The Amazing Race Episode 1 left off with a cliffhanger. Following a stupid challenge in which half the teams did not solve their puzzle but instead just asked the other racers for the answer, Jet & Cord were left way behind the rest of the pack when they were the only team who either did not get the answer one way or another.
The virtual pit stop for the previous leg left the standings as follows:
First: Gary & Mallory
Second: Amanda & Kris
Third: Kisha & Jen
Fourth: Zev & Justin
Fifth: Flight Time & Big Easy
Sixth: Jaime & Cara
Seventh: Margie & Luke
Eighth: Ron & Christina
Ninth: Mel & Mike
Tenth: Kent & Vyxsin
Eleventh: Jet & Cord
Teams must now figure out that the clue is leading them to an anchor beside City Town Hall. There are two charter flights to Broken Hill, a small mining town 684 miles away, and the first flight is available to the first six teams to sign up. This will be the equalizer Jet & Cord needed. Several teams opt to take the ferry back because that’s the way they came, though the first couple take taxis instead. We learn that Christina’s not done whining about the way her dad treats her, and we also learn that Mel’s going to limp his way through the race and probably will be eliminated tonight or if not soon after.
Flight 1 (departs at 6:00AM): Kisha & Jen, Zev & Justin, Jaime & Cara, Margie & Luke, Mel & Mike, Kent & Vyxsin
Flight 2 (departs at 6:30AM): Flight Time & Big Easy, Ron & Christina, Gary & Mallory, Amanda & Kris, Jet & Cord
Being on the second flight means that Amanda & Kris have their work cut out for them since they have that U-turn to do.
Teams must now drive themselves to the Living Desert and search for their next clue in the outback. The detour is a choice between spirit world or natural world. In spirit world, teams use traditional materials to create an aboriginal ground mosaic, then perform a dance on their mosaic. In natural world, teams create a series of aboriginal territory markers using natural paint, which they must put in their mouths and spit on to stencils to create images.
Spirit World: Zev & Justin, Kisha & Jen, Mel & Mike, Jaime & Cara, Margie & Luke, Kent & Vyxsin, Gary & Mallory, Amanda & Kris, Jet & Cord, Flight Time & Big Easy, Ron & Christina
Everybody opts for the spirit world detour, and they’re all there at the same time trying to complete the task. Most teams seem to have difficulty following basic directions of dancing on their mosaics, rather than near/around them. As the second to last team to complete the detour, Amanda & Kris must now do the other one as well. Their only hope is that Ron & Christina keep arguing with each other in multiple languages, but even then they still end up in last.
Once they’re through with the detour, teams will drive themselves to the home of the Magpies, at Central Football Club in Broken Hill. There, they get dressed up as kangaroos and must figure out where to go next based on the periodic table of elements. Many streets are named after elements, and the two that are highlighted are the only two that cross each other. Mercury is easy enough, but who’s ever heard of bismuth? Apparently, Kent has. And the Internet.
On the way there, Margie drops her foot. Luke insists on continuing forward without it, but eventually Margie decides they have to go back for it. Now they just have to find it. Rather than just leaving it there, Mel picks it up and gives it to them, ending their search, but in the process Mel & Mike do get directions to the next clue.
The pit stop for this leg of the race is Junction Mine, a former silver mine. They will have to continue wearing their kangaroo suits to the pit stop, but they are allowed to put on different shoes.
Amanda & Kris continue to struggle to overcome their U-turn. He keeps informing her they’re in last, but she nonetheless wants a break. It’s going to be somewhat close, as they are only a few minutes behind Gary & Mallory and Ron & Christina.
First: Zev & Justin (win a trip to Cancun)
Second: Flight Time & Big Easy
Third: Jet & Cord
Fourth: Kisha & Jen
Fifth: Margie & Luke
Sixth: Mel & Mike
Seventh: Kent & Vyxsin
Eighth: Jaime & Cara
Ninth: Gary & Mallory
Tenth: Ron & Christina
Eliminated: Amanda & Kris
As much as the editors wanted to create drama, Amanda & Kris have been eliminated because they got a U-Turn within the first half an hour of the race. Do us a favor and don’t try this stupid twist again. Unlike Jet & Cord, who were given an equalizer to make up for the task they struggled with for what seemed to be hours, Amanda & Kris had an uphill battle the whole way. I would have much preferred the alternative ending, the elimination of the bickering father and daughter.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Amazing Race 18 Episode 3, which airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.