‘Race to Survive: New Zealand’ Recap – ‘Packrafts, Portages and Pain’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

RACE TO SURVIVE: New Zealand -- "Packrafts, Portages and Pain" Episode 202 -- Pictured: (l-r) Kennedy Taylor, Nikola Milutinovic -- (Photo by: Brian Finestone/USA Network)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 202 of ‘Race to Survive’. To revisit the Season Two Premiere, click here.
​
When we last settled in to discuss the fascinating USA Network series, Race to Survive: New Zealand, we talked at length, at how incredible and engaging season two was from the get-go, courtesy of its season premiere. Since we quickly came to learn that teams now had to choose, whether or not they wanted to stop and get rations and precious calories, alongside the reality that they were facing tough terrain across the board that was going to push them harder than any contestant was pushed in season one of this dynamic show, and that brought forth… an epic premiere that kept us guessing. As to who would forgo food, and of course, who would win this incredible first leg of the challenge, because of how fierce these teams were in trying to get to the finish line.

Thankfully, we quickly received that answer in ‘Packrafts, Portages and Pain’. For we came to learn early on in this chapter of the journey, that Oliver and Corry managed to maintain their lead; despite having so many other teams on their heels and for their intense efforts… they managed to win the first leg of the journey and we came to learn that winning brought about more tough decisions. Because the first four teams to the finish line could only select one item from the prize pack, and had to choose wisely in doing so for their own future benefits, which put food and kits and comfort in the hands of the first four, leaving all of us to wonder who made the right call and who would benefit best from their choice, before the first four winners settled in to learn to live off the land for a bit before getting back into the thick of it.

Which in turn, allowed for the show to shift focus for a bit, and provide us with vignettes and moments with the rest of the teams heading for Survival Camp. All in an effort to help us to get to know the people we are going to spend weeks with and that in turn, helped us to learn what is driving some of the contestants, such as their family and the lack of being able to speak to them, and we also found out… some deep interpersonal battles are brewing in this competition. Since Paulina and Creighton spent a lot of time arguing and shooting barbs over decisions made, leaving us to wonder as well… what kind of trouble that kind of internal battle will bring forth for this duo in the weeks to come.  

But while it was fascinating to finally understand what victory will look in this tale and what Survival Camp will entail, alongside getting to know the contestants, having people finish the race also meant… that a team had to be sent home. For only eight medallions waited at the finish line and despite being neck and neck for a better part of the way… Heather and Emilio didn’t make the cut in the end. They were just off timing wise by that much, and that brought about the hard reality, that people were indeed going home and fighting hard wasn’t enough. To win this, strategy and speed had to work in tandem and yes, hard choices had to be made and their exit, will undoubtedly influence the rest of the competitors and their future strategies.  

But while we wait to see what that looks like, we can celebrate… another incredible tale. One that really helped us to understand what the competition is going to look like, what we can expect from future elimination rounds and that it is only a matter of time, before the human condition influences important moments in this race. Because soon, fatigue and hunger will settle in, fights will grow and that will change everything for these fierce competitors and that leaves us supremely eager to continue the journey. To enjoy more of the intense moments, present here and to see who emerges as real leaders in this competition as so many willing and brave souls fight hard to conquer New Zealand to claim one incredible prize. Until next time. 

To learn more about this leg of the competition, visit our interview with Heather and Emilio, here.

---