Amazing Race 5 Team Dynamics: Nobody Does it Better, Makes Me Feel Bad For the Rest

One thing that most viewers of The Amazing Race look for as they watch is if they have ever been where the race is taking the contestants. Well, this week I've actually been to one of the destinations. That's right, I've stayed in Luxor before. It's a great place, with all the friendly people, bright lights, magic shows, and slot machines. Well, technically it was Las Vegas, but it was the Luxor Hotel, so I'm going to say that it counts. Anyway, this week was another great leg for the racers. More conflict between teammates, more conflict between teams, and more conflict between nerve endings in knees make for great television. But does it make for great Team Dynamics? The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind (a.k.a. directly beneath this sentence).

Team Consistent: In a word, Colin and Christie are ridiculous, but in a good way. They started with a seven hour lead, got all caught up with the other six teams, and still ended up in first. This is the sign of true "amazing" Amazing Racers. However, like most humans (sans myself and you, the reader) they are not perfect. On their way to the Great Pyramid they bickered over how they treat each other. Though it barely hurt them this time, tension has been known to build and boil throughout the course of the race. For their sake, this tension hopefully won't later erupt into a huge time wasting fight.

They chose the faster of the detours (Haul It) because of Colin's superior racing logic: it takes a shorter time to carry two buckets of water on land than it does to move a flock of sheep across the Nile River. They arrived at the roadblock first and finished it quickly (though, let's be fair: they got extremely lucky). Even after they had finished the roadblock, they continued being nice to their competitors by showing them what a scarab is. Just when one would think they could not be any better, while on the ferry heading toward the pit stop, Colin whipped out the binoculars and searched for the flags. This, my friends, is smart racing. Colin and Christie are always looking ahead, both literally and figuratively. It's this sort of intelligence that allows them to consistently place in first.

Team Friendly: Whether it's with each other, with other teams, or with locals Chip and Kim get along great. And don't think that a friendly demeanor will go unrewarded in a game such as this. Since Chip and Kim treat people with warmth and genuine respect, people in turn want to help/do things for them. For instance, the crazy taxi driver. Because they were not shouting and demanding, the cabbie in turn sped and broke the sound barrier. Besides that, Chip and Kim are really making up for the first few legs where the struggled. They are proving themselves to be an extremely competitive team that the others have to watch out for. Now that they finally have some smarts about them, they know what to do and what not to do, i.e. hiding the scarab from view after the roadblock so as to increase their lead. All in all, another impressive showing by my new favorite team. If they continue on the path they are headed, Colin and Christie will be their only real competition.

Team Surprise: I don't know about you, but I was shocked that Kami and Karli placed as well as they did. Congratulations on their best placement yet: 3rd! However, a lot of work still needs to be done on their part. For instance, they might want to consider comprehending clues better. While in the Great Pyramid, they got confused over the words "descend down the shaft," while staring down the shaft. Other than that, they did a fairly good job. They were even first to clue box at one point. Heck, I was impressed they even found it. Even though they did a good job at the detour, they should not have picked Herd It. One of the keys to these reality shows is learning from one's mistakes. The Twins should have known that they and animals in bulk don't mix. Remember the dog walking? Still, they did impress me several times on this leg, minus the trip while walking. If they continue to keep their wits about them, not give up, and remain confident in what they do, they could very well stay in this race for a bit longer. However, if they revert back to their old ways, it could spell trouble with a capital "ouble."

Team Chiseled: Whenever Brandon and Nicole get into an argument, Brandon should just take off his shirt and quell all emotions of anger. Even when I was taking notes, I became lost in the beauty that is Brandon's chest. I mean... Anyway, Brandon and Nicole ran yet another sub-par leg. They just seemed to have trouble everywhere. Even though they chose the faster detour, they bickered, thus slowing them down. Not to mention the harsh treatment of the donkey which also led to their lagging. In short, Noah would be very disappointed in them. Perhaps that is the reason when, at the roadblock, God did not answer Brandon's plea for help. I mean, let's face it. If God doesn't listen to you in Egypt, birthplace of the Bible, cradle of civilization, you're in trouble. Brandon and Nicole better start learning to ignore each other and focus on the race more. They have been moving down the ranks in these past few weeks. If they wish to remain in the race, which I believe they do, they must stay focused on the task at hand and be more flexible with each other.