The Amazing Race 4, Episode 11: Read the Directions!

Previously on The Amazing Race, four teams left the island of Borneo and headed to Seoul, South Korea. Some teams got lost on the North Korea border, and a chilling roadblock had several racers’ teeth chattering. Kelly mustered up some inner strength to finish up the detour, while Reichen & Chip encountered a lively meal to say the least. David & Jeff were the final team to reach the pit stop, but were saved by the leg being one of three non-elimination legs. All four teams remain, but who will be eliminated next? That’s my job to fill you in! First, let’s see which teams are left and their current racing status. Read on, friends!

Jon & Kelly – Engaged couple/Sentimental favorites/My pick to win
Reichan & Chip – Married gay couple/Sentimental favorites/Shattering stereotypes
Jon & Al (The Clowns) – Best friends/Circus clowns/Positive thinkers
David & Jeff (The Goats) – Best friends/No sense of direction

We begin this leg in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Teams are currently at the 10th pit stop in a race around the world. This will be the most crucial leg of the race. One team will be eliminated this leg of the race, so we know it’s going to be tough. Will Kelly’s hand injury that she sustained in the last leg hinder her team and make them go for the Fast Forward? Will the Goats bounce out of last place and make it to the final three? Will we find out if I’m psychic in picking Jon & Kelly, Reichen & Chip and the Clowns as the final three? Wow, so much to see!

The time is 3:46 a.m. and Jon & Kelly are the first to depart. Their clue tells them to get to Hangang Park. Once there, they must find a group of kites and pull on the strings to release their clue. They look for a cab but can’t seem to find anyone that speaks English. Right behind them, at 3:55, Reichen & Chip depart. Reichen says their goal is to make the top three. They see Kelly & Jon looking for a cab and begin the search as well. Kelly & Jon finally just get in a cab and head for a hotel. Reichen & Chip get in a cab and their driver acts like he knows where they are going. He keeps telling them OK. Reichen says Chip is starting to get intense and that is when they start to have no fun.

Well, it’s 4:04 a.m. and the Clowns are off. They flag down a cab and it turns out their driver speaks very good English. They say they are having fun the whole time even though they know it is do or die time. They are happy that they know their driver is going the right way. In the other cabs we have Reichen & Chip pleading with their driver to go faster and Kelly & Jon arriving at a hotel. The concierge there tells them how to get to the Park. After a scuffle with a pair of drunks, they are off in another cab. The Clowns and Reichen & Chip have both spotted the park at this point. However, Reichen & Chip’s cab driver passes it and has to go back. The Clowns are there first while Reichen & Chip are just getting out of their cab with Chip going on and on about how the cab driver should speak English. Chip, you know I like you, but that’s just ignorant. I’m sure they would be just as frustrated if they came to America and the cab drivers didn’t speak Korean. Things like that have to be looked at from both angles.

The Clowns get their clue and it tells them to make their way to Brisbane, Australia. Once there, they must get to the Transit Center and find the hotel located on the premises. Then, they must check in at the concierge desk and be escorted to the penthouse. Reichen & Chip get their clue as well and are off. Kelly & Jon see the park and head for the kites. Reichen & Chip and the Clowns are on their way to the airport. Jon sees the clues and starts pulling on the wrong string. The whole thing falls down. This is sorta funny. I almost forgot, it’s now 5:15 and the Goats are leaving the pit stop. They say they are happy and lucky to still be in the race. Both of them also state they are ready to make no mistakes this leg. Jon finally figures out how to get the clue and they are off to Inchon airport.

The Clowns are the first ones that actually get to the airport and they find it is closed. At this point, the Goats get to the park and get their clue. They are off to the airport with the rest of the teams. They take a quick look at the Fast Forward, but continue to the airport. Jon and Kelly’s cab is having problems getting to the airport because of all the fog that is around. The Clowns are networking with travel agents on the phone to find out what the best flight is. Their agent tells them the flight they are on is the best option. They stick with the tickets they bought with Korean Air.

Reichen & Chip are at the airport looking at the departure times for all the planes headed to Brisbane. They see Singapore Air is the fastest way to get there. They start to book their tickets through Singapore just when Jon walks up (from Jon & Kelly) to the ticket counter saying he’ll have the same tickets that Reichen & Chip just bought. Reichen says that Jon is pissed because Chip and himself are more masculine than he is. He then goes on to say that Jon makes them as stereotypical as possible. Hmm, doesn’t seem that way to me… yet. Turns out the Goats are on this flight as well, however, the flight is going to be delayed because of fog.

