Some Thoughts about Temple Runs

[PurpleParrot4Life]

I feel that Michael (Thornwood Gavel of Judge Roy Bean) falls under a similar case. He was a very strong contestant, entering his seventh room with 1:20 on the clock. That is very impressive for a Season 3 run, and even more so in that it predominantly featured completion of the upper floor. Additionally, he had one of the fastest, if not THE fastest completion of the Shrine of the Silver Monkey. He may not have sprinted, but he also never paused or hesitated at all in the temple.

The bad reputation this temple run has is because Kelli deviated from Michael's path and spent too long in the King's Storeroom and Room of the Secret Password. (Even so, she was not the only contestant to keep her mouthpiece in her mouth when reciting the passwords, so the fact that she gets criticized the most out of any contestant for that is beyond me.)

Nevertheless, Michael had a strong performance both in the temple and throughout his episode, and I feel his evaluation underestimates his efforts.

[The Red Jaguars]

I can't believe anyone would give Mike a hard time. He did a solid job in the temple and didn't do anything wrong. He moved swiftly through all the temple rooms and had the fastest Silver Monkey completion ever. Kelli was entirely to be blamed for this loss. She had a 1:20 and a clear path to the Secret Password, but she blew it big time by taking a wrong path (she was lucky her team had 2 Pendants) and was trying to complete objectives already done. And she moved so slow too. This team could've won if Kelli hauled her ass and completed the two bottom floor objectives, which were relatively easy. Just like the Paintbrush said about Jessica in the Cosa Rara run going into the temple first, the Orange Iguanas in Thornwood Gavel would've still lost even if Kelli went in first. She just had too many problems and had no idea what to do. Disappointing loss like Enormous Feather, Good-Luck Watch, and Bandit Queen with slow female runners.

The only way I think would've made this run better was if Mike went into the King's Storeroom and get removed in the Secret Password. Not only his route would be shorter, Kelli would also have no excuse to detour again. I don't think they would've won either way because she was way too stupid. 

[PurpleParrot4Life]

I can't believe anyone would give Mike a hard time. He did a solid job in the temple and didn't do anything wrong. He moved swiftly through all the temple rooms and had the fastest Silver Monkey completion ever. Kelli was entirely to be blamed for this loss. She had a 1:20 and a clear path to the Secret Password, but she blew it big time by taking a wrong path (she was lucky her team had 2 Pendants) and was trying to complete objectives already done. And she moved so slow too. This team could've won if Kelli hauled her ass and completed the two bottom floor objectives, which were relatively easy. Just like the Paintbrush said about Jessica in the Cosa Rara run going into the temple first, the Orange Iguanas in Thornwood Gavel would've still lost even if Kelli went in first. She just had too many problems and had no idea what to do. Disappointing loss like Enormous Feather, Good-Luck Watch, and Bandit Queen with slow female runners.

The only way I think would've made this run better was if Mike went into the King's Storeroom and get removed in the Secret Password. Not only his route would be shorter, Kelli would also have no excuse to detour again. I don't think they would've won either way because she was way too stupid.  

It's not that Michael has a bad rep; it's that his performance is downplayed because of the success of his episode's run as a whole. That is why I find some of the results for player rankings to be a bit skewed. I feel like there is a "tainted" image of a contestant because of the episode he or she is part of, even if we can't recall details about a contestant's performance, whether or not it is because we haven't seen the episode in a long time. Sometimes going back and rewatching an episode- as was the case for Justin in Cosa Rara, for example- can bring to light the misconceptions (either extolling or criticizing) we have created about the contestants.

[The Red Jaguars]

I think that when we get down to it, the temple winners are usually favored more over the temple losers. Even if their performances were slightly more flawed too than some of the losers. Mike's season was also stacked with a lot of talented boys and girls. There were probably about a dozen of solid guys from this season. I do agree though that many people overlook a contestant due to their success of their temple runs like Justin from Cosa Rara and Mike. But at the same time, I believe that certain contestants deserve to be placed in a rankings due to their success too. Which is why Mike flies under the radar sometimes. Don't get me wrong though, Mike was one of the best male players from S3. And in my mind, he was one of the best Orange Iguana males next to Ty and Jason from Levitating Dog Leash. It is unfortunate he came from a season that was stacked with talented guys. If I were to rank the S3 boys, he would definitely be in the top 10:

1. Gator ("Mussel-Shell Armor")
2. Zac ("Bandit Queen")
3. Travis ("Discarded Seal")
4. Nate ("Queen Boadicea")
5. Jarrid ("Pirate Captain") - I would rank him higher, but the Secret Password detour could've been deadly. The above guys were practically flawless in the temple.
6. Mike ("Thornwood Gavel")
7. Jay ("Empress Eugenie")
8. Kevin ("Ruby Earring")
9. TJ ("Metal Beard")
10. Matthew ("Belle Boyd"

[The Red Jaguars]

I want to start a discussion on how you guys might feel if all of the failed escape runs were actually temple wins? For the most part, almost all of these failed escape runs could've been temple wins one way or another. But I want to know how you guys would feel about said runs if they were actually wins. Would you think highly of them or would they rank low on your scale like certain runs like "Shaka Zulu" and "Butch Cassidy"?

