The Amazing Race 20 Secret Scenes, Episode 6: Rachel Explains It All

Jamie clarifies that there is a lot about them as people and as women and that they don’t want to be defined by others just by what their career path is. There’s no need for them to gloat about what they do all day because at the end of the day, Jamie is still Jamie and Nary is still Nary. Enough! No one cares, and I think they need to get over this self-imposed stigma. Their race wouldn’t change at all if everyone knew what they really did, and as long as they were genuine with people, that’s all that matters.

Jamie brings up her clearance again, and it’s clear to me that they think their specialness would just be too overwhelming for the others. Jamie explains they don’t brag about their positions as it’s not who they are, although they certainly do so in these videos! Nary laughs that the only stuff they brag about is getting to sleep during school nap times.

Featured Team: Bopper & Mark

Mark’s Offer: While driving in Germany, Mark tells us that they came back from the dead during the last leg. He knows that the other teams were already throwing dirt on them and figured they were a lost cause. Mark equates their comeback to Michael Jackson’s Thriller video as they came out of the ground like zombies.

He’s pumped now and tells Bopper that if they win, he’s taking Bopper’s whole family to Myrtle Beach for at least a weekend. Bopper thinks that’s a pretty nice gesture and Mark assures him that it’s necessary just so they can get away. Bopper can shut his shop down for a day or two, which Mark thinks is the best thing about being self-employed. Bopper agrees and explains that he can’t wait to get back and get his hands all greasy. Yet the first thing he’s going to do upon getting back is to hug his youngin’. Mark agrees with that and looks forward to a tear-filled group hug with his family. He doesn’t know how his family is even functioning without him, as his family even told him that before he left: “What are we going to do?” Yikes. I hope they are okay for 30 days without him!

Featured Team: Rachel & Dave

Rachel & Dave React to Baku: In their Azerbaijan cab from the airport, Dave admits he’s not sure if the cab driver knows where to go. There had no hand in choosing the cab driver as it was a first-come, first-serve system. Both Rachel & Dave get a bit more nervous as it’s clear to them that they’re just driving through oil fields in the middle of the night. Dave hopes the driver knows a shortcut and confesses that he wishes they were self-driving at this point. Rachel rightly disagrees, as it’s the middle of the night.

Suddenly, Dave realizes that maybe being in the middle of the oil fields is appropriate as they are going to a temple of fire and the fire has to be fueled by something. Both realize they’re seemingly in the middle of nowhere until Dave starts to see a bit of civilization return. Dave reasons that they driver may know where’s going after all and if that’s the case, they’re keeping him. Rachel explains that they really don’t have a choice either way, as they’re out in the middle of nowhere.

Featured Teams: Art & JJ, Rachel & Dave

Helping Friends Out: At the airport ticket counter, Dave comes up to Art & JJ and asks if they had a chance to research Baku yet. Dave brings it up because in the stuff he’s read, there’s mention of an eternal flame in which people are encouraged to walk around it three times in both directions and then make a wish. He bets that is where they are headed as it lends itself to something Amazing Race-y. If the challenge there is to figure out the ancient ritual, he figures they now have a head start as both teams now know about the three times in both directions thing. JJ asks what time it opens but Dave doesn’t know. Talk about over-thinking it a little! He rejoins Rachel back in the line and after a brief pause, she wishes that Dave would be a bit more subtle about his obvious strategizing with Art & JJ.

At the Pit Stop

Featured Team: Joey & Danny (eliminated)

Leaving With Memories: Phil gives Danny some grief on why he doesn’t know how to drive stick and Danny reminds him that he’s from New York and only needs an automatic there. Phil laughs and then asks what Joey & Danny are going to take away from the experience. Joey appreciates seeing all the places they’ve visited and would happily come back to any of them to properly re-visit them.

Danny agrees as they’ve been places he couldn’t afford to visit on his own, but his main plan is to catch up with Miss Paraguay. Phil can’t argue with that while Joey chimes in that Miss Azerbaijan (the greeter) isn’t so bad either. Both laugh leeringly and I can’t tell if she can understand she’s the topic of conversation. Phil asks her what she thinks of them and she politely smiles and laughs. That would be my answer, it seems. Phil explains to her that they’re from New York and immediately Danny gives her a “how ya doin’?” Phil asks if that’s how it works and Danny just laughs.

Concerning other teams and who they’d like to see win or not win, Danny admits that he thought they really had a chance at pulling off the win. He’s disappointed. Both decline to name any team in particular and wish all the teams the best. Phil is not to be denied and demands that they list one team who should win. Joey responds that they’ve bonded with Vanessa & Ralph so he’d like to see them win, but in reality, he thinks Art & JJ actually will win.

Featured Team: Vanessa & Ralph (sixth place)

Happy to Be Alive: Phil asks how they’re doing and Vanessa tells him that Ralph has been under the weather for a few days. It’s why she did the Roadblock. Ralph tells Phil that he’s had some stomach stuff that caught up with him last night, especially after eating food from so many different countries. Vanessa admits that with the cold weather and their circumstances leading into the Roadblock, she’s relieved to still be alive even if they’re in sixth place. She’s grateful to still be in it but is well aware that there’s a lot of room for improvement.