRox]

Eastnor Castle  

Looks like a great place to run to the pit stop after the watermelon roadblock........

About 70 miles from Heathrow to Stonehenge and then about 80 miles from Stonehenge to Eastnor. Now I think I know why BVM started the race in Gloucester, Ma. On the drive from Stonehenge to Eastnor Castle, you have to drive through Gloucester, England......Just like BVM to throw that in there.

[Neobie]

Looks like this for now...

[georgiapeach]

Just refreshing this info:

Am thinking that the flag task in the pond may really start with a zipline ride, as first suggested by Dr Rox HERE .

These 2 vidcaps show a large splash... which could be consistent with a drop into the water from a zipline. They also seem to show lines as well.





AND Eastnor Castle is no stranger to ziplines

“The beautiful and varied landscape of Eastnor Castle is ideal for Outside where we can offer activities that include the ultimate ‘zip line’ experience and high level rope courses.  The programmes will challenge individuals and teams both physically and mentally.  Come and play!”

http://www.eastnorcastle.com/news_archive_item.aspx?id=11



These videos clearly show our bullrushes!!

Zip Wire at Eastnor Castle, Team Building

And some pics of the lake:

[Cocoa]

I just want to ask:

It is said that Connor and Jonathan were the first to buy tickets for the trip next leg, and as well as three other teams (Kevin and Michael, Katie and Rachel, and watermelon girls). Does that mean they are probably the first four teams to arrive on Leg 1? Perhaps, unless one team screwed up navigating to the airport and another team zoomed ahead.

[georgiapeach]

The first of those four teams SEEN by the source...does not preclude others arr at diff times.

[Dånooky]

One week for TARday! 

[Belle Book]

One week for TARday! 

Yeah, I'm more excited now!

Belle Book

[georgiapeach]

New photo:

[freds]

Sad photo. I hope they continued. The famous video about that event was also see in France.

[GonzaloChileno]

Sad photo. I hope they continued. The famous video about that event was also see in France.

This video also appeared on a chilean TV show called "Así Somos" and also on Las Últimas Noticias newspaper!!! 

[krabbe]

OMG is Claire the new Caite? (Youtube sensation) 

Notice how there are a lot of armored knights still standing in the background, which means they're one of the first teams to arrive at the challenge.

[Belle Book]

Sad photo. I hope they continued. The famous video about that event was also see in France.

I have reason to believe that they continued, although that was a scary moment!

Belle Book

[georgiapeach]

Their new video posted in both Media and their thread clearly says they continue on...

[georgiapeach]

adding new promos in post 2 as they appear!

[north09]

I saw a new promo on The Food Network around an hour ago. Mostly it was just a collection of the other promos, but it did have a new scene with Chad & Stephanie doing the zipline. The purple flag is sticking up, as if they hav to grab it while zipping over the water. Stephanie says something along the lines of "yelling at me isn't helping the situation!"

[georgiapeach]

The food network?? That's a new one! I have a another new one that is mostly what we have before too, but will be on the lookout for that one!

[georgiapeach]

Hmmm...on second thought, check out promo 2 (in post 2) and see if that is it??

Interesting idea if they weren't supposed to end up in the lake but rather snag the flag from the zip!! Love it!

[north09]

Hmmm...on second thought, check out promo 2 (in post 2) and see if that is it??

Interesting idea if they weren't supposed to end up in the lake but rather snag the flag from the zip!! Love it!

That was mostly it, except it was a longer clip at the zipline.

[lengvet]

I like 3rd promo video...   

[RealityFreakWill]

CBSTweet just tweeted this twitvid

Peach, is this new or old, let me know

[georgiapeach]

All the promos are in post 2 Will, but thanks! I only found it by chance yesterday.

They are so fun.

[georgiapeach]

Whoo!

Here is an article from someone who has seen the episode...doesn't spoil the outcome but otherwise chockablock with spoiler info!!

http://forum.realityfanforum.com/index.php/topic,23424.msg565184.html#msg565184

scaling the walls of a castle, learning the definition of "battlements," discovering what Stonehenge is, and performing a rather difficult balancing act. That is, when they're not getting hopelessly lost driving on the left side of the road, as happens to more than just one hopeful team.

Plus, what might just be the dumbest team ever to race for a million dollars. I'll let you discover just which team this might be as they deliver some absolutely hysterical corkers in this first episode alone. And a new twist that's mentioned at the start that could have some real consequences on the race ahead, as well as a major advantage for whichever team manages to snag this first-time game-changer

.

heart-pumping race to the finish line.

[TexasLady]

Whoo indeed!!! 

[ZBC Company]

Maybe it cbs

[georgiapeach]

Have just posted 2 new promos in post 2. #9 has some scenes from Ghana and some castle scenes we haven't yet seen. Will get screencaps up later on!!

