Anyway, let's get on it. Dave and Connor are off, leaving Switzerland for... a Ford commercial... and then off to Seville, Spain. All right. Great city. Had a great time there years ago, seeing the sites, sitting at tapas bars, snacking on Spanish nibbles and drinking some fantastic wine. Team must get to the Alameda, beautiful place, for the next clue. U-Turn ahead. And while the Mormons discuss the possibility U-Turning Big Brother, their first main task is the scrap the ice off their windshield. Perfect task for TAR Canada, although that race is run in May, probably starting in the next week so keep your eyes open for Canadians. Although no spoilers if you see teams running around. Just let us enjoy the show as it happens.
But since the Mormons have already used their U-Turn this season, they can't this time around. (Note in TAR Canada, teams were allowed to use the U-turn more than once, which was more exciting). So they're hoping for someone else. Cowboys are heading out, and wisely are staying out of the Accidental Alliance. The Afghanimals also talk but haven't made up their mind. They're playing the smart game rather than be personal so they may U-Turn the Cowboys before Big Brother. Heck, they could U-Turn anyone if they had to.
Off to the airport. Although the Cowboys missed the exit as the Mormons and the Afghanimals get flights arriving at 9:25 pm. And Big Brother hit an agency. They book a flight through Barcelona that arrives the next day. The Cowboys and Country Singers get the same flight. That means the top 2 teams are half a day ahead. Unless there's an hours of operation situation coming up. And... there is. Nothing till 8:30 am. Not unexpected. So they wait. But the other three teams are in the air when 8:30 arrives. Go to Malada Pelqueros for clue.
And it's a Roadblock. Barbers of Seville. One teammate must shave a balloon. Really? We used this idea for a penny carnival booth in Grade 7 at good ole Sir Samuel Steele Jr. High. Wasn't that hard but you had to be fast because the cream would eat through the balloon. Right 60 seconds. Connor and Jamal jump in. No way first time. The other teams arrive in Seville. And race to the Alameda. Shaving starts again. Jamal's pops but Connor gets done. Go to the Real Alcazar, another wonderful place (albeit better in summer because of the wonderful gardens), and look for clue. Jamal jokes about facial hair but gets done the third time. They also joke about U-Turning themselves to keep things consistent.
Country Singers are first, right ahead of Big Brother. But the Country Singer cab knows where to go while Big Brother's does not. The Cowboys arrive and jump ahead. Jennifer starts shaving but fails. Jet begins his first shave as Jenn starts #2. Big Brother are driving around. Bad cab strikes again. But not for long. They arrive and Rachel shaves. All three fail.
Back at the Alcazar, the Mormons walk pass the Speed Bump which has hanging hams. You see these in bars all over Seville. And very delicious, too. But it's a Detour. First is Spanish Step which is a flamenco task. Obvious because Seville is flamenco-central. Teams must master the steps of a routine. Second is Run with the Bulls, based on the famous running of the bulls event. Teams must wear an inflatable bull costume, run through the streets, avoid other bulls, identify and then recite a matador motto at the end. Easy choice on this one for Gord and I. Run with the bulls. We may be old but we're pretty tough, me from my years of playing hockey, punk rock drumming and being a stay-at-home dad; Gord cause not only is he a stay-at-home dad, he's been shot, stabbed and he's a grumpy son of a bitch. (Hey Gord, how's your vacation? I hear it's raining in Florida although it's snowing up here so don't complain!)
Back at the opera, I mean barber, balloons are popping all over the place. Much to the chagrin on the other teams, mostly the Country Singers, Rachel gets done. But so does Jenn followed quickly by Jet. Big Brother jump in their cab while the other two teams run. Country Singers get lost. The Mormons and the Afghanimals find their bulls. That looks like fun. Big Brother get stuck in traffic for a bit and the Mormons get pummelled by bulls. Gotta keep your head up. Perfect task for tough Canadians with a history of hockey.
Cowboys and Big Brother arrive at the Alcazar. But the boys go right instead of left so Big Brother get the clue first. They choose Bulls. The Country Singers arrive at their Speed Bump as the Cowboys are looking around. Take it from me, the Alcazar is a pretty big place so if you go the wrong way, you could be looking for awhile. The Speed Bump is Ham It Up and they must deliver six hams to a single cafe. What? No eating. Well maybe if you ask once you deliver. I would.
The Mormons and the Afghanimals get bashed around but Connor gets a few shots in. Cowboys still lost, Country Singers get to the cafe, Cowboys find clue, choose Bulls. No surprise there. Country Singers get directions, find the clue and choose Flamenco. And no surprise there, either. Big Brother running through the streets, unsuspecting. Rachel takes a beating while Brendan holds his own. Mormons get to the final sign but looks like a boss level. They get hammered. Man, this would be a fun task. The Mormons get the motto correct. Head to the General Archive of the Indies.
