Monday, November 23, 2015

The Amazing Race 27 - Nov 20/15 Episode Recap

It's Always the Quiet Ones

Last week the Texas boys came in last but were saved by a non-elimination leg... meaning they will face a Speed Bump and a U-Turn this leg. (Will anyone get ahead of Green and U-Turn them?  We can only hope.)

Justin & Diana are the first team heading out at 10:04pm and they get the clue to fly to New Delhi, India.  Once they touch down, they have to take a taxi to the train station and catch the 6am train to Agra, the location of the Taj Mahal... This means everyone will be travelling together.  Once they get to Agra, they will make their way to a specific river and search for their next clue.
-Green Team is gloating about their five first place finishes and they know if someone can beat them to the U-Turn board they would definitely be U-Turned.

-Every other team is also talking about the U-Turn on the way to the airport - Kelsey & Joey want to U-Turn Green. Team Alabama, Team Paparazzi, they know a U-Turn at this point in the Race means someone is going home.  The Cheerleaders, however, can't U-Turn anyone because they already wasted their U-Turn by putting up the Green Team long after they had already passed the U-Turn point the last time, they just better hope no one U-Turns them.

At the airport, the Reporters and Team Alabama see the elusive Green Team - they are not a myth.  I don't know if Justin is socially challenged or if this is his strategy but he's the worst kind of jerk, talking smack, chuckling about other teams getting eliminated and acting all superior, it's no surprise that everyone dislikes him.  James Earl tells him the Texas boys came in last the leg before and Justin giggles, "A speed bump and U-turn means they're going home." (Ugh, he's awful.)

Off to India - they get to the train station and there are people sleeping all over the floor - quite the culture shock from Rio and Paris. 

-We see Paparazzi Chris talking to Justin & Diana, he doesn't really ask them, he states, "So, we're in agreement that you guys are definitely U-Turning, right?" Uhhhhh, Diana doesn't think anyone will U-Turn the boys because they're already at the back and we see that Chris is cold-blooded, "Why not make sure?  They are less likely to complete it with the Speed Bump." Justin & Diana seem a little uncomfortable talking about U-Turn strategy with them when Logan jumps in, "Is it true the girls can't U-Turn now?"
ERRCHH!
Justin asks, "Why?" and Logan says, "You know they put your faces up." (Uh, no they didn't know that) but now they do, and Justin is going to confront the Cheerleaders (DRAMA!)
-Krista flat out lies to Justin, denying they put the Green Team's picture up (she didn't want a target on their backs) and then they go over to Chris & Logan and get mad at them for saying they tried to U-Turn [the Green Team.]
-Chris says it wasn't said that way, they said a U-Turn was used... and Chris also gets mad at Justin & Diana for trying to stir something up.  Justin pleads innocence but has a smirk on his face - they say that settles it, the U-Turn gets used now.  And Chris is mad at Logan for her big mouth (she really is kind of SMRT.)

AGRA
-They get off the train and run for the tuk-tuks... then risk life and limb through the streets at break-neck speeds heading for what proves to be the ROADBLOCK: Who's ready for laundry day?
Outdoor laundry on the banks of the Yamuna River - they must take a load of laundry on the back of a bike to the marked wash tubs, then they will be shown how to fold and knot the sari fabric for washing.  Once they have laid their saris out to dry (laying them out on the sand, how is that clean?) they will get their next clue.

-Little Krista is the first to head off and she can't control the bike...she takes a spill and Chris and Denise pass her.  Joey and Tanner are also doing this one, and when Tanner reads his clue he sees that as their Speed Bump, both of them are going to have to perform this Roadblock. "Are you kidding me?" (Yeah, this is going to be a time consuming task, that doesn't really seem fair.)
-Diana is the last one showing up for this and the first hurdle seems to be getting the bike to the wash tubs, they get bogged down in the sand so everyone is off the bikes and pushing and they are pretty much all neck and neck.

-Chris is the first to a tub, followed by Joey then everyone else.  They get the lesson on folding the fabric a certain way, then tying it in a knot and throwing it in the boiling pot... it has to be done a certain way, but they seem to be getting the hang of it. (I hope this takes sweat out because it's hot, and they are rather moist.)

-Josh didn't read the clue at all so he has no idea what's going on - Cheerleader Tiffany tells him that when Tanner comes back, he is going to have to go out there and do the same thing, and that is his Speed Bump. "Are you kidding me?" (I still can't believe that some of them don't read the clues. But I guess usually only one person is doing the Roadblock so it wouldn't have mattered... but still - Texas boys are victims of their own stupidity lately.)

