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RSS'The Amazing Race': Mika's fear of a waterslide ends the dream
I hate to say this, but I was stunned by the lack of intelligence that abounded tonight on "The Amazing Race." Deciphering an easy clue flummoxed one team. Basic algebra flummoxed others. And finally, a waterslide rattled one contestant so badly that it cost that team the race.This was a no travel week, instead the teams started off by heading to a yacht club with a briefcase. That's where they hit the Roadblock which involved rowing to a yacht and meeting a sheik whose gift of a stopped watch gave them the code to unlock their briefcase.
Everything seemed to go so well for everyone at the start of the race, except for my team, the Globetrotters. Their cabbie took them to the wrong yacht club, then Big Easy had some big issues with paddling the rowboat, then he couldn't figure out that the time on the broken watch was the combo for the briefcase.
Seriously Big Easy? Everyone but you was able to work that out and teams passed you as you stood there like a fool. I'd have to put them on my list except that they were able to figure out the gold weighing (see below for more on that).
Meghan & Cheyne cruised through everything tonight. They opted to build hookahs instead of weighing out gold during the Detour, and had no problems at all as they easily came in first for the leg.
I don't think I would have opted for the hookahs, but perhaps math isn't Meghan & Cheyne's strong suit. Ericka & Brian chose to weigh the gold (which had to be calculated as a dollar amount based on an ever slightly changing value per ounce), but were completely unable to work out how much gold equaled how much money. Ratios, people! Ratios!
Ericka & Brian actually left the task because they couldn't cross multiply and divide. Sam & Dan had a calculator, but still couldn't work it out. If anyone ever needed proof that our public school systems have completely failed, they only need have watched the racers on this task.
It's not like they were asking for the integral of x-squared. And, don't tell me that the problem was that the price of gold kept changing, neither Sam & Dan (until the poker players showed) nor Ericka & Brian could get to the point where that even mattered.
Moving on from that, last week we learned that Mika is afraid of heights and a few weeks before that, we learned that Mika is afraid of water. That made the huge waterslide the teams had to go on to get the location of the Pitstop doubly fun for her!
What was Mika thinking going on this show? Did she decide that FOX's "Nashville" failed to make her a superstar so she'd go on the "Race" and end up becoming famous for being terrified of things she ought to have known she'd have to do before she even started the race?
Mika & Canaan had a massive fight at the top of the slide when she refused to go. I would have tossed her down if I were Canaan and he thought about it, but only tried it half-heartedly. If he'd wanted to get her down that slide by force, he could have, and he probably should have taken that route. The Globetrotters actually caught up to Mika & Canaan at the top of the slide and did their best to help psych out the 'fraidy cat. Mika still refused to go, The Globetrotters took their spot, and then Canaan ended up going down the slide without her. She still didn't go and she and Canaan were eliminated.
Mika actually cost her team the race because she wouldn't go down a waterslide. Canaan claimed in the post-race interview that he didn't hold it against her. Seriously, how is that possible? Anyone keeps me from a million dollars for not wanting to do a task on a reality show is someone I can never forgive. Ever.
Odds and ends:
- Please tell me you're as disappointed as I am about the math.
- Please tell me you're as disappointed as I am about the briefcase.
- Please tell me you're as disappointed as I am about the waterslide.
The TV and Film Guy's Reviews - one-third x-cubed plus "c."
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While I do have a problem with someone manhandling another into doing something that scares them, I wouldn't have blamed Canaan if he had thrown Mika down the slide once the Globetrotters showed up. Last week watching the previews I thought Canaan might go too far trying to get Mika to go down the slide. However by the end I was amazed by his patience. If it had been me, I would have ended up pushing her down. If you go on this race, you know you'll have to deal with heights at some point. Suck it up. A million dollars!
I agree with your three "Odds & Ends"... though I've been rooting for the Globetrotters and am kind of relieved that Mika broke down so they could stay in the game. That being said, what the heck re: briefcases?! Why was 8:35 not the first though after he tried every 8+7+_ combo?!! Ridiculous. And not understanding the gold was just plain dumb. At least Ericka entertainingly mocked the American educational system... but c'mon... it's ninth grade math, if that. Sad.
I totally had a problem with the way Canaan behaved. He grabbed her more than once. He tried to push her more than once.
I don't like anyone manhandling someone into doing something they don't want to do.
Mika didn't have an ordinary fear, she honestly seemed to have a phobia of heights. She shouldn't have been on the show, sure, but that doesn't mean that Caanan should have been putting his hands on her to try and force her to go down the slide.
He should have done what Brian did, he stood by while his wife ultimately chose to go down the slide herself.
But again I think Mika had a phobia and not a fear.
And yeah I was absolutely disappointed about the briefcase. I couldn't believe that after starting 3 and getting back quickly, big easy and flight time were stuck on that. It just hurt to look at it, as someone who has been rooting for them.
the gold--DOH!
the briefcase--UGH!
the waterslide--oh god please give me a damn break!!!
What an awesome episode of TAR tonight!
I was glued to my seat just waiting for the Globetrotters to make it through and they did! Yay!
While the briefcase thing seems unimaginable, I can understand the tunnel-vision-ness of it. Big Easy had it in his mind that each hand represented a number in the combo and got stuck on trying to see that tiny second-hand through a fogged up face. (RIP $$$ watch.) Luckily a good partner will talk you back from the dead end you can't see your way out of. Well done, Flight Time!
On the other hand, Canaan was a terrible partner. Right off the top when she was just starting to get freaked, he manhandled her. You do not try to forcibly shove someone into doing something like that. Dude, she was yelling for the water-slide attendant to help her! From that point on, he was hosed. She wouldn't let him near her after that. (Nor would I.) I think she breathed a big sigh of relief when the Globetrotters showed up. 2 minutes to freedom from the slide and Canaan.
Btw, I think Big Easy totally redeemed himself for being smart enough to borrow a calculator. I'm looking at you, Brian & Erica! However, Mika did leave us with one final gem in the race, "Does a Muslim clock work different?" *lol*
"Do it for the hood!"
"Do it for the suburbs!"
Canaan said all the right things once they got to the mat, but anyone who says that they're not let down by that is a candidate for sainthood. Or a liar. (If it's me, I'm cutting her loose as soon as the plane lands in the States.)
At least Jen from last season can rest easy. She no longer has the biggest dive in race history on her record.
Mike - You're in the race to win a million dollars by doing things, especially the things you told the producers that you're afraid of. Did you think in the interviews before the show, the producers asked you about your fears so that they'd be nice to you? How dumb are you?
If you couldn't cut it at that Nashville reality show, what makes you think you stand a chance in a classy one like this one?
Hi, I love your recaps, I RSS them so I can get them as soon as you post them. I just have one request. Could you please try not to post a spoiler as the headline? I usually watch the show the next day and I check my feeds before turning on the show, I would really appreciate not being spoiled by your posts.
Thank you!
Tell me you're as disappointed as I am about the recapper thinking its ok for a man to shove, push, and pull a woman to force her into doing something she doesn't want to do.