Monday, May 5, 2014

The Amazing Race All-Stars - May 4th Episode Recap

Bull Down

Last week, the teams raced from Italy to Switzerland, the Accidental Alliance was formed in opposition to Brendan & Rachel's U-turning of Dave & Connor, and Jen & Caroline escaped elimination again as it was a non-elimination leg.

Mount Titlis - Dave & Connor are the first team to head out at 2:35pm - they get the clue to fly to Seville, Spain and find their next clue at the Alameda between the statues of Hercules and Caesar.  *Caution, U-Turn ahead.*
-Dave & Connor feel that Brendan & Rachel used their U-Turn inappropriately (WHAT?) and since they already used their U-Turn with the Afghanimals, they hope that the Cowboys or Leo & Jamal will U-Turn Brenchel for them. (Okay, again, Dave & Connor are my team and I want them to win, but this victim complex with the U-Turn is really exasperating.)
-Cowboys are next out at 2:37pm - Ooh yeah, U-Turn ahead.  They say whatever is between Brendan & Rachel and Dave & Connor, feeling the spirit of neutrality in Switzerland, they're staying out of it. (Good plan.)
-Afghanimals - 2:38pm - they are excited to see a U-Turn is ahead, "You better believe the Afghanimals are U-Turning someone."  They know Brendan & Rachel is the expected target but they are also still gunning for the Cowboys (probably their smarter play if they can get there first.)
-Brendan & Rachel - 2:42pm - they are not so excited to see another U-Turn ahead, they know they are in trouble - but, whatever.
-Country Singers - 2:58pm - Caroline lived in Spain in college and she's excited to be heading to "Sev-ee-ya".  The girls still can't believe anyone would have U-Turned Dave & Connor (do you just want to quit and give them the money then?) and hope their accidental alliance will U-Turn Brenchel so they'll have time to do their Speed Bump.  Jen, "Too bad we couldn't double U-Turn them."

 Airport - Dave & Connor get there first and get tickets for a flight leaving at 5pm (in 40 minutes) which will get them to Seville by 9:30pm.Afghanimals also book that flight.
-Cowboys missed their exit for the airport ... hoping they'll still get a good flight.
-Brendan & Rachel hit a travel agency and find out they missed the 5:05 flight but can take a 7:20pm flight to Barcelona then take a connection the next morning getting them to Seville at 8:25pm.  Rachel looks like she's going to cry but Brendan is sure that everyone is going to be on the same flight.
-Meanwhile, Dave & Connor and the Afghanimals are boarding their 5pm flight to Seville.
-Cowboys and Country Singers meet up at the airport and they have the same flights as Brenchel - 7:05, overnight in Barcelona and on to Seville the next day.

Seville, Spain - Afghanimals & Dave & Connor jump in cabs and head for the Alameda.  They find the columns with the statues on them and there is a sign on the ground saying their clue will arrive at 8:30am (yup, they're making sure everyone catches up.)

Barcelona - 7:10am, the remaining teams board their flight for Seville.  Cowboys hope the other teams do U-Turn the Brenchels, that could only be good for them.

Seville - 8:30am - first two teams head to the columns and get the clue to make their way to a close by barber shop.  They run over and get the clue to the ROADBLOCK: One team member must become a barber of Seville, with a straight razor, shaving cream and a balloon.
-They must use the proper shaving technique to shave this sensitive customer in just 60 seconds, if they pop the balloon, they have to start again.  Once they've done it successfully, they'll get their next clue.
-Connor and Jamal are going to do this one... not only do they have to shave a whole balloon/head, there is an opera singer serenading them with the Barber of Seville while they do it.  Both ran out of time and the balloons were popped right out from under them at the 60 second mark (that woke them up.)

2nd flight arrives and they take off in cabs for the Alameda.  Brendan saw the Country Singers give the Cowboys a high five when they got off the plane so they're assuming if anyone gets to the U-Turn before them, it's the Brenchels.

-Back at the barber shop - they have picked up the pace, Jamal pops his customer and Connor completes the shave with a second to spare.  Dave & Connor get the next clue Route Info to search for their next clue in the Real Alcazar (beautiful building with long reflecting pool.)  They take off.
-Jamal is disheartened to be beaten in a shaving challenge by Connor, especially since Jamal has more hair on his face than Connor does on his head. (That's almost true.) But he bounces back and gets it done - they also head out for the next stop.