-Tanner is panicking a little bit knowing that Josh still has to do this and it's such a long Speed Bump.  Tanner asks the other teams if they are planning on U-Turning them and Diana says no, they're not planning on it, Joey and Chris tell him they aren't either.  Denise just has to focus on the task at hand, "It's so hard for an old lady like me."

-Once they get all the saris folded, knotted and in the pot, they have to give it a good stir - then they are given a different, already washed, load of saris to carry down the beach and lay out for drying.  But it's a big load of heavy cloth, poor Denise just wanted to sit down and cry (aww.)
-Diana said what I was thinking, laying the fabric out on the sand, "I don't know how this is clean, but the fabrics are beautiful."

-Joey is the first one finished, he tells the camera he told Tanner they wouldn't U-Turn them, buuutttt.... he's not above using it.  The Reporters get the clue to head to the Hanuman Temple and receive a blessing to get their next clue.
-Chris is the second one finished followed by Diana... so two teams are ahead of Green, but we still have the Detour before the U-Turn.

-Tanner finishes and hands the clue to Josh who has to head out and start the laundry.

Hanuman Temple
-The Reporters get their blessing and the clue to the DETOUR: Cans or Candy.
In Cans - the teams will have to load a cargo bike with 120 used oil cans, then maneuver them through the streets to the oil company.
In Candy - the teams must cut and wash one man of white pumpkin (about 90lbs) which the locals make into a candy.  Once the cutting is done they must deliver two finished batches of the candy (petha) to a local candy store to get their next clue.
(I would totally be doing candy - having to maneuver anything through the streets would be too daunting for me.)
-And the Reporters choose Cans. (Well, there you go.)
-The Paparazzi are on the same page with me and choose Candy.
-Justin & Diana choose Cans.

Laundry
-Josh is realizing why this took Tanner so long, it is not an easy task doing this laundry.
-Krista finally finishes, followed closely by Denise who looks close to exhaustion - but she made it, James Earl is so proud of her.

Detour
-Joey & Kelsey's tuk-tuk has taken them to the wrong place and they lost their lead, just like that. (Gosh Darnit!)
-Justin & Diana get to the Cans task and figure out how high their stack is going to be, it's going to be crazy trying to travel through the streets with that load.

Candy
-Paparazzi show up and get started on the cutting of the pumpkins - and they are already sniping at each other - she wants to see how it's done longer, he's rushing her along - she figures he's going to cut himself... your usual Team Paparazzi bickering.

Blessing
-I think the guru like Krista, everyone else just got the standard blessing where he made a mark on their forehead, she also got a pat on the head (what does that mean?)  And the girls chose Candy.
-Denise & James Earl also chose Candy.

Speed Bump/Roadblock
-Josh is done the washing, he's on to the laying out the fabric.

Cans
-While Justin & Diana are stacking their cans, a parade comes by... well that's going to make the street that much harder to get through.
-Joey & Kelsey finally get to the Cans task and see that Justin & Diana are almost finished loading their cart, and they are frustrated that the race they are running is only getting them second place.
(I realized that the locals had tied the cans in bundles of six then stacked them and tied them all together again - our teams are just stacking them free and then tying everything together at the end, making it much less stable.)

Candy
-Paparazzi is bickering - he's just slicing the pumpkins and she's got to cut a whole bunch of circular pieces out of them so he side takes longer and he's just criticizing her the whole time... (I'd be fighting with that guy too.)
-The Cheerleaders and Team Alabama show up and none of them know how much pumpkin is going to be in a man... and there are lots of flying beasties attracted to the pumpkin juices... I'm sure this one smells lovely as well.

Speed Road Bump
-Josh is has finally finished laying out his fabric and they are hoping that someone messes up at the Detour so they can hopefully catch up.

Candy
-Paparazzi - bicker, bicker, bicker... they don't have a man yet, they have to go back and cut more.  Now the Cheerleaders know they need a lot more.
Blessing - Team Texas chooses Candy.

Cans
-Justin & Diana deliver their cans without incident, and are in first place, as usual.
-Joey and Kelsey are pretty close behind them - but still behind them.

Candy
-Chris & Logan reach their weight in pumpkin and take off with the ready made candy to deliver.
-The Texas boys show up and start a production line. Instead of cutting the circles out of one slice at a time - Tanner stacks them and pushes
the cutter through a bunch of slices at once - ta da!  Three pieces to all the other team's one.

