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Finalewatch: 'The Amazing Race'
Now this is how you do a finale! On the Amazing Race, the thrills are actually exciting, the tension is delicious, the perils are real, and the tears are earned. The season finale was a nail biter -- why isn't every show like this?
You'll find the last clue by the spoiler hooker.
Everyone is on the same flight from Taipei to Anchorage, but Ron and Christina manage to sweet-talk their way into the business lounge before departure so they could use the internet to get the address for their next destination. Clever!
First challenge
Pick up gear from an outdoor store, then choose fish or crabs. Teams can either hack their way through fish guts to find a miniature clue, or juggle a bunch of peevish, pinchy crabs to find the one with race colors. Ron does surprisingly well gutting the cod (holy crap, those things are HUGE!), despite his obvious distaste at being elbow-deep in fish guts. It is pretty damn gross.
TK and Rachel choose the crab challenge, and initially that looks like a mistake -- those crabs are pissed! There's a lot of "ow ow ow!" from Team Mellow, especially when a crab tries to take off Rachel's shoe. Just before they give up and head for the fish guts, they find their crab.
Don and Nicholas make a fatal mistake -- they pick up their clue, but they don't grab fish-gutting/crab-snatching gear. Don blames Nick for this -- "You read the clue, but you didn't understand it!" -- and is kind of pissy for the rest of the competition. Aw, Gramps -- I know you're disappointed, but don't get snippy. You could have read the clue as well, you know.
Second challenge
OK, this? Was just freakin' cool. Alaska really looked stunning throughout the episode, but I'm guessing the part that made the tourism board start high-fiving was the speedboat trip up the river to the glacier, which the teams had to climb using ice axes and crampons. I'm dialing my travel agent as we speak.
Ron and Christina are first to arrive, and Ron is dubious -- he's afraid of heights. Still, he manages to scamper up the glacier with relative ease. Christina struggles -- it takes her what seems like forever to get up the first bit (who knows if that's accurate or just the way things were edited.) Still, they reach the top first, and are first to take the (truly gorgeous) helicopter ride to the next clue.
What's that? Yes, I'll hold. Huh. Travel agents for Alaska are busy all of a sudden. Go figure.
Teams Mellow and Gramps are perilously close to each other, but TK pretty much sprints up the glacier. Rachel takes a little longer, but she's pretty darn impressive, too. Don scales the ice with little difficultly, leaving Nick with some performance anxiety -- if a 69-year-old man can get up there, wouldn't it be embarrassing if ...you know what? I'm just going to stop now before I devolve into cheap double entendre.
The roadblock
This, my friends, was a killer. Christina, Rachel and Nick each had to tackle what was basically a giant logic puzzle -- they had to pick 10 items representing each of the preceding legs from a pile of about 50 things, and... look, there were a lot of rules, they couldn't use a pencil, and I had enough trouble sorting it all out from my couch -- and I wasn't running on adrenaline. It was hard, ok?
And here's the amazing thing -- it was really fun and tense to watch. The last challenge wasn't a great physical feat, but it still had me on the edge of my seat. Kudos to the production staff and race designers on that one.
Rachel's zenlike calm helped her come up with the correct combination of things first, with a distraught Christina following soon after. Nick, alas, was kind of stumped, and was last out.
The winners!
In the end TK and Rachel win it all. Whoo-hoo! I really liked them, and respect how they didn't let the tension turn them evil (unlike, say, Screeching Jen and Nasty Nate.) They're thrilled, but a bit gobsmacked -- "It's kind of freaking me out," TK says. Note: TK registers the calmest freakouts ever recorded in human history.
Thoughts, highlights and odds and ends
- Did anyone else feel like Ron and Christina's eventual second-place finish was telegraphed? "My dad and I are stronger and smarter," Christina says at the beginning of the hour. That pretty much doomed them in my eyes -- not because they aren't smart and strong, but because that's the sort of delicious irony reality show producers live for.
- One of my favorite quotes this week was from TK: "I've seen Ron run like a ninja." Really? Isn't the whole point of being a ninja that no one sees you coming? Has anyone who has ever seen a ninja run actually lived to tell? (I'm far too easily amused.)
- This leg seemed All About Cab Drivers -- TK and Rachel got stuck with someone who didn't know where he was going, while Nick and Don had someone downright cocky: "I'm a cab driver, I know stuff like that." It didn't help them in the end, of course, but it did add to the tension.
- I had to laugh at poor Nick during the first challenge: Don tells him to start going through the fish guts, and Nick looks at him as if he's crazy. "With my hands?" Awww, poor Nick. Also: Ew.
