EPISODE 13-01: BEES ARE MUCH CALMER THAN THIS!
Well, it’s definitely been a while! How great is it to hear Phil saying “The world is waiting for you” to a brand new group of teams ready to embark on a race around the world. As well as prove exactly why they’ve won those 6 Emmys.
The teams are taken in vintage cars to the home of the Trojans as we meet them while they run into the stadium. After Phil wishes them well, he sets them off and they run to the top of the stadium to begin their new adventure.
They find their first clue that tells them their first destination is Santiago, Brazil. They jump into their Mercedes and drive to LAX.
Looks like TAR actually tells them which of the two planes gets them to Brazil first. After some maneuvering on the highway (and Terence wrongly insisting his city streets shortcut was the fastest way to the airport), the teams get confused as to which ticket counter they need to go to.
Dating couple Aja & Ty arrive there first and make their way to the American Airlines counter where they are told that there is nowhere else for them to buy tickets, but Aja rightly wonders why there are no flags. A couple of teams see them and think they are at the right place.
A few of the teams though realize they’re at the wrong counter and run to the right one. Once the rest of them realize their mistake, they are too late for the first flight.
While waiting for the flights, Nick & Starr and Ken & Tina form a “loose” 2-leg alliance.
On the American flight, scheduled to arrive first are Mark & Bill , Ken & Tina, Nick & Starr, Terence & Sarah, Aja & Ty, and Kelly & Christy. On the United flight, scheduled to arrive 3 hours after the first are Ton & Dallas, Andrew & Dan, Anita & Arthur, Marisa & Brooke, and Anthony & Stephanie.
The first flight is delayed an hour and a half, but still arrive first.
Once in Salvador, teams make their way to O Rei Do Pernil a sandwich shop where they will find their next clue.
The clue tells them to become a barista “old school style” by wheeling a local vending cart through the streets and delivering it to Indio at the plaza, Praca da Se, where they will get their next clue.
The teams navigate the cobbled streets of Salvador with their cart and take the always cool funicular up to the plaza.
Terence & Sarah get there first and are given their next clue telling them to make their way to a nearby military base where they must sign up for one of three departure times for the next morning. They will also spend the night under mosquito nests at the base.
Meanwhile, the 2nd flight has finally arrived and the teams make their way to the sandwich shop.
After all the teams make it to the military base, they spend the night socializing. Divorcée Kelly voices her attraction to shirtless and “well built” Dallas while Terence is annoyed and frustrated by Sarah talking to the other teams instead of “holding” him.
The next morning, the teams depart according to their time for a church in the historic center of Salvador, Pelourinho.
There, they find their first Detour: Hard Way Up or Soft Way Down.
In Hard Way Up, teams have to climb up a stone staircase called Escadaria Do Passo leading up to the front of the church using only their hands and knees, making a traditional spiritual pledge as the locals do. Once at the top, a samba drum leader will ask them a question. If answered correctly, they get the next clue. If not, they must go around the church back down and repeat the task.
In Soft Way Down, teams make their way to an outdoor elevator called Elevador Lacerda then climb down a cargo net to the street, 240 feet below.
All the teams except Andrew & Dan choose Soft Way Down. Team Superbad climb up the stairs, knowing they’d be asked a question, but not knowing it would be “How many steps did you just climb?” They run all the way back down and do the task again.
Nick & Starr finish the Detour first and get the next clue telling them to make their way to the Pit Stop, Forte Sao Marcelo, a floating battlement that once defended the city from pirates. Ken & Tina follow, take a cab, but realize they just had to run to the boat that would take them to the Pit Stop.
Nick & Starr win the leg and a trip for 2 to Belize. (What, no $20,000?) Ken & Tina are a close 2nd. Terence & Sarah are 3rd.
Mark & Bill are 4th, Kelly & Christy are 5th, Toni & Dallas are 6th, Andrew & Dan are 7th, Aja & Ty are 8th, Anthony & Stephanie are 9th, Marisa & Brooke 10th and our first eliminated team, the married beekeepers Anita & Arthur.
OVERALL
Every time I see Phil being zoomed in on standing on a rooftop, I know it’s time to get excited. And after an almost 8 month wait since TAR12, this week’s premiere was definitely a welcome sight.
Fresh off of their 6th straight, and well deserved Emmy win, The Amazing Race is definitely back and promises to be better than ever. Now while I admit the premiere wasn’t the most exciting episode ever, any Amazing Race leg still gets the adrenaline pumping.
First, I have to congratulate the show on the Emmy. I will defend the show to the ends of the earth when trying to justify its Emmy dominance. While Project: Runway, Top Chef and the inexplicably snubbed Survivor are worthy nominees, none, save for the very best of Survivor could ever be seen as superior to a series that takes ordinary Americans on an adventure around the world. The sheer scope of the production alone is enough to score the show extra points over its Emmy competitors, but add the diverse mix of teams, the comedy, drama, tension, excitement that comes with them and the challenges and tasks plus throw in the breathtaking destinations and you’ve got an unbeatable television force.
I would hope that Betram and Co. never decide to pull themselves out of the Emmy race just to give other shows a chance. If they lose, they lose, but it’ll be up to the voters. The team believes in the quality of their show. And when TAR is written off by many, the Emmys are just one way to validate the hard work that is put in the Race.
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Anyway… this should be an interesting Race. CBS actually released the entire route map a few days ago. And I couldn’t avoid it, so I saw the entire race course, though I’m sure we’ll be in for a few surprises along the way.
The teams are all okay so far. No one team has stood out yet, save for Terence & Sarah.
I was disappointed that there were no animals this leg, but the little truck carts came close.
Seeing how amazing Survivor looked in HD, I can’t wait for high definition to be feasible for TAR. How amazing would the show look in HD? (And I don’t even have an HD set yet!)
So it is great having the show back after the long wait. And with TAR14 on the way at midseason, knowing we’ll get 2 TARs in one season, as we should, makes me just giddy with excitement.
My all time favorites NICK AND STARR AND TONI AND DALLAS <3