TAR12: Kiss My Irish Ass

Before I begin this TAR entry, a warning that these "recaps" might not be the weekly feature it has been in the past.

I don't want to burden myself  with an "assignment" type entry.  In general, it doesn't end up working well, either here on  W&C or many other blogs.  So while it's nice to have a guaranteed topic to blog about, I'm not going to force it.  If I have something to say, it'll be here... if not, I am confident the world will go on without my insight(s). 

This year marks the first season I have skipped Survivor and I don't miss it the least bit.  For me, the strategy part and challenges have played themselves out... and even with this first TAR episode, I kind of feel the repetitiveness of the "cast"... the dysfunctional dating couples, falling down old people, extremely likable African Americans (I know, I know... politically incorrect, but true!), etc.  However, what does keep the show fresh for me is the travel aspect... so I have absolutely no plans to stop watching... and I still got goosebumps when Phil said "the world is waiting for you."

And while I am quite sure teams have had to leave from the International terminal at LAX in past seasons, I finally recognized it/paid attention last night... always fun to recognize some place on the Race (which doesn't happen all too often for me).  It served as a reminder that I should travel internationally again some time!

Surprisingly enough, the Freaks were pretty fun and likable, though no creativity awards for the other couples who immediately dubbed Team Goth as such.  I couldn't quite keep track of the all-woman teams other than the Lesbian Ministers (did some other team actually say of them "those bitches are behind us?")...  but there are blond friends and brunette sisters, but indistinguishable to me beyond that.

As far as the dysfunctional dating couples, in order of good to bad shape we have:  TK and Rachel (dreadlocks guy)... Jason and Lorena (only one major squabble in the car)... and Jennifer and Nathan where the verbal abuse immediately commenced upon landing on the quite rainy Emerald Isle (re: Jen's lack of running... "You are the worst person at this I have ever met"  Yikes!).  Likewise, I'm sure Nathan just loves the fact that everyone in America now knows he's was unfaithful/cheater.

Speaking of asses, having watched enough Cesar Millan/Dog Whisperer... I am guessing there is a correlation between the mental health of couple and their ability to move a donkey.   I'll keep this entry relatively spoiler-free, but it would have been "good riddance" for me to the two couples who had trouble with their donkeys... which brings us full circle and to the title of this episode (as noted by Christina, running the Race with Dad Ronald) "Donkeys Have Souls Too."

Comments

[Gail]

Yeah, I'm looking for the fun and witty moments like we had with Oswald and Danny, or the fun bickering from Lori and Bolo. I'm sure we'll warm up to someone before the race is over. I was not unhappy with the bottom two teams, just unhappy is wasn't a double elimination.

[monette]

i posted some thoughts here (http://stardiver.livejournal.com/375930.html -caution- spoilers!), but I did feel some of the repetetion of couples/groups this year. I do get a kick out of the fact that the goth couple is from Kentucky, and think there should be an all-star Kentucky episode with them and the coal miners.