[georgiapeach]

Screencaps from Promo 9 (in post #2)

Many of these had already been done, so focused on the new stuff!


12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031353637383940414243

[Kacper]

Who is that in #39? and #20-#24?

[georgiapeach]

#1>3  Somehow I am thinking Chad and Stephanie were not meant to end up in that lake after all....

# 6>8 are recycled

# 11>17 may be Accra?? Need to match that square....

#20>24  Who are the ladies please??

# 25>26 Heathrow

# 28>31  Also Accra...note the FAITH on the rear windscreen

#39 Is another biggie to figure out timing ....

Time to spoil!! 

[MamaT]

My guesses:
#20-24  Could this be after the watermelon task, on the way up to the top of the castle before the zipline?  There was something about scaling castle walls in that preview article.  I'm thinking this is Jenna working besides either Katy or Rachel.  I notice the girl in green has what appears to be a large birthmark on her arm, have we noticed this before? (although it could just be dirt. lol)

I think picture 39 shows Thomas & Jill as our first leg winner.  The greenery and landscape look the same as the watermelon/wall climbing areas, so I believe it to be the first leg.

[Cocoa]

12-14 (or the Brook and Claire photos), I believe is in Accra because there are Africans on the background.

[caper]

Good work on the caps Peach!

I am thinking this may be at Independence Arch/square - tryng to get a street pic posted to compare but not working out!

[Cocoa]

Wait. Has CBS released a press-release? Like...

"WHEN A BIRDS ATTACK. A fishing cormorant B-) Phil Keoghan is the Host" stuff?

[RealityFreakWill]

CBSTweet just posted this twitvid....probably nothing new

[Dånooky]

Happy TARday!

[Kiwi Jay]

Happy TARDay, RFF'ers   

[georgiapeach]

Thanks Will!!

Most grueling race ever...

If your team checks in first to the Pitstop...you will receive the most impt prize we have ever given away!

[mswood]

I don't know it will be hard to beat oh the million dollar prize!!!!!  Heck that free gas for life was also pretty awesome!

[ZBC Company]

or contract to be are new team on prom

[ZBC Company]

My Heart is beat fast cant wait

[mswood]

Ron & Tony first on 1st flight

2nd Jill & Thomas as Stephanie doesn't seem to know that there are marked flags...

3rd goes to
commercial break.


Peach please delete just posting to damn fast.  It was sure easier copying from sucks.

[georgiapeach]

I love you for doing this, you crack me up!!

[theschnauzers]

I've been going insane tonight trying to keep up with both TAR's premiere with the additional 30 minutes and the NFL overrun, and the Sunday Night NFL game, because the Dolphins are involved for the first time since TAR moved to Sunday nights.

I thought this was an excellent start. The tasks were challenging, and I think it's fair to say that the least competent teams sort of sank to the bottom be the end of the leg.  Just to show how first impressions can be wrong, the first team to the airport in Boston got eliminated, and the last team to the Boston airport checked in at the pit stop in 3rd place.

Driving manual is one thing, driving manual with the gears in the opposite side is a whole 'nother thing that's a lot more difficult, methinks. Some people can flip their brains to handle it with no problems, others can't. I didn't get the impression that teams didn't have a driver that could drive stick, it's that the gear positions are different that what people over here would learn if they learned to drive stick at all, and that's why the teams were having problems.

Of course, there are older cars that are set up in the UK the way we're used to, as Britian didn't switch to the opposite side of the highway (as to traverl directions).

Before I forget -- am I the only one to notice the return of the Amazing Yellow Line? Since the season when the show adopted Google Maps, it hadn't used an AYL, just red, green, orange, and blue, at different times, so I was glad to see our old friend AYL back, even if it shared space with Amazing Red Line.

[Dånooky]

am I the only one to notice the return of the Amazing Yellow Line?

woah

[Jobby]

Okay, having watched the season premiere of TAR 17, i just thought how lame TARA 4 season premiere is.

Just the first 10 minutes of the show and it got me really fired up and worked up for the entire season, to want to see who wins and who will have a chance to get to know each other better and which locations they will be going to. It is the first time in 17 seasons where i actually appreciated the MULTI camera angles at the starting line and helicopter shots of the vehicles moving away from the starting line. It made the first 10 minutes of the show truly exciting and truly one of its own.

And throughout the entire episode, i just can't sit down properly without feeling excited for each and every moment of the race. The editing was so good that i really thought Katie and Rachel had a good chance of getting on the first flight, when in fact Chad and Stefenie were just moments behind Jill and Thomas. The editing really got to me!! But at least it really kept me glued to the TV screen.

