"Blast Off to the Stars" - The Amazing Race Episode 3 Summary  10/12/05

By Marcus

Tonight, eight teams departed from a Virginia manor house and flew to Charleston. By the end of this episode, one team would be returning home. This race is not covering the exotic lands of foreign countries and diverse cultures as we experienced in previous Amazing Races, but instead exploring many of the wonders of this USA. Tonight, mud and space, and alien-looking sea creatures were on the race's menu.

Perhaps like all travelers in strange cities, it was that darling little 9 year old Carissa's suggestion that all explorers need to ask "do we need a map?" As someone who has been completely lost in foreign cities more than a few times, that is sound advice.

The Paolo family continues their bickering, insulting, degrading and sarcastic talk. But the word "talk" may be too kind for this group. Their talking is interchangeable with arguing. But not constructive arguing, but mean-spirited spiced with nasty raw biting snips. It is almost as if they are internally keeping score and he who can sting the other more times, is the winner. I wonder about the two boys. Are they ashamed of their father's immigrant background? Is the sons' sense of identity so insecure? I think that they have developed a habit of degrading communication. And it is not a good habit. But sometimes, they provide us a flicker of hope. When they ran to their 6th place finish, the boys were actually, and perhaps for the first time in this race, encouraging "go mother, go." At last !

The Linz siblings are getting it more together. They are starting to listen to sister Megan and she is now a more vital part of their team. They have heard her protests that she is indeed a team member. Their shrimp beheading was a breeze as they worked together. And when she was struggling to keep up, they carried her pack. Tonight they finished 2nd.

Maybe it is the lack of sleep or nourishment, but 14-year-old Hunter Schroeder needs language correction for calling his stepmother "a bitch." I am appalled by that disrespect. Wake up, Hunter, life does not revolve around you. They finished 3rd.

The Weaver family made a good decision after getting repeatedly stuck in the mud. They rushed back to the shrimp boat and attacked those creatures. But that additional effort took its toll and the entire family became exhausted. They had no energy left. They were on the verge of total collapse when widowed mother Linda rallied her troops to put on a good face, play the role and show no defeat. The Waffle House parking lot dance may have wakened the daughters and caused the other teams to suspect a twinkle of psychosis, but it worked and they came together. Again. Linda needs to write a "how to cope with grief while raising and loving my children." They finished 3rd. What a comeback effort.

What can we say about the bubbling Godlewski sisters? These gals must have some sort of internal rhythm. Even when de-heading shrimp, you can see them enjoying themselves. They finished 4th.

Bill Gaghan flew through that mud run like a flock of Canada Geese chomping their way through a Wisconsin fall cornfield. With wife and kids cheering him on, they made record time. They are officially now known as "The Gaghan Mud Dabbers." What an exciting young family to witness. Almost every time Bill and his wife, Tammy, look into the eyes of their two children, their parental love radiates like glowing embers. And when they were racing to the space shuttle Pathfinder pit stop mat, it was golden haired Carissa leading her family to their 7th place finish.

Who needs a hybrid car when your special first place award is gasoline for life? The Bransen girls must have had an all-daughter meeting and decided to focus less on physically demanding tasks due to their father being out of shape. This new strategy could be the determining factor for their continued victory. Tonight, they raced to the stars and finished 1st.

Mud. Acres of mud. The type of mud that sucks you down like a swirling vortex. For the father and three son in-law Aiello family team, the mud run became a mud stopper. But they did not quit. Finally on their 14th attempt and covered with mire, they mentally willed that four-wheeler through the sludge. But that determined "never say never" perseverance became too much of a time gobbler and they could not make it up. They finished last and were eliminated. But this experience has done something wonderful for the Aiello team. Coming into the race, they really had not spent much time with one another. But coming out of the race, they are indeed a bonded, loving family.

And so the race continues. We are down to seven teams. As more teams are eliminated, the competition heats. But please, no more de-heading shrimp because that will totally ruin my appetite! 

See Also:

10/26/05 "Wild About Panties" The Amazing Race Episode 5

10/19/05 "Facing the Demons of Death" - The Amazing Race Episode 4 Summary

10/5/05 The smell of gunpowder and the dripping of sweat - TAR Episode 2 Summary

10/3/05 "Annnnnnd They're Off...." - Amazing Race Episode 1 Summary