Episode 2: Norway

Much better episode! The pace went back to the usual level, my heart was beating really heavily (makes me really worried if I have high blood pressure), there is a wonderful rule change to the Roadblock, and the Detour is actually difficult to choose. I still don't care much about the people on there except maybe a couple of teams, but the tasks and the locations made up for it. Here are a few pointy thoughts...

• I'm very happy about the change in the Roadblock rule, forcing each team member to complete no more than 6 in the entire race. This would mean that in the final leg, the roadblocker is determined at that critical stage. I like this rule, as I believe that it would have had an enormous impact on previous race results.
• I don't like the fact that everything before the Detour didn't matter due to the long train ride that everyone was on. But this Detour is so good that it's worthy of being the determinant in the standings.
• Since when is riding on a zip line an Olympic feat?
• I don't think I learned anything about Norway, though. And I don't think I'll learn anything about Sweden next episode, although it would make a great commercial for Ikea...
• Lots of slapstick comedy. The random rowing, the falling on skis, the inability to drive stick, the inaccuracy in an accuracy detour, the "this is not my car" line, all excellent television.
• One good thing about being an old couple on the Race: you get senior discount on train tickets.
• Ooo...a new penalty! Getting two clues from a box! The cameraman even caught the lost clue on the ground! Excellent camera work. And having to stand beside a rock ordered by Phil, and a countdown clock on screen (though I'm not totally convinced about the accuracy of the clock), this is fun...sort of.

Ok, that's about it. Hoping for an even better episode next time. I'll get a further review later in the week, if I remember.