The Amazing Race - Season 21 ***SPOILER ALERT***

Parent Cafe
61

<p>The rockers last night got me thinking about the rules of the game that maybe we don’t know. Like, is it against the rules to separate at all? Why couldn’t the one guy be doing the locks while the other guy looks for the taxi?</p>

<p>The previews show Ryan but not the goat farmers. I’m guessing that Ryan and Abby only stayed with them for so long.</p>

<p>I think Trey and Lexi’s success just has to do with their attitudes. Every challenge seems like a game to them. I also think they’re smart about who does what. In Turkey, a cute blonde is going to attract a lot more attention and sell more drinks than a brunette guy. Last night the rockers got negative (well, one did), the goat farmers freaked out, etc.</p>

62

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I was wondering that as well. </p>

<p>The rockers appeared quite off the game last night. It seems that they should have been able to figure out the card catalog without giving up, and why would they leave their stuff in the taxi and even then, why don’t they keep the passport on their person as I do when I’m outside the country? The other issue is that there’s a good chance the taxi driver didn’t understand English very well and may have just left not knowing their stuff was still in the trunk. OTOH maybe he was parked down the street waiting for them but they failed to see the taxi. Of course, the taxi driver could have stolen the stuff as well but I think that’s less likely given the reality that there was a camera crew on board with them and the taxi and driver are both on some footage. It’s easy to forget about the fact that there’s actually a camera guy along with the team.</p>

<p>I don’t get the buddying up of the farmers and couple. It doesn’t make sense - especially the couple waiting around for them to do the challenge. Assuming they end up as the bottom 2 to check in, one of them has to be last. It’s a ‘racing’ game - they need to race and compete. Given that the one farmer seems unable to do the swimming I’m wondering if they’ll give up on it.</p>

<p>It also seemed that Trey/Lexi were fairly clueless in the airport. They couldn’t tell the difference between an Italian airline and a Russian one and then appeared to just be wandering and getting refreshments waiting for the twins to arrive and tell them what to do.</p>

<p>I still want to see the twins booted off for what they did last week.</p>

63

<p>GladGradDad: we agree, this is a ‘race’. When the two teams decided to stay together, we were just shouting at the TV, ‘this is a race!’</p>

<p>I am dumbfounded at the transition I am seeing as the teams are so afraid to be competitive. Were the two teams thinking that if they both show up on the mat at exactly the same time that neither of them will get eliminated? </p>

<p>I’m all for teamwork, but ultimately this is a competitive race between teams. </p>

<p>The rockers did seem a bit off their game. I do like them and hope they can stay in it. I am dismayed at the twins’ behavior when they stole the money, but they really do immerse themselves in the culture. Unlike the one team that was complaining that everyone in the recent country didn’t speak English!</p>

64

<p>crizello:</p>

<p>But on last night’s show it was the twins who were complaining about how the Russian swim instructors didn’t speak English and that was enough to cause them to consider giving up on the task until they were talked out of it by another team.</p>

65

<p>Overall, that was a very. unsatisfying episode for all the reasons you all mention !</p>

66

<p>Just caught up on the last 2 episodes (I’ve been out of town), and gotta say the library task “looked” tricky but if you play any type of word games it isn’t as daunting as it seems at face value. I actually think the young couple (Trey and Lexi?) who came in first had the right idea about it, think about the shapes of the letters compared to “our” letters, and take your time.</p>

<p>I’m stymied by the Rockers’ situation. I think they’re getting tired, with one of them having issues with his knees.</p>

<p>I also don’t quite understand the buddying up of the 2 teams at the end. It seems very deep into the race to be doing that.</p>

<p>I am officially cheering on the Chippendales! They’re kind of adorable, and I really like their attitudes. They won me over with the swimming challenge.</p>

<p>Twinnies lost me when they lifted the Rockers money. Not cool at all.</p>

67

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<p>I totally agree with this. In fact, I find it hard to watch any more. I thought that theft was disgusting-- among the lowest of the low.</p>

68

<p>There’s a 2 minute video clip of the Rockers talking about leaving their bags (and passport) in the cab. In it one of them says something along the lines of “because we were so far away we had to go together” - I guess that must be a rule. If anyone can get their hands on the rules of the game, I’d love to read them.</p>

