Sunday, October 18, 2015

The Amazing Race 27 - Oct 16/15 Episode Recap

Good Old Fashion Spit in the Face

Team Texas has hatched a plan to leverage their Express Pass to get other teams to agree to U-Turn the Green Team because Justin is a huge threat and, let's be honest, just really annoying.
-They talked to Joey & Kelsey on the train and again at the Pit Stop asking them to spread the word.  Joey & Kelsey are in, they want that Express Pass for themselves.

-Team Texas is the first team to depart at 3:47pm - they read the clue to fly to Livingstone, Zambia - where they'll visit Victoria Falls.
-All teams head for travel agencies, there are only two flights with four spots available on each.

-Team Texas and the Reporters are the first two teams on the first flight. Justin & Diana can't seem to find the travel agency.  The Paparazzi are again arguing, he's taking off half-cocked, she's trying to slow him down so they can read the whole clue and find the travel agency - they even tell the camera they knew in high stress situations they are like a box with things just flying out in all directions - they know they have to work on that.
-The Track Stars are the third team on the first flight and finally Justin & Diana find the agency to squeak the 4th spot on the first flight which will get these teams in to Zambia at 12:30pm the next day.

-Logan & Chris are the first team on the second flight which was disappointing for them, until the travel agent said there was only a 15 minute difference between the flights - so hopefully it won't be too bad.
-Mom & Son, Chacattack and finally the Cheerleaders are the final teams on the 2nd flight out.  All the teams are talking about the strategy to take out Justin & Diana this leg... (and I almost feel bad for them, it's like they are being singled out to be picked on by the douchebag bullies.)

-All teams are on their way to Livingstone, Zambia - once they land they must make their way to the Mukuni Village which dates back almost a thousand years - they will get a traditional welcome.

First flight lands and Tanner is still hobbling with his hamstring injury, allowing the Reporters to get ahead of Team Texas, but they're alright with that because they are aligned with them, as long as it's not the Green Team.  Team Texas is planning on using their Express Pass this leg regardlesss, in order to get ahead of the other teams and U-Turn Green.  Justin's only focus is getting to the U-Turn before Team Texas.

-Everyone is impressed with Zambia... and they drive on the left side of the road there, which the Reporters found interesting (hopefully they won't have to drive, that can be confusing.)
-The Reporters are the first team to the village and they are blessed by a local woman, who spits water on them. Joey, "For me that was a first." (Ha, I bet.)
-Team Texas gets the water spit right in their faces, they thought it was hilarious - quite the welcome, "A good ol' fashion spit in the face,  welcome."
-Green Team, Justin has to be dancing because he has "look at me" disease... (yeah, he really is so annoying) Diana didn't seem overly impressed with the water spit in her face.

-The Reporters get the clue to make their way to Batroka Aerodrome to find their next clue (what is an Aerodrome?)
-Team Texas, Green Team head out right on top of each other - Team Track Stars is also right behind them and they are feeling the power of being in Africa - the welcome at the village was amazing.

Second flight lands and these teams are trying to make up time- Chacattack, Mom/Son, Cheerleaders and finally the Paparazzi is the order they leave the airport - and they are wanting to go fast!

First flight teams are getting to the next clue and it's the ROADBLOCK: Who wants to rise above the smoke that thunders?
In this Roadblock, one team member will fly over Victoria Falls in an microlight (essentially a motorbike with wings) - during the flight they must spot their next clue (a big yellow & red flag, hanging off a bridge) among the mist of the falls.
-Kelsey is going to do this one for the Reporters.

-Tanner & Josh choose to use their Express Pass to bypass this task and get ahead of everyone as the first part of their grand plan to take out the Green Team. (Huh?) The boys do seem a little bummed not to be doing this one though (it does look pretty cool.)
-For the Green Team - Diana is going to be doing this one.
-Tanner & Josh hand in the Express Pass and get the clue to take a cab over the border to the town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, once there they have to go to the Shoestring Backpackers Lodge to get their next clue.

