The Amazing Race 5, Episode 12: One More Elimination, One More Roadblock, One More Detour and Only One Team of Winners

This season on The Amazing Race, 11 teams of two left Santa Monica, California, and raced over 60,000 miles around the world to Manila, in the Philippines. Tempers flared as some teams began to argue (Alison & Donny, Colin & Christie) and the competition became intense. Some teams were plagued by injuries, like Jim & Marsha, who had to deal with a knee injury Jim sustained during the first leg, and Marshall & Lance, who also had knee problems with Lance as well – but still managed to fight through the pain. For most teams, it was a dream of a lifetime, like cousins Charla & Mirna, who never thought they would do half the things they were able to. Seven teams fell by the wayside, leaving four for our finale tonight. Dating Christians, Brandon & Nicole, have endured many tactical errors and bad fortune along the race, but their commitment and faith in each other has brought them to the final four. Moms Linda & Karen are the only female team to ever reach the 10th leg of the race in the show’s history. They’ve had financial woes and bad navigational mishaps but never gave up. Married parents Chip & Kim persevered over their adversaries and neared elimination numerous times. However, they believed in each other and pulled to the front of the pack. Dating couple Colin & Christie survived each other, near incarceration, and acts of betrayal by former allies. However, their commitment to each other, along with their competitive spirit, earned them six first-place finishes. One team will be eliminated during this finale, and one will go on to win The Amazing Race! Let me, for the last time, introduce you to the final four teams, as they will leave the Pit Stop:

• Chip & Kim – Married parents/Always having fun
• Linda & Karen – Moms/Bowling partners/Sentimental Favorites
• Brandon & Nicole (The Hypocrites) – Dating/Models/Church hymn writers
• Colin & Christie – Dating/Might get engaged/You either love or hate them/Sentimental favorites

We begin in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Located there is the Coconut Palace, which was the eleventh Pit Stop in a race around the world. Teams can eat, sleep, and mingle here for 12 hours. Colin & Christie arrived here last the previous leg, but were not eliminated. However, they were stripped of all their money and won’t receive any for the next leg. At the Pit Stop, Colin says Chip isn’t trustworthy. He is still pretty angry that Chip & Kim used the Yield on them. Christie doesn’t forgive them for what they did, and Kim just hopes that Colin & Christie can’t get enough money to finish the next leg of the race. We see some shots of Colin & Christie begging for money, and people being very generous – one guy gives them all the money he has! Christie says they feel good about the money they were able to get, and it will be a good start for them on the next leg.

Chip & Kim are the first to leave the Pit Stop at 3:46 a.m. Their clue tells them to make their way to Lunetta Park, and find a statue where they’ll get their next clue. Chip says that “Chip Time” is over – it’s time to get serious, and there is no more time to be nice and happy. It’s now “Kim Time” which means they are going to go for the jugular. Ha! I knew Kim was running that marriage! At 3:54, Linda & Karen leave the Pit Stop. Linda says that they are ready to win, and have gone so far that they have to win now. Right behind them, at 3:57, the Hypocrites leave the Pit Stop. Brandon says he’s grateful they made it so far. Nicole is getting frustrated that Brandon isn’t has gung-ho as she is about winning the race, and he’s just happy to “be there.” Finally, at 4:02 a.m. Colin & Christie leave the Pit Stop as well. They aren’t worried about money and focus on getting back at Chip & Kim, while showing them that they can still win the race even though they had the Yield used on them.

Chip & Kim are the first ones to the clue at the statue, and it tells them they have to board one of two charter flights to El Nido. The first one leaves at 10:45 a.m. and the second leaves 45 minutes later. Once in El Nido, they must get to the dock and choose a boat. They will then be taken to a buoy in the water for their next clue. The moms, Hypocrites, and Colin & Christie all get to the statue and head for the charter flights as well. Chip & Kim get there first and sign up for the first flight. Kim just hopes Colin & Christie get on the second flight, and as we see the other three teams fighting to get there first, it’s the Hypocrites who are the second to sign up for the first flight. Linda & Karen get there soon after and find they are on the second charter, as do Colin & Christie, who are the last to arrive. All four teams chill out as they wait for their flights to leave in a few hours, and the tension is so thick you can cut it with a knife.

At daybreak, the first charter leaves. Both teams on board know that they are essentially guaranteed a spot in the final three. Hmm, I wouldn’t be so sure! The second flight leaves 45 minutes afterwards, and the moms both feel very nervous knowing they are going up against Colin & Christie. I would be too! The first flight arrives in El Nido, and both teams hurry to catch a cab to the dock – both are impressed with the scenery, and I have to admit – it does look amazing. They find their boats and hop aboard. We then see the second flight arrive, and the other two teams also hurry to get to the dock. Meanwhile, the first two teams get to the buoy and get their clues. Using binoculars, they must search three nearby islands, each with a flag on it. One flag is the national flag of the Philippines. Once they find that flag, they will get the next clue. If they go to the wrong island, they will have to try again, and islands are about 20 minutes apart from one another. Their driver is not allowed to tell them which flag is the correct one.