This was a surprisingly interesting episode. And it even started on time!

Like
1. Gary/Matt (4) - These two make a big move up this week, though much of it is due to failings of other teams. They're a surprisingly solid team which seems to be having a great time, and with no drama or bickering. I have to deduct a few style points for incorrect rowboat operation, though!

2. Meghan/Cheyne (1) - The stress of the race is getting to Meghan, since she's getting more and more uptight with every episode. Still, the two of them get along well, they don't stir up trouble with other teams, and they're strong competitors.

3. Flight Time/Big Easy (2) - I predicted it earlier-- a mental task would be the end of these two. And if Mika weren't a completely useless spoiled brat, that briefcase task would've been the end of them. And while the waterslide trash-talking to Mika wasn't nice, I saw that as a showman/athlete just doing his thing.

Meh
4. Maria/Tiffany (5) - It only took five episodes for the TAR production team to find tasks suited to these two. Math skills should be second nature for professional poker players, and who woulda thunk that Tiffany could row?

5. Sam/Dan (6) - While they were better this leg, their smart move of bringing a calculator was more than offset by their inability to perform basic math. It's pretty sad when they get bailed out by bumbling Team Poker Girls.

Don't like
6. Brian/Ericka (3) - Petruchio Brian has much more work to do with Katherina Ericka. I could conceivably root for Brian if he had a better teammate... but he doesn't.

Philiminated
Mika/Canaan (7) - Two well-deserved boots in a row? What's this show coming to? Off the top of my head, I can't think of a more inept Racer than Mika to make it this far. I continue to question why they were cast in the first place, as they had no racing skills, their interpersonal dynamic wasn't interesting, and they weren't cute enough to qualify as token eye candy.

Side note: Even counting the former Miss America, they completely forgot the female eye candy this season.

agman spooked me