The Afghanimals are not far behind but Jamal fights back, knocking a bunch of them down. Leo gets pummelled but decides to just roll away. He doesn't get hit as much but loses his pants in the process. Cowboys don the bull costume; Country Singers are lost, again. They aren't worried because they got promises from the Afghanimals. Let's see how that works. But the boys are getting bowled over again. And not even a local dog can help. Jamal pops his knee. Ouch. That would be a terrible way to go out. Especially since it would essentially be the producers' fault because they designed this highly physical and punishing task. But he limps on.
The Mormons find the U-Turn but can't. Even though they dearly wish they could. Even so, they have to go to Plaza de Espana, the pitstop. And though Phil says "may be eliminated" it's over for someone. But who. The Cowboys. The Country Singers? Big Brother? Cause they are getting bounced around like pinballs by the other bulls. The Cowboys get to the first section with the bulls and Boom!, they are blindsided! Ouch. Double Ouch cause they don't see the sign and head to the next corner. Meanwhile the Country Singers finally arrive at the other side of the task and start to learn the steps. If they do well, they could pass the Cowboys who have missed something.
The Afghanimals get the motto right and head to the U-Turn. The Cowboys are at the next square, see the line and get bashed. They realize they have to go back to get the first part of the motto. That's gonna slow them down. And then at the next scene, Rachel utters one of the best lines of the entire season: "Brendan, these guys are bullying me." Yeah, no shit, Sherlock. I rarely laugh out loud at reality shows but did so at that line. Does she have any idea of what she said? But they get the rest of the motto and flee.
And then it's the turning point of the entire episode. The Afghanimals walking up to the U-Turn wondering who to choose. Whoever they choose will have to go back and do the other side. And dancing probably isn't gonna be fun for Big Brother or the Cowboys. The Bulls ain't gonna be nice to the Country Singers either. The boys pick the strongest team: the Cowboys. That's gonna make them a lot of enemies, not just on the show due to the "accidental alliance" but off. The Cowboys are one of the most popular teams ever, which is why they were invited back for a third time. And despite their own popularity, the Afghanimals are going to get a lot of hate mail. But it's a smart more, U-Turning who they feel are the strongest team. Leo and Jamal are playing the game the way it should be played.
Back at the bulls, the Cowboys are at the first square oblivious to their predicament. They find the first part and move one, after a bit of a beating. Man, I'm having a tough time coming with new ways of describing teams getting crushed by these bulls. Big Brother arrive at the U-Turn, pleased that they weren't U-Turned. And they can't U-Turn anyone. Which was a leaves room for the Cowboys to U-Turn the Country Singers and keep the boys in the race. That's too bad about the US TAR rule when compared to the Canadian one.
Back at the Plaza, the Mormons find Phil and win their second leg in a row. They get a trip to St. Croix but no "spah" as Phil says in his Kiwi accent. I miss him saying that. The Country Singers practice their routine. Big Brother run to the pitstop as the Afghanimals walk due to the injury to Jamal's knee. Still, third is better than last. The Cowboys run out into the final square, get the last section but still get manhandled by the bulls. They finish the task but state if they are U-Turned, they are dead. And they are, unless they U-Turn the Country Singers. Do they have it in them to do that?
Rachel falls on the way to the pitstop, makes another bullying comment but arrive in second. The Country Singers try their dance routine and get it on the first try. Well done by them. Afghanimals come in third. If Jamal's knee holds up, they can easily make it to the Final 3. And they are able to do what it takes, to play the game rather than be nice, to win. I'm hoping for them cause they play the game the way Gord and I would play the game. Have fun, but play smart. Don't worry about hurting other teams feelings or trying to be liked. It's a game, with millions of dollars are stake, nothing personal.
And though the Country Singers, who arrive at the U-Turn before the Cowboys, say that U-Turning Big Brother isn't personal, we all know it is. But makes no difference because Brendan and Rachel have already checked in. So it's goodbye Cowboys. And despite getting lost and all, the Country Singers relied on their own abilities this episode, didn't follow anyone or get much in the way of help from anyone, which is why they are still in it. When they race their own race, they do much better. But they are totally confused why the Afghanimals U-Turned the Cowboys, which means they don't really know how to play the game. And that's why the Afghanimals U-Turned the Cowboys. Because they know the Country Singers are a weak team and they would rather have them in the final 3 than the Cowboys.
So the Country Singers are fourth. And there are a bunch of shots and comments from the Cowboys about experience and character and integrity. And they did play well, all three times they participated in the Amazing Race but they didn't win. They are nice guys and good players but in the end, they just didn't have what it took to win. Still, I think the boys have done pretty good despite not winning. But please, they should not return for a fourth chance. Enough's enough.
Next week, looks like some Footie and shooting in England while Rachel cries. But come on, we're still in Europe until they fly to Vegas and David Copperfield? We've been here since they left Sri Lanka, almost half the race in one continent.