Amazing Race Returns with Fast Paced Face Smacking Action

The Amazing Race returned, a little late, for its seventeenth season and hoping to rebound after a few sluggish races around the globe. This time around a new element has been added to the game called the Express Pass. For this first leg the team to finish in first place received the Express Pass and could use it during any leg of the race to skip a task. They also switched up the start of the race as unlike many previous seasons, they began the race in Massachusetts instead of Hollywood/LA. It was a nice change of scenery and hopefully a line of good changes for the season. The first leg saw the teams race from the US to London, England in search of Stonehenge, climb up a castle, sink some boats and get smacked in the face with a watermelon. Since I don't really know many of the teams yet, let's break down the episode based upon the teams and how they finished.

First Place: Jill & Thomas - Dating

These two started off the race on the first flight, seemed to get along well and also seemed to be all there. They sadly weren't shown to much because of their lack of dysfunctionality and could prove to be top contenders. They ended up getting the Express Pass, as of now we don't know if they have the only one, but they are surely a team to watch out for. Although they aren't that exciting.

Second Place: Nat & Kat - Doctors/Friends

Nat and Kat are starting out to be one of my favorite teams. The two are doctors and are very smart. They ended up being the first at Stonehenge, even though they were on the second flight, and made great decisions throughout the entire leg. They teamed up with the Home Shopping girls which could prove to be a strong alliance and one of those two teams could end up being the first females to win. They were funny and have a side story going with Nat having diabetes. That will surely be something to watch for and could prove to be one of the things that hold them back.

Third Place: Connor & Jonathan - Singers/College Students

The two have already been crowned the "Nerds" of the season based on their looks and being in an a Capella group. They skipped their graduation for the race, which is a huge deal, but if they keep up the same as their first leg they won't last long. Connor and Jonathan got lost in Massachusetts, the last at the airport, and also had some trouble in England. They were following the father/daughter team and once they got a flat tire then they were on their own. They were able to pass a ton of teams however at the task and Road Block, putting them in a very lucky third place.

Fourth Place: Brook & Claire - Home Shopping Hosts/Friends

Being that these two have already been on TV, I didn't know what to expect. I'm sure they were casted, as in did not apply, so usually that isn't a great sign. However the two are SO different that it makes them fun to watch. Brook is very very hyper while Claire is more laid back and moves at a slower pace. They were doing well at the start and could have gotten first, until the most memorable moment of any season happened. At the Road Block one team member had to sling a watermelon to knock down a knight suit. As Claire went to sling the watermelon, it ended up flying back and smashing in her face. If you haven't seen it check it out on YouTube as its been swirling the Internet for weeks now. It was a crazy moment but Claire got back up and knocked down the suit in two more tries, giving them a decent fourth place finish.

Fifth Place: Katie & Rachel - Beach Volleyball Partners

I'm not too sure what to think of these two. They didn't get as much airtime as the other female teams but did have a cool moment when one of the two got the car stuck on an England hill. The other ended up trying to push while the driver got the car started, leaving the other stranded in the road. They laughed it off and ended up doing well enough to get fifth place. I really can't tell the two apart though and their lack of airtime doesn't help them stick out any better.

Sixth Place: Gary & Mallory - Father/Daughter

This is a team people are going to love or going to get annoyed with fast. Mostly because of Mallory. She is a VERY peppy girl and seems very happy about life and everything. We didn't see too much of her father as Mallory was too busy screaming and just soaking everything in. The two did have their car break down, rather a tire blow, but that didn't take their spirit out of things and they flew past others in the boat task. While others sank on their first, and several, tries. They ended up going across with one try and I have a feeling they will be underestimated and could go far.

Seventh Place: Kevin and Michael - Father/Son

I was very excited to see this team at first since Kevin is KevJumba on YouTube and his father is in most of his videos. They are entertaining online, but not so much on TV. The father/son duo weren't shown at all under their boat sank about fifty times. Other then that they weren't shown much and that could be because of Michael's heavy accent. He's very hard to understand during their interviews and although they did have some good moments with the boat sinking, they were MIA. Something I was kind of sad to see.

Eighth Place: Chad & Stephanie - Newly Dating

These two are one of my favorite teams but sadly they didn't do too well. They were on the first flight out so that should have given them a lead, but they got lost several times on the loop arounds in London and Chad's yelling didn't help either. They sank their boat probably the second most times, until they calmed down enough to do it. Then they got lost going to the Pit Stop, running around the entire perimeter of Eastnor Castle before finally finding Phil thanks to an arrow. I would have said that was a stupid thing to do, but trust me there is a much dumber team up ahead.

Ninth Place: Andie & Jenna - Birth Mother/Daughter

Now I see where casting was going with this but honestly, this team does not make sense. Andie gave birth to Jenna and then placed her up for adoption. They found each other and somehow applied to be on the Amazing Race without ever speaking to each other on the phone. After seeing each other for only three times, they started the race almost perfect strangers. Their story is there but the bond is not. Other then their story they don't have much substance. Their car broke down, thanks to Andie not knowing how to drive stick, so that was a good moment. But the two didn't react... at all. They kind of just sat there all calm bumbling around on what to do. That does NOT make a good reality star and sadly, other then their story, I see no reason for them to be on the race.

Tenth Place: Nick & Vicki - Dating

This is surely the rocker team for this season but they could also be called the no-brains team. They made several stupid mistakes that show they won't be in this for the long haul. They got lost several times, taking three hours to get to the Road Block. Vicki never heard of Stonehenge and had no clue what it was. They climbed the ladder up the castle and didn't know to just grab a flag sitting right in front of them. Then they had to clue what a boat looked like apparently and bumbled around searching for a boat that sat in front of their feet. The ended up in tenth place for a reason, Vicki thought she was in the country of London, and I have a feeling they'll be going home rather quickly. At least I hope so.

Eleventh/Last Place: Ron & Tony - Best Friends

These two started off really great, getting to the airport in Massachusetts first and getting the first seats on the first flight. That should have put them off to an early league but their lack of direction but them behind everyone else. They seemed to a potential threat to people, but their lack of balance hurt their boat task, forcing a ton of sinking action, and that put them in last place. I'm kind of ok with them going though as they aren't the big personalities that everyone else is. It's nice to see a more boring/level team go home over the crazies and fortunately I think we are in for some crazies this season.