The Amazing Race 20, Episode 5: Our Princess Is in Another Castle

Previously on Rachel Tension, eight teams left Paraguay for Turin, Italy, where there was much rappelling. Art & J.J. took the first Fast Forward of the race and won the leg. Rachel & Dave and Rachel R. & Brendon (Radon) had… issues. Mark & Bopper came in last, but got two pieces of good luck: J.J. & Art gave them their prize money, and Phil didn’t eliminate them.

It’s 8:57 a.m., and Art & J.J. are on their way to Ehrwald, Austria, by train. Once there, they need to drive to Bavaria, Germany, and search a restaurant for a gnome. Ahh, the gnome. The guys think their team dynamic is way different from teams made up of couples.

The guys have a huge lead, as the other teams don’t start leaving until three hours later. Danny & Joey are now wearing animal hats; one is a panda and one is a… fish? A fish monster? Ralph tells us he’s been married three times. Man alive! She’s been married once and is now divorced. She thinks all the ups and downs will benefit them. Yeah, the fourth marriage is usually the one that sticks. Radon also thinks their relationship is good. This is just sad.

Kerri & Stacy leave the Pit Stop as the other teams (besides Art & J.J. and Mark & Bopper) board a train together. The cousins are sad to be away from their families. Guys, don’t talk about your families. It means you’re probably going home this week. Or maybe not, because Mark & Bopper don’t leave until almost 6 p.m. I’m guessing there’s about to be a major equalizer.

The trip to Bavaria is ten hours long, and there’s a stopover in Innsbruck, where everyone reunites. So I guess that’s the equalizer. Art & J.J. spent the night in the train station in Ehrwald since the restaurant doesn’t open until 8:30. Everyone’s now driving into Ehrwald to find the restaurant. That’s where J.J. & Art, Danny & Joey, and Rachel & Dave converge before the opening. So Kerri & Stacy, Mark & Bopper, Radon, Nary & Jamie, and Vanessa & Ralph are all together behind them.

At 8:30, the leading three teams start their search for the gnomes. They don’t hide very well. They also contain Detours, the choices of which are Fairy Tale and Champion Male. In Fairy, teams follow a trail of gingerbread to a village, find a “witch’s house,” and use the gingerbread to finish the roof of a gingerbread house. Yes, there is an actual “witch” there. In Champion, teams style a man’s beard in some wacky way. All three teams there choose Champion.

The other teams head into Ehrwald as Dave & Rachel pick a man to style. Dave tells us that Rachel knows hair, so this was a good task for her. She starts moussing up a guy who looks like Santa. Joey & Danny arrive next and make the mistake of picking the hardest design to recreate. They say they’re used to using gel and blow driers. Art & J.J. are next to arrive and get to work with a curling iron.

Stacy & Kerri are somewhere in Bavaria. I wish I could be more specific, but I can’t. Neither can they. They’re also sniping at each other. Back at Champion, Art tells us that J.J. has a backpack full of hair products. Joey & Danny plan to go clubbing with their champ.

And then, amazingly, Mark & Bopper get to the restaurant. But before they can do the Detour, they have to do a Speed Bump: yodel. Oh, and dress up like Von Trapp children. Vanessa & Ralph arrive in the meantime and pick Champion. Mark tells us that he and Bopper didn’t have a choice other than to have fun. How can you not have fun while dressed like that? The yodeling practice doesn’t go that well, but this isn’t American Idol, so I’m sure the task judge is grading on a curve. Though he doesn’t like the guys’ first attempt.

J.J. admits that he’s not ashamed to admit that he’s good at crafting a man’s facial hair. Heh. Indeed, he and Art are so good that they finish the task first. Now they need to go to the Neuschwanstein Castle, the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty castle. A woman tells them it’s the next village over. The guys are happy that they’re again in position to win the leg.

Also in a good position: Mark & Bopper, who are now done with their Speed Bump. Unfortunately, Nary & Jamie, Radon, and Kerri & Stacy get to the Detour clues before them, so they’re still in last place, but at least they’ve made up time. Rachel & Dave also skip ahead of Joey & Danny, who are struggling to get their guy’s bear right. Ralph & Vanessa arrive and start Champion, with her taking charge.

Rachel R. tells us they’re going to Bolivia. Nice try. Stacy starts, “The weather…,” and Kerri finishes with, “Outside is frightful.” Nice. Those two teams are trying Fairy, as are Bopper & Mark. The first two teams can’t find the gingerbread, but the guys can. Joey & Danny are worried because they’re falling behind. Vanessa & Ralph are doing well, though.

Radon and Kerri & Stacy collect their gingerbread as Nary & Jamie get to Champion. Not long after, Joey & Danny finish up. The guys not having their beards styled are enjoying some beer. Ralph & Vanessa are done and head off for the castle. Meanwhile, the gingerbread has led Mark & Bopper to the witch’s house. They get a little bit of a head start on Radon and Kerri & Stacy. They have to cut some of the pieces to make them fit together on the roof.

Art & J.J. are now at the castle, and they take a horse-drawn carriage up to it since it’s safer than driving. Rachel & Dave are fighting somewhere. Vanessa & Ralph are on their way to the castle but not sure which one it is, since there’s more than one in the general vicinity. They meet up with Joey & Danny, who take off walking. Vanessa wants to take a carriage, but Ralph thinks it’s better to walk. This leads to a fight.