Amazing Race 34 continues in an open-ended manner

  

 

The Amazing Race

 

Season 34, Episode 8 (first half)

 

By Jim Memmott

 

Malaga, Spain – Megaleg? Mega yawn?

 

For the second time this season, The Amazing Race staged a Megaleg, essentially a one-hour broadcast with no conclusion, to be followed by another one-hour broadcast with an elimination.

This week, in the first half, the remaining five teams took on two challenges in Malaga.

 

First, one racer had to align, front to back, three large glass panels, each printed with a part of a Picasso painting, to recreate the painting. A statue of Picasso, who was a Malaga native, looked on, oblivious to the stress of the Race.

 

Next, the duos had to either cook sardines on skewers (kind of icky) or, using a paddle board, transport a big bucket of ice and some life jackets out to some offshore party-hearty Spaniards (kind of hard).

 

So all of that was entertaining. Why that earlier crack about a Mega yawn?

 

Well, there’s not much suspense during an hour when you know no one will be getting the heave ho from host Phil Keoghan. (Photo, CBS)

At the beginning of the season, Phil trumpeted the fact that there would be no non-elimination legs this season. It would mean more drama, more competition, etc.

 

Regardless, there have been three hours (two Megaleg first halfs and a Covid-impacted episode) when no one has been eliminated. We’ve known from the start of those hours that there would be no tears at the end. Hence, the yawn.

 

I’ll stop whining. As always, there were lots of revealing moments as the Race plot thickened.

Here’s what seems to be going on, team by team:

Derek Xio and Claire Rehfuss, the dating graduates of The Bachelor, in the lead at the halfway mark of the episode, continue to shine, quipping and mugging (Claire, especially) their way through the challenges.

Oddly, Derek proved to be terrified of bicycling, a new one for The Amazing Race, during which racers must steel themselves to bungee off tall buildings, not hop on a two-wheeler.

Aubrey Ares and David Hernandez: The Ballroom dancers upped their game. Though they were

near elimination in some of the earlier episodes, the couple (left) had a strong showing during this hour. Aubrey gained significant time in the Picasso challenge; David was a whiz at the fish fry, that challenge made easier by a tip from Derek, yes his competitor, to salt the fish.

 

Luis Colon and Michelle Burgos: Now known as Miami, a nod to their hometown, chose the most demanding challenge, the one involving a paddle board, and aced it.

Oh sure, they spilled a little ice, but they saved enough to complete the task. Most impressively, they remained upbeat throughout. Good heavens, they’re having fun.

Emily Bushnell and  Molly Sinert: Golly, they’re likeable, and they’ve got a terrific backstory (adopted as infants by different families, they discovered each other as grownups).

 

But Emily’s bum knee isn’t getting any better, and she was clearly in pain from the start of the race when she had to hobble down a steep walkway. It doesn’t look good.

 

Marcus and Michael Craig: What in the world is going on? The military brothers were favorites for the $1 million first prize at the start of the Race. Now, they can’t get out of their own way.

Marcus (near left) lost far too much time on the Picasso challenge because he kept forgetting to flip the back panel.  He slapped his head; I slapped mine.

Overheard:

 

Claire: It’s really important we don’t get lost and we don’t burn ourselves out.

 

Aubrey: I’m not going to say the claws are coming out, but they’re slowly coming out.

 

Emily: I knew I’d be hurting. I didn’t think I would be hurting this soon.

 

Derek: I get a panic attack when I’m peddling.

 

Marcus: I have zero confidence at this point.

 

Claire: My passion is salt, not so much fish.

 

David. Today, Derek saved us.

 

Aubrey: This is why we absolutely love Derek and Claire.

 

Where they are at the episode's halfway mark:

 

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

2. Aubrey Ares, David Hernandez (Ballroom dancers)

3. Michelle Burgos, Luis Colon (Married couple)

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

5.  Marcus and Michael Craig (Military brothers)