Amazing Race 9 Tidbits
CBS' The Amazing Race 9th Edition
Thoughts on Episode 10 -- Down and Dirty
Episode Ten was a non-elimination leg, but it ended with a three-way sprint to the mat, with BJ and Tyler coming in last. Eric and Jeremy brought the dirty to the Race by cancelling cabs, including their own for a bit of poetic justice. Down came in the form of BJ and Tyler trying to spread rumors, and then yielding Joseph and Monica at the Roadblock
One team member had to suit up for a skydive from 12,000 feet, in tandem with a trained professional.
Episode Ten Roadblock |
||
|---|---|---|
Team |
Team Member |
Result |
| BJ and Tyler | BJ | First to arrive, first to leave |
| Joseph and Monica | Monica | Second to arrive, last to skydive |
| Eric and Jeremy | Eric | Third to arrive, second to leave |
| Ray and Yolanda | Ray | Fourth to arrive, third to leave |
Dry -- Drive 6 miles to an intersection at Ada Creek Lookout, then 6 miles offroad to a sandstone rock formation known as the Lost City. Select one of a group of didgeridoos. Follow the sound to one of six Aboriginees playing a didgeridoo. If the pattern on his didgeridoo matches yours, then each team member must play a note on the didgeridoo to get the next clue. Otherwise, keep listening and looking for a match.
Wet -- drive to a roadside park area for a trek down a jungle riverbed. You will receive instructions and safety gear from a park ranger. Both team members will have to hike and swim for one mile through a course with poisonous plants and spiders along the way. When they reach the end, they will receive their next clue.
Episode Ten Detour |
||
|---|---|---|
Members |
Detour Selected |
Result |
| BJ and Tyler | Wet | First to start, second out of the parking lot |
| Joseph and Monica | Dry | Last overall to arrive, distant second to leave Lost City, fourth overall to leave |
| Eric and Jeremy | Wet | Second to arrive, first out of the parking lot |
| Ray and Yolanda | Dry | First to arrive, first to leave the Lost City |
Places for those leaving the Detour sites got scrambled when Eric and Jeremy, and then BJ and Tyler became lost on the way to the pit Stop when both teams could not locate it on the common roadmap. That vaulted Ray and Yolanda into first, and allowed Joseph and Monica to close on the lost teams for the mad dash to the mat.
The three-way race to the Pit Stop was won by Eric and Jeremy when Joseph and Monica could not quite catch up. BJ inexplicably tried to climb up the rocks on a direct line to the mat instead of using the bridge.
Analysis
The four remaining teams have somewhat diverse backgrounds. 7 of the 8 individuals are in their twenties, and only two women are in the mix. Each of the teams has a unique combination of strengths and weaknesses.
Comparison of Teams in AMAZING RACE 9 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Place |
Members |
Strengths |
Weaknesses |
| 2 | Jeremy and Eric | Very athletic, Jeremy has traveled a lot, fast in footraces, quick in physical tasks, intelligent enough | Jeremy does not take criticism well, not paying attention, can get lost, pranksters |
| 3 | Joseph and Monica | Athletic, intelligent, savvy, resilient, good dancers, excellent climbers, Joseph is good leader most of time | Communication with locals, Monica can get stressed out, may be sleep deprived, can be afraid of live animals, Joseph gets angry and dominates Monica under pressure |
| 4 | BJ and Tyler | Lots of experience overseas, languages, BJ has the brains, resourceful even after loss of money and belongings | Offbeat, not the fastest or strongest team, mental miscues, abrasive, playing mind games poorly |
| 1 | Ray and Yolanda | Yolanda is athletic, and good at finding things, Ray has quick wit | Not mechanically inclined, driving and navigation, fighting and bickering, Ray's intensity scary to locals, Ray is slower, Yolanda is afraid of heights and swimming |
Outlook for Episode Eleven
The Race is down to the crucial episodes, with the fourth place team definitely on the chopping block. BJ and Tyler have to face being penniless and without possessions in the succeeding episode--again. Of the four teams, it is between BJ and Tyler and Ray and Yolanda for the weakest of the four teams. Still, it looks like any of the teams could win with a good day. The question is can Ray and Yolanda beat one more team in a footrace to the Pit Stop. To get to that point, they have to retain their focus and ability to communicate that they rediscovered in Australia, and catch a break at the crucial time. Eric and Jeremy and "Team MoJo" are really tough to beat. Eric and Jeremy still have the best of it in any desperate footrace to the finish. Monica and Joseph are still in it because of Joseph's strengths and in spite of Monica's outbursts--though she is performing well. BJ and Tyler are resourceful and resilient, but will they fall victim to their own mental miscues, or to their weakness in physical challenges.
BJ and Tyler got caught at end about lying, gossiping, and scheming. The hippies tried to insinuate that Eric has a thing for Monica. That went over like a lead balloon. They had a hard time trying to say that they were not playing mind games. They wasted a yield, but worse, the second and third place teams are really mad at them. Unlike the Linzes, they are not the strongest physically, and Joseph and Monica are definitely not the Weavers in being likely to self-destruct. Most likely, the seeds sown in Episode Ten will come back to haunt BJ and Tyler.
Joseph does so much to keep their team going. Will that be enough to offset Monica's meltdowns--one more big upset for Monica is featured in the preview. Those long, weight loaded boards are reminding me of my Engineering Physics days, something about a bending moment and those coefficients of friction.
Eric and Jeremy are so strong and dominating. Their only weaknesses is navigation. Even the scheming with the cabs in Perth seemed to balance in their favor and work against the BJ and Tyler. Maybe the monkeys will slow them down, as shown on the longer preview.
Ray and Yolanda have improved dramatically from the Battle of the Bridge in Greece. Their communication is much better as they have learned to deal with each other's quirks. They are learning to work together well, and that resulted in perfect navigation in Episode Ten. Can their fast feet help them to yet another fantastic finish? The teaser snippet does has someone calling out, "Hurry, hurry, hurry!"
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