The Amazing Race Premier: Recap and Budding Alliance

Miss the premier of The Amazing Race? We got you covered! Here is a quick(ish) recap plus a bit of info on a budding alliance! If you intend on watching it later, note this will spoil it for you!

Last Night, on the Amazing Race:

Eleven familiar teams began the Race from Palm Springs, California. All 11 were familiar faces from seasons past with ‘Unfinished Business’. Basically, it’s an all-star episode full of teams that did not win previously.

Phil explained the rules as usual, however there would be some new exciting and challenging obstacles, beginning with leg one. First, the teams had to find a paper airplane in the wind blown field across the street from them, depicting the airline that flies  to “Queensland and the Northern Territories.” Once found, they must bring their answer to Phil to receive their first clue. He issues a warning: Whoever receives their first clue last would receive an automatic U-Turn (having to do both detour tasks) on the second leg. In addition, the first 8 who bring back the correct airline would be on the first flight, with the rest on a flight that lands at their destination 90 minutes later. The first team arriving at the mat this leg would also win the coveted “Express Pass”, allowing them to skip a challenge at any point during the race.

“Good luck, travel safe, GO!” A very exciting exclamation to this writer, you gotta love this show! All teams run across the road to find the right airline. Finding the correct airline (Qantas) and getting on the first flight to their first destination of Sidney, Austrailia (in order) were: Mel and Mike, Zev and Justin, Jet and Cord, Kent and Vyxsin, Ron and Christina, Flight Time and Big Easy, Margie and Luke, and Jaime and Cara. On the second flight in this order: Kisha and Jen, Gary and Mallory and Amanda and Kris. (The latter receiving the auto-u-turn come next leg.)

Flights usually go pretty scheduled, but the first flight carrying 8 teams had to land in Honolulu, HI. because a passenger on the plane had a heart attack, and had to be taken from the plane. This allowed the second flight to actually land first in Sidney, giving the teams that left last from the starting line an almost half hour advantage.

Once in Sidney, the teams first clue led them to their first Road Block, an aquarium full of sharks and eels. One team member had to go diving into the aquarium to locate a large compass. Once grabbing the compass from the water, they had to decipher a code on the compass using flags, which would give them the location of their next clue and how to get it.

First team to arrive at the aquarium was Gary and Mallory. Mallory decided do the dive and puzzle. She actually did the task pretty quickly, and was the first to arrive at their second destination.

In the meantime, the second plane finally landed, the teams ran to catch the connecting train leading to their next clue. Missing the train were Ron and Christina, Mel and Mike, and Jet and Cord, putting those three pretty far behind waiting for the next train. Once their train was caught, they had to take a fairy to the aquarium. Again missing the connection were Jet and Cord.

Back to the aquarium, many teams were a bit rush-rush when it came to deciphering the code, leaving before they had finished the puzzle. They all managed to decipher where they were supposed to go for their next clue, but many didn’t stick around long enough to decipher what they had to say ( “I am between the devil and the Deep Blue Sea”) to get their next clue from the captain dude holding the clues at the pier. Zev and Justin helped the Globetrotters with the saying, hoping they will return the favor at a later date. Mel and Mike helped Ron and Christina, Margie and Luke and Jaime and Cara with the saying when they returned to re-decipher the clue. Margie and Luke then helped Kent and Vyxsin with the clue. Jet and Cord were the only team not helped, and had to go back to the aquarium.

Once receiving their clue, the were to help sail a skiff out to a buoy where they would have to reach out and grab their next clue. It seemed to go pretty well for all teams. This clue led to the first pit stop, the last team to check in “May” be eliminated.

Arriving at the pit stop in this order were: Gary and Mallory (who won the express pass), Amanda and Kris, Kisha and Jen, Zev and Justin, Globetrotters, Jaime and Cara, Margie and Luke, Ron and Christina, Mel and Mike, Kent and Vyxsin. Meanwhile, the cowboys go back to give the saying, and still got it incorrect. Back to the aquarium they go.

Caveat: Phil informed all racers arriving at the mat that they are still racing, handing them their next clue. Jet and Cord were still working on deciphering the code words, and we get a “To Be Continued…”

Will Jet and Cord be eliminated at the mat, or will they be told they are still racing? Upcoming previews show Mel not doing well, and Mike crying. Who will be eliminated next?

Bit of inside info: Vyxsin knows sign language! Luke now has someone to sit and chat with at the pit stops without having to have his mother present. Will this lead to an alliance? Seeing Margie and Luke helped them with the saying in this first leg, it appears so. In addition, Mike is trying to learn sign language as well, so it looks like we may see another alliance forming as well.

All in all, it was a terrific premier to a terrific show. Filmed in beautiful HD, the views were spectacular. What did you think about the premier? Are you as unhappy as I am to see Jet and Cord currently in last place? Leave us a comment below!