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Previously on The Amazing Race, there was a pointless non-elimination leg, and then the team that was the beneficiary of that non-elimination leg finished in last and ended their run on the Race. It wasn’t even competitive, which has been the case for every single non-elimination leg this season. We’re begging you, producers of The Amazing Race, get rid of the non-elimination legs.

We just guaranteed that tonight is going to be a non-elimination leg, didn’t we?

With only four teams remaining, we’re officially in a Beekman Boys scenario. All remaining teams have a 25% chance of winning, no matter how lousy you may think they are. Dismiss any of them at your peril. To wit, the defending champions are food scientists Amy & Maya, who we wouldn’t bet on surviving during a running of the bulls in Pamplona.

We are through the survival phase of the show, and now competence takes a back seat to determination and no small amount of luck.

The first team to depart is the love ‘em and hate ‘em tandem of Hayley & Blair. (Hint: Blair is the one everyone loves. Hayley is the one that makes you wish your television included auto-mute functionality.) There will be no airport bunching this leg, as the clue indicates that the contestants should drive to Trujillo, Peru. Once there, they’ll search for a mosaic made of 30 million ceramic tiles. There will be an additional clue within those tiles.

Blair demonstrates how he’s handled the impediment of being teamed with Hayley. When asked to list her strengths, he doesn’t skip a beat in praising her quiet nature. He compliments her on her whispering abilities, asking her if she’d had a previous job as a librarian. To her credit, Hayley is a great sport about it.

When Hayley & Blair realize how large the mural is, she says, “This mural is not kidding.” It’s clearly going to take some work to find their clue. Or wait, maybe not. Phil isn’t even able to finish his sideline commentary before they find their mosaic tile clue piece and run away. They go to visit a clown with a clue bag (no, we’re not kidding), and receive instructions that they can either Shake Their Hips or Make Some Bricks. In Hips, they have to learn a courtship dance. For Bricks, they have to work on an archeological site, creating 12 bricks to the satisfaction of a foreman.

Jelani & Jenny arrive at the mural and seem a little surprised that Hayley & Blair are gone already. Mike & Rochelle’s taxi won’t start, and they figure that the first two teams have such a significant lead that they’re racing against Tyler & Laura, who are extremely tough competitors.

Speaking of Tyler & Laura, they’ve figured out that “Vroom vroom” translates in every country, and even though they’re currently in last place, all they need to do is get into the final three. It’s exactly the right attitude to have right now.

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