Topic: TAR 35 (formerly called 36): Bitch, Moan & Squeal Here! *POSSIBLE SPOILERS!*

[cbacbacba1]

So episode 6 was the strongest episode of the season so far and the stars of the episode were Steve & Anna Leigh, Philly Jawns, and Morgan and Lena. Not even the final 3!!!! (Yes I will continue to bitch and moan about this)

Joel & Garett are pretty boring at the moment except for some of random moments like Joel using his beard for shredding away tears.
Greg & John are always at the front but kind of invisible until this leg they got first and had a relatively big mat moment 
Rob & Corey are the only one with good character development at the moment

In this episode, I actually think every teams delivered, except the final 3 teams  That is horrible.

[RaceUntilWeDie]

Some halfway highlights (these are positive, I promise!):

- casting is near top notch. Love the age diversity and the LACK OF REMOTELY FAMOUS PEOPLE
- I know it wasn’t a Fast Forward but the Express Pass challenge ALMOST felt like a FF, gave me old school TAR vibes (bonus points for it being a gross eating challenge! Definitely old school)
- the return of the taxi and tuktuks
- the return of flight booking even if it feels very much manufactured by production lol
- return of hours of operations! Return of bus travel!
- Alexandra and Sheridan’s indecisiveness in Leg 1
- Andrea & Malaina and Elizabeth & Iliana showdown at the market Detour in Leg 2
- the lotus RB in Leg 2 was so visually stunning and challenging
- speaking of challenging RB’s, every RB from Leg 1-6 has been challenging to some degree, I love it
- Morgan & Lena’s Express Pass play wasn’t the smartest but I’m kind of happy about how it played out? They caused so much discourse across social media/Reddit — it’s just what the Express Pass needed after growing stale some seasons ago
- Robbin & Chelsea’s shocking leg win + them being messy for no reason
- Jocelyn & Victor’s shocking elimination and getting the sad elimination farewell of the season — we haven’t had that since maybe Michelle & Victoria in S32?
- Yeremi’s serial killer face during the RB in India
- Epic race to the finish between Morgan & Lena and Joe & Ian
- I found the moment when Joe & Ian saw Morgan & Lena in front of them and Ian said “this doesn’t look too good. Trip of a lifetime.” They share a kiss, Joe “experience of a lifetime” to be so incredibly emotional even though it happened so fast
- the return of the U Turn
- OUT OF TOWNERS!!! 

I do have a BUNCH of nitpicks that I’m too tired to type out right now, but I do love this season so far and that’s why I’m dreading a potential decline in quality after such a strong start a la Season 22. The endgame isn’t looking too hot right now but fingers crossed.

[ianthebalance]

I’m liking Joel/Garrett and Rob/Corey a lot. Though Greg/John are quite bland to me

[Straightfromtranslation]

Steve & Anna Leigh are the easy highlights of the season.

[stunami]

Some halfway highlights (these are positive, I promise!):

- I found the moment when Joe & Ian saw Morgan & Lena in front of them and Ian said “this doesn’t look too good. Trip of a lifetime.” They share a kiss, Joe “experience of a lifetime” to be so incredibly emotional even though it happened so fast

THAT MOMENT! I also thought it was super bittersweet, they realized they were probably out only for them to overtake the girls, but then to get stuck at that red light LOL but yeah I'm really loving this season, and if yesterday's leg is a tell at what's to come, then we are in for a good second half of the season.

[Straightfromtranslation]

Some halfway highlights (these are positive, I promise!):

- I found the moment when Joe & Ian saw Morgan & Lena in front of them and Ian said “this doesn’t look too good. Trip of a lifetime.” They share a kiss, Joe “experience of a lifetime” to be so incredibly emotional even though it happened so fast

THAT MOMENT! I also thought it was super bittersweet, they realized they were probably out only for them to overtake the girls, but then to get stuck at that red light LOL but yeah I'm really loving this season, and if yesterday's leg is a tell at what's to come, then we are in for a good second half of the season.

Slovenia is going to be amazing...

[elthemagnifico]

man seeing how good the first 6 eps were makes me even more nervous about tar "36", i just really hope tar '36' is at least enjoyable.

on another topic, i like how we get more tasks when team's numbers get decreased, starting from India 2 leg, i guess they reserved to put more tasks on early eps because there were so many racers, and they were at least trying to focus on the teams first, tho it meant some of the tasks/legs could be dragging of them trying to complete the task

[RaceUntilWeDie]

It’s not 100% known who goes in Slovenia 1, right? (Sisters vs. Robbin and Chelsea)

[Malcooolm]

It’s not 100% known who goes in Slovenia 1, right? (Sisters vs. Robbin and Chelsea)

Not 100% but social media activity during filming suggest it’s Morgan & Lena

[naejae91]

It’s not 100% known who goes in Slovenia 1, right? (Sisters vs. Robbin and Chelsea)

Not 100% but social media activity during filming suggest it’s Morgan & Lena

Idk I'm kinda feel iffy about the fact that we have to rely on social media activities to identify our boot order for 35 and "36" maybe because it feels like it came out of nowhere without any concrete prove.

