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

Another Horse and Hound article featuring Caroline. This one states that she has made a name for herself training horses.

“I want a horse that’s bold, unflappable and confident,” says Caroline Bridge, a farmer’s wife from Bury St Edmunds who has made a name for herself producing youngsters that have gone to the top in various different disciplines. “Often, the horse I’ll go for at an auction will be the one that leads the parade through the tunnel and into the arena.”

https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/buying-young-horses-tips-472811

‘Farmers wife’?

Feeling the teens will win it that why the editing has been done with the suspense of 'will they pack it in' when she finding it overwhelming but now they being shown as seeing the world imagining a life outside of Wales and will accumulate with them winning.

Caroline possibly sees the horses and work involved with them as 'family' when she talks about dedicating her time to family that prob includes the horses and her eventing

Feel the production get involved to help/hinder people so last time the teens caught up lots hours this week the brothers were held back.

The brothers seem tired now the long trips and hard work taking it's toll they ready for the end. Their jobs seem more physical.
Last episode usually running, racing not route preparation so will go against them.

Maybe last episode will focus on Fin and his story which they have not done much with yet ( he very quiet anyhow) then he will win.

Sister don't overly seem to enjoy it all because of that I'm not keen on them to win but at the same time maybe the 20k would be best going to them.

Really hope they all make it to the finish line and enjoy the last stop. This week's hotel seemed nice so let's hope they get a good rest.

I think they always get a good rest all their hotels have been gorgeous. They eat proper food, have their clothes laundered and everything. We haven’t seen them really struggle. I can’t beleive we’ve never seen them eating and even were they’ve been staying and how much they’ve been paying.

It's been ridiculous hasn't it! So much interesting stuff left out just so we can hear (over and over and over again) that Caroline's a poor housewife who's done nothing for herself in the last 20 years, that the sisters lost their home and one went to Italy, that the young Welsh couple are Welsh, and the brothers had a shit childhood.

Last series Alfie and Owen bought some noodle meat dish didn't they, and got the price horrifically wrong! Alfie also ate on the street which was a massive no no in Japan, and in the beginning his lack of respect really annoyed me.

I didn't warm to them at all, and even when they won only felt mild joy for them!! 😆

Finn is a resilient strong young man who has the biggest backstory of all. I dont think he would play ball with production. He has rarely mentioned his struggles and past. When he did there was no drama just some factual information. He should be proud of himself.
If I compare Finn to the youngest sister who appears to be dramatic and difficult. She manipulates Elizabeth and has a victim complex. She lost a family home. This is less traumatic than Finns cancer battle and having diabetes particularly throughout the race. It is less traumatic than having CP
This brings us to Tom. As others have said his CP is mentioned as a sort of afterthought in a later episode. We'd had to endure Letitias 'battle' for weeks at this stage.
I don't think he would open up to production. His own mother was shocked when he told the weavers he has CP. We don't know how his CP affects him as he's not said much. I think he's a lovely young man and the dynamic between him and his mum is one of mutual respect and care.
Like Finn Tom does not make a fuss. He is calm and reflective when talking to production. He should be proud if himself.
Then we have Caroline. Yes production may have asked her questions over and over again but they cannot make her say certain things. I don't think she struggles with confidence. She talks a lot about herself almost as though she is playing a role to a certain extent. We know she says she was raised to just get on with it. I think that's the real Caroline. Tough, tenacious and fiercly ocompetitive. I dont think she would do anything she didn't want to do. She appears to lead a privileged lifestyle. Production could have portrayed her as a resilient 60 year old who had to focus on a child with additional needs as a older mother and how that affected her. This narrative would have gained her a lot more empathy. She has a lovely relationship with her son but I believe that's the only genuine Caroline we see as she is acting the rest of the time. Her constant gushing over everything is draining and comes across as disingenuous. She appears to have no self awareness either.
I don't think production decides how to portrayed the cast until after filming. They may have a plan but this will be subject to change I think the reason we haven't heard the end of Caroline and Letitias woes is because both young boys didn't give them the footage they expected and wanted alongside Yin and Gaz leaving early.
Finn and Tom to win!

I don’t agree on Tom and the CP. he hasn’t spoken much about but there’s a few times where he has worried about something because of his hand and then been pleased when he could do it (like the rug making). It’s been brought up every episode but then it has been relevant I suppose. I think he’s come to terms with it over the journey.

