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

By Marcus

Seven teams started the race and at the end, one went home. Racing through the southern states of Alabama , Mississippi , and Louisiana , we all realize what a tragedy has fallen upon this area. And we continue to offer these states our hope, our support, and our trust that new beginnings will happen.

            Tonight the “let’s all talk at the same time” Godlewski sisters continued  incessant chatter and laughter throughout  the race. Even though Christine shed tears of frustration, there were tears of joy for their forth place finish. They remain tough competitors.

            The Linz siblings took a gamble at the Fairview Riverside State Park . They left the blackjack tables, paddled back to shore and attacked the 12-inch logs with determination. They finish a solid third.

            The Gaghan family also took a gamble when they folded their blackjack hands and tackled the log. But prior to that, they rode the Talladega party spider bike while little Carissa lamented that her legs were too short to help in the peddling. That 9-year-old sweetheart is a fountain of positive energy. She represents the promise that each of us once possessed. Earlier in tonight’s episode, she proclaimed that the other teams thought that her family could not win because she and her brother were “just kids.” But she declared, “I’m smart, I’m funny, I’ll keep the team going.” And she is doing just that. They finished sixth.

            The grieving Weaver family was faced with an almost impossible situation. Not very long ago, Mr. Weaver died in a racetrack death. And here they were, at the Talladega Motor Speedway. It would have been very understandable for them to simply quit rather than continue. But they reached deep inside. They found an inner quality of strength and together they faced the demons of death that had robbed them of husband and father. By completing that party-bike race on a racetrack similar to the one that claimed Mr. Weaver, they found a victory not just for themselves and their torn hearts, but also for their beloved husband and father. Well done, Weaver family. They finished fifth.

            Even though the “let’s scream and disparage one another” Paolo family started tonight’s race practically with a fight in the back car seat, they actually got it together. They sawed through that log like ole lumberjack legend Paul Bunyan. We may be seeing a change that will permit them to work together as a solid family unit, rather than war with one another. They finished second.

            Father Bransen must be taking vitamins or huffing oxygen. Last week this guy was nearly ready to collapse, but somehow he has gained his second wind and endurance. I don’t how his girls did it, but dad has been refocused. They cruised to a first place finish just seconds ahead of the Paolo family.

            Like butter left out in the sun, the Schroeder family had a meltdown. Searching for the Southern Colonel, they ignored the correct information from a local Hattiesburg sheriff and wandered about aimlessly. By the time they found their trailer for the night rest stop, exhaustion, poor food, frustrations, and despair flooded this family’s core. They were simply unable to get it back. They were eliminated in their own city of New Orleans and will race no more.

            And thus the race continues……

See Also:

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

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