Cans
-Justin & Diana unload their cart and get the clue to the U-Turn board.  Can anyone get there before them?
-Joey & Kelsey are unloading their cart and cans are falling everywhere (you know when the faster you try to go, the more you mess up, I think that's them right now.)  They get the clue as well.

Candy
-Team Paparazzi make their delivery and get the clue as well.  In the tuk-tuk Chris says if they are first to the U-Turn board, they will U-Turn someone, and Chris wants it to be the Green Team (we all want that.)

Joey & Kelsey say they have to use the U-Turn, it's just a matter of who to use it on at this point.
Justin & Diana's tuk-tuk driver doesn't seem to know where they need to go... uh oh... but it was just clever editing - Justin & Diana are the first team to the U-Turn board and they decide not to U-Turn anyone.

-They get the clue to the PIT STOP - the Moonlight Garden in Agra - it's across the river from the Taj Mahal, and Phil is hiding in a far corner.
-Justin & Diana said they would only use the U-Turn if it was to save themselves and they didn't need to use it, let the other teams fight it out.

-Joey & Kelsey chose to U-Turn Josh & Tanner, she had second thoughts but Joey has no qualms about it, they want to win and the boys are competition (though not this leg...)

-Chris & Logan are just psyched to see that they are not the team that was U-Turned (everyone is just exhausted having to do these tasks in the heat and they had a long trip from Poland to India before that... no wonder they are bickering.)

Candy
-Denise & James Earl get their man of pumpkin cut and head out to deliver the candy.
-That leaves the Cheerleaders and Team Texas to flirt their way through the rest of the task.
-Cheerleaders get their man and head out with the candy and the Texas boys are right behind them - they did this task so fast.

-Denise & James Earl get to the U-Turn board and see they weren't U-Turned, so they take off for the Pit Stop... and figure the boys are gone, there is no way.
-Cheerleaders get the U-Turn and are shocked to see Joey & Kelsey U-Turned the boys, not happy with the Reporters right now - It's always the quiet ones you have to watch out for.
-Tanner & Josh finally get to the board and see they have been U-Turned..."Worst. Leg. Ever."

-Denise & James Earl are taken to a garden... the driver assures them it's the Moonlight Garden, but... it's not.

-Tanner & Josh are loading up their cargo bike with oil cans.

-Denise & James Earl are wandering through a garden... until they finally find a sign that says it's the Shahjahan Garden - they ask a couple people and are told the Moonlight Garden is just up the street...

-Team Texas delivers their oil cans and gets the clue to head back to the U-Turn.

-Denise & James Earl are still unable to find Phil - they finally decide to go get a tuk-tuk and finally find someone who knows where the Moonlight Garden is, it's actually on the other side of the river, 5-6kms away - they've been in the totally wrong place the whole time.

-Team Texas gets the clue to the Pit Stop - Moonlight Garden.  They can't even be mad about how things went today, it's the Race.

 Here's How They Finished:
1) Justin & Diana - they won a trip to Honolulu (Honeymoon!) And it's their sixth first place finish.  The record is 8, Justin says the record doesn't matter, they just want the million dollars (but you know the record matters to this guy.)
2) Kelsey & Joey - they want that first!
3) Logan & Chris - Justin & Diana just rubbed them wrong this morning and he wanted to U-Turn them - Kelsey (reporters are still at the mat with them) pipes in that the problem is, they are always ahead - if they ever had the opportunity [to take the Green Team out] they would take it.  Chris says they are not winning the million dollars. (Big words)
4) Krista & Tiffany - They are shocked but happy with that placing.
5) Denise & James Earl - he does his happy jumps, and they are ready for the next leg (after they collapse for a few hours.)
6) Tanner & Josh *** ELIMINATED *** The Double Roadblock just killed them.  Phil said their only chance would have been if someone U-Turned Justin & Diana but that didn't happen, Josh says as much as he hates to admit it, [Justin & Diana] were stronger than them as a team.  Tanner said they started out so strong and thought they had this in the bag so they let their guard down (overestimated their ability) and they are sorry Texas.

So with Josh & Tanner leaving, that takes: Dave & Lois L., Tori K., Elaine R., Sandie G., and Maureen M. out of the pool.

Next week - it's India, round two.  Logan & Chris still fighting, and Tiffany pops all her balloons... We'll have to see what that's about.

Have a great week everyone,

Coleen

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