The Amazing Race: Rule Breaking and Missing Speed Bump!

Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t yet watched, then you will get spoiled! Here is your Amazing Race recap!

Last episode, on The Amazing Race: Seven teams departed from the last pitstop location, St. Isaacs Cathedral, heading over to Abtobo Circus. All teams were allowed to catch up, since the Circus did not open for a few hours. At this Detour, teams had to choose between joining the clowns, spinning ten plates atop sticks, or join the Circus band, where they had to learn a song on Accordions. Brook and Clair (Home Shopping Hosts/Watermelon Team) were the first to get the hang of their chosen task (plates) and leave the Circus, followed closely by Nick and Vicki (Team Tattoo)… Other teams didn’t have it as easy. After much complaining, task switching, etc., all teams managed to finish the task. Last team to leave to their next destination was Jill and Thomas.

The teams were then tasked with solving a Russian Mystery. In this task, teams were told in the clue that although they could ask the locals for directions, they were not allowed to pay a taxi to find it for them, nor take a taxi to any of the destinations. (This is where the downhill spiral of a few teams begins.) Brook and Claire, the first to arrive to get their clue, began then to fall back, unable to locate entrance to the “marked tower”, allowing Nat and Kat, and Nick and Vicki (who were now working together) to jump ahead. At the castle, teams had to climb up unto the tower, and locate the building where their next clue was to be had. Sitting on ledge behind all the teams was a figurine of the building they were looking for. All teams for a short while missed the figurine, but eventually spotted it, and where able to easily locate the building. Now knowing the location of the building they were to run to, Nat/Kat and Team Tattoo ran off. Brook and Clair, and Michael and Kevin, once spotting their destination, ran down to get in their taxis. (READ THE CLUE PEOPLE!)

Arriving at their next destination, Nat/Kat and Nick/Vicki found their next clue was to locate where Peter the Great was buried. (Peter Paul Fortress.) Off the two teams went to ask the locals what they were in search of. Michael/Kevin and Brook/Claire then showed up in their taxis. It was at this point that Brook and Clair noticed the “walking only” on their clue, and had their taxi go back. Michael and Kevin, continued on, oblivious they were breaking any rules.

ROADBLOCK: Arriving at the Peter Paul Fortress, teams had to choose one teammate to partake in the Russian game known as Gorodki. The game is kinda like bowling, where pins are set up in different formations that had to be knocked off the platform, only using wooden bats rather than balls. Teams had to clear 3 different formations to continue on the race. Kat was the first to clear all pins, and receive their next clue, instructing them to go the pitstop. The team easily found Phil and the mat, and claimed their 3rd first place finish, both winning $5000 each. Brook and Clair finished next, giving them a second place finish. Michael and Kevin, who were the the second team to arrive at the Gorodki Courts, decided to have Michael complete the task, and had trouble clearing the pins. Teams kept coming and going, leaving Michael and Kevin to squander.

Finally, with only one team left at the Gorodki Court (Chad and Stephanie) Michael finally got the hang of it, and cleared the pins with Chad and Stephanie not far behind. Chad/Stephanie decided to leave their bags and taxi behind, and run for it, hoping to beat Michael and Kevin to the mat. They succeeded, but were promptly told by Phil that they needed their bags, and needed to settle with their taxi driver. As they ran off, Michael and Kevin arrived at the mat, only to be told that they had broken two rules, two different taxi penalties, incurring a one hour wait to check in. The hour was long enough for Chad and Stephanie to settle their cab, grab their bags, and head back to the mat, where they too had a penalty, but since it was only one rule broken, Michael and Kevin were still eliminated.

The final order:

1.    Nat & Kat
2.    Brook & Claire
3.    Nick & Vicki
4.    Gary & Mallory
5.    Jill & Thomas
6.    Chad & Stephanie
7.    Michael & Kevin

I thought it was a pretty good episode. Lots of rule breaking always makes for some good times on the Race. However, it left many of us here at the Yak wondering what happened to the Speed Bump with team tattoo! They were awarded with a non-elimination last week, and yet had no penalty this week. What happened there? Do you think they got an unfair advantage? Were you disappointed to see Michael and Kevin go? Let us know what you think below, or in the FORUM!