Unfortunately, the Canadian version had a hard time comparing with the Australian one. This is due to a number of reasons. First, the Australian versions did a lot of travel outside of their homeland; the first three seasons were pretty much around the world races. They even went to places that the US race were unable to go to for whatever reason, like Cuba and Israel. They even went to Canada during one season and did some great tasks. Casting was also great. I'll give props to the Canadian version for being more diverse in its cast in relation to POC, Indigenous people, LGBTQ@+ and so on. The Australian version lagged much in that area with the fourth season probably being its most diverse in this way, and it's the first time they've had a LGBTQ2+ of any type. Come on, Australia, that's way too long to get that kind of representation.
Despite a diversity of racers in the Canadian version, they also skew to certain body types and ages. Most of the Canadian racers are very fit, under the age of 35 and fall with a lot of focus on teams that a certain patriotic aspect of Canada, such as Olympian/high end athletes, personal trainers, first responders, military, teams with survivors or those who have overcome adversity. Some of these teams have been great, some of have been flat, some have been there to promote their team brand. Overall, this style of casting can be limiting. If you're a regular watcher of TAR Canada, you know what I'm talking about. And while the TAR AUS do have some teams like this and skew a lot younger in Season 4, the teams have been more real and in the end, more entertaining to watch. TAR AUS has also been much more open to different body images and older racers. To compare Season 4 of TAR AUS, which is by far its most diverse season so far, and Season 7 of TAR Canada, I would just say the TAR AUS cast is more reflective of the people I regularly see when I ride the bus. As for TAR Canada, I would see a few of these teams when I ride the bus, but for the most part, the only place I see the type of racers that TAR Canada skews towards in casting is when I watch TAR Canada. Maybe I should go to gyms and work out more. Nah! Running in the alley around my neighbourhood in my old sweats is a fine workout for me. Still, would TAR Canada ever cast a couple of middle-aged nuns (l love the nuns), while casting, in the same season(!), a middle-aged couple with a husband that has a beer belly bigger than mine? Heck, there are only two high end athletes in the entire cast of TAR AUS Season 4 and not a single Olympian in the bunch.
Anyway, we all know that there is a change in the network airing the show and in the team producing the show. And it does show a bit. The editing is a bit off, not as frenetic as some but still not a smooth as others. The teams repeat the descriptions of tasks a few more times than necessary and there's a tendency to linger in one spot while forgetting what all the other teams are doing. There is also a tendency to focus or give too much background on a team that will soon be eliminated or end up at the back of the pack. Especially in Episode 3 when did a used the tired technique of focusing on the background of a team that would soon finish last. And soon be eliminated. Both the Canadian and American races used to do this until it became such an obvious editing technique. Both have gotten a lot better of mixing up the backgrounds, etc. of teams while not foreshadowing the elimination. The tasks, for the most part have been decent, challenging, making teams cry and want to quit but don't. At the same time, there's been a bit too much leaning towards the more physical tasks rather than mental ones, which does play in favour of some teams, especially the one that's come in first for all the legs so far.
As for the new host, I don't mind Beau Ryan. He's a bit of a goof but I like his personality more than Grant Bowler. Grant was okay but he's an actor and seemed to be doing a part rather than acting as a host. Beau is more of a host, and though he's stiff in some places, remember Jon Montgomery was more stiff in Season 1 but has grown into the best host in the English TAR formats. I also like how Beau does the tasks while describing them, much like Jon. His asides are inconsistent and he's a bit more huggy, but at least he's trying to inject himself into the show. I think he'll be fine.
One of the biggest positives about this show is how it started and how it's run. Instead of beginning in Australia and going out, they showed the finish line and began in Seoul. So rather than make it a race around the world, it looks like it's going to be a race home. I really, really enjoyed that start, the first time I've seen it (some non-English formats have done this, I've heard). It got the teams instantly racing in a strange place rather than running to the airport to get to that place. I'd really like to see the Canadian version do this but I don't have a lot of hope for that. I'm not even sure they'll step outside the borders of Canada again. I wonder if the US version will ever try this. It'd be fun. But come on, Canadian producers, do this start! Please!
Overall, I'm enjoying Season 4 of TAR Australia. The teams are really interesting to watch, the nuns are awesome (more nuns! in reality TV), and the overall story of the race is compelling. It's not as good as Season 2 and 3 of TAR Australia but those season are hard to top. And it's early. But it's a pretty solid TV, up there with the best of TAR Canada. I'm glad it's back.