1. TAR5 - Colin & Christie 2. TAR2 - Oswald & Danny 3. TAR1 - Kevin & Drew 4. TAR3 - Teri & Ian 5. TAR9 - BJ & Tyler 6. TAR13 - Nick & Starr 7. TAR12 - Ron & Christina 8. TAR7 - Rob & Amber 9. TAR11 - Oswald & Danny 10. TAR6 - Gus & Hera 11. TAR10 - Dustin & Kandice 12. TAR8 - Paolo Family 13. TAR4 - Jon & Al
This season actually kinda caught me off guard, I wasn't sure how much I was going to like it, but by the finale I found myself really enjoying it. The route isn't spectacular - thought I was thrown for a loop at it being a reverse-route season, going to South America first usually signals a west to east route - but I liked most of the teams pretty well. I can't quite explain why I ended up liking Nick and Starr so much. They're not like super dynamic or anything, but it was nice to see a strong, smart, competent team that wasn't a pair of psychos or drama magnets. They're both really well spoken and have good heads on their shoulders for their age. Dan & Andrew were a close second. They're they total opposite - complete idiots who bungled their way to the final 3, but it was hilarious watching them do so. They have to hold the record for worst placement average of any team to make the finals, right? And they really did get screwed by a bad cab out of the airport in Portand. Not that I think they had a chance to beat the other two teams in the end if they had a good cab, but still.
After seeing this season I'm also...kinda shocked that Ken & Tina nor Toni & Dallas were on Unfinished Business. Toni & Dallas especially were basically made for that season. Surely they could have trimmed one of the season 14 teams to make room? I was also surprised they just let them keep running the leg they lost the passports. I assume they would have been told they couldn't check in a pit stop once they got there anyway, right? Unless they decided to change how they planned on handling that situation before it happened to Zev & Justin. I did notice they weren't at the finish line, which makes sense. Maybe they're still stuck in Russia to this day and that's why they weren't on season 18. I'll also give a minor shoutout to Terrence & Sarah, which after episode 1 I thought were going to be a total Jonathan & Victoria redux. Terrence still kinda sucks, but he ended up being sorta funny in a pathetic way rather than unbelievably grating.
And I can't finish writing up this season without mention #SportsbraGate, the greatest controversy in Amazing Race history.
Time to get acquainted with half of the Season 18 cast. Goodbye original TAR opening credits. Hello HD finally.