[ghmorello]

Based on what I've seen so far, I think Joel and Garret have a winner's edit going on.  Just a guess.

[Straightfromtranslation]

To be honest, I think Rob and Corey have a winner's edit, but the casual audience will adore a final three of Rob and Corey, Joel and Garrett, and Greg and John. The show is painting these three as very heroic and likeable.

[ghmorello]

To be honest, I think Rob and Corey have a winner's edit, but the casual audience will adore a final three of Rob and Corey, Joel and Garrett, and Greg and John. The show is painting these three as very heroic and likeable.

While painting the females as unlikeable with the edits that Anna Leigh and the Sisters have gotten.

[Amazing01]

The editing is really trying to make Anna Leigh unlikeable so it's easier for the audience to accept the All Male Final 3.

[Maanca]

To be honest, I think Rob and Corey have a winner's edit, but the casual audience will adore a final three of Rob and Corey, Joel and Garrett, and Greg and John. The show is painting these three as very heroic and likeable.

While painting the females as unlikeable with the edits that Anna Leigh and the Sisters have gotten.

Robbin & Chelsea are getting a lot of casual haters too.

Yes, the edit definitely seems to be pointing us that way

[Brannockdevice]

To be honest, I think Rob and Corey have a winner's edit, but the casual audience will adore a final three of Rob and Corey, Joel and Garrett, and Greg and John. The show is painting these three as very heroic and likeable.

While painting the females as unlikeable with the edits that Anna Leigh and the Sisters have gotten.

I haven't even been watching the season yet it seems like the misogynistic editing team is at it again. Bravo WRP

[kyleisalive]

To be honest, I think Rob and Corey have a winner's edit, but the casual audience will adore a final three of Rob and Corey, Joel and Garrett, and Greg and John. The show is painting these three as very heroic and likeable.

While painting the females as unlikeable with the edits that Anna Leigh and the Sisters have gotten.

I haven't even been watching the season yet it seems like the misogynistic editing team is at it again. Bravo WRP

I think this take comes from a place of intentional ignorance though, since Andrea and Malaina have had nothing but support and positive memes from viewers.  This for a black FF team.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to come from that point of view, but whatever.  Dislike what you purposely don't know about.

[Brannockdevice]

To be honest, I think Rob and Corey have a winner's edit, but the casual audience will adore a final three of Rob and Corey, Joel and Garrett, and Greg and John. The show is painting these three as very heroic and likeable.

While painting the females as unlikeable with the edits that Anna Leigh and the Sisters have gotten.

I haven't even been watching the season yet it seems like the misogynistic editing team is at it again. Bravo WRP

I think this take comes from a place of intentional ignorance though, since Andrea and Malaina have had nothing but support and positive memes from viewers.  This for a black FF team.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to come from that point of view, but whatever.  Dislike what you purposely don't know about.

That just it, I don't need to know anything. All I need to know is the final 3 to know that this season is a dumpster fire if I've ever seen one.

[kyleisalive]

To be honest, I think Rob and Corey have a winner's edit, but the casual audience will adore a final three of Rob and Corey, Joel and Garrett, and Greg and John. The show is painting these three as very heroic and likeable.

While painting the females as unlikeable with the edits that Anna Leigh and the Sisters have gotten.

I haven't even been watching the season yet it seems like the misogynistic editing team is at it again. Bravo WRP

I think this take comes from a place of intentional ignorance though, since Andrea and Malaina have had nothing but support and positive memes from viewers.  This for a black FF team.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to come from that point of view, but whatever.  Dislike what you purposely don't know about.

...I don't need to know anything. All I need to know is...

So you're trolling with phrases like these, right?

[Brannockdevice]

To be honest, I think Rob and Corey have a winner's edit, but the casual audience will adore a final three of Rob and Corey, Joel and Garrett, and Greg and John. The show is painting these three as very heroic and likeable.

While painting the females as unlikeable with the edits that Anna Leigh and the Sisters have gotten.

I haven't even been watching the season yet it seems like the misogynistic editing team is at it again. Bravo WRP

I think this take comes from a place of intentional ignorance though, since Andrea and Malaina have had nothing but support and positive memes from viewers.  This for a black FF team.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to come from that point of view, but whatever.  Dislike what you purposely don't know about.

...I don't need to know anything. All I need to know is...

So you're trolling with phrases like these, right?

No trolling, I genuinely believe everything I've said.

[Zack.]

