Not so much with the other teams. They have to room with each other, So that puts them at a big disadvantage compared to the blind daters. Part of the race is having to deal with your teammate on a 24 hour basis; you get no breaks from them no matter what. Even if you had a big fight in the last leg, you still got to deal with them at the pitstop. And that kind of dynamic can make or break a team. I know Gord and I get along but I also know we would get on each other's nerves on the race. We'd get over it and move on cause we're those kind of guys, but other teams may struggle that way. Although Team JJ want to share but that's not surprising. These guys are hitting it off and I think move a little faster than other teams.
Back to the race. Off to Thailand, great place, loved it there. Find a beach. Teams leave although Bergen and Kurt realize early they are no sparks. Not surprising cause who wants to date their twin. But they decide to be friends and continue the race. That's no surprise either cause what else they gonna do: quit and go home? They are also terrible at geography, not knowing where Thailand is.
At the airport is the greatest scene ever and it's got nothing to do with the race or racers. Some toddler is running away from his/her mom, dashing into the shot. Then the mom comes running after it, arms outstretched. Man, I've been there though I don't race after my kid that much anymore. Still, it's a great shot and if that's the highlight of the episode, we're in big trouble.
Some teams can't get one of the earliest flights, although using the brassy cliffhanger punch in the music doesn't make the scene any more dramatic. Though some teams are hours behind each other, especially Team New Kids who are more than 18 hours behind the first teams. They arrive and try to find the clue box but it's not a box; it's that guy right in front of you. Teams have to hit a B&B and leave at a time in the morning. So at least some of the later teams will kind of catch up. Although the New Kids are still in Singapore as the other teams are getting up in the morning after their big party.
Teams head to Bann Teelanka which is an upside down house. It's a Detour: ski or tree. Ski is self-explanatory, although since Thailand has no snow, it's waterskiing. Tree is ziplining but with food. They have to deliver a meal on a zipline. I figure tree would be the easiest for Gord and me. Many other teams think the same, save for a couple. Yep, skiing's hard.
Tree doesn't look that hard, but you gotta read the clue. Surprise that the lawyers didn't. Or maybe they are going to make more than one trip. Nope, they got it wrong. They have to go back. So will the Doc and Nurse. She said they were doing it wrong but he went on ahead without her. I bet the nurses don't like him back at the hospital; he probably doesn't listen to them. And despite a couple of drops, this is also the easiest of the two Detours. Shame that this is happening, one Detour a lot harder than the other. I'm not liking this trend. Olympians and Team JJ quit skiing as New Kids choose Tree. Looks like they might catch up.
Truckstop gets done and have to find My Way Cabaret. Cabbie tells them it's a ladyboy show, maybe warning them off. They don't care, they have to go. But I don't think they have any idea what a ladyboy is. It's pretty self-explanatory. And the teams have to join the show. Dress up, learn the choreography and dance in front of the crowd. Sound fun although I'm not sure the world is ready for Gord and Wayne in drag. We'd do well on the make-up - Gord's an artist and I used to be a semi-pro clown - but the dancing would be tough. Good to see Mike's in the mood. Although having another dance challenge so close to the previous one shows a lack of creativity.
And the Olympians show the huge discrepancy in the difficulties of the Detours by finishing Tree on their first try. Same with Team JJ. At least we're not hitting the pitstop before the halfway mark. Still, the best shot of the episode is still the kid at the airport. The dudes in drag is kind of fun but we've seen that before. It's nothing really new in 2015. Most teams are working at the ladyboy cabaret as New Kids hit the zipline. Truckstop get it done on the eighth try and off to the Pitstop. They hit the mat first and win a trip to Prague. Cool, always wanted to go to Prague. Good for them.
Rest of the teams get it and the only question left to answer in this episode is if New Kids will catch up. It might be close cause the Hairstylists leave a fanny pack behind. Back to the Cabaret for them. And it's not as bleak as it seems. It's a quick trip back, get the pack and on the road again before Team JJ finish their show. Loads of teams on the mat with some relationship discussion going on. Matt decides to pop the question right then and there. It's a nice moment but on the third leg? Seems a bit early to me. Oh well. Kid at airport still rules.
Clouds pass, tide rolls in and New Kids arrive in last place. And not surprising, it's a non-elim. It's obvious because the producers must have known how difficult the flights are to Thailand, how some teams would have been way behind so they evened it up. Also, that's probably the earliest for a non-elim for US version of TAR. They'll have to do a Speed Bump. Not the greatest episode ever but better than the previous. That's not saying much, though.
Next week, still in Thailand but in Bangkok, which is a totally different story than the rest of the country. Huge, chaotic city.