The Amazing Race double dips in Iceland's icy waters

The Amazing Race

 

Season 34, Episode 9

 

By Jim Memmott

 

Iceland – Spoiler alert: Let’s get the sad news over at the start.

 

Aubrey Ares and David Hernandez, ballroom dancers and good-hearted competitors, were eliminated from the race, so they won’t be competing in next week’s finale. (Their loss meant Judith Hunter and Bob Wilcox are out of the pool.)

What happened? Basically, there were two challenges that demanded swimming, and David can’t swim. Eventually, he and Aubrey just had to stop, not go in the cold Icelandic waters one more time to get things right on a memory test.

 

In David’s defense, it did seem a little harsh that the Race’s producers threw two water challenges in the same episode knowing that this might handicap one of the teams.

 

Whatever, it was sad to see the couple go. They were gritty overachievers, and there were certainly moments earlier when they had better luck.

 

Moving on to next week’s finale:

The best Hollywood ending would have the twins, Emily Bushnell and Molly Sinert, win the $1 million.

They have the most compelling back story, as they were adopted by different families as infants and reunited as adults. They've hung on in the race even though Emily has a clearly painful knee.

This week's episode was won by Claire Rehfuss and Derek Xaio. Certainly, they're the co-favorites to win it all.

 

Claire can swim, wisecrack, and install contact lenses (even doing the job for Derek in Iceland). She can’t yodel; Derek can’t ride bicycles. If those tests don’t come up in the next episode, they’ll be OK.

 

Luis Colon and Michelle Burgos, the other co-favorites, are all energy. And she’s not just unafraid of heights; she seeks them out. They should do well.

Other thoughts on the Iceland episode:

The scenery was terrific. The Land Rovers, though hard to shift, were easy on the eye. The challenges were straightforward, some ice climbing, some plunging, and, as said, some swimming.

 

There weren’t a lot of Icelanders, though Icelandic actor

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson and his wraparound mustache did show up at the pitstop with Phil Keoghan to greet the Racers at the end of their brief but challenging stay.

 

Overheard

 

Claire: I was your Bond Girl, right?

 

Derek: Yeah.

 

Luis: Wow, I feel so manly now

 

Emily: How are we going to survive this?

 

Derek: It was not a car; it was like a spaceship.

 

David: I’m concerned about how I’m going to get out of this roadblock. I’m not a good swimmer, but finally, it’s now or never.

 

Michelle: We’re going snorkeling, baby.

 

Luis: I could see my lips turning blue.

 

Claire: I grew up in the water.

 

Derek: Claire has a picture-perfect memory.

 

Aubrey: Phil, I’ve watched you since I was in second grade. It’s so cool to be standing in front of you.

 

Order of Finish

 

1. Derek Xiao, Claire Rehfuss (Big Brother graduates, dating couple)

2. Luis Colon, Michelle Burgos (Married couple)

3.  Emily Bushnell, Molly Sinert (Long-lost twins)

 

Eliminated

 

4. Aubrey Ares, David Hernandez (Ballroom dancers)