The next entertaining moment for me was when they land in Beijing and make another simple mistake: entrusting the cab driver to know exactly where they need to go. Some teams ended up with cabbies who couldn’t make sense of where they were going, while others picked the drivers who got them where they wanted to go. The strangest part is one of their destinations to the checkpoint was a restaurant where everyone had to devour eyeballs, though not human.

The difference between a show like this and say, Fear Factor, is the situations the teams are put through bring about some character development. This works well, especially with Peter and Sarah and Duke and Lauren. I felt they were the two more interesting couples, but that is subject to change considering this is the first episode.

This series also serves as a comedic look into what the average American does wrong when traveling. Especially the American who is in a hurry and chooses to believe the easy way is the best way to get somewhere. Some of these couples (David and Mary especially) present the impression that they aren't good travelers.

No reality series would be complete without some guy with a newscaster's voice leading you through the journey. That position is given to Phil Keoghan, who is there to make sure the teams that make it are assigned their proper rank; if you are the last to arrive, you are dropped. He doesn’t say much unless the script (if there is one) calls for it. He does manage to give the dramatic pause for effect when dismissing someone: “Dan and Dan...” Pause for five minutes, “You are the last team.”

Action, adventure, and suspense are combined in one of the most exciting hours of primetime reality television. Even though you can't actually be in the race, you'll have a fun time watching it.