There is a field near my office that has a bunch of hay bales, not as many as in the challenge, but enough that every time I drive by, I think of TAR.

I don't think it took anyone more than 3 hours this time...brutal by any measure...but a fraction of TAR6.

My arms hurt from just watching that.

NICA: Given the comments while eating, I'm totally confused by both the winner and bottom two this week.

Dang. That hayblock is just brutal. Although I have to say, I was not all that sympathetic to anonymous blonde girlfriend. 10 hours. That's all I'm saying. 10 hours.

I don't care for how the anonymous blond couple and the brothers chalk the Globetrotters performance thus far up to luck. Yes, they have had their fair share of luck, as have other teams thus far. But they have also raced hard and kept a positive attitude throughout. So stuff it rival teams.

I am cringing already at next week's previews. I hope we don't wind up with another Kisha/Jen push you/pull me situation.

For serious! Ten hours is unbelievable. I do think anonymous blonde girlfriend's boyfriend should have done the task.

I think more than one team suffered from the person who knew how hard it was going to be NOT doing the task.

I was getting so mad at the brothers and then they cried and apologized. So, still not good behavior, but I'm glad they kissed and made up. I was all, "why doesn't he just shut up?" at one point. I mean, it was clear he wasn't being helpful. He was driving me nuts, I can't imagine how the brother who was doing the labor felt.

The poker girls were probably glad they'd quit before this task. Can you imagine?

But they have also raced hard and kept a positive attitude throughout. So stuff it rival teams.

Totally this. It's not like that task was significantly easier for the Globetrotters. They were tired and miserable and itchy with hay, too, they just approached it differently with their attitudes and it makes all the difference.

Definitely cringing at the previews. Oh noes.

I love the dad & son too, so I was super glad it was a non-elim. I hope they can make it up next week, but they've got a wide gap to cover with their time back plus the extra task.

I was all, "why doesn't he just shut up?" at one point.

So much this. I would've strangled that kid with hay bale netting after the second time that I'd asked him to back off and give me 10 minutes of silence and he just kept screaming at me. That was ridiculous. I was glad that he was able to relax, relate, release at the end, but still. So not OK.

I'm quite happy Pinky and the Brain are still in it. I only hope that they rock their extra task just like the poker players rocked the Pho. I would love to have the Globetrotters and Pinky and the Brain make up two of the final three teams. There's something annoying about at least one member of all the other teams, so I really don't care who rounds out the top 3.

I was getting so mad at the brothers and then they cried and apologized. So, still not good behavior, but I'm glad they kissed and made up. I was all, "why doesn't he just shut up?" at one point. I mean, it was clear he wasn't being helpful. He was driving me nuts, I can't imagine how the brother who was doing the labor felt.

I was having flashbacks to a smothering ex--when we had reached a crisis point and I told him I needed space for a week and not to contact me under any circumstances, he still managed to check in 3 times. I think if he hadn't we might still be together.

I blame this on killer fatigue to be honest. If I had very little sleep, saw a hay bale task and recalled what happened to the team from years ago, I might want to pack my shit and go home as the first response.

I really don't like needle in haystack challenges.

I'm totally confused by both the winner and bottom two this week.

I know! I mean, there's suspenseful editing, but that is just plain deceptive. Also? Annoying.

However, there was genius in putting the finish mat just about in view of the task, which meant the people who were still rollin' got to watch the teams ahead of them get checked in -- now, that's torture, er, psychological challenge. Plus no having to truck Phil out to the hay bales in case of a 10-hour search.

Loved Pinky using the Gnome as an impromptu stool! Or was I the only one who caught that?