Two-hour finale! Can you feel the excitement? It’s hard, considering we’ve been looking at these same four teams as front-runners basically from the beginning, and that they never really broke out of their initial molds, but nice that the fun-loving Afghanimals still get to play, and that we get to finally see everyone really go for it in terms of breaking alliances for the million.
We begin the 10th leg in Bandung, Indonesia, where the Afghanimals depart first to King Cobra House and eat snake, sadly, alone, as their race wives were ejected last week. Come to think of it, all the weaker teams are now gone, and we might have an exciting episode with some heavy-hitters duking it out for once.
Abu Dhabi is the start of 9th leg, but soon everyone must fly from the land where political correctness has been king, to Bandung, Indonesia, where racers can ask “Are the people there Chinese or Indian?” and it can make it to air. On the way to the airport, Mr. and Mrs. Dr. surprise no one by ramping their self-righteous attitudes up a notch from last episode, saying they aim to be beacon for God’s light in the race, unlike those filthy, lying Afghanimals.
Abu Dhabi’s Formula 1 race track is the sleek beginning of this hit-and-miss 8th leg. Afghanimals leave first, and must use the satchel of coins they picked up earlier to unlock a car and get going. Not much of a code, though, since most teams came prepared with their numbers already—except the Ice Girls, who have a typical ditz moment holding up the coins to the lock like a sensor. Also typical, Tim asks his ex to promise not to yell at him if he drives, to which she yells at him to promise not to drive slow. Oy, just screw already.
We begin with the reveal of an amazing Amazing Race Fake-Out! Last week it looked like Nicole and Travis were laughing maniacally while leaving the Exes in a literally clue-less lurch—but alas, no such luck. With the urging of Tim, the Express Pass the Exes have been clutching on to since the very first episode is finally—FINALLY—passed on to the Married Physicians in exchange for Pit Stop information.
This week’s Amazing Race splits the five remaining teams into two separate groups and forces one to scramble to avoid elimination. The interesting part is how they end up divided by several hours during the jaunt through Scotland. The leg begins with the warning that a U-Turn will be ahead, but that plays only a minor role in the ultimate outcome. Instead, it’s the lack of diligence from Joey and Meghan and the roller derby moms that pushes them to the back of the pack.
The Amazing Race Review, Season 22, Episode 9 “The Ultimate Fun House” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS This week’s action-packed episode of The Amazing Race reveals the best and worst aspects of the current incarnation of this long-running show. After 22 seasons, it’s impressive to see challenges that still feel creative and exciting for …
The Amazing Race Review, Season 22, Episode 8 “My Cheese Is Out of Control” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS The challenge when analyzing teams on The Amazing Race is realizing that survival is all that truly matters. Pairs have bumbled their way across the globe but ended up winning it all because they never …
The Amazing Race Review, Season 22, Episode 7 “Be Safe and Don’t Hit a Cow” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS In some of its best seasons, Survivor thrives on making its strong competitors look silly. Players talk about being in control and running the show, then they’re immediately booted by the “weaker” contestants. This trend rarely …
The Amazing Race Review, Season 22, Episode 6 “Scorpion King Hunter” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS This week’s Amazing Race opens with an apology for insensitivity towards Vietnam veterans in last week’s episode. Phil’s statement is a response to an outcry led by Fox News that included calls to boycott the series. While those claims seem …
The Amazing Race Review, Season 22, Episode 5 “Your Tan is Totally Cool” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS Looking back at some of the best episodes in Amazing Race history, many of them take place in crowded cities that knock racers out of their comfort zones. Dropping teams into a foreign culture and …
The Amazing Race Review, Season 22, Episode 4 “I Love Monkeys!” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS Only four episodes have passed, but this is shaping up to be one of the strangest installments in Amazing Race history. The season began with three teams quitting a Roadblock and was followed by a pair giving up …
The Amazing Race Review, Season 22, Episode 3 “Like James Bond Again” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS When 58-year-old David O’Leary apparently ruptured his Achilles tendon at the end of last week’s leg, his quick departure felt certain. How could he possibly continue? The guy is in excellent shape, but this type of …
The Amazing Race Review, Season 22, Episode 2 “Loose Lips Sink Ships” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS When did taking the penalty become so common on The Amazing Race? Two episodes into this season, players seem very interested in avoiding tasks. Idries and Jamil barely slip into the water and they’re ready to …
The Amazing Race Review, Season 22, Episode 1 “Business in the Front, Party in the Back” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS Each new premiere of The Amazing Race brings its own share of excitement and questions. Will the cast have exciting characters? Will the challenges stand apart from the standard formula? Will the …
Amazing Race 22 Preview Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS Premieres February 17 Can The Amazing Race still be surprising? With the long-running reality competition entering its 22nd season, the chance for major changes seems unlikely. There will be unpredictable moments, but the overall structure remains the same. The producers have tried to throw in new twists …
The Amazing Race Review, Season 21, Episode 11, “Take Down That Million” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS What truly makes a strong team on The Amazing Race? The obvious answer is athleticism, but plenty of powerful young pairs have left early. Scanning through the winners, most are capable at physical challenges but don’t …
The Amazing Race Review, Season 21, Episode 10, “Not a Well-Rounded Athlete” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS One of the most exciting episodes of The Amazing Race typically happens right before the finale where four teams battle to make the last leg. That appears to be the likely scenario this week, but it’s …
The Amazing Race Review, Season 21, Episode 9, “Fishy Kiss” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS When did The Amazing Race become Survivor? The leading teams basically voted Abbie and Ryan out by removing the “double” part of the Double U-Turn. While losing an arrogant team usually is refreshing, they still get a raw …
The Amazing Race Review, Season 21, Episode 8, “We Was Robbed” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS Last week’s episode concluded with three teams still trying to finish the leg. Brent was having no luck in the pool, and James and Abba were standing dumbfounded at the mat without a passport. Their chances for …
The Amazing Race Review, Season 21, Episode 7 “Off to See the Wizard” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS One of the most exciting parts about The Amazing Race is how unpredictable events can completely change the game. Although teams are competing in designed challenges, there is no definite way to avoid chaos. There …
The Amazing Race Review, Season 21, Episode 6 “Get Your Sexy On” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS In a fast-paced competition like The Amazing Race, conventional wisdom might suggest that it’s wise to avoid getting stuck with the pack. However, the chaos and confusion actually make this false thinking in most cases. Teams …
The Amazing Race Review, Season 21, Episode 5, “Chill Out, Freak” Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on CBS It’s time for killer fatigue! There’s only so long that teams can deal with limited sleep, intense stress, and small quantities of food before they start dropping. When these factors are added to excessive heat and grueling …