-Caroline & Jen are the first to the clue, followed closely by Brenchel and finally the Cowboys.  Jen is the first one to start shaving balloons, then Jet is the next one there - Brenchel's cab driver didn't know where the shop was and had to ask for directions... so they were the last team to arrive.
-Jen, Jet and Rachel are shaving the balloons but they never make the time and there are balloons popping all over.

-Dave & Connor get to the next clue and see the girl's Speed Bump - and get the clue to the DETOUR: Spanish Steps or Run with the Ballz.
-In Spanish Steps, they have to learn the flamenco (dancing, never a quick detour.)
-In Run With the Ballz - they have to put on inflatable Bull beach ball suits and run through the streets avoiding other bull/balls.  They must identify posters along the route that have parts of a motto then recite, "A matador never thinks about his own death," to the matador at the end of the course, to get their next clue.
-Both Dave & Connor and Leo & Jamal have chosen to Run with the Ballz since, Connor says, they can't dance to save their lives.

-Back at the barber shop - no one has successfully shaved their balloons in under 60 seconds yet... then Rachel is the first.  Way to make up two spots. They head out.   Jen finishes next and Jet right behind.
-Brenchel took a cab, the country singers took off on foot and got lost.

-Run with the Ballz - they show up and suit up.  Dave & Connor were not sure what to make of the Bull costumes - but they funnelled themselves in and took off on the route - then they came to the Bullz that where laying in wait for them and it's a smash up derby of Bull Ballz - (hahaha, that looks fun!)  I was waiting for Dave to pull the '60 yr-old' card but he did pretty well, even finding the first poster while floundering around on the ground.
-Leo & Jamal are the next to walk the gauntlet - they have no idea what's in store for them ahead.

-Jet & Cord were walking to the next location and also got a little lost.  Brendan & Rachel got there and saw the Cowboys, and also saw them turn the wrong way... oh well, that's good for them.
-Brenchel is going to Run With the Ballz as well.

-Caroline & Jennifer find their Speed Bump - they have to deliver six spanish hams to a specific cafe before they can return and do the Detour.  They are able to take three each so this should be quick - if they can find the cafe that is.
-Jet & Cord, still lost.

-Dave & Connor find the second poster just as they are set upon again by the pack of Bullz that start smashing into them again- Connor is starting to enjoy it, he was prepared and got some shots in but Dave is pretty sure this is going to kill him... oh, and they got the next part of the phrase.
-Next we see Leo & Jamal taking a pummeling, "This was no running of the bulls, more like the destruction of Leo & Jamal." But they found the poster that says A Matador.

-Jet & Cord so lost, the Real is set up like a maze and they missed the entrance. 
-Caroline & Jen find the cafe and deliver their ham - and now they will smell like ham all day.  They head back to find the Detour.
-Jet & Cord finally find the Detour clue and they, of course, are Running with the Bullz.
-Caroline & Jen pass the Cowboys on their way out as they are going in, the boys direct them and take off.  The girls say they are going to run with the bulls but then change their minds since they are good dancers, they head for the Flamenco!

-Brendan & Rachel are suited up in their balls and heading down the marked route, they think the narrow alleyway is the challenge until they are set upon by the hoodlum bulls bouncing them off the walls.  Of course Rachel starts whining, "I'm just a girl. Why do you have to hit me so hard." (Grr, hit them back!)  But she sees the poster and they head on.

-Dave & Connor get to the next open spot and see the poster completing the motto and the next pack of Bullz ready to knock them all over the place - they hesitate and they're done - they get bounced like crazy and Dave finally pulls the Old man card - yelling in Spanish that he's old, "Old bull down!" - they don't seem to care.  Finally they make their way to the matador and say the phrase which gets them the next clue - to make their way to the General Archive of the Indies (Is this the U-Turn finally?)

-Leo & Jamal in their Bull ballz - they have different strategies - Leo gets knocked down and stays down, he decides he's going to roll to the exit - Jamal goes on the offensive and starts hitting them back when they're not looking - they have one more section to find.

-The Cowboys are getting suited up - Cord is a bull rider by profession so he's run from a lot of bulls in his time but never with them - then they get in the ballz - not quite what they imagined.

-Caroline & Jen get lost again trying to find the Flamenco task - it doesn't look like there are any street signs, everything is twisty turny little alleys.. at least there are no cars.

-Leo & Jamal at their final bull skirmish, they see the rest of the motto and get attacked by the blow up bulls.  It's all fun until Jamal twists his knee and he's out - he can't feel his knee cap but he's starting to feel more pain.  It doesn't stop him though, they move on to finish the Detour.

-Dave & Connor are the first team to the U-Turn board and they can't U-Turn anyone, "We really wish we could."  They get the clue to make their way to the Plaza de Espana, the PIT STOP for this leg of the race.

