Season 4 Episode 1

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The 4th season of the Asian version of the best reality TV show on Earth is back! The Amazing Race Asia returns with 10 new teams that will race around … Asia and nearby countries to win US$100,000. Allan Wu also returns as the host who needs to loosen up a bit. The first leg was done around Malaysia. Wasn’t this also the first country last season? Some of the notable places they visited were the Batu Caves (The Amazing Race All-Stars went there. I still remember the spoiler pics of Charla and Mirna walking down those flight of stairs!) and a palace that was the Pit Stop on Amazing Race 16 Episode 8. (That’s what it said in the clue.) There weren’t a lot of “wow” places that went to in the first episode. A soccer stadium? Not sure if it’s a culturally significant location. The editing was choppy. I couldn’t track the teams properly. You forget where the other teams were, especially when they were traveling to the next location. The 10 teams for Season 4 are: Sunaina and Dimple – Travel Buddies / Actresses from India. Actresses? TARA loves actors. I guess it’s a business decision. These celebrities can pull in new viewers / subscribers to AXN meaning more money. They didn’t stand out to me in the Race. Sahil and Manas – Cousins from India. Sahil is listed as “Aspiring Actor”. Er… then what’s your current job? He’s going to use the race as a jumping board for his career. Ick. It’s supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, not an audition. Hussein and Natasha – Father and daughter from Indonesia. They’re the first father/daughter team in the Amazing Race Asia, and they were almost eliminated! They came in 2nd to last on the first leg. I don’t know how they got to the back of the pack, although they were shown riding a boat to get to the cruise ship that is the Pit Stop. Other than that, they seem forgettable. No sweet bonding moments from the two that I can remember. Yani and Nadine – Best friends from Indonesia. Celebrities yet again. They were almost eliminated by coming in last, but luckily it was a non-elimination round. Their penalty is that they must come in first next leg or suffer a 30-minute set back. I don’t have high hopes for these two and I think they will be eliminated in the next leg. Ivan and Hilda – Husband and wife from Malaysia. Ivan is not really Asian but a Hungarian that moved in to Malaysia when he married Hilda. These 2 remind me of Terri and Henry from … Season 2 I think? Hilda was hilarious. Ok I am being mean. She was suffering, but I thought her melt down was funny because that’s how Filipinos melt down, especially Filipino housewives lol. I salute Ivan for keeping a cool head and not sniping at Hilda. He even carried her to the car when she hurt her foot going down the Batu Caves. Awwww. (but what about her shoe?! I think she dropped one her shoes there on the stairs.) Ethan and Khairie – Friends from Malaysia. I am still not sure how to feel about this team. They look like they were having fun, and they give good interviews, but their excitement seems… fake? acted out? not real. Reminds me of Marc and Rovilson and their over-the-top antics. They came in first this leg, but I think it’s because they’re in their home turf. We’ll find out how good they are in the coming legs. Jess and Lani – Party girls from the Philippines. This team saddens me. They stole a spot from a “real” Filipino team. They’re from Australia, and were just based in the Philippines for I don’t know how long (or short). And party girls? They should have just went and said “models” in their app. At least models make their own money. Party girls just sound bratty and spoiled. Do they even know how to speak Tagalog? Richard and Richard – Friends from the Philippines. One is a pro basketball player and the other is an actor. I think they are celebrities but I don’t know them. They didn’t make that big of an impression on me, except coming in 2nd. Strong team, hopefully. Entertaining? With just one episode under my belt, I say no. 2 Filipino teams and I don’t want to root for any of them. Change my mind, TARA! Claire and Michelle – Rebel pals from Singapore. I guess you can use any tag lines in the Race. (at least in the Amazing Race Asia version). Beggars to Billionaires from the Philippines. Ramen Noodles Heiress from Korea. Jobless Married Couple from Hong Kong. Claire and Michelle are also celebrities, but their background was quite engaging. They were junkies but got to rehab and cleaned themselves up. Am I thinking of another show? I’m now confused. They’re rebels, and I remember them saying they both ran away from home. If they were not drug junkies, I am sorry! I must have mixed it up with another show. They’ve gone through hardships in their life so I am guessing the Race will be a cakewalk to them. Alan and Wendy – Dating couple from Hong Kong. This reminds me of a past dating couple, and I think they were from Hong Kong as well. I forgot their names, but it was an abusive relationship. I don’t think these 2 was abusive in the first episode. But they didn’t live any impression on me either. I may have to watch the first episode again to understand better what happened. The show went by too fast, and the choppy editing didn’t help at all. Summary: 1st – Ethan and Khairie 2nd – Richard and Richard 3rd – Claire and Michelle 4th – Sunaina and Dimple 5th – Alan and Wendy 6th – Hilda and Ivan 7th – Sahil and Manas 8th – Jess and Lani 9th – Hussein and Natasha 10th – Yani and Nadine (non-elimination leg)