Thursday, November 18, 2004
The Amazing Race

The new season (season 6) of the Amazing Race finallycommenced last night in a 2-hour premiere.And it was certainly interesting to watch.I'm not a particular fervant fan of these series because I only really started taking note of this reality series last year.And it was already into its fifth season so I obviously missed out on a large chunk of the action.But from what I saw,I liked it a lot.There are a number of reasons for this.

First off,there is less (I say less because obviously people still played nasty from time to time) backstabbing going on in comparison with other reality series like Survivor.Secondly,it's actually interesting to see how dynamics between couples/best mates/siblings/parent-child work as they are forced to spend large amounts of time together,making decisions and performing difficult tasks together.People react differently under pressure and while some crack,others start bitching.Thirdly and most importantly,AR is essentially a backpacking travelogue reality show.I love travel and for an hour,you get to travel with the groups to at least one,if not more,locations.From the show,you can see how backpacking through particular locations should or can be done.Even the parts about booking air tickets and driving through the lone guidance of a map are pretty interesting in how they work.

For those who failed to watvh the premiere of this particular season but are keen to keep track of the progress.I'd just do a brief analysis of the teams and who I like and dislike.Ok,it might be unfair to form opinions after one episode but I think these are audlts competing here.How they behaved in one episode should be a good precursor of how they'd perform for the rest of the series.And possibly,how the teams will work as well.

The Good Guys:

Freddy from the "Engaged models" team seems like a very good guy and a pretty good catch.Good-looking and calm as well as accommodating and encouraging,he swallowed a whole load of crap from his fiancee,the ultra-competitive and bitchy Kendra and did not fight back.he always kept his cool in the face of consistent rubbish from Kendra and was the one to keep encouraging his otehr half that all was not lost when they fell behind in certain stages.Good guy.

Don of the "Grandparents" team seems like another good guy. I don't quite know why but I have already formed a dislike for his wif,the grand old dame,Mary Jean.MJ seemed unreasonably bitchy for her age AT times.I said AT times because she's not always so.But she's also ultra-competitive.Unlike Don,who seemed to be there for a good time and was more relaxed.I think that's 量力而为 because he obviously he's not going to be a match for the younger teams and just wants to enjoy himself while it lasted.Ok,that may seems counter to the objective of the competition.But I like someone who knows what he can do and what he can't.And there's no way his team will win the competition.

Hera,the daughter half of the "Parent/daughter" team seems like a very good daughter.She listened to her father,Gus's advice and never argued even though half the time,Gus's advice was totally crap.I don't know how she could have so much patience.If it was me,I'd told the guy to shut up long ago.

After these three,I probably have to name entire teams as good guys.These include Kris/Jon (Dating long distance),Lena/Kristy (Sisters),Meredith/Maria (Best friends) and Avi/Joe (High school buddies).I was a bit sorry to see Avi/Joe get eliminated because these two were good sports and never mouthed a single bad word to each other.Too bad,they chose the wrong detour task to do (anyone noticed that those who did "Ice search" all didn't finish in the upper half of the table?) and took the wrong route to the pitstop.

The Bad Guys:

Top of the heap is the abusive Jonathan of the "Married entrepreneurs" couple.He was abusing his wife,Victoria,right from the beginning,calling her stupid and all kinds of names and even threatening to divorce her because she was so "inept".He's so competitive,I think he must lack self-esteem or something...as if winning AR would prove somethign about himself.I think he should get a perspective.AR is but a competition,that is his WIFE he's abusing.Someone he may spend the rest of his life with.He ought to understand and manage her feelings better.If this is the kind of abuse a wife has to put up with constantly,maybe Victoria is better off getting a divorce.

Aaron of the "Dating actors" couple.He pulled a very cruel stunt on Meredith/Maria by misleading them early on such they nearly failed to recover.That they did is a credit to their doggedness.That Aaron's team is first is creditable.But beware of pulling a fast one so early on,you're only gaining a "reputation" for yourself.It could come back to haunt him later when he need the "Best friends"'s help.

Kendra is the bitchiest woman that this season had to offer.She is over competitive,a miserablist and really bitchy.How Freddy can stand her is a miracle.She could be a good shag,I don't know.Because that's the only positive thing I see about her right now.Mary Jean is another who could learn to be nicer and kinder.For someone her age,she seems a tad too immature for my liking.That's not saying that old dames have to be mature.But they should at least know certain things better.The least she could do is make life that little easier for her old mate,which I'd argue she doesn't.

Adam,of the "Formerly dating" couple.A jerk.That's all I'd say about him because I don't think he deserves more words than these.He thinks he's unqiue.Yeah,and so is Saddam Hussein.

The Lori/Bolo "Married pro wrestlers" team is one big joke masquerading as a team.They are constantly screaming at each other and Lori is one serious bitch...even worse than Kendra.That's a rarity.Problem is,she probably not even a good shag.She seems to think she's a very smart person,constantly abusing Bolo and calling him names.I am surprised Bolo didn't break her neck.Although I have to concede that'd be tough.Her neck is the size of my thighs.

The Sufferers:

First prize goes to Victoria.Don't know how she takes all that abuse.Quite amazing woman.Even more amazing is why she married that Jonathan jerk in the first place.What does she see in him?That he is an entrepreneur?And what does this show you?Marriage is a lifelong thing.Make a mistake,suffer for life.Victoria,take up your husband's offer.Get that divorce.

Rebecca,who's with Adam,endures a whole lot of crap as well.Although not as much as Victoria.I can see now why they're were formerly dating.Well,after the competition,Rebecca,stay your distance from Hellboy.He's going back to hell.

Freddy and Hera deserve honorary mentions here because they also suffer some degree of abuse.Good thing they have incredible patience to ride out the hard times and roll with the bad.As well as the constant whining and nagging that must accompany their ears.

Who Will Win:

I suspect it'd either be Hayden/Aaron,Kris/Jon or Freddy kendra because they are the most athletic groups.My personal favourite are the "Sisters" Lena and Kristy.Because they've really played nice (to each other and to others) so far and played fair as well.I like them.Both of them are quite cute eye-candy as well.Kristy especially looks cute.That's an additional bonus.But can an all-girl team win?I have my doubts.Hope you girls last!!!

Actually I think it'd be great if all couples can join AR because it is a good relationship testing ground and would seriously put their relationships to the test and see whether things can really work or not between them.Some things we can never find out about people until placed under duress.And AR provides such situations nicely.That angel you see and snuggle up to might just be a devil in disguise when things turn bad.Would you still want to be with someone who constantly abuses you when bad situations arise?Or do you stand through thick and thin through all that crap?Would you abuse your gf/bf when things get tough?Or put in a word of encouragement to keep spirits up?It's easy to say and write what you'd do in a post/blog.In an actual situation,actions might very well take a different turn.It's real test of people's character and their love and understanding of each other.

Oh dear,I should get a perspective...it's just a game show after all...