Race Across The World Series 5 Thread 2

[TwentyKittens]

With only five posts left on the old thread, thought I'd start this so we can link between the two.

This thread carries on from the first:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/5314933-race-across-the-world?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

I don't like the balance in this series either - I've noticed as a family that we are getting a lot more distracted watching and chatting/ picking up our phones.

I liked it when there was more travel and enough back story/ focus on the contestants so we got a feel for what sort of people they were, but not so that was the main focus.

Last night and last week I've fast forwarded when they start talking about their lives.

I doubt I've missed anything that hasn't been said before.

I noticed Brian was getting pissed off at the vineyard. Probably sick of being questioned about his and Melvyn's relationship and childhood!!!

She mentioned him at the start when she said he wanted her to stay at home and not work after they got married.

And she mentioned him somewhere in China when she and Tom were looking at a pair of red slippers. She said, "Daddy would love these".

I don't remember another time.

Is this Caroline the woman who is a horse trainer, training dressage horses to championship level, or did a pp get mixed up with someone else?

i know a lot of women trapped by circumstance and I don’t think she actually realises how lucky she is

100% this.

Last year I was properly rooting for Alfie and Owen to win. This year I don’t mind who it is. I’m definitely not as invested this year. I still want to see more of the country and lifestyle that they are in.

I love seeing how they travel and what they see in random places and how they find accommodation. I have found the previous series made me want to travel there but this time I’m not so inspired. Not because the places aren’t wonderful but I’m not getting the travel bug somehow

There’s not enough on their struggles to find accommodation, budgeting for food etc. All the stuff that makes it interesting.

Caught up on thread.

I thought the brothers had run out of steam this episode, not surprising as Brian had been ill and he looked worn out I thought.I was still shocked at how far behind they came when they had a head start.

The young couple are sweet and I think doing really well, I’d be happy with them winning.

Agree everyone carping on about Caroline should read @bashual post, which gives a very clear explanation of why her (and other) narratives are reinforced, even if the contestant doesn't want to play that game.

Well thinking about personal journeys - I think the siblings have all worked out etc

fin and doomed have definitely grown during the process. So has Tom.

but I think Caroline has some to go - the thing about not wanting to make a decision and leaving Tom to donut but then joking ‘don’t want to say I told you so’ when she’d told him nothing!! I think they could do with an extra leg with them being more equal in the planning but I don’t think the last leg can do that - or maybe it will.

I get the point about editing and being shown the person the producers want us to see but I am also allowed to not like the person I’m shown - because that is all I’m seeing!!

eta I’m sure Caroline is very nice in real life

I don’t hate her. She seems like a genuinely nice person. What I don’t like is the way that she is being portrayed as a downtrodden housewife when she has had such great success eventing. This might not be her choice but I dislike that we are being sold that she has done nothing for herself in decades.

I noticed that last night when she said it I was shocked! I would say having horses and enough time to train them and practice and compete is quite a bit of “me time”!

In the latest episode there was a bit where the camera lingered on something to do with horses, which made me laugh!

I’m enjoying all the contestants so far

I don’t care what Caroline’s past is I still enjoy watching her.

With the brothers, I get they had a difficult bringing, and went to different schools and one was richer and had a so called better job than the other

but why has that kept them apart for years?
im far better off than one of my siblings but we are still good mates and in each others lives

so whats the full story ?

Also I’m starting to wonder if there a bit of jealously about Caroline here, yes she’s had a comfortable life and privaliged life to spend 20 years being a sahp and persuing hobbies

mayeb right after she says about being at home for 20 years she adds in well I have also been doing my eventing and community or charity work of she does any of those things too
and maybe bbc cut that off !!

I'm not sure there is much of a 'story' per se with their relationship

They've probably just not spent as much time as they'd like to have with each other (lack of effort, distance??) and so wanted to do the adventure together to reconnect

I just don’t like the pretence. It’s hard to believe that the producers are telling her to keep repeating this story about how she’s not done anything for 20 years.

i bet the bbc are anti privilege
they know that her privilege lifestyle would not appeal to people watching, tone down any poshness

I found the contrast between Thomas' expensive accent and Melvin's straight talking really funny this week.

I think it's natural to feel envious of Caroline's lifestyle, and empathy for the sisters losing their home.

It was lovely to see the brothers say such kind things about each other but it felt unnatural and forced.

I liked seeing Caroline whooping with excitement!

i have never leaned out of an open door on a train either, we used to occasionally put our heads out of a train window

Reminds me of an episode of the Young Ones (iykyk).

I'm getting irritated by the constant personal stories now. Just get on with the travel.

I'm sure no one hates any of the contestants. However Caroline keeps being encouraged to repeat the refrain that she has done nothing for 20 years, when that clearly isn't the case. And then the two sibling pairs both keep pontificating over their relationships. In comparison, Fin has only talked about his childhood health experiences once.

Obviously we all know it's editing, but it can still feel very tiresome. I would rather see how everyone made it to the checkpoint than hear again how Caroline has done nothing for herself for 20 years / Brian and Melvyn have barely spent time together for 40 years.

I think Fin actually has the biggest story of all