TVSquad

(S13E08) "Moo! Moo!" - Dallas, the happy cow.

Well, not all happy cows come from California. However, one particularly angry cow stomped through the streets of Kazakhstan in tonight's episode of The Amazing Race. Some teams on the show are a joy to watch and make for happy cows. Some are just cranky. Yet others are bumbling dunderheads. A few teams are a mix. But I have my favorite team for the win. Moo-ve along to past the jump for my review of tonight's show.

If not for animals, would there be a Kazakhstan?
Let's see ... first there was the chicken factory clue. Now, I always get confused when I hear the term "chicken factory." It brings to mind some sort of chicken transformers being built in a sweat shop. But, no. It's actually a huge chicken raising operation. 30,000 chickens and only seven golden eggs to be found. Oy!

The Fast Forward was eating local cuisine -- sheep butt fat all fried up with what looked like noodles and onions. Mmm ... sheep butt fat, it does a body good! Throw in the belly dancers and you're immediately in a kind of exotic hell. The sheep butt looked like it would be very greasy but should go down easy. Terence should have left immediately upon seeing it was a meat challenge. It's understandable that he's a vegetarian. But for Terence and Sarah to waste their time trying when he knew he couldn't -- that blew the race for them right there.

From the chicken factory, they went onto Mongol Warriors and yet another animal. I believe it was some kind of condor or maybe a really big hawk. I'm sure someone out there knows. I'll leave it that it was one of those birds who could carry off a small child or a precious poodle. Neat-o clue delivery!

In the Detour, all of the teams chose to wear the cow costume instead of learning to play a song with local instruments. Dallas had me laughing with his happy mooing. What a joy it is to watch the Dallas and Toni team in action! They actually had fun with the task and followed the clue to get the clue on the milk glass. Yes, milk. Another animal related item. Hey, isn't it milk that does a body good? Maybe I was wrong about the sheep butt fat.

Bumbling dunderheads gone wild
Even with the clue misreading divorcees out of the picture, Team Dandrew continues to bumble along misreading clues this season. Tonight they got particularly cranky at each other, but I would be the same (if not worse) if I kept screwing up. They didn't take their shoes with them to do the cow Detour which was just plain foolish. But even worse, the words "on foot" mean you walk. If they don't know by now that taking a taxi isn't walking, well ... they're bumbling dunderheads. Had Terence and Sarah not royally screwed up by going for the Fast Forward, the Frat Boys would have been Philiminated.

Ken and Tina even had their own bumbling this week. What made them think it was okay to return the cow costume before going to the meat market? They were at the milk stand before Toni and Dallas, yet didn't see the clue on the bottom of their glass. Oy!

For the record, the Pit Stop order
1. Nick and Starr (used the last Fast Forward of the season) -- each won a Waverunner
2. Toni and Dallas
3. Ken and Tina
4. Dan and Andrew -- had to go back to the Detour and return on foot but maintained 4th place.
5. Terence and Sarah -- Philiminated

Yes, I have a favorite team
I'd really like Toni and Dallas to win this season. Sure, I'm probably jinxing them by saying it. As a viewer, I enjoy watching them in action. They have a great relationship, they're fun, and they're a stronger team than I ever pegged them to be at the start of the season. If they don't win, I'd be fine with a Nick and Starr win. With five first place finishes so far this season, they've proved they've got what it takes and are deserving of the win.

Then there's Ken and Tina. They continue to run hot and cold, plus they're not all that likable. When they're both in mode, they work well as a team. One little thing goes awry and it keeps on comin' on. As for Dan and Andrew -- they shouldn't be still in the race at this point. As much as Terence annoyed me, Terence and Sarah have done better than Dandrew all season. If Dandrew wins this season, I'll eat a plate of sheep butt fat.