The last episode of The Amazing Race had something for everyone: romance, arguments, a proposal and the magic words “non-elimination leg.” Harley Rodriguez and Jonathan Knight were the last team to reach Phil in Phuket, Thailand, but they are still in the game.
Matt Cucolo proposed to his girlfriend, Ashley Gordon, on the mat in front of a group of other teams. This celebration of love even prompted blind date couple Bergen Olson and Kurt Jordan Belcher to donate their Date Night prize to them. So who will take the lead on this leg of The Amazing Race? Let’s find out!
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Taxi Trouble
In “The Great Amazing Nasty Race (Bangkok),” Rochelle and Mike, who finished first on the previous leg, get the new clue. The remaining nine teams are headed to Bangkok, Thailand where they must locate Buddhist temple Wat Yannawa. Hayley continues to dissect everything that went wrong with the last leg, and Blair continues to be aloof and tired of being blamed for everything.
All the teams, with the exception of Harley and Jonathan, board the same flight to Bangkok. Jelani and Jenny and Jackie and Jeff both try to claim the same taxi, and Jenny heads off to find another cab. Jelani feels that he was in the right, and that they are behind other teams because of the taxi delay.
Laura and Tyler reach the temple first, and find a transportation-related Detour: Water or Wheel. In Water, teams will use a long tail or water taxi. In Wheel, teams will use a small open-type cab that is easy to weave in and out of traffic. Along the way, teams will also have multiple stops as they try and navigate the chaotic streets of Bangkok.
Even though Blair has turned over control of the race to her for the day, Hayley continues to ask him what he wants to do. That is, until he tells her, and then she changes her mind. With Hayley firmly in control, this team wanders around far from the clue box. Hilarious!
The Tension Rises
Most of the couples decide to do the Water challenge. Blair and Hayley arrive and find out that there are five water taxis, and they are the sixth team. This dysfunctional duo meets up with Jackie and Jeff, and they race off to do the Wheel challenge. Jelani and an irritated Jenny meet up with the other teams, but have yet to find the clue box at the temple. The couple also bickers about whether or not they should run or conserve their energy.
How Do You Like Your Eggs?
Tyler and Laura arrive at a market after their relaxing boat ride where they must eat a local delicacy called a thousand-year-old egg. I must confess that I am not a fan of the eating challenges. First of all, the inside of the eggs are black and gelatinous, and the reaction from Laura and Tyler confirms my suspicion that this is not going to be an enjoyable snack. After choking down the egg, they receive a clue to select an apprentice to help them make an offering at Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen. Matt and Ashley arrive and buy an egg, but it is not the correct color. Ashely nearly gets sick as they head off to see if they are even at the right market. Bergen and Kurt try to distract themselves from the taste of the local delicacy by dancing.
Red Ball, Corner Pocket
For the Wheel Detour, teams must go to a snooker club and sink a red ball in this pool-style game. Once the teams make a successful shot, they are given a small bottle of milk as their clue. On the way to the Caturday cafe, Jackie begins to pet their driver, insisting that he likes it. Wow. Teams must use their bottle of milk to feed the hungry cats that populate the cafe.
As the next stop on the Water Detour, teams participate in a traditional Thai prayer service. The prayer service is really lovely. Laura and Tyler receive the next clue, which directs them to Patumwan Siang Gong.
Making a Grasshopper
Once Harley and Jonathan finally arrive, they encounter their Speed Bump. They must each make a grasshopper out of river reeds. It looks really complicated. The dating couple finally completes the task and choose the Wheel Detour. They have some serious time to make up.
Greasy Challenge
Laura and Tyler reach the next clue box and it is a Roadblock, posing the question, “Who’s feeling Clutch?” This Thai neighborhood deals with recycling old engines. One team member must remove the transmission from an engine block and find a screwdriver that has been left behind, and the next clue is in the screwdriver handle. Tyler doesn’t know anything about taking apart engines, but he launches into the task with a sunny disposition. Tyler finally locates the screwdriver, which has a piece of cloth in the handle that says, “Metal Castle.”
The name of the metal castle is Loha Prasat, and it is a Buddhist temple. It is also the Pit Stop for this leg of the race. Laura and Tyler also wins a Date Night for a dinner cruise. Sadly, their cab driver brings them to the metro instead of the metal castle.
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What’s up, Pussycat?
One competitor (Jenny) is feeling even more stressed out at the cat cafe because she is terrified of cats. She manages to stay very still, and no cats or racers were harmed during the challenge.
Back at the engine task, Blair, Bergen and Matt struggled with their engines. Matt and Ashley even returned to the same spot once they were finished to search for a castle made of metal. A new crop of racers tackle the engine task next, including Jelani, Jeff and Rochelle. Rochelle gets it almost instantly.
Jonathan steps up and tries his hand at the engine. Meanwhile, a confused Matt and Ashley ask Jelani and Jenny for help figuring out what the metal castle is. Once Jenny and Jelani have the answer, Jenny persuades her teammate to leave Ashley and Matt in the dust by hopping in a cab. Jelani pretends not to know where they are going, and urges the other couple to run and follow them. Ashley trips and falls while trying to catch up with the cab. Jelani and Jenny get lost and argue about their treatment of Ashley and Matt.
The First to Arrive
Bergen and Kurt reach Phil first, and win the leg, much to their astonishment. The teammates also score a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Congratulations, Bergen and Kurt! Hayley and Blair nab second place, while Olympians Steve and Aly come in third.
The Last to Arrive
Harley and Jonathan are the final team to arrive and have been eliminated from The Amazing Race.
The Amazing Race airs Friday at 8 pm on CBS
(Image courtesy of CBS)
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
Kim has been covering television entertainment since 2013. She is addicted to Real Housewives, Pump Rules, Dancing with the Stars, and many more shows.
