Last one to finish is not a rotten egg

By Jim Memmott

Amazing Race, Season 26, episode 4

Phuket and Bangkok/Thailand – Some conclusions, based on an episode that seems long ago and far away:

Bergen and Kurt, not in love

You don’t have to be in love to win: Blind-daters Bergen and Kurt, who take every chance they can to say that they are not, repeat not, romantically inclined, in part because they are so much alike, finished first, cartwheels to follow.

You don’t have to get along to do well. Dr. Blair and Nurse Hayley, still incompatible, finished second. Maybe her constant nagging is paying off.

Nice teams finish last: Jonathan and Harley, team New (Old) Kids on the Block, went out, taking Team Beltway with them, even though they were a mature, well-adjusted and generally fun duo.

The problem? Not sure, but it looked like Harley was good at arts and crafts, Jonathan wasn’t.
                                                                                     

Harley and Jonathan, in love

Thus a speed bump inherited from the previous week slowed them to a crawl and they were eliminated.

And maybe a romantic high doesn’t translate to a good showing. Matt proposed to Ashley last episode; everyone gushed. They were the next-to-last team to finish this episode. Whatever, they seem made for each other.

Speaking of a match made in heaven, I’m still taken by Mike and Rochelle, the truck-stop lovers. OK, they didn’t have a great showing, but still they get along and they’re not nasty.

Mike and Rochelle, also in love

On the other hand, Jelani and Jenny, lawyers most certainly not in love, aren’t getting along, and it shows. I predict more problems, at least I hope so. You heard it here last.

Finally, what’s with those awful eggs the racers choked down? Were they 100 years old, or 1,000 years old? I may not have been paying attention, and thus have it both ways in my notes, but, then again, when it comes to aging eggs, perhaps a century is enough to turn them rancid. Good to see a disgusting food challenge back on the Race.

That’s it until the next episode, which is set for April 3. I suspect March Madness is bumping the Race. Way to go, CBS.

Overheard:

Mike: We’ve had no fights, no blowouts.

Rochelle: The blind-date couples are not dealing with the stress of this race as well.

Blair: I’m tired of being blamed for everything.

Jalani: Jenny is like a Type A personality

Laura: Oh my god, I thought I was going to puke like five times.

Steve: Oh my god, that was gnarly.

Hayley: When I get angry I actually perform better.

Jelani: We need to work on our communication. It could be our fatal flaw.

Jenny: I suck at pool.

Tyler: A race is never over until you’re standing in front of Phil.

Mike: Rochelle, she can fix her own hot tub.

Jelani: Oh man, I got beat by a girl.

Jonathan I am the most happiest person right now. I got to fulfill my dream of being on this show, and I got to do it with the one person in this world that I love the most.

Order of finish

1) Bergen and Kurt

2) Hayley and Blair

3) Aly and Steve

4) Laura and Tyler

5) Jeff and Jackie

6) Mike and Rochelle

7) Jenny and Jelani

8) Matt and Ashley

9) Harley and Jonathan