<p>[The</a> Amazing Race Video - How It All Went Wrong - CBS.com](<a href=“http://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/video/Nig_fbRFbCcfd9ZpeXml7wN3Dy_luP6L/the-amazing-race-how-it-all-went-wrong]The”>http://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/video/Nig_fbRFbCcfd9ZpeXml7wN3Dy_luP6L/the-amazing-race-how-it-all-went-wrong)</p>

69

<p>Found the rules of the game:
Rules and penalties</p>

<p>All teams must abide by the rules set at the beginning of the race. Failure to do so can result in time penalties, which can negatively affect finishing position in that leg of the race. In a non-elimination leg, if the last team to arrive at the mat is checked in before a previous team has completed its penalty, then the remainder of the penalty time will be waited out at the start of the next leg of the race, beginning at the departure time of the next-to-last team.</p>

<p>While the complete set of official rules has not been released to the public, certain rules have been revealed during the various editions of the race:
Rules</p>

<pre><code>Unless otherwise stated, such as during Roadblocks, team members must stay within twenty feet of each other and stay close to their assigned camera and sound crew. When using any form of transportation, unless otherwise stated, teams must be able to travel with the camera crew. Teams are recorded requesting only two tickets after they have made their initial request for four.
Teams are required to purchase economy class airfare when they fly, using the credit card provided by the show.The airline, at its discretion however may upgrade the team(s) for so long as there are no additional costs. Teams may use their cash stipend to purchase first-class fares for other modes of transportation. Teams may be forbidden from flying on certain airlines or restricted to specific airlines in some cases.
Teams are forbidden contact with friends, family, and acquaintances during the Race without supervision. The Race however may provide them with an opportunity to contact them at select times. When this happens while the race is going on, teams are not allowed to proceed to their next task. In special circumstances the production team will allow racers to contact family members outside of a race-required task.
Unless otherwise stated by the clues, teams are allowed to use the help of locals for navigating and during tasks. Teams are required to have any locals who appear on camera sign release forms that legally clear the footage for use; some teams have avoided or reduced contacts with random local strangers because the release process can take a very long time to complete.
Teams are free to work together at any point unless otherwise stated by the rules. Excluding the use of the Yield and U-Turn, teams are forbidden from hindering the performance of other teams such as by taking extra clues from a clue box, taking another team’s assigned vehicle, or altering the equipment for other teams at a task.
Teams are forbidden from possessing maps, guidebooks, cell phones, personal digital assistants and other similar aids at the start of the Race, but may use the provided money to purchase these as they progress. These may be provided by the show if required for a certain task.
Teams are not allowed to use their personal items to barter for services on the race, though they are not necessarily forbidden from selling them for cash. The teams’ bags may be subject to review during Pit Stops by production. Teams are free to sell or barter any items they have purchased during the course of the race.
In cases where teams are instructed to walk or drive themselves to a destination, teams are not allowed to hire a taxi to guide or take them through the route. In early seasons of the American series, teams frequently employed this tactic; several exchanges of dialogue in season 17 indicate that this is now forbidden.
Teams are expected to keep the Race fanny pack containing their cash, passports, clues, and other documents with them at all times. Teams that do not have these upon check-in at a Pit Stop are required to go back and retrieve the pack and any missing mandatory contents (e.g., passports) before being checked in. Teams may check in after losing or abandoning any non-mandatory items (e.g., items of clothing), but they must continue the race without them.
Teams must complete each challenge as specified by the clues given to them throughout the Race. Should a team fail to properly complete a challenge, violate any provisions made in a clue or task description, or miss a clue altogether (unless specifically allowed to do so, e.g., by winning the Fast Forward, or by using an Express Pass), they must either go back to the location of the challenge and complete the challenge, or incur a penalty when they check in (see Penalties and time credits below).
Teams are prohibited from begging where it is illegal. On the U.S. version, teams are additionally prohibited from begging at U.S. airports.
Racers may not smoke on the Race.
Teams are required to abide by all local laws of the country in which they are racing.
</code></pre>

<p>The teams are often given additional rules and instructions that apply specifically to a given leg or to a task supplied with one of the clues; these are usually not explained to the viewer unless they affect the Race results.</p>

70

<p>

This is a tough requirement! It would be pretty difficult to explain exactly what the release was all about if there was a language barrier (which there usually is) and it would take a lot of extra time. I’ve often wondered why teams don’t ask for help more often – this pretty much explains it.</p>

71

<p>They will add a new rule forbidding the taking or hiding of US currency that was obviously left out by another team. </p>

