TAR

[a1mamacat]

Spoiler

Probably one of the best overall races to date. All three teams in the final leg were enjoyable and interesting. An excellent combination of physical and mental challenges for the tasks.

Best shot of the night was the three partners standing together waiting to see who would complete the last task first. I was pleased it was such a mind challenge, vs sheer strength, as that made it open for all.

TK and Rachel certainly earned their win with their consistant calm and enjoyment of the race. They appear to be a couple that will continue to grow in their relationship, unlike several of the non finishers that need to stay far far away from each other.

Ron and Chris appear to have mended their distance from each other, and one can only hope that the family dynamic is changed for good.

What a wonderful memory Nicholas will have from this race with his grandpa. Don was a real trooper and I am totally impressed with the fact that he was able to keep up and pass many stronger younger pseudostuds.

Well done. Off the shark and back on the board for TAR.

[peacock2121]

Spoiler

I loved it, loved it, loved it.

I especially liked that TK spoke nothing but positively about Rachel's smarts and how he was sure she would do the final road block using her smarts. She did. I also loved her calmness and lack of upset through it all.

Chris was pretty funny - Freakin' this place and freakin' that place. Made me luagh - especially up against what appeared to be Rachel's calmness and thoughtfulness.

I was surprised that they all talked out loud - wondered if the other could hear them.

Some how, the 'make wrong' that Don did of Nicholas stung so much more than all others for me. Nicholas was far more the 'younger' than Chris was to her dad. Still haven't processed why Don telling Nicholas he was wrong was harsher to my ears than any others.

Did I say - I loved it, loved it, loved it!

[KillerTomato]

Spoiler

This Race proved why TAR is the only reality competition that's worth watching, IMO (which doesn't stop me from watching AI or B&tG). There's no voting someone out because "they're the stronger player" or "she's a beeyotch"...it's all about how well you play the game, not how well you form alliances.

I'm happy that the final three were such interesting teams with so little dysfunction. I'm happy that I could root for all three equally (although I admit to hoping Don and Nick would win, just to prove that life doesn't end at 30).

I also loved that there was no taint on this one based on "nearly missed flights that it looks like the producers pulled a string or two to make sure that the ending would be exciting". Gotta wonder how the end might have changed if Don and Nick hadn't forgotten their bag at the Outfitters. Probably not much, but I felt bad that such a stupid mistake could pretty much end their chances. But it was nice that they made up so much time, didn't give up, and kept it exciting.

Great job, CBS.

[takinover]

This Race proved why TAR is the only reality competition that's worth watching, IMO (which doesn't stop me from watching AI or B&tG). There's no voting someone out because "they're the stronger player" or "she's a beeyotch"...it's all about how well you play the game, not how well you form alliances...


Great job, CBS.

Too bad it was aired against the NFC Championship game, which posted the best non Super Bowl ratings for football for FOX according to Zap2it.

[Bob Juch]

This Race proved why TAR is the only reality competition that's worth watching, IMO (which doesn't stop me from watching AI or B&tG). There's no voting someone out because "they're the stronger player" or "she's a beeyotch"...it's all about how well you play the game, not how well you form alliances...


Great job, CBS.

Too bad it was aired against the NFC Championship game, which posted the best non Super Bowl ratings for football for FOX according to Zap2it.

That's what TiVos and DVRs are for!

[earendel]

I was pleased with how TAR finished - after the Goths were eliminated TK and Rachel became the team for which I rooted, and they pulled it off. Just a couple of notes in passing:

1. CBS kept promoting a "photo finish" but I didn't see anything even remotely resembling such a thing. One would think that it was like the season when the teams were racing along the beach and were in view all the time, but not so.

2. As TK and Rachel crossed the finish line I said to elwing, "Sometimes nice guys finish first." Not more than two minutes later, Rachel said the same thing on the air.

3. How did Nic and Don fail to understand that they had to get the gear at the outfitters' shop? The clue seemed clear enough.

4. Every TAR final I've seen has featured a "montage" challenge, where they have to look back at their various stops - one year it was putting flags in order, for instance. The teams should have been ready for something like this.

[tanstaafl2]

4. Every TAR final I've seen has featured a "montage" challenge, where they have to look back at their various stops - one year it was putting flags in order, for instance. The teams should have been ready for something like this.

It is a relatively new phenomenon in this always evolving race and to my memory really hasn't been that common.

The flag bit occured in TAR 9. I liked that one but then I am a bit of an amateur vexillologist anyway.

I thought the final detour in TAR 10 was a bit uninspired and wasn't really in the puzzle vein.

TAR 11, the so called All-Stars, had the safe code for the final roadblock but it was not as much like the flags or the puzzle in this episode.

TAR 8 finished with a rather simple puzzle of North America. But it doesn't really count as that was the abysmal family edition.

Before that they did not use the puzzle concept for the final task that I can recall.

BTW TAR 13 has been greenlighted, probably thanks in part to the writer's strike. Application deadline has already passed and casting is underway. It is expected to shoot this spring but no airdate that I know of yet. May depend on the strike.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Spoiler

Anyone could have won and it would have been ok with me.

I was very happy that when Chris finished the puzzle after Rachel, her father was loving and supportive. Even if they didn't win the race, I think that their relationship has dramatically changed.