Thoughts on Episode 7 and Outlook for Episode 8

Thoughts on Episode Seven

No Airport

Start times were spread way out only about an hour, making it easier on the later teams to catch up. Teams are directed to gate 4 of an apartment complex, where they will find their next clue.

No Initial Taxi Horrors

Teams leaving the Pit Stop all easily found taxis, and this time Ken and Tina got a relatively good driver. It turns out the destination is the problem, not the journey.

Roadblock

Teaser question: Who's ready for a colorful experience?

From the website: .One team member had to take part in the traditional Indian celebration known as the Holi Festival. Team members had to make their way through a crowd of revelers who were pelting them with powdered dye and water in the festival�s tradition. When they reached one of three ladders at the center of the celebration, they had to climb the ladder and search through hundreds of envelopes marked �Try Again� to identify one of only six labeled THE AMAZING RACE. This specially marked envelope contained their next clue.

To get to the poles, the team member had to run an incredible gauntlet of people pelting them from gobs of paint in their hands or even buckets of paint. NO FUN! One team member had to find their next clue among dozens hanging on a pole. It was so critical to look for a legit Race clue among the similar �Try Again� ones hung on the poles.

Route Info

Teams had to go to the Charity Birds Hospital, which was also a Jain temple. Teams were thus required to take off their shoes, even if that meant stepping in bird droppings. All the clues were in just a few birdcages near the end of the line on the first floor. Only Terence and Sarah misunderstood which cages to search. Sarah appeared to be none to happy searching the litter in one cage, and then trying to lift the litter pan off the floor in a vain attempt to find a clue.

Kelly and Christy failed again to have their cab wait for them. They lost time having to find another cab, already in last place. According to the Recap, Kelly and Christy had a hard time trying to flag a taxi driver who would take them, due to Kelly's wet paint, until they offered one driver plenty of rupees.

Speed Bump

From the website: Having been spared elimination in the last leg, Ken & Tina were hit with a Speed Bump, a task that only they have to complete. In this Speed Bump, Ken & Tina traveled to a Sikh Temple to take part in a common form of community service by volunteering to serve holy water to the patrons of the temple. Once they quenched the thirst of the hundreds of gathering worshipers and there were no more temple-goers desiring water, they would be able to continue on the Race with the hope of making up this valuable lost time.

They did this task with a lot of patience and grace. Ken and Tina got into the spirit of the temple as they learned the word for welcome. However, Ken also had fun with his sports experience, shouting "Step right up; get your water here!" Referring to his green tint, he quipped, �It�s not every day you get served water by the Incredible Hulk.� Soon enough, they were awarded their next clue.

The ordeal was not quite over, as their taxi became almost hopelessly stuck on the crowded back street. But, Ken decided they should hop out and clear traffic. He did an impressive job of clearing a path for the taxi, allowing them to return to the bird hospital.

Detour

Bleary Eyed

From the website: Teams made their way to a street corner to help the Department of Power. From street level, teams had to follow a power line keeping track of the small numbered tags that sporadically appear. Then, they had to find a man with a sewing machine and give him the list of numbers. If their list were correct, the man would direct them to a shop across the street where they would plug in a musical Ganesha to receive their next clue.

Dallas had fun on the way to the Bleary Eyed Detour option, as he interacted with the kids helping to show the way. Toni appreciated how Dallas arranged to be escorted by kids.

Teams made their way to a crowded street and had to look for a pole with one of those rumpled Amazing Race flags. The key was to find the correct set of numbers. They were in black on small white tags, as the clue said, almost hidden in the tangle of electric power lines. These lines were reminiscent of pictures of the very first power lines in the U.S. It was all too easy to confuse these tags with the small advertising signs below. The fellow at the table was a hoot. Maybe he knew little or no English, but he used mainly hand signals to teams. He definitely did not want teams to see what he was doing to check their numbers, giving Tina a firm push.

Teary Eyed

From the website: Teams had to make their way to a spice market, pick up two 40-pound bags of dried chilies, and deliver them on foot one quarter mile to Sharwan Kumar & Sons. Then, they had to use a mortar and pestle to make enough chili powder to fill up a container to the designated line.

This Detour option was so tough that Phil took precautions to even film a short standup segment for Phil's Diary. Wearing a surgical mask, he interviewed several people inside the market where the chilis and powder were sold. The only person seemingly unaffected by the penetrating and overpowering smells was the owner of one of the shops.

The only team to choose the Teary Eyed option, Terence and Sarah had trouble with the latter part, making the chili powder. The shopkeeper was fussy as to how fine the chili powder had to be. He also informed them that he needed 35 ounces of the fine powder. The pain was obvious on Terence's face.

Pit Stop

From the Website and UNESCO: The Pit Stop for this leg was at Humayun�s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage site, built in 1570. A collection of mausoleums commemorating past emperors, it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent.

The last two teams were delayed by traffic getting to the Pit Stop. Ken and Tina recovered two places, even after the Speed Bump, to avoid elimination.

Though eliminated, Kelly and Christy appreciated the depth of their friendship that helped them get so far.

Outlook for Episode Eight

Each of the remaining teams has a unique combination of strengths and weaknesses. Andrew was not as physically fit as others, and Dan was shown in the preview commenting on how, in effect, there is no I in TEAM. Others have quite a bit of intelligence, while others are creative. A lot of narrative in Episode 7 was devoted to the relationship between Toni and Dallas and how her new-found respect for him is helping them to be a solid team.

Until the last two episodes, Ken and Tina have done quite well. Their communication and luck did improve in Episode 7. The big question has to be whether that superior performance with their backs to the wall would carry forward in Episode 8. Andrew and Dan have had trouble making sense out of the clues or the tasks themselves. Now that their backs are to thewall, they have to confront their weaknesses and the causes of their poor performances, as shown in the preview.

Watch Episode Eight on November 16th, at 8:00 PM Eastern/Pacific, unless delayed by NFL football.

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