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Let’s break down this leg for Chad & Stephanie: Overslept by two hours, got a flight that actually land early, get engaged in Oman, remained in either first or second place from the Roadblock on and benefited from someone else’ mistake in a big way. Not a bad way to spend the day. Oh, and congratulations.

That means that Phil checks in Jill & Thomas next as team number two. They are understandably bummed but I am pleased that Thomas owned up to his mistake and didn’t try to deflect blame onto Jill.

Meanwhile, Brook & Claire and Nick & Vicki are through the Detour and heading to the market. Thanks to Brook driving the wrong way on a one-way street (it was actually quite a mundane incident), Nick & Vicki pass the girls barely but it is enough for them to take third place. Team HSN basically mauls Phil out of joy when they find out they are team number four. Based upon their reaction and that of Team Ink, this leg was so fractured for teams that aside from the one team they were in direct competition with the entire leg, these racers each thought they were much worse off than they were.

It comes as no surprise that the order established after getting the initial clue in Oman is adhered to and Nat & Kat have tumbled from first off the mat to fifth back on the mat. This means that for the second time, one of the teams I pegged to make it to the finals is out – Gary & Mallory. Phil doesn’t even try to fool them or dangle nonelimination in front of them. He just comes right out and says, “You’re eliminated.” Farewell, Miss Kentucky and dad of Miss Kentucky.

From a critical standpoint, I think that this episode was a disappointment. Aside from the engagement and the fact that Oman might be one of the most Race-friendly countries ever chosen as a destination, there was a lack of notable outcomes, tasks or race team dynamics. Simply, it was kind of a boring episode. Sorry, Phil & Friends, but next week looks to rebound with the introduction of the Double U-Turn and the less than welcoming setting of Bangladesh. Vacation is calling me, so David Mumpower and Kim Hollis will be pinch recapping next week’s episode. Happy Thanksgiving (for U.S. readers) and Happy rest of November (non-U.S. readers).

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