Episode Report Card M. Giant: N/A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Light a Candle, Don't Curse the Dimness
By M. Giant | Season 15 | Episode 8 | Aired on 11.15.2009
So now let's watch Gary and Matt finish up the race, in an overlong sequence that shows why there are non-elimination legs. Otherwise you get scenes like this, as they interview at length about how they came on the race to do their best, and spend this time together, and about their experiences, while slogging over to the shooting range and attempting to bag themselves some cabbage. "To be shooting radishes at a moose target standing in bog shoes, it's just...pretty crazy." Gary interviews. They get it done, and jog on to the Pit Stop. "I think this could be it, buddy," Gary says. They are welcomed to Estonia, and, to the surprise of nobody, Philiminated. Gary admits, "We didn't have our A-game today. We messed up a couple places, but hey..." I think Gary is right, except for the "we" and the "our," but who could blame him? They high-five. Phil asks if they got what they wanted. "That and more," Gary says. "You can't put a price on this experience and being able to spend the time we have together...we'll take this for many, many years." Yes, and let's hope they don't go home after this and go back to never spending any time together. Phil asks Gary what he learned about Matt, and as Gary talks about having to "release" things to his son, there's a black-and-white greatest-hits montage of Matt herding ducks, the two of them riding the bicycles in the Netherlands, and celebrating their victory at the end of that one leg in Cambodia that didn't go to Meghan|Cheyne, the Globetrotters, or the brothers. Gary adds that he's proud of Matt and has to take off his glasses to wipe his eyes. Matt? He interviews, "I never want to see another candelabra in my lifetime." At least he's learned how to pronounce it since Mustpeade, though. They hug on the mat, and Gary says, "I love you, buddy, and I accept you just the way you are." Aw. And then way walk back down the boardwalk, arm in arm. Not dancing this time, though.
M. Giant is a Minneapolis-based writer with a wife, a son, and a number of cats that seems to have settled at around two. Learn waaaay too much about him at Velcrometer, follow him on Twitter, or just e-mail him at M.Giant[at]gmail.com