‘Some Teams Find It Easier To Let Go.’ The Amazing Race 37 Is Apparently A Lot More Contentious Than Usual, And Host Phil Keoghan Has Feelings About It

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This week, The Amazing Race made its comeback on the 2025 TV lineup, and Season 37 promises to be even larger than typical. Besides an increase in teams this season, there will also be some unusual changes. In fact, longtime host Phil Keoghan has already hinted at a fresh twist called Fork in the Road, which we saw in action during the premiere of the new season. To add to the novelty, the host has also revealed that this season will be more contentious than usual.

What’s Going On With The Teams In Season 37?

As I embarked on my role as a movie critic for the latest season of The Amazing Race, I found myself overwhelmed by the sheer number of contestants – 14 teams to be exact – which significantly amplified the competitive spirit. While the series typically steers clear of overt displays of emotion, this time around it appears that we’ll witness a bit more yelling, screaming, and general excitement as the racers push themselves to their limits in this action-packed season.

Our series steers clear from the dramatic, heated arguments and intense personal dislike portrayed by certain shows, where characters often end up in screaming matches. We don’t follow that format. However, this season does contain a fair amount of competition-driven tension, which was more intriguing than we anticipated. It was almost as if we sensed it might unfold this way, but the actual outcome took us by surprise. And then, suddenly, we found ourselves thinking, “Wow, these teams are remarkably competitive!

To put it simply, I’m quite fond of the recent surge of competitive teams. In previous seasons, there was often criticism about the overly cooperative nature among teams during the competition. It wasn’t just about helping each other out here and there – I’m talking about entire teams joining forces to complete challenges together. This isn’t a subtle hint or a nudge in the right direction; it meant that they were actually doing the entire challenge as a group.

Initially, the producer announced plans to tackle the issue of excessive assistance among teams, but over several seasons, it appeared as though this was not effectively addressed. However, it seems that introducing the “Fork in the Road” twist and bringing on more enthusiastic teams might just be enough to prevent further instances of over-helpfulness. Regardless, Phil has expressed his thoughts about what transpired during Season 37, stating in his interview with Entertainment Weekly that he is highly competitive himself and desires genuine enthusiasm from those he interacts with on the show.

Besides his statement, it is clear that he’s not interested in harmful television content. Instead, what he’s seeking are dedicated teams who are eager and willing to give their utmost best.

You aim for it to remain in a state of good health. It’s important that people don’t get overly competitive to the point where it causes problems. Personally, I appreciate individuals who compete, but if they understand that they’ve been outperformed and someone else is simply better, I like them to accept this reality. After all, winning isn’t always an option. It’s just the nature of life. The ability to say, ‘I did my best,’ is crucial. Some teams find it easier to acknowledge their limitations than others. Given our competitive nature, we observe some of this struggle this season, which makes for engaging viewing.

I find myself pondering whether the producers intentionally chose these characters for their drama, or if it was mere chance, but either way, this season seems to have a nostalgic feel of traditional reality competition shows. I can hardly contain my excitement!

We’ve Already Gotten An Inkling About What To Expect From The Rest Of Season 37

In conversation with TopMob at SCAD, the Fiorito brothers, Nick and Mike – real-life siblings – shared insights about the intense drama unfolding between them this season, as they are individually competing. Nick revealed that they might argue passionately and get worked up (or “curse” and “freak out”) on occasion, as reported in an exclusive interview with CB.

As a film enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: Being brothers, we could bicker and swear at each other one moment, only to reconcile and unite in our shared goal the next. I believe that this unique bond gave us an edge during our race.

He referred to disagreement as a “craft,” indicating that he and his brother are likely open to some level of conflict as long as it leads to beneficial outcomes. Despite the challenging initial stage of the race, complete with the unexpected Fork in the Road twist, they managed to advance to fifth place on one side of the competition.

What they’re currently doing isn’t the best. But, just like I’ve mentioned before, it’s crucial to not be at the bottom initially. If they can control their impulses (the “short fuse”), it might work out for them. However, as Phil pointed out, many tempers might flare up this season. We’ll have to wait and see who eventually wins the prize on The Amazing Race, but I’m eager to find out what unfolds.

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2025-03-07 17:27