The Amazing Race 15, Episode 8: Steamed Up

Previously on Gnome-poleon Dynamite, five teams traveled to Stockholm, where Matt & Gary got lost while the other teams blew stuff up. The Roadblock was the same as the Roadblock the last time the race went to Sweden. Sam & Dan almost killed each other until Dan had an “epiphany,” AKA realized he was being annoying and finally shut up. The Globetrotters won the leg and Matt & Gary came in last, but it was a non-elimination leg, so all five teams are still in it.

I love that Phil mentions ABBA in the list of famous people/things from Sweden. What about Stockholm syndrome? The Globetrotters get to use a show sponsor to research their trip to Turks and Caicos, which they won last week. Then they leave at 2:23 a.m. They’re headed for Tallinn, Estonia, where they need to figure out how to open a door to the building of Mustpeade, the lair of the Brotherhood of the Blackheads. Excuse me, the what? Herb interviews that all the remaining teams deserve to be in the race. Nate adds that Sam & Dan are tough competitors. The guys get a cab driver to lead them to the spot where they need to get a ferry across the Baltic Sea, but they can’t get a ride until 5:45 the next afternoon. I smell an equalizer!

Almost two hours later, Meghan & Cheyne leave. Meghan interviews that they had trouble making decisions on the last leg, so now they want to work harder. She notes that it’s hard to team up with anyone else now that numbers are dwindling. They get directions from a cab driver.

A few minutes later, Brian & Ericka depart, not worried about not winning a leg. Which probably means they’ll win this one. Like the other teams, they get help from a cab driver. At 5:04 a.m., Sam & Dan leave, noticing how many keys they’ve been given for the first task. They’ve realized that fighting doesn’t help and they need to cut it out.

Brian & Ericka arrive at the dock for the ferry, finding the Globetrotters asleep in their car. Meghan & Cheyne are next to arrive. The Globetrotters share with everyone that there’s no ferry until 5:45, so they’ll all be together. At 6:29 a.m., Matt & Gary leave. Gary says he was worried about Matt seeing his flaws, but now that’s happened and Matt still likes him, so they’re all good.

Sam & Dan are at the ferry-catching place (whatever), leading the Globetrotters to remember how they acted at the Switchback. There’s more talk about each team wanting the other out of the race. Foreshadowing Fairy, is that you? Matt & Gary join the other teams, and at 5:45 everyone boards a ferry for a 16-hour trip across the Baltic Sea. Fortunately, the ferry is more like a cruise ship, with comfy-looking accommodations. Matt & Gary try to get their heads in the game to get ready for their Speed Bump. Matt tries to signify this by putting on a black bandanna.

16 hours later, everyone’s in Estonia, lined up to get off the ferry. Running! Running! More running! Nate trash-talks the other teams a little, since the run isn’t a big deal for him or Herb. The teams get taxis to Mustpeade, Meghan & Cheyne pulling out ahead. They plan to get as close as possible to their destination, then run to the right place, which is exactly what they do. The Speed Bump is there, waiting for Matt & Gary. Meghan & Cheyne and Sam & Dan try different keys on the door as Brian & Ericka join them. Dan gets the right key and sets off an alarm; he, Sam, Meghan, and Cheyne run inside and close the door so Brian & Ericka can’t get in behind them.

The task at the lair is a Roadblock. Phil tells us the Brotherhood of the Blackheads is a secret society of merchants. One team member has to join the ranks of the brotherhood. That team member must find a candelabra with a room number attached. In the corresponding room, he or she will get a blank scroll. If the scroll is held over a candle, the next clue will be revealed.

Cheyne and Sam take the task (why is Dan sitting out two in a row?) and head into a cellar room where guys are drinking and fencing. That’s a good combination. The guys take candelabras and start looking through rooms as Brian & Ericka try out their keys. Matt & Gary have arrived and have to do their Speed Bump. Which is taking a five-minute sauna on a bus. Really? REALLY? That’s so lame. That requires no effort whatsoever. It’s “sit over here for five minutes.” Basically, Matt & Gary are in time-out.

Sam and Cheyne wander around the building for a while but find nothing. Ericka & Brian get into the building, letting the Globetrotters in with them. Ericka and Herb are their teams’ Roadblockers. Meanwhile, Matt & Gary find their sauna location (literally called a saunabuss, which is easy to remember) and tell us that their family is Finnish, so this is no big deal. It’s no big deal for anyone! It’s a freaking sauna!