- Ah, Ron. Yes, I know, you've made great strides, you're treating your daughter like an adult, and you're basically not someone I want to kill anymore. That's great. Still, think about the implications of this quote: "For once in my life, when I say these words -- 'I love you' -- I really mean it." Ouch. Are you saying that you were lying through your teeth every time you said 'I love you' to your kids in the past? Yipe.
- Still, it was nice to hear Ron talk about how much he'd learned, and Christina talk about how proud she was of him, and how that was better than any million bucks. It was touching, and got a bit sniffly.
- The final quote goes to TK: "Nice guys can definitely finish first." They sure can, sweetie. Congratulations.
Am I completely nuts for tearing up as the winners approach the finish? No other show holds a candle to AR!
Loved Chris and Ron. He was obnoxious but in a very realistic, don't-we-all-know-someone-like-that way. She has the patience of a saint. I can't blame her for losing a bit of her cool during that nightmarish final challenge. I was really taken aback by the "for the first time" comment of Ron's. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt and assume his mouth works faster than his brain.
Skippy and Gramps. How can you not love a kid who loves his Grampa so much? I was sorry that Gramps was acting like a brat once he realized the wouldn't win, and I wished he'd EVER commented on his love and appreciate for his grandson instead of his status as the oldest contestant to get this far. Gramps, you may not realize it, but that kid's great. Actually makes me envious.
TK and Rachel. What can you say? These guys, like the other two teams, really have a lot of love. Amazing that they've only been dating 6 months. Kids, if you don't already know it, you were made for each other. I certainly couldn't have kept that level of cool, especially during the final challenge, when Rachel decided to take a deep breathe and try again. Surely with Chip and Kim, the coolest, most loving couple to ever win. Congrats.
And who wouldn't have paid to hear Jen's inner screech as "the slackers" crossed the finish line. I'm sure she felt it was all terribly unfair. (Officially Reason No. 983743 to love AR: po'd Jen.)
Sam | Jan 20, 2008 8:18:00 PM | #TK's dealer is going to very happy
jing | Jan 20, 2008 9:20:53 PM | #Not to mention Rachel's sandal-wearing friends! Everyone, buy shares of Birkenstock!
jang | Jan 21, 2008 1:23:29 AM | #Excellant season and finale. I liked all 3 teams in the end but TK and Rachael were my favorite. If it could not be the Goths then I'm happy it's TK and Rachael. That last puzzle was hard. Kudo's to Rachael for keeping her cool and working through it. I'm ready for another season!
Lisa | Jan 21, 2008 8:01:13 AM | #I loved TK's almost freakouts on the cab drivers. You could feel the tension, but both TK and Rachel always kept their cool, which is why I was glad to see them win. For once I could have seen any of the final 3 teams win and I would have been happy.
Mandy | Jan 21, 2008 8:25:04 AM | #The prize is $1 million, not 500K which the intro says.
Pat | Jan 21, 2008 8:57:21 AM | #So it is. Had the per-person amount in my head for some reason. Fixed.
responsible for the intro | Jan 21, 2008 9:17:48 AM | #Definitely an excellent finale! That Road Block was a killer. We viewers could see that Christina had only one item wrong on her first try, but SHE had no way of knowing that ... how frustrating! Yes, I was VERY glad to see proof that "nice guys" can win!
Jan | Jan 21, 2008 10:17:41 AM | #after taxes it will be back down to 500K
| Jan 21, 2008 10:19:24 AM | #Excellent Finale. Really happy to see TK and Rachael win. I was also very impressed by Ron's attitude all through the episode. He definitely changed for the better during the show, and was there to comfort Christine after she thought she failed at the last challenge. Great performance by Nick and Don throughout the series as well. If only all Amazing Races ended like this, and weren't decided by who finds a taxi first like previus AR's have ended. Looking forward to the next one already.
Alex | Jan 21, 2008 10:29:58 AM | #I agree that they are made for each other> I hoped that he would pop the question on the mat, but hopefully they will eventually get married.
Don | Jan 21, 2008 10:40:23 AM | #I agree with all, a highly satisfying conclusion. I too would have been happy with any of the three teams winning. As far as Ron and Chris, I really liked them a lot and he never bothered me as much as he did a lot of people. He didn't seem any more cranky or annoying than many other parents or family members. Don't know about anyone else, but I sure didn't grow up in a Cleaver household. Anyway, I think what he really meant with his last comment is that he now understands what it means when he says "I love you" and it was just clumsily worded. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Beth | Jan 21, 2008 11:51:49 AM | #At least the three teams who made it to the finale were bearable, unlike in most of the past versions of AR. And I was pleased with who eventually came away with the prize, again unlike in past versions of AR. I find it hilarious that two of the oldest participants made it, where so many of the young, vibrant teams were dumped pretty much from the start. My only hope is that Ron and Christina learn the most from their experience; seems that they did, but who knows with certain teams? As for TK and Rachel...now maybe TK can afford a razor. And a hairstylist. And a wardrobe technician. And a yogi. As a P.S. to Sarah, I thought your comments about the ninja comments were quite funny, and it reminded me of a joke about ninjas never having sex, because how would you know they were really there, but I decided to keep it to myself (ha!). Anyway, hopefully the next version doesn't have quite so many annoying teams and they try to get better blends instead of the same old tired stereotypical ones that have cluttered the last few versions. Oh, forgot to mention how incredibly awesome that Road Block puzzle was. Whoever designed that must either be a sadist or a fan of London Times Sunday Cryptic Crosswords. Marvelous to watch!
