The Amazing Race Review: No Rest for the Weary

On this week’s episode of The Amazing Race, the teams travel to Copenhagen, Denmark where Bill and Cathi find themselves shackled with a U-turn, Amani and Marcus make a critical error, and Jeremy and Sandy take the scenic route as the top six teams narrow down to become the top five continuing on in the race for $1,000,000.

We start off with the teams preparing for the next leg. Andy/Tommy are the first team to leave and go to the airport since they were the first to arrive at the pit stop. Since last week’s win was their fifth so far, Andy/Tommy tell us that the other teams have not been so friendly of late as they start to see them more and more as competitors. And that’s probably true, more so for Cindy/Ernie. Coming just shy of the win last week, Cindy/Ernie are regretting not using the U-turn on Andy/Tommy. Cindy promises that they’ll be more thoughtful of U-turns from now on.

Although the teams are all booked on the same 8:20 a.m. flight to Denmark, they are all welcome to catch an earlier flight if they can find one. Bill/Cathi are the first to book a flight out that night arriving at 11 p.m. They tell Ernie/Cindy about it and they book the same as well. Andy/Tommy and Jeremy/Sandy also book an earlier flight for 10:40 p.m. While waiting for their flight, Ernie/Cindy meet up with Laurence/Zac and ask about their travel arrangements. Laurence/Zac are very tight lipped about their plans and it is with good reason. Choosing the departure point of London, Laurence/Zac believe they can have more flexibility in flight schedules. This pays off as the team is the first to land in London at 8:30pm, hours before the other teams are due to arrive.

Little good the head start does them, as Laurence/Zac get to the next stop to find out that it doesn’t open until 7:30 in the morning giving the other teams time to catch up. Which, indeed, they do. Well that is all of them except for Amani/Marcus. While the other teams have been booking alternative flights, Amani/Marcus chose to relax in the airport certain that every other team is staying put on the 8:20 flight as well. This couldn’t be further from the truth. By the time they’re leaving, the other teams are already gearing up for the task. Amani/Marcus remain clueless about their position in the race until morning comes and they notice that they are waiting alone for this flight. Marcus seems especially put out about their poor judgment. He thinks they’re out of the race, but Amani says that even if they are they have to keep going.

The teams arrive at Frederiksberg Slog, a castle, for the next challenge. Here the teams have to dress up in period costume and learn a three part dance routine before they get their next clue. Cindy, Cathi and Andy all excel at this challenge, Andy in particular earning compliments from his instructors. Who knew the snowboarder had the moves? On the complete opposite side of the spectrum, Zac, poor dear, has a horrible time at this task because he can’t get the moves right and is still busy practicing while the other three teams move ahead of them.

Because Jeremy/Sandy went to the wrong castle and had to turn around to get the right clue, Amani/Marcus catch up with them. Jeremy/Sandy arrive first and are there just as Zac finishes the challenge. Amani/Marcus arrive at the task and for a while the two men commiserate over the tough times they’re having this leg. With Jeremy’s team getting lost, while Marcus’ team had that ill-advised rest period. They are the last two teams at the challenge and the girls get through the dances quickly, Sandy finishing slightly before Amani.

For the next challenge, the teams had to choose between two tasks: Hopped Up or Churned Up. In Churned Up, the teams have to make butter by pounding the crap out of cream. This task requires a whole lot of physical endurance and upper arm strength. Five of the six teams choose this task, and for the most part they’re all excellent butter makers. Coming from the farm, I would have thought that Cathi would be better at this task, but as it is Cindy and Ernie smoke past Ma and Pa who have to redo some of their sticks. This grants Ernie/Cindy just enough cushion in their lead as they head to the Double U-Turn. Ernie is surprised when Cindy tells him that they will be U-Turning Bill/Cathi. Ernie says that this is not the way that he wanted to play the game, but Cindy tells him that they needed this win.

I’m willing to give the overachieving Cindy the benefit of the doubt; perhaps she thinks that they really did need this enough to potentially put the team who helped them previously out of the race. I personally think it’s dirty to use the U-Turn unless you’re in danger of being eliminated, and even then it leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Bill and Cindy probably know all about this sour taste as when they see their faces plastered on the U-Turn they turn back angrily to do the other task; but not before first U-Turning Laurence/Zac. I don’t fault them for this move. This is partly because they’re in a tough position and partly because I like Ma and Pa/don’t like Laurence. I forgive them almost immediately. So, Bill/Cathi and Laurence/Zac head over to do the next task, Hopped Up.

In Hopped Up, the teams had to build an obstacle course for a rabbit, and then choose one of the rabbits on the sidelines and run the course with him. Bill/Cathi set up their course first but after their first rabbit (which they ironically name Hopper) seems a little sluggish at the gates, the two switch it up and go for another whom they name Speckles. Speckles is a much faster hopper than Hopper and they get through this task quickly. Amani/Marcus choose this task as well. Choosing the rabbit that jumped up as they passed Marcus/Amani seem to have a strong affinity for their temporary teammate. Marcus gives the rabbit a pep talk and then stands on the sidelines yelling and jumping like a madman in excitement as the rabbit quickly goes through the course. At the end of the task, Marcus is ready to pronounce his love for Mr. Robunny Rabbit (my name for him, not theirs).

At the pit stop, Ernie/Cindy are indeed in first place, winning a trip for 2 to Fiji. I would be more excited for them, but I don’t like them, so there you go. In an interesting turn, Bill/Cathi and Andy/Tommy arrive at the location of the pit stop at the same time. Andy/Tommy get out of their cars faster but Bill/Cathi beat them at a foot race. Yeah, I wouldn’t have believed it either.

Laurence/Zac are upset to learn that they have been U-Turned, but with the help of Speckles they make it through their task and start to make their way to the pit stop. They are at this point farther ahead then Jeremy/Sandy who, thanks to Sandy’s bad directions, got themselves lost for a while. But this seems to be the theme of this week, as on the way to the pitstop Laurence/Zac get lost for two hours giving Jeremy/Sandy enough time to check in with Phil and avoid elimination. Laurence/Zac are the last to arrive and are eliminated.

Here are the rankings:
1. Ernie/Cindy
2. Bill/Cathy
3. Andy/Tommy
4. Marcus/Amani
5. Jeremy/Sandy

Until further notice let’s just assume that I’m:
Rooting for: Amani/Marcus-Bill/Cathi
Rooting Against: Ernie/Cindy
And while I’m not quite so sure that Andy/Tommy will win this, they’ll definitely make the top three… unless they don’t. {Bet hedged.}

Until next time.

For more on this episode, check out OMG BUNNIES! by Gabe Callahan.

Season 19, Episode 8: “Super Shady” (original airdate November 13, 2011.)

The Amazing Race airs Sundays at 8/7c on CBS.

Images courtesy of CBS.