To start off, we will talk about the very first failed escape which was "Sir Edmund Hillary". What if Tara and Danny actually won in this temple run? Would you rank it on the higher end or lower end for the Season 1 wins?

To me, I think "Sir Edmund Hillary" would've been one of the best wins of Season 1 if Danny and Tara actually won. Both players were smart and quick in the temple. Neither player stalled at any point and Tara was actually pretty smart for entering the Cave of Sighs instead of running into the Royal Gongs. She was the only S1 player to do that. Plus, they would've won with a tough layout that included a detour with the slow Well bucket. This run would've definitely ranked high on my list if the Silver Snakes won.   

[Purple Parrots Fan]

Yeah, Sir Edmund Hilary definitely would've been a top notch run if Danny and Tara had actually won. Same with Golden Jaguar, the very next failed escape after Sir Edmund Hilary. Imagine if that had been an actual solo win instead. Would you also regard it as a top run if Chris and Tracy had won instead?

[The Red Jaguars]

I think "Golden Jaguar" would've been a favorite for me if Chris actually scored a solo win. The only Season 1 solo win I really like is "Sultan Saladin". But if Chris won in "Golden Jaguar", it would definitely be ranked high with the other great Season 1 wins. Especially since Chris moved at a good pace in the temple and knew what he was doing. It might not outrank Sultan Saladin, but I would like it would much better than the beloved "Buddha" win. Definitely  a strong and likable win.

[Purple Parrots Fan]

Yeah, Atahualpa would've been a very strong win if it had been a solo win instead. I also agree that Sultan Saladin was the only respectable solo win in Season 1. The rest were too easy and/or too average.

Also, I think Priceless Portrait would've been regarded as a top notch episode as well if that had been a win instead. Just switch the order of players, and it definitely would've been considered a top episode. I would even go as far as saying it would've been a Top 5 episode if that had been a win instead. Especially since it was a bottom central shaft run, and the rest of the episode was exciting too. Thoughts on that?

[The Red Jaguars]

I've always felt that if Polynesian Girl was a win, then it would be a top 5 episode.  This was one of the most exciting runs of Season 2 even though it wasn't win. Jim and Kristen were a smart and fast team and they both had good chemistry. Kirk was also having fun in this episode too and I like how he kept referring to them as the "Mechanic" and the "Artist". Even though Kristen was slow, she still did a pretty good job in the temple and really hauled ass on the bottom floor. But if Jim went in second, they would've won for sure. It would personally be in my top 5 also if they won. I mean if runs like Apanuugpak can get praised despite having an average female runner, so should this run. And Jim and Kristen's win would be legendary like Missy's run.

I don't know about others, but I really like this run a lot. Probably because it surprised me the first time I watched it. Most of the other bottom of the central shaft runs like Electrified Key and Lucky Pig were disappointing. But this one was exciting and came down to the wire. I even like this run better than Queen Boadicea. Between Polynesian Girl and Queen Boadicea, I think that Polynesian Girl would be the better win if both teams won.

[PurpleParrot4Life]

Had Kristen not dilly-dallied by entering the Room of the Mandarin Hand, doubling back to the Pit, and then heading up to the Observatory, this could have been a victorious run. It's a good thing she grabbed the half pendant en route to the Observatory because otherwise, this run would have resulted in a very disappointing triple capture. There are a lot of contestants who get a bad reputation for doubling back, completing unnecessary objectives, or otherwise wasting time. But with Kristen, for whatever reason, her performance does not warrant such a reaction. Kristen's speed on the bottom floor was much better than her performance on the top floor. If she had stayed in the Room of the Mandarin Hand and used those qualities from the bottom floor on the top floor, this could have been really solid victory of a run.

