TVSquad

(S13E05) "His haircut makes him look like Teen Wolf." - Either Kelly or Christy about Dallas.

Kelly and Christy's impressions of Dallas not withstanding, I think that Dallas and Toni are the best son and mother team ever to be on The Amazing Race. Of course, the only other mother and son I can think of was a few years back and they had issues. Dallas might not know where New Zealand or Cambodia are, but he's got a great relationship with him Mom. I'm cheering on Teen Wolf and the Wolf Mother! But how did they make out tonight? Read on!

Read the darned clues!
What is with Kelly and Christy? Once again tonight, they didn't read a clue -- well, to be more precise, they just started following people and didn't bother to pick up their clue! After shooting a couple of baskets in the Detour, it dawned on them. "Duh, were we supposed to get a clue for this?" I just don't understand how this team makes it to the Pit Stop each week, usually not even next to last, and squeaks on by. True, in their favor, they really go for it with gusto. But one of these weeks their gusto is going to lead them the opposite direction of their clue.

Then there's the Frats
Andrew didn't know where Cambodia is. I'm not sure geography courses in the schools are up to par. I can understand with new countries, changing name countries ... but Cambodia has been around for a long, long time. These guys don't always follow clues correctly and can usually manage to screw up even when they do read a clue right. Between their bickering, these buddies couldn't even get the hang of pumping gas with a hand pump into a cylinder. Dan's supposedly "intense" while Andrew likes to cruise. Well, Andrew found out he can't pump gas like a baby, eh?

About those other teams ...
I'm running so hot and cold on Tina and Ken that I'm not sure how I feel about them. They seemed to take folks passing them at times tonight in stride. But I know that both have a wicked nasty side to them. At least they didn't come in first again. Nick and Starr still call Ken and Tina "Mom and Dad." Starr seems to have had a miraculous recovery from her injury in the last leg.

I was liking Ty and Aja a lot more tonight. Until the end of the show, that is. He made me snicker when he said he wouldn't trade her in for a Porsche. Aja was very upbeat despite the fact they knew they were far behind due to the late start and the flight choice. Then there's Sarah and Terence. Just when I think he's so needy, she turns whiny as he goes strong (with the boat breakdown). They still rub me the wrong way.

The challenges
I got a kick out of the tasks in the Village Life Detour, especially when either Kelly or Christy actually thought they had to take the woman's teeth from the dentist. I would have thought that the Village Life choice would have been more time-intensive than the Working Life one, but I guess I'd be thinking wrong.

As for the Roadblock, I couldn't believe how lost Tina got herself Nick hiding his sculpture relief clue under his t-shirt while the other teams all stared at him was like watching a shoplifter try to walk out with a Butterball turkey in t-shirt!

In both the Detour and the Roadblock, we viewers were the winners, taking in the history, scenery, and modern day culture of a country so far removed from our own. While there is poverty, there is also a rich culture and some breathtaking architecture. Now, I'm not so sure what cultural significance a floating basketball court has, but there you go.

The Pit Stop Order for reference
1. Nick and Starr -- won a trip to St. Jean
2. Toni and Dallas
3. Terence and Sarah
4. Ken and Tina
5. Kelly and Christy
6. Andrew and Dan
7. Ty and Aja -- Philiminated

I think we must be coming due for a non-elimination leg soon, don't you? Phil announced at the end of the show that Terence and Sarah would have a 30-minute penalty for receiving a speeding ticket. Instead of receiving the penalty at the Pit Stop, they will delay their departure from it. I found that all a bit odd even though he said it wouldn't change the outcome of the Pit Stop order. I'm wondering what kind of time differences they had. I know in starting out the leg, it was about nine hours between first and last to depart.