The Amazing Race,
Episode Eight, Season 20, Tanzania: It was a night where the racers liked where they were and the people they met, but they had more trouble
liking their fellow competitors.
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| U-Turn the movie |
The animosity boiled over because it was a Double U-turn
night. And U-turns – in which one team can
make it harder for another team – are always sources of friction. The twist on
that plot line in this episode was that a U-turn that wasn’t played spoiled a
beautiful friendship.
There are too many Rachels in this scenario, but I’ll give
it a try.
Sometime long ago Art and J.J., the border patrol agents, must
have made a blood oath with Dave and Rachel Brown, the married couple, to make
things difficult for Brendon and Rachel, the engaged couple.
“They’re malcontents, get them out,” J.J. explained.
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| Rachel Maddow Yearbook Picture |
Anyway, in this episode, for their own strategic reasons,
Dave and Rachel passed up the chance to slap a U-turn on Brendon and Rachel. Thus
Art and J.J. felt betrayed, though the outcome wasn’t really affected.
“I don’t feel like
talking to them every again, I don’t give a crap,” J.J. said at the finish.
Brendon and Rachel continue to despise Ralph and Vanessa –
they’re the dating divorcees – which is why they U-turned that duo when
they had a chance.
Ralph and Vanessa? Well, Vanessa feels contempt for Rachel
Reilly, and/or Rachel Reilly’s nose.
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| Bopper and Mark |
Bopper and Mark? What’s not to love? They don’t seem to have
it in for any other team, and the other teams appear to like them. It may even
be that the other teams underestimate them, though probably not after this
episode.
The Kentucky boys (Team WalkWorth’s), finished first, Bopper
limping throughout the episode because his knee was acting up. Holy plot
complication! Had we been told that Bopper had a knee operation just six months
ago?
Alas, but not surprising, the team of Jamie and Nary (Mark’s
duo) that could have been eliminated last week, finished last this week, mostly
because they had to take on an extra challenge because of their previous poor
showing.
Oddly, the “teachers” didn’t really seem to care that they
were sent packing. Their T-shirts declared, “I’m with my B.F.F.” And being with
your B.F.F. is all that matters, I guess. A million dollars? No big deal.
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| At the watering hole |
Throughout the night the scenery was stunning, especially as
the teams drove through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. “We seen stuff we’re
never going to see in Kentucky,” Bopper said, as he looked out the window at
lions, tigers and elephants.
After the safari, they had to do one of two Detours
(actually because of U-Turns, Brendon and Rachel and Ralph and Vanessa had to
do both).
The first challenge involved fixing a flat tire tube on a
bicycle without taking the wheel off the bike, to me, anyway, a feat harder
than zip lining across Niagara Falls. The other Detour involved the filling and
lugging of about a thousand water jugs.
After the Detour, the teams had to take some honey away from
some very angry bees. (You would be, too, if someone were after your honey.)
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| Vanessa and Ralph |
Along the way, there were some minor problems, most of them
caused by or happening to Ralph and Vanessa. They couldn’t find the Hillary
Clin Ton pushcart (don’t ask) and their taxi got a flat tire right after
Vanessa said, “We have the best luck with cabs.” (I mean, come on, Race
editors, did that actually happen?)
Overheard:
Art: I got a lion right here, J.J. the lion.
Rachel Reilly (Of
Ralph and Vanessa): Let them drink their Haterade.
Rachel Brown (to Dave
Brown): Stop being a jackass.
Mark (on Bopper’s
knee troubles): He’s done and out, Beverly Hills.
Bopper: I’m just
a country boy from Kentucky. Team Kentucky is definitely in the house.
Rachel Reilly:
I’m just being careful because you have to respect the bees.
Order of finish
1) Bopper and Mark
2) Rachel and Dave
3) Art and J.J.
4) Brendon and Rachel
5) Vanessa and Ralph
Next week: Mark has a Bollywood meltdown.