-Back on the Bull run - it's fun watching Rachel get flung around - and she's whining about them being too rough with her (Suck it up Buttercup!) They have the next part of the quote.
-Jet & Cord are finally getting to the first encounter spot and are so surprised by how seriously they were being pummeled that they didn't even notice the first poster and go on assuming it must be at the next corner (oh, you guys.)

-Caroline & Jen finally find the Flamenco place - you better dance like you've never danced before!  They choose an instructor, put on their dresses and shoes (they like getting dressed up) and start to learn the sexy dance.

-Leo & Jamal limp up to the matador and give the motto - they head off for the U-Turn board, "Hmm, who are we going to U-Turn?"

-Jet & Cord get to the next bull fight and see "Never thinks about" but Jet realizes they must have missed the beginning of that sentence and they head back. Cord never thought that running with the bulls would be so safe (Yeah, ask Jamal about that.)

-Brendan & Rachel take one more pummeling, "They're so mean." (It was awesome.) and they get the end of the motto - off they go to the U-Turn and I hope they are ready for some dancing.

-Leo & Jamal get to the U-Turn board and decide that the Cowboys are still the strongest team out there and with Jamal's banged up knee... they U-Turn the Cowboys (Whaaat?) hoping they will, in turn, U-Turn Brendan & Rachel... but the Cowboys are behind so now they're screwed. (It's still good for Leo & Jamal I guess.)

-Jet & Cord have gone back and finally see the "A Matador" poster as they are being bounced around in their bull ballz.

-Brendan & Rachel get to the U-Turn board and Rachel was genuinely blown-away, shocked that the Afghanimals did the smart thing not the popular thing but U-Turning the Cowboys instead of them.  They didn't U-Turn anyone.

-Jet & Cord see the last poster and then make a run for it and are rammed from every direction... finally they make it to the matador and get the clue to head for the U-Turn board but they are pretty sure they are last and know if they're U-Turned, they're dead.

-Caroline & Jennifer have been practicing their Flamenco routine over and over in the hopes they'll get it right the first time - finally they head out to make their debut and they nailed it!  They head for the U-Turn board.
-Once they get there, they see the Afghanimals U-Turned the Cowboys and they're shocked - so they U-Turn the Brenchels - of course not realizing they're already finished.
-The girls head for the Pit Stop.

-Cowboys get to the U-Turn board and they were surprised and disappointed to see that Leo & Jamal U-Turned them - Jet, "You just can't trust anybody.  Throw a million dollars in the mix and it just brings out the worst in some people."
-Then we got to see the Cowboys spruced up in black pants and white shirts with a red sash as they learned the Flamenco... with their hats on, of course.  And those boys can dance.  They are very grateful to have had the opportunity to run the race three times, they've run the best race they could with their integrity in tact, got to meet a lot of great people and experience so many things you never would unless you were on the Race.  (They will be missed!)

 Here's How They Finished:
1) Dave & Connor - They won a trip to St Croix.  Dave still complaining this is a young man's game - and Phil tells him he must be a young man, because they are first again.  Dave starts crying again (Oh yeah, I forgot he's a crier.) He's so proud of his son and they are determined to be the first father/son team to win the Amazing Race.
2) Brendan & Rachel - she falls down walking across the plaza (for no reason) so she's pouty until Phil tells them they are team number two!  Big mistake on the Afghanimals part not to U-Turn them but they don't care.
3) Leo & Jamal - they are walking like they're last because they are so bummed about Jamal's knee... they say they are sure they can beat Brendan & Rachel (not this leg you didn't) so, with Jamal's knee injury, they had to try and take out the Cowboys.
4) Caroline & Jennifer - They are so excited to hear they are in the final four.  It can't be a fluke, they are still there and ready to go all the way.
5) Jet & Cord - **ELIMINATED** - it was disappointing to be U-turned but they weren't surprised.  Phil tells them he thinks the other teams were just flat out scared of the Cowboys. 
They are so gracious in defeat - it's tough that their race has been cut short but every leg was a blessing and Jet quoted scripture about victory belonging to The Lord... okay.  Cord, "Oh my gravy, we've been around the world three times on the Amazing Race."

So, sadly, with the Cowboys leaving, Patty F., Fred & Gary M., Krista H. and Sandy G. are out of the pool. (That's gotta hurt.)

Next week - Afghanimals are playing soccer, Dave & Connor and Country Singers are shooting skeet and Rachel is whining and crying (surprise.)

Have a great week everyone,

Coleen

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