Episode Report Card M. Giant: A- | 141 USERS: B+ YOU GRADE IT All About the Melons
By M. Giant | Season 20 | Episode 3 | Aired on 2012.03.04
Kerri and Stacy are almost done stringing and so are Nary and Jamie, but Elliot and Andrew are still just harping at each other. The cousins finish the Detour in sixth place and Team Undercover in seventh. That leaves Elliot and Andrew there alone, and when they realize they missed a string -- and not for the first time -- Andrew says they should switch Detours. Meanwhile, at the fruit market, Ralph gingerly balances one melon on the top of their haphazard pyramid, but as soon as he lets go, the whole thing collapses on all four sides. It's actually kind of spectacular, in a totally depressing way. "That's not repairable," he says. Andrew and Elliot are wondering what to do about finding a cab to the fruit market, and Vanessa says they've already lost. "We have to take apart the whole thing," Ralph says. And Elliot hurls his backpack to the ground in frustration. No breakables in there, I hope.
After the ads, Elliot and Andrew are considering going back inside to finish the harp task. Ralph and Vanessa are also trying to make a decision. Andrew decides, "I'm going back and I'm gonna get it done. I don't care if it takes me all day." Interesting use of the first-person singular there. Think that might have anything to do with the difficulties they've been having? Ralph says they'll have to start over and Vanessa stands there defeated while he begins dismantling. "It's all right. Keep throwing me watermelons," he says. Or start throwing them, as the case may be. Back in the auditorium, Eliot says, "It is what it is, but we're gonna finish." I like how people have stopped pretending "it is what it is" is anything other than a family-friendly swear word. Back at the market, Ralph asks Vanessa if she wants to quit, but she still doesn't. As she says in an interview, Ralph has a thirteen-year-old daughter and they have to show her it's not okay to quit. Just like Vanessa never quit stalking Ralph. "Hell or high water, we're gonna finish it," she vows They kiss and get to work.