The Amazing Race turned out it's most exciting hour in awhile. Usually in the first few episodes we can get an idea of who the first few teams to get kicked out will be. Fran and Barry are sure to go next, then a toss up between Dave and Lori and Dani and Danielle but probably Dani and Danielle, they don't make really good decisions and they're way too distracted by dumb and dumber. This past episode kept us guessing the whole time! Bravo Amazing Race, bravo!
Tyler and BJ are first out of the gate around 5am and have to make it to a farm a few miles away. "The lambs Clarice, the lambs!" Okay, not that kinda farm, the one with ziplines. My favorite kind. They'll ride a zipline 300 feet above ground to receive their next clue. The boys get there and learn the farm doesn't open until 7am, giving some of the teams a chance to catch up. What farm opens at 7am? Certainly not a farm that wants to make some money. Lazy. BJ and Tyler hide in the bushes and scare the hell out of Eric and Jeremy when they pull up, it's hilarious. I really do like the hippies. Dave and Lori and Joseph and Monica get to the site as well and wait for the gates to open.
When the gates finally do open they rush off to the zipline. Once down they get their next clue, which tells them to head to Russia! In Russia they'll go to a water sports facility that's been the training ground for Russian Olympians. I don't know one Russian high diver. I mean I don't know one American either, but high diving and swimming doesn't seem like their sports. It looks mighty cold at that outdoor facility, and I'm thinkin' they're going to be going into the pool which is gonna suck.
The teams have to head to a bus station and take the bus to the airport. I'm crossing my fingers Lake and Michelle misread this clue and get lost on the Brazilian countryside somewhere. My wish comes partly true. When they leave the Pit Stop they take the wrong way down the road. Mostly because Lake's yelling and being a total d*ck, but hey, what's new. He stands on top of the VM to survey the land. They end up making it to the farm in second to last place behind Fran and Barry and when Lake realizes they're going to Russia he says, "Dang gummit! I was hoping we wouldn't have to go to Russia." Um, why? They'll hate you just as much as anyone else. He does point out that it's cold there, but I think just to cover up the ignorant statement he just made about not going there. Even though they made it to the bus station in record time, Michelle gets a scare when she thinks she lost the fanny pack. Yes, I did just say fanny. Of course Lake freaks out and Michelle says she doesn't want to argue over something so stupid. I don't know how losing the bag with your passports and money becomes something stupid, but I just don't like Lake. He tells her to not be a bitch. Wow, they must really love each other. I don't want to talk about them anymore but I'll have to later on.
At the airport the teams start bunching up again. Damn you airport! Damn you! Fran and Barry's hopes are pretty much dashed as they make their way there, thinking they'll for sure be last place again and get on the last flight. Fortunately for them everyone makes it onto the same flight, making it anyone's game gain.
Once in Moscow, BJ and Tyler make it out first, as do Eric and Jeremy and Dani and Danielle who've been flirting with each other non stop since the first show. They're just gross, all four of them. They decide to share a cab and some bodily fluid. Dave and Lori and MoJo also decide to share a cab. One good thing about sharing a cab with someone is you always know where one team is and you can always have a foot race to the mat. Fran and Barry and Wanda and Desiree take up the rear.
In succession everyone arrives at the water sports facility to learn it's a Roadblock. One of the team members has to put on a bathing suit and jump off the 10 meter high dive. I don't know how high that is in American, but it's high up there. Most teams get up and jump off quickly. Yolanda hesitates a bit because she tells us that she doesn't know how to swim. I think there should be a rule or something about not doing something that could potentially kill you. I don't see any lifeguards around. The other teams who are there in the facility still cheer her on, including Michelle. I guess it's just her husband that's a tool. Once they dive into the water they have to retrieve a clue that's strung to the bottom of the pool.
Dani and Danielle and Eric and Jeremy head off, somewhere in the middle of the pack, to a monastery to find their next clue. One of the girls, the stupid one, discovers she left the infamous fanny pack in the changing room at the pool. They pull the car over and the girls get out, frantically searching for a taxi. Lucky for them Wanda's having a lot of trouble in the pool. She can't bring herself to dive down to get the clue. Looks like she's there forever, the people on the side of the pool start to cheer her on and Desiree keeps a cool head, encouraging her. She doesn't want to lose like this, but doesn't want to dive her ass down either. Eventually she finishes just about the time Dani and Danielle get back. At least now they have the drive to hurry now, knowing they aren't the last team. I'm referring to Wanda and Desiree, I want that fake boob team out.
Being first to the monastery, BJ and Tyler grab a clue and realize this is a Detour, choosing between two tasks. In this Detour the teams can choose to Scrub or Scour. In Scrub they'll have to take a taxi to this trolley yard, which is kinda creepy, and wash a Russian trolley from end to end. In Scour they have to make their way to a theatre where 1,500 mulit-piece nesting dolls are waiting for them. It's the dolls within a doll thing. Well they have to find their next clue in one of those. The nesting dolls one isn't physically demanding, but you'll want to kick someone in the groin the more you do it and don't find anything.
BJ and Tyler, Lake and Michelle, Eric and Jeremy and Fran and Barry all decide to wash the trolley. Again, why the old couple chooses to do the physical one, I don't know. Just as they're leaving Ray and Yolanda get to the clue, which Lake points out to them. Ray and Yolanda decide to do the nesting dolls one and head outside. The whole group is still outside because none of their taxi drivers know where the hell the trolley one is. Lake asks Ray if he can follow them and Ray just ignores him. Lake tries to blackmail him saying he helped him find the clue box. Ray reminds him that he didn't need his help finding the clue box. All the teams decide to follow Ray and Yolanda since their driver obviously knows where they're going. Imagine their surprise when they show up to the doll one. When they get there and start searching through the loads of dolls, Jeremy playfully says that this was Ray and Yolanda's dumb idea. Yolanda quickly tells them they should have picked their own damn Detour. Bam! In you face frat boy. Jeremy is the first to find the clue and they run off to Red Square to "find Phil".
On their way to the trolley Detour, Dave and Lori and MoJo are running into a problem, their driver has no idea where the hell he's going. He does loops around places and it looks like it's getting dark out. I'm worrying now because it looks like our dear MoJo may be kicked off. Not that they can't beat Dave and Lori in a foot race. When they finally get to the trolleys, Wanda and Desiree and Dani and Danielle realize they aren't in last place. Mojo and Dave and Lori also realize they're still in it. Luckily cutie Joseph gets to work and hurriedly starts cleaning the trollye.
At the dolls Fran and Barry, Ray and Yolanda, and BJ and Tyler are still looking for the clue. BJ and Tyler find it, and soon so do Ray and Yolanda. At this point Fran and Barry are getting a bit frustrated.
Meanwhile, Eric and Jeremy and Lake and Michelle show up and start looking for Phil. We see Phil and he's all alone. No Russkie to greet us, no sign saying they're in Moscow. Hmm, curious. Finally, luckily (I guess) it's Eric and Jeremy who get to the mat first. Phil's a tricky bastard, this leg isn't over!!! He hands them the next clue, and off they go!!!
I'm looking forward to the next episode because it's truly anybody's game.