[The Red Jaguars]

Well, there is no guarantee that the Room of the Mandarin Hand would've opened to the King's Storeroom in her run either. It is possible that the Room of the Mandarin Hand actually detoured into the Observatory. Kind of like in "Electrified Key" where entering the center of the temple was pointless. That is why I don't really criticize Kristen for backtracking because she actually might've saved time AND grabbed the half-pendant that probably would've been needed anyways. And I assumed she backtracked too to get the half-pendant itself. At least she found it though, unlike Christina from "Nathan Hale" who completely passed it even after Kirk and James pointed it out. Kristen's run would've been better if she entered the Observatory right away and if she moved faster on the top floor. But it was still a good effort though and being the first player to grab a bottom of the central shaft artifact is huge. And this run is no where as flawed as Empress Eugenie, Electrified Key, and even Lucky Pig. Those should've been wins before Priceless Portrait.

[PurpleParrot4Life]

It was most often the case in the Season 1 and 2 temple for multiple doors to be open between the Pit and King's Storeroom, forming a "loop." Many times, a contestant that entered the Observatory could bypass the open Heart Room space and head directly into the King's Storeroom, even though the Heart Room space opened as well. Likewise, contestants that entered the Heart Room space could bypass the Observatory and head directly into the King's Storeroom, even though the Observatory unlocked as well. These doors could be seen unlocking either once the Heart Room space/Observatory objective was completed, or after the King's Storeroom was completed. This "loop"is perfectly evident in runs like Electrified Key of Benjamin Franklin. Another similar example is Silk Sash of Mulan, where Jessie went from the Pit to the Heart Room space, then up into the Observatory; when she was removed, her partner was able to access the Observatory directly. Similarly, in the Golden Stallion of Ali Baba, Kendra was able to form a loop between the central shaft and the Pit. In these two latter examples, the King's Storeroom did not open from either of these rooms, but the overall idea holds true.

Because both the Heart Room space and Observatory were unlocked via the Pit, it would not be surprising if this trend continued for the Priceless Portrait run.

[Purple Parrots Fan]

I don't know about others, but I really like this run a lot. Probably because it surprised me the first time I watched it. Most of the other bottom of the central shaft runs like Electrified Key and Lucky Pig were disappointing. But this one was exciting and came down to the wire. I even like this run better than Queen Boadicea. Between Polynesian Girl and Queen Boadicea, I think that Polynesian Girl would be the better win if both teams won.

Yeah, I like this run too. It's easily one of my favorite losses ever, and it's by far one of the most exciting Season 2 episodes ever. You're also right about most bottom central shaft runs being disappointing. Where the players hesitate too much and lose because they made very preventable mistakes. But in this run, there really weren't too many mistakes made. It was just Kristen who moved a little too slowly at the beginning of her run. And even then, she did some things right too, like pick up the half pendant, like mentioned before. Plus, she did pick up the pace once she reached the bottom floor too. This run is both exciting, and it was less flawed than the likes of Good Luck Watch and Electrified Key. I also agree that this run is much more exciting than Royal Torque, and I also prefer Pricless Portrait over that run. And the latter run would've been a better run if Jim and Kristen had won instead.

[The Red Jaguars]

Empress Eugenie was also very exciting in my book too. Not as exciting as Polynesian Girl, but I thought it was very fun to watch. Jay yelling at Janeen was probably the most hilarious thing out of all the shouters on the show. And then Janeen gets her butt touched by the temple guard too. Also, Jay's amazing speed makes this temple run very exciting and keeps you at the edge of your seat.

Electrified Key is an okay temple run, but definitely disappointing. It's one of those runs that make you feel underwhelmed when the team loses. Out of all the bottom of the central shaft runs, this one should've been the winning one. Even more so than Good-Luck Watch. But I don't really hate it though like some people do. Peter and Michelle were pretty quick in the temple, but they had some bad planning when choosing their path.

Queen Boadicea was a great run too. I actually would say that this would be the Red Jaguars best run if they actually won. I mean Lissy and Nate were strong in the temple and lost with a tough layout. But for some reason, this temple run is not as exciting as Eugenie or Polynesian Girl. And not very memorable either.

Red Sash is another good one, but it was filled with many mistakes. I have seen this run a lot too, so it sort of has wore off on me. But I have to say they are the best losing Blue Barracudas team. Either them or Golden Jaguar.

Golden Ship is not even worth watching because literally half of the run is cut off due to triple capture. Not that I find it to be Joe and Gabby's fault. Its just that there is no reason to watch it. And Lucky Pig and Frederick Douglass f**king suck. 

[Purple Parrots Fan]

Yeah, Royal Torque is just not exciting at all. It was a great effort by Nate, but it's extremely uneventful as a temple run. It would've been better if it were a win though. Other than that, I just don't like this temple run.

I agree about Red Sash too. Brandy and Quentin just made way too many mistakes, and it's not that exciting. I wouldn't really call them "the best losing team" though. I found them to be average quite honestly. Golden Jaguar was better.