The most recent Survivor duo to grace our TV screens, Bret LaBelle and Chris Hammons have a tough road ahead in The Amazing Race 31. Can they win?
I’m surprised that Survivor hasn’t gone back to the well with their Millennials vs. Gen X idea. The battle of the generations brought great moments from people crossing over age barriers and coming together for a common goal; winning a million dollars on a game show. Though it was underedited, Chris Hammons and Bret LaBelle established a deep friendship that will carry them through The Amazing Race 31.
One’s a gay Boston conservative cop; the other is a straight, liberal lawyer from Oklahoma. The two have a buddy cop story to them, even though they are the Law and Order sides of the legal system. Most importantly, Chris is thoughtful and intense while Bret is loud and outspoken yet both share a playful vibe. They will easily be one of the most fun teams to compete this season.
When it comes to team chemistry, Bret and Chris will be right as rain. They might jaw at each other during the more intense, frustrating moments, but nothing they can say to each other will be boring or ruin their effectiveness as a duo. It may seem like they could be at each other’s throats at times, but it’s part of their natural personalities.
Concerning knowledge of The Amazing Race, it seems they have watched some parts of the game. Both players chose Tyler and Korey as the team to watch out for on the race, with Chris going so far as to say he was cheering for them in season 28. They know what kind of challenges face them, which you could probably say gives them an advantage over Rupert and Laura Boneham.
From #Survivor to @AmazingRaceCBS. Do these Survivor alumni know enough about their teammates to give them an edge during their journey around the world? pic.twitter.com/RPdCUsRUUS
— SURVIVOR (@survivorcbs) April 16, 2019
Because of their game knowledge, they will know how important it is to remain sociable and on peoples’ good sides. Both Bret and Chris are good at throwing shade at others’ bad decisions and moves, but they know that keeping a good social front will keep them out of contention for getting a U-Turn from other teams. Plus, they’re both loveable personalities in their own right!
Both Bret and Chris are also well connected within the Survivor community, which will help them when it comes to bonding with the other teams from their show. I’m sure they will make a pact with Eliza and Corinne in making sure they stay safe, and I’m sure they won’t find any problems with Ruper and Laura. Perhaps they’ll even work with their most feared team!
Challenges will likely not bother this Survivor team, as both are adaptable, strong competitors. However, when it comes to running around cities they’ve never visited, being big and strong comes at a detriment to the cardio required to get to and from pit stops. However, Bret is a cop, and Chris is a bit more well-rounded physically, so they could exceed expectations.
Though I don’t think a Survivor team will win, I think that Bret and Chris will be able to make a modest run in this game. It all depends on if they get stuck on a challenge that they can’t get passed. Just one challenge alone is enough to derail a team in The Amazing Race, and I hope these two don’t face such a dire end. The show needs entertaining teams like this.