-Joey & Justin are speculating to the camera that Tanner & Josh used the Express Pass to get to the U-Turn board first - Justin says, if they want to use it early, it's going to bite them in the ass, I promise. (Justin is absolutely certain that he and Diana are not going anywhere.) History of the Race has proven if you choose to U-Turn a team that is right behind you right off the top, it never works out.  Tanner & Josh will be making an enemy and they won't have the Express Pass to save them.

-Josh is kind of upset to be burning the Express Pass on a task that he could have done easily... (I'm kind of excited to see if Justin's prediction will come true or if Team Texas can pull this off.)

-Kelsey is the first person up in the microlight and she's loving it.  Diana is a little afraid of heights but Justin says, "what better way to get over that than seeing one of the seven wonders of the world?" (I'm not sure it works that way, but whatever, Justin just likes to talk like he knows everything.)

-Josh & Tanner are a little worried they will not be as far ahead as they had hoped by skipping that Roadblock, they feel like they may only be an hour ahead. (If that.)

-Back at the Roadblock, while the girls are up in the microlights, Justin asks Joey how he'd feel about an alliance with them.  Joey says he'd be okay with it especially since Justin & Diana are a stronger team that's been kicking everyone's butts. (Justin would never suspect if you keep stroking that huge ego.)
-Joey tells the camera that they are playing both sides right now, being in a secret alliance with Justin & Diana which he has no trouble breaking and then their agreement with Team Texas to get the Express Pass.  Joey says they're #Puppetmastering right now.

-The Track Stars get to the Roadblock and, again, Jazmine is doing this one (Ummm, they know the same person can't do every Roadblock right?)

-2nd flight teams start arriving at the village - Chacattack is the first team to be blessed, followed by Denise & James Earl - in both these cases the guys laughed after getting water spit in their faces and the girls looked mildly shocked.  Chris & Logan both laughed and the Cheerleader both shock and laughter followed by hoping it really will bring them good luck (these two are bringing up the rear again.)

-Victoria Falls is amazing, the flyers are seeing elephants, hippos, the amazing falls... and then the slight panic sets in that they have to spot the flag before the flight ends or they'll have to go again.
-Kelsey is worried until they go around a bend and she finally spots the flag hanging off the bridge.  Diana also spots the flag and Jazmine spots it as well, despite screaming and wahooing (which I'm sure the pilot loved hearing over the microphone.)

-Team Texas is at the border and have to get their passports checked.

-Kelsey & Joey are the first team heading off from The Roadblock to the suspension bridge where they saw the flag - Joey is super excited by baboons in the street - Kelsey tells him to settle down.
-Justin & Diana jump in a cab and he tells her that he cemented an alliance with the Reporters which she's happy about - No one plays this game better than Justin (in his mind.)

-Chacattack arrives at the Roadblock and Cindy volun-tells Rick he's doing this one.
-Cindy goes and talks to Danielle (the track star waiting for her partner) and they are both a little confused why Team Texas used their Express Pass on the Roadblock instead of the Detour (me too.)

-Team Texas is freaking out because the taxi ride from the Roadblock to Zimbabwe is taking forever - they feel like their lead is slipping away.

-Jazmine gets back and tells Danielle she saw the flag near a pink building hanging between two blue buildings... (Huh, What?! Oh man, is she talking about the right place?)
-The Paparazzi gets to the Roadblock and Logan is doing this one by mutual agreement.  James Earl & Denise are right behind them and Mom's going up.
-Cindy fills Chris and James Earl in, that Team Texas used the Express Pass on the 20 minute Roadblock instead of the Detour which usually takes an hour to an hour and a half.  They all agree that was a mistake.
-Cheerleaders get there and Krista is going up... lots more screaming... her poor pilot.

