Amazing Race 9 Tidbits -- Thoughts and Outlook

Amazing Race 9 Tidbits

CBS' The Amazing Race 9th Edition

Thoughts on Episode 11 and Outlook for the Finale

Thoughts on Episode 11 -- Final Cut

With a close finish, Episode Eleven ended with three teams making the final cut, but not a very strong Team MoJo, Joseph and Monica. Once again, the fast feet of Ray and Yolanda erased the rough edges on their racing skills and put them into the two-hour final with two of the best teams ever to compete on Amazing Race. BJ and Tyler came back fron the brink of elimination to score a surprise first place, using the strategically placed Fast Forward.

The bus station in Bangkok served to scatter the teams. Eric and Jeremy, arriving first, had the best of it, finding the earliest bus to Lopburi. Ray and Yolanda also made that bus, with a bit of luck. Asking for help from a local did not help Joseph, as he was directed away from the ticket counter for the earliest buses. BJ and Tyler came later, but awoke earlier and then kept checking out in the lot to find a bus leaving at 4:20, a half hour earlier than the bus MoJo wound up on, costing MoJo precious time at the Roadblock, and generated time pressure that continued to the end of the episode.

Roadblock: Who Wants to Make a Feast for the Monkeys?

One team member had to assemble a Thai style ceremonial feast for the shrine monkeys.

Episode Eleven Roadblock
Team	Team Member	Result
BJ and Tyler	--	First to arrive, picked Fast Forward
Joseph and Monica	Joseph	Second to start, second to finish
Eric and Jeremy	Eric	First to arrive, first to leave
Ray and Yolanda	Yolanda	Third to start, third to leave

Places for those arriving at Ko Kret Island, site for the Detour, got scrambled when Joseph and Monica became lost on the way to the Buddha Garden. They could not locate it from the sign near the boat landing, and went in the wrong direction after asking a local for help. Even after getting to the garden area, Joseph and Monica took a long time to find the clue box. Eric and Jeremy had already correctly read the signpost near the ferry landing to find the Buddha Garden. By getting the correct directions to the Buddha Garden from a local, Ray and Yolanda vaulted into third, while Joseph and Monica dropped into last, an order that lasted all the way from there to the mat.

Detour

Move It: On Ko Kret Island, near the northern edge of Bangkok, Thailand, Teams had to make their way on foot to a pottery factory and transport 72 clay pots through the winding, narrow streets of the market to a boat docked on the river using the traditional Thai method of carrying the pots on wooden boards balanced on their shoulders. This task requires strength, balance, and physical coordination. This task is physical, and risky as it is easy for the pots to fall off.

Altar It: On the same island, Teams needed to make their way on foot to a nearby temple and create a shrine to Buddha by assembling the shrine and then gold leaf a statue of Buddha. This task requires a lot of attention to detail, and could take a long time.

Episode Ten Detour
Members	Detour Selected	Result
BJ and Tyler	--	Finished Fast Forward
Joseph and Monica	Move It	Last overall to arrive, third to leave Ko Kret
Eric and Jeremy	Altar It	First to arrive, first to leave Ko Kret
Ray and Yolanda	Alter It	Second to arrive, second to leave Ko Kret

The three-way race to the Pit Stop was won by Eric and Jeremy, followed by Ray and Yolanda, when Joseph and Monica could not quite catch up.

Analysis

The three remaining teams have somewhat diverse backgrounds. 5 of the 6 individuals are in their twenties, and only one woman is 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
1	BJ and Tyler	Lots of experience overseas, languages,resourceful even after loss of money and belongings, BJ has the brains, Tyler is more verbal	Offbeat, not the fastest or strongest team, mental miscues, abrasive, playing mind games poorly
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	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 the Finale

The Race is down to the two hour final episode, with the million bucks going to the winner. BJ and Tyler have faced being penniless and without possessions in the succeeding episode twice, and done well each time. Of the three teams, it is between BJ and Tyler and Ray and Yolanda for the weakest of the teams. Still, it looks like any of the teams could win with a good day. The question is can Ray and Yolanda beat the other teams 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 are really tough to beat. Eric and Jeremy still have the best of it in any desperate footrace to the finish. 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 are so savvy with strategy. When they were penniless, and short on clothes, they were able to get enough to go on. When confrontation was likely to be destructive, as it was going in to Episode Eleven, they were lucky enough to take a separate flight, and then find and win the Fast Forward.

Eric and Jeremy are so strong and dominating. Their only weaknesses is navigation while driving. If they can get the proper flights and the right directions, they will be tough to beat.

The one surprise team in the final is Ray and Yolanda. This dating couple has 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 working together well, and that resulted in perfect navigation to a win in Episode Ten and being able to snag third in Episode Eleven. Can their fast feet help them to yet another fantastic finish?

The Finale promises to be an all out fight to the finish for the million dollar prize. It is scheduled for Wednesday, May 17 at 8 to 10PM, Eastern time.