The Amazing Race 15: Thinking Smart in Episode 5

The sixth leg of the race caused problems for many teams. Some teams couldn't figure out a puzzle, some couldn't figure out math, and others couldn't conquer their fears. In all, it led from what might have been a straightforward leg into one where teams were shuffled.

To begin with, the Roadblock seemed fairly simple, but that didn't take into account the ability of teams to row. A few found alternative ways to move their boat, and I'm not opposed to it. I'm a believer in what works, and using hands to paddle is a valid alternative. It may not be as efficient as a good rower, but it might be better than a completely uncoordinated rower.

The second part of the Roadblock seemed simple enough, but the Globetrotters had problems translating the watch to the briefcase combination. Back in Big Brother 6 the houseguests had virtually the same problem when trying to figure out how to unlock their workout room, but given all the other teams solved it quickly, the Globetrotters lost position on this task all on their own.

The Detour was a choice of assembling hookahs or measuring out gold. Which was easier? I'm convinced it was the gold task. Sure, the exchange rate went up and down every minute, but the actual amount wasn't hard to figure out with a calculator. The teams that used one completed it quickly, while the teams that assembled the hookahs had problems.

Finally, there is the matter of the waterslide, which put an end to Mika & Canaan. Simply put, I don't know what to say. Mika was willing to lose the race rather than face her fear and get it over with. Canaan tried everything to get her to take the slide, but her terror won out in the end, and the dating Christians lost the race.

Only six teams remain, and they all took different paths to make it this far. Who was thinking smart in Episode 5?

Meghan & Cheyne: Another first place, though I attribute much of this placement to their use of the Fast Forward in the previous leg. It bought them plenty of extra time, some of which they spent in the spice market putting together the hookahs. I believe it was the slower task, and they lost more time by not putting the “extra” pieces into their finished product correctly. Still, they had enough of a lead from their smart thinking in the previous leg, it led to another first-place victory.

Maria & Tiffany: The poker girls had their best leg yet, and it was all due to some very smart racing. Most of their time was gained on the Detour, where they worked with Sam & Dan to figure out the amount of gold to weigh out using their calculator. Sam & Dan may have brought one, but it was the girls who knew how to use it properly. By working together, they quickly moved through the task and passed most of the other teams. They earned second place as a reward.

Sam & Dan: I credit the team for bringing a cheap calculator with them as part of their baggage. It can come in handy, as it did in this leg. However, they could have packed a supercomputer and it wouldn't have done them any good if they didn't know how to use it properly. As it stands, their loose alliance with Maria & Tiffany worked in their favor. The women knew how to use the calculator and provided an answer for both teams. As a result, they are only a minute or so behind their allies, and probably have a good lead on the trailing teams.

Brian & Ericka: The married couple had their share of problems in the episode, and it cost them position. They couldn't figure out the gold Detour option, and then opted for constructing the hookahs, where they had additional problems. In most tasks involving a local skill or a finished product, locals demonstrate the method or finished products are provided as a guide. This team ignored the samples and didn't match the parts correctly until they had wasted a lot of time. They took a hit as a result.

Matt & Gary: The Montana men also struggled through the hookah task, though their problems seemed based more on finding all the parts from the crate than actually assembling them. That problem, plus the fact they had the slower Detour option, led them to their worst finish rank ever, though they are still looking like a good team.

Big Easy & Flight Time: The Globetrotters had their worst leg ever, and it should have led to their elimination. Their biggest stumbling block was on the Roadblock, where the watch/briefcase puzzle solution eluded them, allowing all of the other teams to pass them. This put them well behind all of the other teams going into the Detour. To their credit, they realized that assembling the hookahs was a time-consuming task and wisely elected to weigh out gold. They were also bright enough to ask to borrow a calculator, and knew how to use it. Still, if it wasn't for Mika's fears, they would have been eliminated.

Mika & Canaan: What went wrong? They've never been a good team, and struggled through the leg. They picked the slow Detour option and had problems with it, but they still could have stayed in the race. Unfortunately, Mika's fear of heights and water controlled her, and she couldn't complete the waterslide task, taking over 40 minutes to decline to do so. Once the Globetrotters showed up, it was over. There was no way Mika & Canaan could beat them in a footrace.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent The Amazing Race 15 articles on RealityNewsOnline:

Jeffrey Clinard has written about the Amazing Race since its debut season, writing over 100 articles about the show. His patronus takes the form of a penguin. He can be reached at realityfeedback@bookslv.com.

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