I do agree with everything else you said though.

i always wonder what it must be like watching yourself back and what friends and family must think! I imagine Caroline’s DH giving her a lot of side eye!!

I imagine Caroline’s DH giving her a lot of side eye!! let alone her horses

I wondered if it was due to Finn. It would be a really bad production decision from the bbc to limit his food. So I thought maybe there was a different arrangement for all.

@Thequeenofwishfulthinking I think you've pretty much summed up Finn.

Not sure about Tom. He told us about the expulsion early on, and the CP in episode 3, so he's been more chatty than Finn about his problems.

Letitia has a total non problem in comparison with both, but I wonder if they all weren't pushed this series to talk about themselves a lot, and some of them went along with that more than others, and some with more enthusiasm than others.

Letitia doesn't look that comfortable for instance, whereas Caroline seems to relish talking at length about being a housewife and homemaker. Probably because it's just a narrative for her rather than reality, so there's no real meaning behind it, and she's not actually revealing anything about herself by talking a lot.

I would to hear from 'Daddy.' Maybe he's on here.
My gut is telling me that Daddy spends a lot of time giving Caroline the side eye alongside eye rolls.
He's probably more laidback than her and enjoys a quiet beer in the summer house whilst Caroline is fussing rougd Thomas and out and about eventing.
She would be exhausting to be around 24/7 as a partner. I think she's probably been a dedicated, lovng wife and mother hence the comments she makes about her life. She will be super organised and motivated in the home. Thomas will never have gone to school without his book bag and reading record filled in!
I think she will be a great friend as well.

.

I think at the start she was standing back to get Tom to engage and his confidence has grown accordingly

but I really disliked it when she told him he had to make the decision which clearly frustrated him. And then she said she doesn’t make any decisions at home (not true) and she hoped she would have to say ‘I told you so’ if he’d made the wrong decision. It is very much a parent child relationship

they don’t have much time left to approach it as equals which is a shame

I though fin looked really uncomfortable when talking about his cancer so feel he was pushed to talk about it

and with the brothers aT the vineyard - they were clearly asked if they would tell the other that he loves him. A lot of forced pieces to camera

A lot of forced pieces to camera

This new approach by the producer who took over last year is going to have a really detrimental effect on the show.

The kinds of people applying will change as lots will be put off by the increased focus on talking at length about their personal lives. Add to that the producer wanting more people happy to talk, and you end up with five more self absorbed pairs whose reasons for entering are more about showcasing themselves.

I think the show is really starting to go in a direction that I find completely off putting. But I think the ratings are up so I'm in a minority, and it'll only get worse!

Fin got no privilege with food, or with money. He said in a recent interview that they got the same money as anyone else, and they just had to manage. He couldn't use his phone to monitor blood levels, so he had to do it the old fashioned way with needles pricks. He used long acting insulin, but they did spend a lot on sugary drinks.

I've watched it since the first series and so far I'm not tempted to stop

What have they toned down? Caroline and Tom sound pretty posh. Brian often mentions his success and wealth.

her horses @MemorableTrenchcoat

Someone earlier suggested she didn't mention the horses because that's something that is 'ordinary' to her. She just mentioned animals, which to most us is a cat or dog. I think this is plausible but just goes to show her lack of self awareness.

I think when Caroline applied she completely downplayed the horse business she runs (buying horses, training them up, then presumably selling them on) to the team and it's her who is driving her own narrative.

I think once she decided to apply she then decided the best way to try and succeed. She is very driven, confident, and knows what she wants.

we dont know that @TwentyKittens
it could well be the producers

Yes. I don't think she'd have let herself be pushed around. I think she is playing the game not being played which is far from how she introduced herself in Episode one.

Neither do I- she's just far too 'jolly hockey sticks ' for me. And her son is a bit gormless.

He seems a pleasant young man who has overcome some difficulties and not gormless at all.

edit: forgot to add I really like Finn as well as he’s shown strength overcoming his challenges also.

Tom is far from gormless. Just because he uses his words wisely instead of saying whatever shite pops into his head, (looking at you Caroline there.) it does not follow that he's stupid or lacking in any way. If my daughter brought home a 'Tom' I'd be happy. He treats his mother with nothing but kindness and respect which is indicative of how he would treat a partner.

this is so mean