<p>Not many Bangladeshi’s carry $100 in US bills with them when purchasing food for their rhesus monkeys.</p>

72

<p>One thing I’ve learned after watching TAR from the beginning is to not necessarily believe everything as it is portrayed on the show. I have it on very reliable authority that the twins and Lexi tried to turn the money in to a production team member and it was refused. These shows like to stir things up, get people talking, and edit things to portray teams in a particular way.</p>

73

<p>But couldn’t they still have given it to the rockers? Remember, I missed the beginning of that show so the answer may be no.</p>

74

<p>And I don’t like assessing the time penalty on the next round. Whatifwith the time penalty you wouldn’t make the next round?</p>

75

<p>Darn, I was holding out hope that Abba would get his passport back in time to stay in the race. </p>

<p>I never expected the goat farmers or Ryan/Abby to still be in the race after last week. What a bunch of unexpected twists in this leg!</p>

<p>Ryan was such a jerk in that time zone test. He never thinks he’s wrong about anything. He thought telling the guy about his high IQ was going to help him? Looks like he and Abby have airline ticket trouble next week, too. Can’t say I feel too bad for them…</p>

<p>James and Jaymes are great - love their attitude. It’ll be a shame if they don’t win.</p>

76

<p>I thought time penalties were assessed when the team arrived on the mat. Was it different this time since it was a nonelimination leg, so there was no need for them to stay on the mat for 4 hours before checking in?</p>

<p>I also thought all team members had to have their passports to be checked in, so how did James and Abba even make it to the next leg? Shouldn’t that have disqualified them? It’s kind of a moot point since they were eliminated last night anyway, but I’m finding the rules of TAR confusing.</p>

<p>The Chippendales are definitely my favorite team. Not looking to defend Ryan, but Jaymes might have been doing the time zone test for a long time too if Lexi didn’t figure it out and share it with him. Jaymes wouldn’t have been as arrogant as Ryan about his abilities, though.</p>

77

<p>Didn’t they also used to assess time penalties at the actual activity itself? </p>

<p>I know there have been penalties assessed at the mat before they could check in, but I seem to remember the Globetrotters, on one of the episodes, sitting outside one of the venues taking their 2 hour penalty, and then moving on to the next activity. Or was that another type of penalty?</p>

78

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<p>There was no time for editing when it comes to the twins’ stealing. If you replay the episode, there were three couples at the travel agency: Abba and the musician James, the twins Natalie and Nadiya, Lexi and Trey. Abba and James were waiting for the twins to be done with the agency’s computer. As soon as the twins were done with the computer, Abba and James left the counter area where they forgot their $100 on top of the counter. The twins walked towards the counter area. Nadiya saw the money and was about to ask out loud who left the money when Natalie told her to keep quiet. </p>

<p>Natalie & Nadiya pull in Lexi and Trey to a corner. Trey asked, “What’s going on? Did you guys pick up their money? You better give it back to them.” N&N hit him on the shoulder and told him to shut up. Trey walked off from them probably feeling uncomfortable about the situation. </p>

<p>Unfortunately, Lexi agrees with the twins’ decision to keep the money. The twins told Trey that he doesn’t get a vote on the decision to keep the money. The two couples left the agency and the next scene is at the airport with the twins urging Lexi and Trey to split the money with them so the “guilt is split.” </p>

<p>The only possible time for the twins to return the money to TAR production team is after they have left the agency which is basically after they have stolen the money. If what alwaysamom says is true then Trey may have convinced the girls to return the money at the very least to TAR but you cannot undo the stealing so TAR said go ahead keep it. Unfortunately, neither couples were eliminated nor penalized for the theft. </p>

<p>I’ve stopped watching since that episode thus ending I think a decade long relationship with TAR. I have no patience for a reality game show where theft is allowed and justified.</p>

79

<p>crizello, I think the difference might be whether you knowingly take the time penalty or whether you’re assessed the penalty because you didn’t realize you made a mistake, like took a cab when it said to walk or whatever. They get to the mat and find out they messed up and then have to sit and hope others get there much later.</p>

<p>Thanks for the detailed description, Kr. I guess I could go back and watch since it’s at the beginning of that episode!</p>

80

<p>Time penalty: It probably also depends on when the time penalty occurs, if it occurs on the 2nd task, you might have to wait it out at that task to get the clue for the next task, whereas if you don’t know, or if it happens on the final task, then you might wait at the mat.</p>