I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this season of The Amazing Race and the final episode ("The Final Push") was no exception as we saw the final three teams make their way to the final leg of the race in Anchorage, Alaska, where they were pushed physically and intellectually on the way to the finish line.I do have to say that this final leg was perhaps one of the most complex and interesting ones in a long, long time, especially the Final Road Block, a play on that old Memory game in which a player had to correctly organize a list of vague items--each with restrictions to each particular leg of the race--on a platform in order to receive their next clue. It was a fantastic challenge, one that played up their experiences on the race as well as their intuition and puzzle-solving abilities. (To say the very least, it was a million times better than that final task in Chicago a few seasons back where teams had to eat a pizza.)
How funny was it to see Phil climbing that glacier whilst explaining the teams' next move? Classic.
I was really hoping that Ron and Christina would be able to hold onto their lead and walk away with a million dollars, but Christina quickly fell behind at the Final Road Block, allowing Rachel and TK to sneak into first place. (Damn that donkey!) But, to be honest, I really would have been happy if any of the three of these teams emerged the victor and, at the end of the day, Ron and Christina can walk away from this experience having forged a powerful relationship. These two started off the Race as a team that nobody thought would make it very far, given Ron's near-humiliation of Christina at every turn and his constant bickering, whining, and nitpicking. Christina proved that her saintlike patience paid off and her father was able to change his ways. It's a testament to the powers of The Amazing Race and to the human spirit. Well done, guys.
I couldn't believe that Nick left their supplies at the 6th Avenue Outfitters... and was kind of hoping they'd try to do the crab Detour without rubber gloves (though I guess they did need the knife in order to fillet that HUGE cod). It pays to, well, pay attention to what the clues are actually saying, rather than just your next destination and this mistake put Don and Nicolas squarely at the back of the pack. Still, it was amazing to me to see how Don managed to keep up with contestants who were in some cases half his age, with grit and determination. It's a feat that a 68-year-old man made it into the final leg.
As for TK and Rachel, it was nice seeing them stress for a change. I do agree that they managed to stay in the game through some rough times and never lost their cool... or their heads towards each other, remaining calm and supportive throughout this entire competition. If the Race does test your mettle as a couple, these two have come through with flying colors. And it was a nice change of pace to see a couple that wasn't as cruel and disagreeable as Nate and Jen... and still have them walk away a million dollars richer. As TK said, nice guys can finish first.
And there you have it, another season of The Amazing Race done and dusted. Were you happy with the outcome? Or were you rooting for another team to waltz off with the top prize?
What's On Tonight
8 pm: How I Met Your Mother/The Big Bang Theory (CBS); American Gladiators (NBC); Everybody Hates Chris/Aliens in America (CW); Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann (ABC; 8-9:30 pm); Prison Break (FOX)
9 pm: Two and a Half Men/Rules of Engagement (CBS); Deal or No Deal (NBC); Girlfriends/The Game (CW); Notes from the Underbelly (ABC; 9:30-10 pm); Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (FOX)
10 pm: CSI: Miami (CBS); Medium (NBC); October Road (ABC)
What I'll Be Watching
9 pm: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
You all know my feelings about this new series (and John Connor's greasy, greasy hair) but I'll tune in tonight to give it another chance. On tonight's installment ("The Turk"), Sarah gets in touch with Terissa Dyson in an attempt to locate Skynet's creators, which leads her to Andy Goode, a cell phone salesman-slash-computer programmer who has created a program called "The Turk," while John and Cameron try to assimilate at a new school.
10 pm: No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain on Travel Channel.
It's a brand new season of No Reservations on the Travel Channel; follow enfant terrible chef Anthony Bourdain as he travels the world in search of good food. In tonight's installment, Tony heads to Vancouver, British Columbia, where he takes a look at its film industry, scenery, and burgeoning food scene.
Comments
You forgot to mention, amongst the reasons Chris and Ron seemed like such underdogs - Ron's hernia! The man ran the race w/a hernia!
It was a very satisfying end to an extremely satisfying season. I loved watching TK and Rachel keep their cool all season and not humiliate each other just to keep the momentum going.