Amazing Race, Season 30,
Episode 6
Prague, Czech
Republic
– I knew where this was going. How could I not?
Before the racers even worked up a sweat in Episode 6, Evan,
of #TeamYale, declared, "The claws are out."
 |
| Brittany realizes Jessica can't be trusted |
"Fasten your seatbelt," I said to myself. Let the
back biting and the dirty tricks begin. The days of group hugs and cooperation
are over.
And then, holy let down. It turns out that the only person
with claws out is Jessica of #TeamBigBrother. Her crime? Not a felony, really. I mean, she led two other players astray in the Kafka
challenge. I've seen worse.
Did I say, Kafka? Amazing
Race is no slouch in the cultural references category. Dvorak also got a
lot of air time. Then again, so did beer.
 |
| Franz Kafka, Czech beer lover |
"To say the Czechs love beer would be a colossal
understatement," understated host Phil Keoghan. This preceded repeated
shots of three goofy guys from Prague in separate hot tubs downing gallons of beer.
Where was I? Yes, Jessica, perky, gaga-over-Cody Jessica,
has emerged as this season's villain.
"Do I hate her, no?" said Brittany of
#TeamOceanRescue. "Do I trust her? Hell, no."
This statement was remarkable for its bluntness, but also
for the fact that it was one of the few times that Brittany didn't mention that
she and Lucas had been dating nine years
– NINE YEARS!
– before he popped the
question.
Actually, I'm beginning to share the reservations Brittany's
dad has about Lucas. Did you see him during the dueling-astronomical-lectures
challenge? He was wincing as soon as the one prof started making the flat-earth
case. By the time round-earth guy started yakking Lucas had his head down. He
was in pain. Brittany took a look at him. They fled the room.
The more I write this, the more I realize that the Amazing Race is edging toward the surreal. It wasn't just the guys in the hot tubs, there was a room full of ringing telephones, a bad memory-lane challenge brought back from Season 15. There was a lecture so esoteric that only Kyrie Irving of
the Boston Celtics
– a true believer in the earth's flatness thanks to his binge watching Instagram videos
– would have
known what the teachers were talking about. And then there was all
that beer.
 |
| A five-pack of Czech beer |
At the end of the episode, an episode won by the wonderful
#TeamExtreme, Phil warned everyone that things were only going to get stranger
down the road. There will even be some partner swapping! That has to mean that
Brittany and Jessica will suddenly be on the same side, not hating, but not
trusting. I'll drink to that.
Before I leave, a complaint. The terrific #TeamHighStrung of
Chris and Trevor was eliminated, mostly because they were Double U-Turned by
#TeamBigBrother (nasty!) and had to do two challenges where the other teams did
one.
 |
| Antonin Dvorak, Czech beer lover |
And thus, an engaging, pleasant, Dvorak-playing, and witty team was sent
home taking the pool's #TeamRogShow with them. Why do we even bother to watch?
But the guys went out with a flourish. First rule of Amazing Race is that couples who get the
boot have to say that just being on the race made them realize why they love
their partner.
Chris, on the other hand, remained anti-saccharine to the end, saying of Trevor: "I hate him so
much, and I'm going to continue to hate him for so long." Now that's a
classy exit.
Overheard
Phil: Team Chomp (last week) bit off more than they could chew.
Conor: You never
know what's going on behind close doors; behind their little heads, some people
have dark thoughts.
Henry: Evan wins
a good amount of arguments.
Evan: I feel I'm
tactful but pointed.
Kristi: I like
beer and football.
Evan (during the keg
challenge): Henry, this is what you missed by not being in a fraternity.
Kafka: The
meaning of life is that it stops.
Phil: There are
going to be more surprises; expect the unexpected; just be ready for anything.
Jessica: It would
really suck to go up against the violinists after we U-turned them.
Cody: I think
everyone was afraid to throw the first punch today.
Order of finish:
1) Kristi and Jen #TeamExtreme
2) Eric and Daniel #TheFirefighters
3) Evan and Henry #TeamYale
4) Alex and Conor #TeamIndyCar
5) Lucas and Brittany #TeamOceanRescue
6) Cody and Jessica #TeamBigBrother
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