To what purpose would the show have to have a misogynistic edit (noting that editing is different from the actual casting or production of the race)? I recognize and agree with many of the criticisms levied against the show for how it casts all-female teams and to an extent how the challenges are structures but I can't agree with the editing being pro-this final three solely because they're all-male teams. In the last two weeks alone, Joe & Ian got a terrible edit while Liam & Yeremi got a good edit but even then the show was emphasizing how bad they were at the actual racing elements. My memory of modern seasons of TAR also do not suggest the show is edited to be pro-male (if anything it may be in the opposite direction, with people like Akbar and Dusty or teams like Will & James or Leo & Jamal having their better moments edited out or Raquel & Cayla's increasingly tense interactions edited out).

From what the cast has suggested, Anna-Leigh's competitive nature, Morgan & Leana's bickering, Robbin & Chelsea's brusque nature are the only real sources of conflict (and honestly these all pale in comparison to the conflict seen in the past) and even with that, the edit has shown multiple facets of all of these women - Anna-Leigh's relationship with her father went on a journey throughout the course of this episode, Morgan & Lena's bickering is a manifestation of their admitted issues in communication which I daresay they were cast for, and Robbin & Chelsea have had opportunities to explain why they come across as brash to other racers.

I recognize there are multiple ways of watching a season of TAR, but I think there's no point to watching the episodes if you already knew the final three in July and have deemed the season to be irredeemable as a result. I know the thread that I'm in so seeing bitching and moaning is par for the course but the argument of the edit being misogynistic feels rooted in bad faith. I could be wrong, and respect your ability to have an opinion either way.

[kyleisalive]

To what purpose would the show have to have a misogynistic edit (noting that editing is different from the actual casting or production of the race)? I recognize and agree with many of the criticisms levied against the show for how it casts all-female teams and to an extent how the challenges are structures but I can't agree with the editing being pro-this final three solely because they're all-male teams. In the last two weeks alone, Joe & Ian got a terrible edit while Liam & Yeremi got a good edit but even then the show was emphasizing how bad they were at the actual racing elements. My memory of modern seasons of TAR also do not suggest the show is edited to be pro-male (if anything it may be in the opposite direction, with people like Akbar and Dusty or teams like Will & James or Leo & Jamal having their better moments edited out or Raquel & Cayla's increasingly tense interactions edited out).

From what the cast has suggested, Anna-Leigh's competitive nature, Morgan & Leana's bickering, Robbin & Chelsea's brusque nature are the only real sources of conflict (and honestly these all pale in comparison to the conflict seen in the past) and even with that, the edit has shown multiple facets of all of these women - Anna-Leigh's relationship with her father went on a journey throughout the course of this episode, Morgan & Lena's bickering is a manifestation of their admitted issues in communication which I daresay they were cast for, and Robbin & Chelsea have had opportunities to explain why they come across as brash to other racers.

I recognize there are multiple ways of watching a season of TAR, but I think there's no point to watching the episodes if you already knew the final three in July and have deemed the season to be irredeemable as a result. I know the thread that I'm in so seeing bitching and moaning is par for the course but the argument of the edit being misogynistic feels rooted in bad faith. I could be wrong, and respect your ability to have an opinion either way.

I feel much the same as this and echo my sentiment from a couple months ago.  It’s a massively problematic take to approach a program by insisting it tips the scales for women, providing a disingenuous result to support FF teams just because equality.  Similarly, spitting in the face of a season which has shown us a number of nuanced stories of complex women is crazy to me.  I don’t particularly care for Robbin and Chelsea (due to their approach to the race), but they made the choices they did this season.  And more than that, I think Robbin’s story is inspirational.  She’s a fascinating person with a tumultuous history persevering through life.

But OP would never know.  It’s more important not to prop up the existing casting choices because not only did they jump the gun and spoil the season for themselves months in advance, but they can’t come to terms with a result that don’t fit their take that FF teams are the only ones who should benefit.  This becomes a show, to them, that’s no longer about the race, but about combatting inequality.  Unfortunately, the producers aren’t aware of this.

That, or like I’ve been saying, it’s facetious.  But since I’ve been told otherwise, it’s just a deceptively non-feminist take.  More problematically, it’s an uninformed take.  It’s like never having had a woman doctor in your life and assuming there’s never been a woman doctor, so the world needs to change.

[georgiapeach]

It also shows clearly that the final 3 is determined by whoever ran the best. Production isn't knocking out a male team to give us a variety finale.

The Finale is whatever three teams get to the end. Period.

[Maanca]

Yeah, I give them credit. The FF teams in this season are definitely trying their hardest (Robbin & Chelsea won a leg), so they don't feel like "cannon fodder" casting. I'd agree more with Brannock if they all went out early.

[kyleisalive]

Yeah, I give them credit. The FF teams in this season are definitely trying their hardest (Robbin & Chelsea won a leg), so they don't feel like "cannon fodder" casting. I'd agree more with Brannock if they all went out early.

The first five legs of the race had at least one female racer arrive on the mat in first place.