The Amazing Race 12 Episode 8

Honestly, They Have Witch Powers or Something

By Reagen Sulewski

January 10, 2008

Wonder twin powers, activate!

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Petty team squabbling rears its head as Ronald & Christina's first attempt at the poster is judged incomplete by the supervisor, and they attempt to fix it. Ronald's world view can't accept that he's made errors so he lays the blame on his daughter and the supervisor. Classy. Christina makes an executive decision and starts again from scratch, since Ron is beyond rational thought at this point.

Meanwhile, Nathan starts criticizing Jennifer's sewing skills, wondering why, since she's a girl, she can't do it properly. Don't worry, she'll rock the barefoot baby-having contest coming up, Nathan! Jennifer swings back, wondering why he did so badly at rowing a boat, which, if you're scoring at home, is a kick square to the junk of Nathan. This bickering is opening a door for Kynt & Vyxsin, who are amazed to be within sight of another team. But really, you can always count on a meltdown from one team each leg.

With the two teams ahead of them getting bad luck with their cab drivers, TK & Rachel reach the next clue box first, and decline the U-Turn. They're sent to a nearby propane dealer (for some reason, there's always one industrial task in India), where on the Roadblock, they'll have to navigate the streets of Mumbai to deliver six tanks of propane to two residences, as well as collect receipts for the deliveries.

Ron & Christina and Nicolas & Donald also decline the U-Turn, though Christina claims they would have used it on Nicolas & Donald if they had beaten them to the mat. Why them in particular and no other team doesn't quite make sense to me, but teams don't seem to understand the logic of this portion of the race.

Nathan & Jennifer complete their garland, but Jennifer seems confused by exactly how to complete the task, interpreting "bridegroom" as "elephant". She can't even blame any cultural divide here, as that's an English word. It's really one of the more bizarre misunderstandings in the history of the race. Kynt & Vyxsin are very close behind, after being able to read their directions.

The Roadblock proves to be very physical, and is combined with some confusing directions from locals. Though TK turns into a physical specimen during it, hauling three loaded tanks at once (side note: propane tanks indoors? They must have a lot of unexplained apartment explosions).




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The drama of the last two teams at the moment comes down to a slightly speedier taxicab, and a crucial yet boneheaded decision. Kynt & Vyxsin manage to reach the U-Turn ahead of Nathan & Jennifer and decide that they have to utilize it. Now, the decision becomes who to use it for... wait, what? Use it on Nathan & Jennifer! They're right there! But no, Kynt decides that there's a more strategic use, and with a flourish, unveils the picture of... Nicolas & Donald. Cue a million palms meeting foreheads. You just said ten minutes ago that you couldn't believe you'd seen another team, and now you're forgoing the U-Turn on a team that you know is right there? Oh my Goth indeed.

Nathan & Jennifer seem a bit gobsmacked that they aren't the ones U-Turned, and with good reason, but hey, even evil catches a break from time to time.

TK is the first out of the Roadblock, and he and Rachel are given the final clue of the day, the Pit Stop at Bandra Fort. Nicolas & Donald are close behind, though the effort of the Roadblock seems to have badly sapped Nicolas, who needs to stop for water and/or vomiting. This makes for an easy win for TK & Rachel, winning yet another leg. They are given a given a trip for two to St. Martin.

Nicolas & Donald eventually rumble in for second, with Ronald & Christina managing third. This brings it down to the final two teams, who are directly racing against each other. Kynt and Jennifer are chosen for the Roadblock for both teams, which seems like the exact opposite of the right decision in each case, as neither really has the best upper body strength of their team.

The stress seems to be getting to both teams, as Jennifer forgets her receipt at the first delivery, and Kynt makes the mistake of handing one of the two receipts at each of his deliveries to the recipient. Jennifer's backtracking doesn't cost her as much time as Kynt having to go back to both apartments for the receipt. They're well behind, but Nathan & Jennifer are busy wasting time and have had horrible luck all day with cabs.

The finale is an Amazing Edit, with Nathan & Jennifer emerging victorious, or, at least, not eliminated. There's no second life for Kynt & Vyxsin this time, though they arguably didn't deserve it with Kynt's horrible play this leg.


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