Episode Report Card M. Giant: B | 53 USERS: B+ YOU GRADE IT Opposites Repel
By M. Giant | Season 24 | Episode 2 | Aired on 03.02.2014
Margie & Luke already seem pretty tense as she rips their clue at 8:39, reminding him to stay calm. Soon she's leaning in a taxi window, until Luke pulls her out, summarily claiming that the driver doesn't know where it is. Margie doesn't appreciate his interference as he hails a new cab, and by the time they're in that one, confident that now they know where they're going, Margie tells Luke to let her do it. He patiently signs "I know," but by now he's already gotten her to ignore her own advice.
Dave & Connor start the leg at 8:46 AM, in fourth place, and a local advises them to take the Metro as well. Jet & Cord, still on foot, stop a jogger coming the other direction to ask if they're going the right way. Also in subtitles, this guy tells them it's too far to run, but all they understand from him is which way to go. Jet says he'd hate to catch a cab if they're only two blocks away. Yes, that would be terrible, but the converse seems even more terrible.
Brendon & Rachel hop the Metro, as do Dave & Connor, but it's so choked with rush hour commuters that they never see each other. Lucky Dave & Connor.
The Afghanimals are taking off at 8:53, in fifth place. Mark & Mallory are not far behind, leaving at 8:56. Jamal interviews that as fans of Mark, Mallory, and their former teammates, they've decided to help Team Kentucky out. That is not a good sign for Team Kentucky. Mark says in a pre-leg interview that while he and Mallory do not yet know or trust each other, they'll get closer to winning with every leg they get under their belt. That is factually correct, if not founded on a rock-solid premise.
The Globetrotters leave in seventh place at 8:57, and Team YouTube is off at 9:09. Then it's Jessica & John at 9:13 AM, and Jessica figures they should go right to the Metro without her even having to talk to anyone. Except John, that is, but no plan is perfect.
The packed subway train carrying Team Big Brother and Dave & Connor lets them off at the stop near Chen Clan Academy, and the two teams only spot each other while looking for the exit. Soon both teams are standing out on the wide stone plaza in front of the Academy, watching the red-belted master lead a hundred or so students in morning tai chi exercises. At the end of the routine, the teacher advances on Rachel, kicking and punching, and extends one upraised hand inches from her face. She flinches, as anyone would, but then holds still when she sees the inkstamp strapped to his fingers. He stamps Rachel's forehead and then Brendon's with a line of text made up of the numeral 8 surrounded by Chinese characters. Rachel interviews after the leg, "What the heck, how are we supposed to tell a taxi driver in another country that this is where we need to go?" as she points to her now-clean forehead. I think she just demonstrated how to tell a taxi driver in another country that this is where they need to go. Dave & Connor take up position, thinking (correctly) that they're here ahead of the cowboys. Now Luke & Margie's taxi arrives, and the mother/son team approaches as the father/son team are getting their foreheads stamped. Rachel is asking a local for directions to the Chinese address on her forehead, and Brendon drafts that local to explain it to a taxi driver. She doesn't know if the address is close, though, and soon Dave & Connor are already in a taxi and on their way.