The Amazing Race 4, Episode 4: The Confusion of Firsts

The route info tells them to make their way to the Gorges Du Blavet, where they will find their next route marker. All the other teams are quickly finding the lighthouse as Kelly & Jon are leaving the scene. Kelly tries to throw Millie off the track by claiming she doesn’t know where the lighthouse is, and we get a shot of Millie saying that she doesn’t care for Kelly. Millie says to Chuck that she knows Kelly is lying. Although, it was fairly obvious. I start to grind my teeth. Maybe Millie is bitter that Kelly is actually engaged, meanwhile, she has been in a relationship for 12 years and has yet to even make whoopie. I’m not gonna go there. Jon & Kelly aren’t sure exactly where they are going so they pull over while Reichen & Chip pass them. Then they follow. Tian & Jaree are the last to the route info. They need to start moving faster if they want to stay in this thing. It’s almost as if half the time they are hurrying and the other half they are just moseying along. Steve & Josh are fighting again about directions while Kelly & Jon are just laughing and trying to have a good time.

The route info instructed teams to park in a marked lot and make their way down the path. Reichen & Chip, arriving first, don’t realize they didn’t go far enough up the hill to find the marked lot, and get out. They start down a path that they see. Little do they know this is the wrong path. While they are getting lost, Jon & Al along with Dave & Jeff find the right place. More shots of Josh & Steve bickering about directions. They seem to be pretty lost at this point. Teams arriving at the Gorges find out it’s a detour: ropes or slopes. In ropes, teams must rappel down a 250-foot cliff to their next piece of route info at the bottom. It’s fast, but very scary. In slopes, teams can walk down a marked path to the bottom of the cliff. This way will take longer but is much less scary. The first three teams that arrive all take the ropes option and begin to rappel. Dave & Jeff hit the bottom first but miss the box with the route instructions. They run the wrong way and just keep going! Jon & Al along with Jon & Kelly figure out where it is and get their next route info. It tells them to get back into their car and drive to The Chateau des Alpilles. This location is the next pit stop and the last team to arrive will be eliminated.

Chillie and The Supremes get to the detour and pick ropes. Dave & Jeff are still looking for the box and Reichen & Chip have yet to realize they are on the wrong path. They are starting to get frustrated, though. They decide to go back up to their car and see if they are in the wrong spot. Meanwhile, Tian & Jaree go for the fast forward. This will allow them to skip all tasks and head straight for the pit stop. In this fast forward challenge, teams must make their way to a specific location and figure out a giant puzzle that is a picture of their next pit stop, The Chateau des Alpilles. The girls get there and begin their work. The Supremes pray before going over the cliff. They look scared but both state that it was fun. What CAN’T these girls do? Simply put, I love them.

Kelly & Jon pass the Clowns and are the first out of the pit stop. Dave & Jeff finally realize they are way off the path and head back the other way to look for their clue. When they get to the box, so are The Supremes and Chillie. At this point, Tian & Jaree finish up with the puzzle and claim the fast forward. They are on their way to the pit stop. Steve & Dave get to the detour and decide to take ropes as well. They are nervous and scared but finish it. Reichen & Chip finally arrive as well and choose ropes. They breeze right through it. Steve & Dave say they are hurting as they head down the hill. Now all the teams are racing to the pit stop.

Tian & Jaree, because of their choice to use the fast forward, arrive in first place. You know what? I like them. For all the model/stripper jokes I make, I genuinely find myself rooting for them. The Clowns and Chillie tie for teams number two. They are all just so nice to one another. Right behind them are The Supremes, who check in as team number four. They are ecstatic, and I’m happy for them as well. Reichen & Chip, despite their huge mess up, check in as team number five. Dave & Jeff get pushed back and check in sixth all because they missed the box at the bottom of the hill. At this point it looks like Jon & Kelly and Steve & Dave are the only two teams racing. Jon & Kelly make it to the pit stop to find out they are team number seven. Then I start wondering, “Wait a second, there are nine teams left.” Steve & Dave get to the pit stop and find out they are team number eight and are still in the race. They seem relieved as usual. So who is left?

Well, apparently Weezer & Geezer ended up getting lost and are way behind. They just get to the detour and choose ropes. As they complete the challenge, both voiceover that they are proud of the other and loved the experience. They get to the pit stop – it’s now dark and everybody else got there during daylight hours – and Phil tells them they are the last team to arrive and that they have been eliminated. Josh says he has changed and Steve says he is proud of his son. I’m glad they are closer. I was really starting to actually like them, but, that’s the way it goes.

Next week looks like trouble for the models. They fight in a canal that is apparently in Amsterdam. They have a lack of communication also and seem to constantly be fighting over a map. Could this finally be their downfall? I guess we will have to wait and see. On that note, here are some closing thoughts: Another team to go from first to last. I tell ya, this season of the race is crazy. Teams really need to get it together and figure out where they are going more quickly. Too much squabbling if you ask me. The Supremes and Kelly & Jon are my favorites, now followed closely by the Clowns and the Models. Both teams bring me entertainment. Reichen & Chip are on my good side and so are Dave & Jeff only because I never really see them. Chillie and Steve & Dave are on my bad side. I like Chuck, but Millie is getting way out of hand. Steve & Dave need to learn not to threaten anyone because that is just childish. I think they are gone next week anyway so it doesn’t matter. This is what we will have to wait and see!

Phil Kural is a senior at Temple University, and can be reached at pkural@temple.edu.

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