I loved this leg because SELF-DRIVING is back. You see, when a team loses because they suck at self-driving, it is entirely of their own fault and no one will feel bad if they got eliminated. Okay, i would have been sad if Andie and Jenna got eliminated, but wouldn't be as sad because they can only blame themselves for not driving well.. but thank God the mother and daughter is still around. Ron and Tony, i don't know what they were thinking, but if you're lost... or terribly lost.. don't keep driving... of course i don't know if they did keep driving on, but it is impossible to just keep driving in the wrong direction had they bothered to ask directions more frequently.

The wade a boat across the river task was a genius task which forced teams to work together and i loved it. The Roadblock was creative and only Amazing Race producers can think of something like that. I think the producers were even happier that Brooke/Claire (one of them, i still don't know who is who yet) got a watermelon straight at her head and it is good for TV. LOL! But it was definitely pain and i gotta say that the task is definitely one of those memorable tasks that you will remember on the first leg.. (Cheese rolling anyone?? LOL!)

London is beautiful and i loved the sights that TAR offered us! Realized that the split screens that they used on Season 14 were absence from this season.. will they be back?

I love the teams this season.. with the exception of Chad and Stefenie! As usual i'm rooting for ALL 4 of the ALL-FEMALE teams but everyone else maybe except Jill and Thomas is in my good books right now.. this season really reminded me of the time during TAR 14 where i loved most of the teams at the beginning.

I can't wait for the next episode already!!

[krabbe]

That was an exciting start! So much better than the last 4 seasons.

At this point, my faves are the doctors & the Princeton guys. The pink blonde's jittery energy was endearing, but it can get annoying in future episodes. We'll see.

[apskip]

Joab is absolutely right that the boat task was "genius". The comedy provided by teams overturning and finally learning the hard way that the tortoise shells were there for a reason (slow and steady) was divine.

[apskip]

There are 2 controversies of differences in the facts concerning what Phil stated at the start of the race:
1. Someone on another thread stated that 12 legs were mentioned. If so, I did not hear it either the first time or the second time that I listened to to Phil.
2. Another media source covering the Amazing Race has stated that the Express Pass was good only if used before the 8th leg of AR17. I saw no substantiation of that anywhere on my first episode tape. Perhaps they have inside information. We may only know if Thomas and Jill survive to the 8th leg and then either attempt to use it or do not use it when they clearly should have if it was applicable.

[theschnauzers]

I believe Phil mentioned the eighth leg limit when he awarded the Express Pass at the pit stop to Jill and Thomas. But I do recall Phil specifically mentioning that aspect of the Express Pass.

I was under the impression that Phil did not state the actual number of legs ("a number of legs...." is what he stated at the start line) and that there were 8 elimination points. But there have been 12 episodes the last three seasons, so to me there's either 11 legs with an ubderleg thrown in, or 12 actual legs.

[Kacper]

I looked back and i need to say (in TV Ratings) this is the best season premiere since season 13!!!

[Mandoli]

Phil first said that eight legs are elimination legs. Later, he says that the first team to cross the finish line after 12 legs will win.

[theschnauzers]

Phil first said that eight legs are elimination legs. Later, he says that the first team to cross the finish line after 12 legs will win.

I went back and replayed Phil's spiel at the start line, and he does mention 12 legs just before the eyebrow pop.

[slayton]

I thought the episode was well paced, which always makes an episode appear good on the surface.

After thinking about what actually happened on the episode, however, I thought it was only decent.

The boat task was the only thing that I liked.

I didn't like that teams went to Stonehenge just to grab a clue.

It didn't look like teams had difficulty with climbing a ladder and getting doused.

If someone didn't get hit in the face with a watermelon, I wouldn't have found the roadblock to have been that interesting.

I've never found it to be interesting when teams get lost while driving on maintained roads. 

I love it when teams get lost while driving in the middle of nowhere, like the desert in TAR1 & TAR2, or when they're traveling by foot.

[Belle Book]

Okay, having watched the season premiere of TAR 17, i just thought how lame TARA 4 season premiere is.

Just the first 10 minutes of the show and it got me really fired up and worked up for the entire season, to want to see who wins and who will have a chance to get to know each other better and which locations they will be going to. It is the first time in 17 seasons where i actually appreciated the MULTI camera angles at the starting line and helicopter shots of the vehicles moving away from the starting line. It made the first 10 minutes of the show truly exciting and truly one of its own.

And throughout the entire episode, i just can't sit down properly without feeling excited for each and every moment of the race. The editing was so good that i really thought Katie and Rachel had a good chance of getting on the first flight, when in fact Chad and Stefenie were just moments behind Jill and Thomas. The editing really got to me!! But at least it really kept me glued to the TV screen.