-Victoria falls - Kelsey & Joey and Justin & Diana get to the area where the suspension bridge is, they have to walk in and walk across the bridge, getting soaked by the spray of the falls - to get to the cluebox.  This clue is the one telling them to go to the Shoestrings Backpackers Lodge in Zimbabwe.
-The Track Stars are telling the cab driver they have to go to Victoria Falls bridge... he thought it was Knife's edge bridge... I still don't know which one was right (eek! This is my team, don't mess up girls.)

-Up in the microlights, Rick, Logan and Denise see the flag,

-The Track Stars are at the border and they have to get their passports stamped before they can cross - wait... they didn't get the clue yet (Oh Man!)  Once the girls are in a cab in Zimbabwe they see the flag hanging on the other bridge again and tell the guy they have to go back to that bridge.  So back to the border they go.

-Everyone comes in off their microlight flights totally exhilarated - Denise, "Oh my gosh, I almost p*ssed my pants." (Ha, this woman has no filter.)
-In the cab, Cindy tells Rick that Team Texas used their Express Pass on the Roadblock, "Nooooo." It may mess up their entire plan to get rid of Justin.

-Tanner & Josh think their plan is flawless, they will U-Turn Justin & Diana then Kelsey & Joey will U-Turn Team Texas knowing they are already passed so Justin & Diana can't U-Turn anyone else... they just hope they can rely on the other teams to have their backs.

-Then they get to Shoestrings and find... the Detour won't be until the next day - they have to grab a key with a time attached, first two are 8am, next two 8:10am, etc. (Ohhhh, did they ever screw up!  What a waste of a perfectly good Express Pass.)
-Especially when it's Justin & Diana that get to Shoestrings next and also grab an 8am departure time.  Justin says to Joey (when they get the 8:10am key) about Team Texas wasting the Express Pass, "When you don't know the game you make mistakes and they just made a crucial one." (Justin is just insufferable, they all know the game, Team Texas just happens to not be the best strategists.)

-Rest of the teams are getting the clue at the suspension bridge - Chacattack, Paparazzi, Denise & James Earl, The Track Stars (made it back) and then finally the Cheerleaders... (Come on Track Stars, I still have faith in you... but it's waning.)

-Team Texas has retreated to their room probably because they are embarrassed to face the other teams - they hope the Reporters will be right behind them tomorrow and they can still make the plan work.
-Justin however is glorying in their failure - He says he's not going to be cocky but he's extremely confident, then he dances around like an idiot (do you know what being cocky is?)
-The rest of the teams can't believe Team Texas miscalculated so disastrously.

8:00am the next day - Justin & Diana tell Team Texas they are not planning on U-Turning them today and Team Texas say they don't plan on U-turning them either... but Justin tells the camera, you never know, it is life changing money...
-It looks like Team Texas really has decided not to U-Turn the Green Team today because Tanner tells the camera the next time there is a U-Turn they will definitely do it. (I do see some tails between the legs with these two today.)

DETOUR: Co-op or Croquet
Wood/Co-op - wooden carvings of giraffes are hand made by a co-operative of local artists, in Co-op, teams will finish painting the carved animal, once it's ready for market, they'll receive their next clue.
Croquet - at the Victoria Falls Hotel they will play croquet on the grounds.  If they can score 5 points against a local player, they'll receive their next clue.
-Both Team Texas and the Green Team choose Croquet.
-Now Team Texas is saying instead of giving the Express Pass to the team that U-Turns Justin & Diana, they are thinking to give it to the next team that comes in after them, to try to be fair.

-8:10am - Chacattack chooses Co-op because they don't really even know what Croquet is.  Kelsey & Joey choose Croquet, thinking this will be much quicker than painting a giraffe. (I guess it depends on how good you are at Croquet - personally, I think painting the giraffe will likely be quicker.)

-The last 4 teams all have 8:20am -Paparazzi, Cheerleaders and Track Stars all chose Co-op and Mom & Son are going to do Croquet. (So it was a pretty even split between the Detours, interesting.)