Dark Disciple | Jan 21, 2008 12:05:02 PM | #Very satisfying conclusion to a very good season. As others have said, I could have been satisfied with any of the final 3 teams winning but was glad to see TK and Rachael make it. Rachael really deserves kudos for that agonizing Roadblock puzzle. I couldn't have solved it sitting at home with pencil and paper.
TK may have quiet meltdowns, but you could see how he was feeling the tension in those cab rides.
Like Sam and Beth, I prefer to think Ron's brain and tongue got tangled up and that he didn't really mean to say he never meant it before when he said "I love you" to Christine but that he really understands and appreciates what it means now.
Phew!
Although I wanted to see Ron and Chris win, I'm not mad/disappointed/bitter about the winners. For once the final three teams deserved to be there.
Tim | Jan 21, 2008 2:16:01 PM | #A great finale to a very good season of Amazing Race.
I agree with everyone in stating that the final Road Block was an exciting, well-designed and well-edited task!
It was reminiscent of the final task in season 9, when the ‘hippies’ BJ & Tyler won by placing all the various country flags in the correct chronological order as visited in the race.
I would absolutely LOVE it if the AR producers created a similar Road Block (having to recall some meticulous details of the race from the start to the last leg) for every season, make it a standard feature and place it within running distance of the finish line thereby removing the possibility that the ultimate winner of Amazing Race is NOT decided by a good/bad taxi driver if the race is neck-and-neck (see AR 10 and others).
I especially approve of the Speed Bump replacing the contestants handing over all their money when they arrive last in a non-elimination leg (and extra clothing in earlier versions). Granted, the two Speed Bumps in this season were not very difficult tasks (yoga poses and running through fireworks), however the concept is a better penalty than leaving a team without any cash, forcing them to go begging to other teams or locals in the subsequent episode. Let’s hope they design future Speed Bumps to be slightly more challenging in upcoming seasons.
AR 12 was one of the shorter versions of the show... 11 total hours/episodes as opposed to the usual 12, 13 or 14 (if you include the now defunct 2-hour debuts and/or finales). Was it due to fewer non-elimination pit stops, fewer teams or both? Personally, it felt like it went by in a flash, which is a little disappointing for fans of the show. Also, some episodes seemed a little rushed, with very choppy editing... especially last week (Taipei), where Jen and Nate were eventually eliminated.
Still, Amazing Race is one of the few excellent reality shows I always look forward to and if the past schedule follows the normal pattern – especially with the writers strike – we ought to get AR 13 in late winter/early spring!
By far, this was the best season of 'The Amazing Race'! What a finish!! In Alaska, how much better can it get?!
It goes to show, when the last episode started. Ron & Christina were in first place. TK & Rachel came in 1st place thus won $ 1 million dollars. The Road Block was TOUGH, to say the least.
Bring on 'The Amazing Race 13'.
They should pay them all.
SteveHoserfield7 | Jan 21, 2008 4:54:13 PM | #Great finale with 3 deserving teams.
fx | Jan 21, 2008 7:07:45 PM | #I love AR also. I hope it stays on a long time. Best reality show there is and I'm happy TK & Rachel won.
jj15626 | Jan 21, 2008 7:41:52 PM | #I love AR also. I hope it stays on a long time. Best reality show there is and I'm happy TK & Rachel won.
jj15626 | Jan 21, 2008 7:41:59 PM | #this was my favorite "race" of all! Soooo happy that TK & Rachel won..they kept their disappoints in ck, and didnt have to swear their way thru like Jen & Nate.I am SO glad those two lost..they thought they were so hot...NOT
I saw TK & Rachel on Regis and apparently they've been friends for decades! who knew? their parents did a nice job..kudos to the moms!
this was my favorite "race" of all! Soooo happy that TK & Rachel won..they kept their disappoints in ck, and didnt have to swear their way thru like Jen & Nate.I am SO glad those two lost..they thought they were so hot...NOT
I saw TK & Rachel on Regis and apparently they've been friends for decades! who knew? their parents did a nice job..kudos to the moms!
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