TVSquad

(S14E03) "I should stick to basketball" - Kisha

Gypsies, gymnasts, and vampires, oh my. This is only the third episode of this season's Amazing Race, and I'm already thinking it could shape up to be one of my favorite seasons ever. For once, at this early stage, I'm enjoying most of the teams -- actually all of them with the exception of a few quirks. Usually I have more than one team which irks me to no end and they seem to last on the race forever. The locations, tasks, and local folks are so much fun to watch, as they've been very creative so far this season. It makes me forget another show (cough, Survivor, cough) which retreads its puzzles, mazes, and endurance competitions so often.Talking teams

As I mentioned, I'm currently enjoying the teams we have left on the show. I didn't care too much for the first couple Philiminated and knew the last one wouldn't make it far. But the teams going into tonight's leg have gumption and some brights even. But they do have some quirks. While I think Margie is fantastic and I admire Luke for his own determination, Luke tends to react like a kid at times. Last week with the pies and now this week he pouted at the thought of putting on a leotard to do gymnastics in the Roadblock. I can forgive him a bit because he is indeed very young. But ... man up, Luke! Please!

Then there's Tammy and Victor. Oy. I hope after tonight that the chip on Victor's shoulder is gone. I can only believe that Tammy will be more assertive. After Victor led them totally out of the way following red and white tree markers when Tammy knew the race uses yellow markers, I was cringing. When they got to the Scarecrow Marker (the one with arrows pointing two ways -- "Some folks go both ways"), I couldn't believe that she didn't just stand up for herself and tell him she was heading back. I was surprised they actually stayed in the race.

Tonight poor Brad and Victoria had nothing but bad luck. They tried to think ahead, deciding on a later flight because they didn't think they could make the connection on the earlier one. What blew it for them was that their plane ended up delayed, and they missed their connection in Amsterdam. I would have loved to see them stay longer on the show. There's something about a middle-aged couple with a long-term marriage who seem actually happy and respectful of each other that gives me the warm fuzzies.

I had such preconceived notions of Mel before the show aired. He's proving me wrong at every turn. To be honest, I wasn't really sure what to expect from him. I don't know -- a fire and brimstone ex-Jerry Falwell ghostwriter who just happens to be gay? Perplexing, to say the least. I usually find the overly religious types on reality shows to be annoying. But Mel is coming across as a very nice older guy who's really struggling through everything thrown at him even though he has a pulled groin muscle.

The travels and the tasks
Romania into Transylvania, now there's a trip for us! In Romania, the teams came up against the Roadblock. "Who wants to access their inner Nadia?" Oh my, it brought back uneven parallel bar nightmares for me even though they used the even ones. Although Luke pouted about the leotard, I noticed that Mike and the brother (was it Mark?) had no problems donning it. What I did notice is that Tammy must never have done a somersault in her life. How could she keep landing on her head? Yeah, I understand a cartwheel is kind of tough. But a somersault? Child's play!

But the real fun was the Detour in Transylvania where the teams could either help move gypsies or drag a coffin down a hill, open it with various keys, and impale bloody frames to get their clue. The gypsies weren't like the ones I've seen here in the States roaming about in their RVs. The music, the clothes, and the odd bike contraptions were so different. I want a pair of bike skates! Or, maybe that three-wheeled unicycle doohickey!

For the record, the Pit Stop order
1. Mel and Mike -- they won a trip to Costa Rica
2. Amanda and Kris
3. Kisha and Jen
4. Margie and Luke
5. Mark and Michael
6. Christie and Jodi
7. Jaime and Cara
8. Tammy and Victor
9. Brad and Victoria -- Philiminated