Croquet - first thing, of course, is putting on the outfit: Guys, white shirts, black trousers and vests and a straw hat. Girls have white blouses, longs skirts and straw hats as well - very turn of the century garden party.
-Hmm, just getting the ball through a wicket seems to count as a point, not having to hit the final stake (croquet for dummies.)

-Chacattack get to the Big Five Coop and find out they have to stain the figure using a toothbrush - once they get it completely stained, they then have to polish it as well.  Cindy is a dentist so she has excellent toothbrush skills - hopefully that will help them with this task.
-Paparazzi, Track Stars and Cheerleaders also show up and choose their giraffes - Chris thinks bigger is better, where Logan would have used her head and chosen the smallest giraffe so it would go faster. They have to wait for the stain to dry before they can polish, Chacattack is starting to wonder if they chose the longer task.

Croquet - okay, they have to get the ball through the wicket before the pro in order to get the point, so if the pro goes through first, it's a dead wicket.  I get it.  Josh & Tanner have two points.  Kelsey doesn't have the greatest mallet skills, they have one point.  Justin & Diana are blazing along with four points. (oh boy)
-Team Texas catches up with four points and the Reporters came up with the strategy of having Kelsey knock the pros ball out of line so Joey could come behind and make the point - they start to get some points that way.
-Justin & Diana are the first team to get five points and they get the clue to the PIT STOP: Rose of Charity Orphanage.
-Tanner & Josh are finished right behind them.
-Kelsey & Joey are still playing and Denise & James Earl have just started.

-Back at the Co-op, the teams are starting to finish the staining, then they have to wait for the figure to dry.  Chacattack is fanning the giraffe, Paparazzi starts copying them.
-Cheerleaders don't get a pass, the judge tells them they're only 90% stained and Krista starts demanding he show her where it needs more (he's not going to do that dummy). 
-These teams are definitely thinking they should have done the other task instead (and someone might still get the chance.)

-Green Team is the first team in a taxi, they hope Team Texas would be true to their word but regardless, they hope to get to the U-Turn board first so they can't be U-Turned.
-Team Texas is right behind them and still kicking themselves for not saving their Express Pass for the Detour (yup, and you'll be kicking yourself about it for years to come, I'm thinking.)

-Denise & James Earl have mad croquet skills apparently and they fly through this task, getting five points before Kelsey & Joey who were there before them.  Joey's not too happy about being passed - but they finish right behind them.
-Denise runs away holding her skirt up around her waist (WHOA! Family show, lady - she was wearing tights, but still a little propriety is called for, especially in the period garb.)

-Justin & Diana are the first team to the U-Turn board, which is right at the Pit Stop (that's different) and they stayed true to their word and did not U-Turn anybody.  Justin says they will let [Team Texas] fail on their own.  But he does plan to U-Turn them at the next opportunity.
-Josh & Tanner get to the U-Turn board and are relieved to see they're not U-Turned, they even have some grudging respect for Justin & Diana because they did have the opportunity to U-turn the strong team behind them and didn't.  However, Team Texas still plans on U-Turning them at their next opportunity as well.

 Here's How They Finished:
1) Justin & Diana (Green Team) - part of the Pit Stop was making a donation to the orphanage and they chose to donate every dollar they had - Phil tells them they are still racing and hands them their next clue.  It tells them to make their way to a specific cafĂ© and they have $65 for this leg of the race.
2) Josh & Tanner (Team Texas) - They donate everything they have as well and then Phil tells them, because they used the Express Pass and they are still racing, they have to tell him right now who they are going to give the Express Pass to so Phil can give it to them when they get to the mat... the boys have no idea because they haven't correctly anticipated anything that's happened this leg...

TO BE CONTINUED (What!???!)

Next week: Justin & Diana walk with lions... and one seems to think they look tasty (eek), Kelsey & Joey go cage diving with crocodiles (ew) and Tiffany takes the plunge (is that bungee jumping or swinging? Either way it looks terrifying!)

So, no one eliminated unless you count Team Texas' Express Pass :)

Have a great week everyone,

Coleen

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