LogFAQs > #924510889

Finishing up Amazing Race 5...
Man, what a season! Great locations, wonderfully deep cast, great editing that examined relationships, and hitting all the right notes. Don't like the split final leg - too much emphasis on the final task - but since I'm happy with the winner, it's fine lol

Team rankings:
1. Linda & Karen - Rootable underdogs. The Bowling Moms that could. Very nice ladies who kept on truckin' despite looking like the type of people the younger, more athletic teams would write off. I don't think the Roadblock rule would have helped them, necessarily. With that F4, they were doomed unless they got on the first charter plane.
2. Colin & Christie - I appreciate them even more now, given TAR31. The "functional dysfunctional" team. When you wanted drama, they brought it. Whether it was fighting the horrible Mirna, stiffing cabbies who didn't perform and almost going to jail, breaking oxen, yelling at each other, or whining about being Yielded and asking their driver to run people over, it was always them. They were great TV, and they felt like good people with anger management problems that impact their ability to think rationally. It's no wonder they went all zen mode. It's amazing to see that transformation and I'm glad I watched this back to see it. (also, calling ahead to get the best cabbie in the city - to unload the remaining Race money on - was genius)
3. Chip & Kim - Amazing winners. Two people who came to PLAY and didn't care about making friends, yet did make friends anyway so they didn't get Yielded. Very strong racers, very nice people, and so satisfying to see them win in that F3.
4. Kami & Karli - The "sultry temptress" music was great when they were batting their eyelashes. They started off a little annoying with hating on Chip for playing the game, but became endearing underdogs later on.
5. Brandon & Nicole - They got SO annoying with their religious talk and acting like it was an advantage to put their trust in their god. Uh, you can't let an outside party decide whether you win or not. You have to WANT it! Chip, who is also religious, put that aside because he wanted it. And guess what? He won. They also were kind of hypocritical with bashing Chip for lying to them despite having burned other teams on many occasions. These two do not seem like good people, but boy were they fun to root against.
6. Alison & Donny - She was verbally abusive, he was useless. They added a lot of gold with "MINE KEEP HAVING SEX!" (which was legit) and them actually breaking up for good on the Race proper. However, they're both awful people and while that can be thoroughly enjoyable on TV, two episodes of them was enough.
7. Bob & Joyce - Conversely, these two seem like genuinely wonderful people. However, I can't seem to think of anything they brought to the season...
8. Dennis & Erika - First boot, just because he wanted to make up for the misunderstanding at the airport. A compelling single episode, but it doesn't make them memorable. Apparently, Erika became a Lynne Spillman lieutenant...
9. Jim & Marsha - Jim was just kind of there. Marsha excluded Charla the most and had some snotty confessionals. Otherwise, forgettable.
10. Marshall & Lance - It was nice how they kept good spirits and all, but making jokes about "women drivers" isn't funny and the whiny, entitled attitude needed to go. I don't blame them for quitting - Marshall wasn't almost unable to walk and they were going to be eliminated anyway. It's no wonder they're the only team to ever quit the US Race.
11. Charla & Mirna - Mirna was downright vile in ways that overshadowed Charla's storyline; the way she levied accusations and called names when called out on her bullshit (and, in one case, an actual attempted crime of taxijacking) was... horrendous. Mirna isn't the "love to hate" kind of villain (like Jonny Fairplay or early Omarosa). She's the toxic one that makes your skin crawl.

TAR22 next. IDK if I finished it before, so for you guys...
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