[TV] Race across the World.

[Eric the meek]

One of the teams has already blown 20% of their budget, they’re toast

Didn't they go in the wrong direction at one stage - across Honshu to the west coast, rather than south to Tokyo?

It's pretty basic stuff to go in the right general direction.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Is it just me or are all the teams hopeless?

 

[LANGDON SEAGULL]

Didn't they go in the wrong direction at one stage - across Honshu to the west coast, rather than south to Tokyo?

It's pretty basic stuff to go in the right general direction.

Yep - they went to the west coast of Honshu as they thought it would be cheaper to avoid Tokyo. Turns out it wasn’t the case

 

[PeterT]

Yep - they went to the west coast of Honshu as they thought it would be cheaper to avoid Tokyo. Turns out it wasn’t the case

I did a trip from Japan to Lombok 30 years ago. Wouldn’t mind doing it again!

 

[vegster]

Is it just me or are all the teams hopeless?

Not started watching this series yet but will do. In answer to your question could it be that the show has been tweaked a bit to create and highlight drama and chaos rather than organisation and efficiency ?

Sadly the norm now is to try to create drama and crisis in order to keep people watching. Ref. Apprentice, MasterChef and even Bake Off are straying in to that area.

If there was a German or Japanese version of RATW it would probably run on rails and finish in half the episodes.

 

[Arthur]

Didn't even clock this was on. Just downloaded the first episode.

Hopefully it's a lot better than the last series.

 

[Mellotron]

One of the teams has already blown 20% of their budget, they’re toast

More like a third wasn't it?

They seem likely to be the team to drop out early.

The two young lads seem like they're going to fall out big time at some point.

 

[Mellotron]

If there was a German or Japanese version of RATW it would probably run on rails and finish in half the episodes.

Funny you should say - the Japanese Bullet Train is banned in this year's series.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Didn't even clock this was on. Just downloaded the first episode.

Hopefully it's a lot better than the last series.

So far it is looking promising. The last non-celeb series in Canada was great to watch for the scenery but the lack of transport alternatives ruined the series

 

[Official Old Man]

What I don't understand is that at some point in the race, normally two thirds through, they all race for the same 'only' ferry across a sea. Strangly, at that point, they are all back together again.

 

[A1X]

What I don't understand is that at some point in the race, normally two thirds through, they all race for the same 'only' ferry across a sea. Strangly, at that point, they are all back together again.

Looking at the route thing at the start of this week's episode there looks to be a flight which skips China entirely, that might be it, although it would be nice if they recorded the gap arriving at the airport then staggered the restart accordingly on the other side (like a Virtual Safety Car in the F1)

 

[Mellotron]

So far it is looking promising. The last non-celeb series in Canada was great to watch for the scenery but the lack of transport alternatives ruined the series

They were hamstrung by COVID that year apparently and had to keep to one country, which did make it a little dull after 3-4 episodes, scenery apart.

Far too much reliance on hitchhiking and long boring bus journeys also.

 

[JBizzle]

So far it is looking promising. The last non-celeb series in Canada was great to watch for the scenery but the lack of transport alternatives ruined the series

Couldn't agree more. This series already seems better on account of it not being simply one long drive from one side of Canada to the other

 

[crodonilson]

One thing that really grates with me on this, and most similar shows. Why do they feel the need to open the episode (and every future episode) with a couple of minutes of highlights of the entire series? They do it on the Apprentice too so you know early on who won't get fired as you've already seen them at the beginning doing different tasks.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

One thing that really grates with me on this, and most similar shows. Why do they feel the need to open the episode (and every future episode) with a couple of minutes of highlights of the entire series? They do it on the Apprentice too so you know early on who won't get fired as you've already seen them at the beginning doing different tasks.

These shows are filled with padding.

 

[Arthritic Toe]

Its all a bit contrived. Those 'jobs' they do along the way have obviously been researched and set up in advance, so their route must be preordained to arrive at that point. Its all obviously highly stage managed which makes the whole thing a bit crap.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Couldn't agree more. This series already seems better on account of it not being simply one long drive from one side of Canada to the other

I also think the language barrier challenge makes it a lot more fun.

Canada was a bit 'easy' to a point

 

[Arthur]

Its all a bit contrived. Those 'jobs' they do along the way have obviously been researched and set up in advance, so their route must be preordained to arrive at that point. Its all obviously highly stage managed which makes the whole thing a bit crap.

Finally caught up with the first two episodes and whilst I'm enjoying it I can't help but to agree with you. I'm not so bothered about the jobs bit as that has always been the case and would be near impossible for them to find a days casual work without it being setup. However the routes they are taking aren't the obvious ones. Two of the teams, the two well in lead in fact, have lost their map so clearly they are told which route they are to take. Whilst it looks like its going to be better series than the last one it has kinda been spoilt it for me because of the stage management that wasn't as obvious in previous serieses.

Both the mother and daughter couples are highly likeable. The black couple are exceptionally good. The daughter throwing herself in at the deep end from a language point of view has helped them massively. But money will probably start being an issue for them. The white couple whilst being likeable are so far behind the others they will surely be the first couple out.

The young lads are keen but you can't help but think they would still be in Sapporo if they hadn't been guided by the producers.

The brother and sister are an interesting combo. She seems quite ditzy and there for a free holiday but he seems more interested in the race aspect. Will be interesting to see if that changes as the race progresses.

The older couple, well him, is quite annoying. I can see them having a big fall out with each other and probably the other teams.

 

[robinsonsgrin]

There is good insight to the behind the scenes on this on the Richard Osman, Marina Hyde podcast 'The Rest is Entertainment' regarding the rules on transport... they cant get on something that onoy has 2 spaces free - obv one of the two camera team have to travel. There is always a support car near, which contestants do not see ... in case of emergencies ( remember a bro sis team having to get med help in an earlier series )... and then all fluffy shots of views are made by another team who are told the routes taken... recreate the journey and add in the shots at a later date. Found I had more questions after listening, but they said that they will address more of the RATW questions in future episodes

 

[Nobby]

Didn't even clock this was on. Just downloaded the first episode.

Hopefully it's a lot better than the last series.

It isn't