The Amazing Race Season 17 Recap: Episode 5

By Daron Aldridge

October 25, 2010

They're no Misty May & Kerri Walsh.

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Vicki eagerly jumps at the chance for the Roadblock and I can’t figure out if Nick’s sour expression is because he thinks that the Fast Forward was taken from them or if Norway has a distant unpleasant odor to it. Vicki owns this task with a quick rappel down and an impressively fast ascension. Chad gets started on the Roadblock not much behind her but he can’t catch Vicki’s pace.

It’s Detour time as Michael & Kevin get their next clue. We have Boat or Bike. Both are pretty straightforward tasks. "Boat" has the teams use a map to guide their boat captain around the shore to a dock. Then they must carry two 20-pound cod and a chainsaw up a long path to a cabin before they get their clue and take a return boat ride. "Bike" has the teams ride mountain bikes up a rocky path and winding, steep roads to legend color-coded with a bike lock combination. Then they have to ride back down and open their lock for the clue. Personally, given that one of the teammates just endured a physical Roadblock, I would be inclined to choose Boat.

Because of their teams’ go-to excuse of Michael’s health, the father and son duo choose Boat. How did Michael get cleared to participate on this race if he is that frail? Did the Amazing Race producers use the same medical screening team as this season’s Survivor that gave near-invalid Danny the green light? In third and fourth, Jill & Thomas and Gary & Mallory go with Bike and Team HSN takes Boat.

With dating teams Vicki & Nick and Chad & Stephanie just leaving the Roadblock, the volleyballers feel as if they still have a chance to catch up. Katie suits up for the challenges and gets to work.




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Meanwhile, Michael & Kevin are ashore and lugging their supplies. To Michael’s credit, he doesn’t pawn off carrying the chainsaw to Kevin, even though his son offers. About that time on the other task, both Jill & Thomas and Gary & Mallory get their lock combinations. Of course, the challenge wouldn’t be complete without Thomas snapping at Jill for questioning him about memorizing the combination.

Once they open the lock, both teams dash for their cars and the Pitstop. Team HSN is now off the boat and looking for the cabin with two cod tails smacking Brook on the derriere. She giddily reenacts it for us during the interview. It finally occurs to me that Brook is the non-surly version of Brita from NBC’s Community (which if you aren’t watching, you are truly missing out).

More contempt is polluting Jill & Thomas’s car as they are arguing over being lost and Jill (accurately) points out that the big bridge in front of them is same one from the Roadblock. Of course, Thomas disagrees and Jill fires back with “Oh, I’m sorry, you know every single bridge.” I don’t know how or why these two are still together. They don’t even seem to like each other and we know they don’t tolerate one another that much. Just as lost are Michael & Kevin but without the hate.


Continued:       1       2       3       4       5

     


 
 

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