I loved this leg because SELF-DRIVING is back. You see, when a team loses because they suck at self-driving, it is entirely of their own fault and no one will feel bad if they got eliminated. Okay, i would have been sad if Andie and Jenna got eliminated, but wouldn't be as sad because they can only blame themselves for not driving well.. but thank God the mother and daughter is still around. Ron and Tony, i don't know what they were thinking, but if you're lost... or terribly lost.. don't keep driving... of course i don't know if they did keep driving on, but it is impossible to just keep driving in the wrong direction had they bothered to ask directions more frequently.

The wade a boat across the river task was a genius task which forced teams to work together and i loved it. The Roadblock was creative and only Amazing Race producers can think of something like that. I think the producers were even happier that Brooke/Claire (one of them, i still don't know who is who yet) got a watermelon straight at her head and it is good for TV. LOL! But it was definitely pain and i gotta say that the task is definitely one of those memorable tasks that you will remember on the first leg.. (Cheese rolling anyone?? LOL!)

London is beautiful and i loved the sights that TAR offered us! Realized that the split screens that they used on Season 14 were absence from this season.. will they be back?

I love the teams this season.. with the exception of Chad and Stefenie! As usual i'm rooting for ALL 4 of the ALL-FEMALE teams but everyone else maybe except Jill and Thomas is in my good books right now.. this season really reminded me of the time during TAR 14 where i loved most of the teams at the beginning.

I can't wait for the next episode already!!

I'm really rooting for Nat & Kat and Brooke & Claire but I like Connor & Jonathan and just about every team except Chad & Stephanie.  BTW, it was Claire who got hit with the watermelon.

Belle Book

[Cocoa]

Joab, there was a split screen. But only once, though.

[theschnauzers]

I can't remember which thread it was. but there was a question about whether Ron and Tony did the roadblock. I think the answer is one of them did.  I saw a red roadblock envelope in whichever of them was holding the clue envelopes on the check in mat.
So it looks as if they got to do all the tasks before they were eliminated,

[georgiapeach]

I think Ron mentioned about riding the horse too...

[Slowhatch]

All the cars had Michigan plates. I'm sure it was a sponsored plug, but still...there are plenty of smart-car dealerships in Mass. where vehicles could have been arranged at a much lower cost.
The plate numbering looks non-standard, and I'm not sure about the yellow letter decals.

[Dånooky]

and I'm not sure about the yellow letter decals.

I think those are used to keep track of which team drives which car, I remember seeing something similar in TAR3 during the dieselgate episode

[Chateau d If]

Mat location for this leg of the race:

[Chateau d If]

Thanks to Jill:

This shot was taken between 11:16 and 11:28 am (assumes May 27th).

[krabbe]

cuse.

I thought the episode was well paced, which always makes an episode appear good on the surface.

After thinking about what actually happened on the episode, however, I thought it was only decent.

The boat task was the only thing that I liked.

I didn't like that teams went to Stonehenge just to grab a clue.

It didn't look like teams had difficulty with climbing a ladder and getting doused.

If someone didn't get hit in the face with a watermelon, I wouldn't have found the roadblock to have been that interesting.

I've never found it to be interesting when teams get lost while driving on maintained roads. 

I love it when teams get lost while driving in the middle of nowhere, like the desert in TAR1 & TAR2, or when they're traveling by foot.

Now that I've rewatched it, I agree. The producers got lucky with the watermelon hit, because it was such a random task. The boat thing was good because it wasn't as easy as it looked, it required skill and patience. As for Stonehenge, I think it's a logistical nightmare to have a task there. But I find it weird that the teams had a hard time finding it. They're in an English speaking country, the motorways are well marked, & they had maps. Being "on the wrong side of the road" is not really an excuse. Still an exciting episode, though.

[theschnauzers]

Speaking of Stonehenge, the most recent series of Doctor Who used it as a location for the final story of the series (The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang), and most of that shoot was done at night.) So while TAR wasn't unique in filming there, it's very rare, and it was the latest world landmark to make some sort of appearance on TAR.

I'm not bothered that teams only got a clue at that locale; it's the seeing of it, and finding it by self-navigation and driving, that was the treat. The show has often sent teams to a world landmark on the first leg (1- Victoria Falls; 2- the Christ Statute overlooking Rio, 3- the pyramids outside Mexico City; etc. (And by sending the teams there out of Heathrow provided Phil and Bert the time to get to Eastnor Castle before the teams.)

The place was beautiful to see, and I'm glad the show went there.

[georgiapeach]

AND we got a crop circle!!

[Hooky]

and I'm not sure about the yellow letter decals.

I think those are used to keep track of which team drives which car, I remember seeing something similar in TAR3 during the dieselgate episode

They have also always been numbers, so the fact that they are now letters is an interesting development.