Another tense night in Taipei turned into frustration for viewers of The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition, after the latest episode ended in yet another non-elimination round — the fifth so far this season.
The five remaining celebrity teams continued racing through the neon streets of Taiwan’s capital, where they were met with a mix of local delicacies, arcade challenges and a mysterious encounter with a so-called “Techno God.” But rather than the thrilling elimination fans had been bracing for, host Beau Ryan revealed that no one would be sent home, sparking an immediate wave of disappointment among fans online.
“Another non-elimination leg. Bloody ridiculous.”
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Many viewers felt that the pace of the competition had slowed to a crawl, with some saying the show had “lost its urgency” and was “starting to drag.”
Viewers Call For Backup Plans
Several TV fans questioned why producers hadn’t prepared better for the unpredictable nature of this season, which has already seen three teams depart early — one disqualified, one withdrawing due to illness, and another leaving voluntarily.
One viewer argued that the show “should plan for things like this and have backup teams ready to step in”, while others noted that adding yet more non-elimination rounds only makes the race feel “less like a competition and more like an endurance test.”
Another pointed out that bringing in fresh contestants at this stage would be “unfair to the current teams, who are already fatigued after weeks of travel.” Others agreed that the show’s structure was compromised by the mid-season withdrawals, though many still believe the production could have managed the situation more creatively.
Repetition Fatigue Sets In
It wasn’t just the race structure causing frustration. A growing number of fans said they were noticing too much repetition in the challenges.
One complained that “every second task this season seems to be another singing or dancing challenge”, while another called for producers to “stop recycling the same ideas.”
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Even loyal followers of the series admitted the energy appeared to be waning, with one fan writing that “the show feels tired — the spark’s gone.”
Teams Battle Through Exhaustion
Inside the race itself, fatigue was showing. Gretel Killeen and her daughter Epiphany Mason appeared visibly drained, with several viewers noting that Gretel “sounded really unwell” throughout the episode.
Meanwhile, the usually upbeat Steve and Bernard Curry provided a few comic relief moments — including the now fan-favourite “Human Pelican” gag — but even they looked worse for wear by the pit stop.
Elsewhere, Aesha Scott and Scott Dobson continued their cheeky banter, with Aesha joking about her partner’s workmanship being “how’s your father.”
Rob Mills and Georgie Tunny also showed strain, with fans commenting that Mills “was doing a lot of assisting for a roadblock,” which didn’t go unnoticed.
Despite the growing fatigue, there were still lighter moments. Viewers enjoyed seeing locals cheering on contestants in the bustling streets, while the upbeat “barbecue pop” soundtrack during the eating challenge drew a few laughs.
Taiwan Leg Wins Praise — But Format Draws Criticism
While some praised the show’s stunning Taiwanese setting — particularly the lively markets and street food scenes — most agreed that the ongoing non-elimination streak has hurt the overall excitement of the season.
“The show wouldn’t have expected three teams to drop out,” one viewer reasoned. “But there’s got to be a better way than dragging it out with endless non-eliminations.”
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Another fan suggested that the production should “rethink how extreme the conditions are” after back-to-back episodes in Uzbekistan’s cold and Sri Lanka’s heat, which many believe contributed to contestants’ illnesses.
Fans Predict Next Week’s Shake-Up
With just five teams remaining — Aesha and Scott, Luke and Scott O’Halloran, Rob and Georgie, Steve and Bernie Curry, and Gretel and Epiphany — fans are hoping the series will finally pick up momentum as it nears the finish line.
But after so many non-eliminations, few are confident. As one viewer put it bluntly: “If next week isn’t a proper elimination, I might switch off for good.”
The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition continues Sunday night on 10
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