LAST EDITED ON 10-12-06 AT 10:33 AM (EST)

LAST EDITED ON 10-12-06 AT 10:26 AM (EST)

LAST EDITED ON 10-12-06 AT 10:22 AM (EST)

Great comments guys! I dont have a lot of time to comment anymore, but I do read what you guys are writing, and will put in my two cents when I get the chance.

Just a few observations from my end:
It seems like our final three are pretty much pre-determined, which honestly leads me to believe maybe they're actually not?

James and Tyler - they're a nicer, more down to earth version of Eric and Jeremy. They seem to be very good racers, and almost a shoe-in (sp?) for the race to the finish. Something is bothering me though - maybe its that they arent really being given a very rounded edit - or really that much of an edit at all, at least not a terribly memorable one.

Dustin and Kandice - Strangely, I love these girls! Never would I have thought I'd be saying that about "the beauty queens", but really I think they're great racers - of every team we've been shown that they have the drive, they will overcome the obstacles, etc. Yes, they make mistakes and thats something to watch, but they have overcome all of their mistakes - which means that they're quite a bit better racers than others who dont make the same mistakes, and still come in after them. Plus - dont discount that editing gem (not an exact quote, but the general drift) "We want to show that an all-girl team can win this race". I like these girls, I think they're the team to watch.

Erwin and Godwin - If this race had a different feel to it, their edit wouldnt bother me as a winner's edit. But this isn't an nice guy race this time around, this one is cut-throat, and crazy grueling. These guys just arent getting the right edit for the type of race. At least thats what I'm thinking. They have great ability to recover - but once the field is narrowed down, they're going to need to not have to recover from so many mistakes, and just well - not make mistakes. They certainly seem to have at least final four, if not race to the finish potential though.

David and Mary - ok, this one is going to be a little controversial. I think these guys go a lot farther than anyone expected. I dont think they'll be racing to the finish, but I dont think they're out next, or even two episodes from now. I think they come in fourth or fifth. They have great drive, as disfunctional as they may seem at times with her yelling at him - its not the same as Rob and Kimberly's fighting. Mary is most definitely in control - and David lets her be - ok, its called being whipped if we're going to be honest. ;oP But it clearly works for them. The ankle wasnt even shown to be that much of an issue for them either.

Rob and Kimberly - Ah, our villians. The team that everyone looks at with wonder that they could possibly stand the sight of each other after the race is over. They'll battle on right to the end, they're good competitors, but they are focusing too much on their fighting. They dont have the years of experience dealing with each other that Lake and Michelle did. The fighting really is holding back this team - because it hampers their ability to make quick, decisive decisions. I dont see them winning, but then I NEVER would have expected Freddy and Kendra to win - and they did. I need another episode or two to decide about these two. I think they could sneak their way up the ranks.

Peter and Sarah - well finally we had an episode in which her leaking knee wasnt mentioned. Her disability obviously was, but the leaking holding them back wasnt - was it fixed somehow? These two simply are not the winners. We're supposed to be rooting for her and we're left with a bad taste in our mouth for him. This is different than disliking someone because they fight - he's being shown to be insensitive to her and her disability. They could have been edited SO, SO different, even with the relationship issues. Their story will be wrapped up in the next episode or two I think. Michel - I totally agree about the shot of her crawling through the rice paddies. Perhaps she asked him to go on, but we werent shown that. I'm all for the "you go girl" mentality - but good lord, pick the woman up and carry her through the mud! Chivalry isnt THAT dead.

Lyn and Karlyn - well, their edit has improved, they seem more focused on the race, and winning, but that I believe is because their story arc is coming full circle. I think they're next. If not, then the leg after that. But their kids will be proud of them.

EDITED TO ADD: I forgot to mention, that I was rolling my eyes along with everyone else when the girls were listening to the crickets. I really think though that 1) This was just TOO GOOD to pass up putting in the show. and 2) It showed just how intensely those girls are playing - perhaps a foreshadowing of just that hurting them. I think though that it was just really funny, and put in for just that reason.