The Clowns don’t see any of the other teams in the terminal they are waiting at and start to worry. The fog eventually lifts and the Singapore Air plane is ready to go. That is when the Clowns find out their flight is delayed (after having been assured that it would leave on time). They go searching for another flight and find the Singapore Air flight. They run to where it is boarding and know they will be cutting it close. Once there, they look for tickets but security will not let them get tickets; it’s just too late. They look ultra worried as the other plane leaves, carrying the other teams.

After a commercial break, we return to see that Jon from the Clowns is stressing out because his team is stuck in Seoul. The Clowns frantically look for a flight and stumble upon a direct flight to Brisbane. Hoping the other teams will encounter a delay, they book this flight. While waiting for their flight, they put on the big red clown noses and entertain the Korean crowd. It’s nice to see they are keeping the positive attitude that they had all season. Jon makes a “Why did the chicken cross the road?” joke and Al spits water on Jon’s face. I crack up.

The first plane arrives in Brisbane and the three teams aboard shuffle around. Jon is stuck on the plane so Kelly has to wait. The Goats waste no time in going right for the Fast Forward. In this Fast Forward, teams must drive one hour to a surf rescue beach. Once there, they must learn how to rescue someone and actually do it the way the Australians do. Once out of the airport, Kelly and Jon opt for the train instead of taxi, like the other two teams did. Reichen & Chip and Kelly & Jon are on their way to the next route marker while the Goats are going for the Fast Forward. I think it’s kind of strange that Phil says, “Whoever goes for the Fast Forward is not guaranteed a spot in the final three.” Foreshadowing maybe? We’ll see. Kelly tells Jon that her goal is to make the final three. The Goats are stressing about traffic as Kelly & Jon look out at the bumper to bumper traffic while they sit on the train. Jon & Kelly are the first to see the transit station and the hotel as well. Reichen & Chip arrive there first, however, Jon & Kelly are right there behind them. Detour! Face First or Foot First?

In Face First, teams must put on safety gear and face first rappel off the ledge of a building 200 ft. in the air. This task may be terrifying, but it can be done quickly. In Foot First, teams must locate a building with flags then travel on foot to the building and climb 30 stories to the route marker. This is not a scary task, but it could tire the team and will take longer to finish. Both teams choose Face First and I’m thinking “Oh no! Sentimental showdown!” Kelly says that her hand is still hurting from the last leg and worries the rope will hurt it. Jon says Kelly proved she can do just as well as the guys and this task will be no different. Jon and Chip are the first to go down. Just then, the Clowns get to Brisbane! Meanwhile, the Goats are still on their way to claim the Fast Forward.

Back at the detour, Kelly is a little scared. Jon and Chip are on their way down. Both do this task fairly well and reach the bottom quickly, but Chip gets there first. He then says the gay man got down faster than Jon and it’s eating him alive. At the Fast Forward, the Goats arrive and look for flags. They see the rescue victim and rush out with their surf boards to save her. Apparently, they don’t know how to do that because they are having the ultimate in problems. Dave is having issues with the victim and Jeff comes to lend a helping hand. They really aren’t too sure about what to do and what’s worse is they are becoming impatient because they don’t know how much time they are losing to the other teams.

Kelly and Reichen are now ready to go at the detour. They sit on the edge and Jon talks about Kelly’s hand. It’s still swollen. They are on their way down the building and Reichen is moving pretty fast. Kelly, however, isn’t doing so well. Jon is making gay jokes about Kelly not letting the “gay beat her” and Reichen seems a little pissed even though it seems to all be in good fun. Kelly is still having problems though and screaming her head off because her hand hurts. She begins to hyperventilate and says she is stuck. Reichen gets to the bottom and Chip is waiting for them. They rush off! Kelly gets to the bottom of the building and tells Jon she was scared to death. Jon says that Kelly has the will to win. Reichen & Chip received their clue and it told them to choose a car and drive to Mooloolaba and find Underwater World. Once there, they must follow a path to the next route marker. Reichen & Chip get in the car and are off. Kelly & Jon look at their map and head off as well.

The Goats are still at the Fast Forward and are still having problems with the Australian rescue. They say the girl is solid and they can’t support her. However, they eventually get it down pat, load her up, and get her to the shore. If this was any normal “victim” of drowning, she would have been well past dead by now. Anyway, they complete the Fast Forward and their clue tells them to get to the pit stop, the Mooloolaba Yacht Club, legendary haven for yachtsman in Australia. They get in a provided car and are off.

The Clowns arrive at the detour and choose Face First. They head down the building with Jon completing it quickly. Al is a little scared and you can tell. On the way to the next route marker, Reichen & Chip realize they forgot their map and may be lost. They have to ask for some directions. Kelly & Jon realize they are almost there. At the detour, Al is finally on his way down and Jon is cheering him on as usual. These guys are a great team; they never fight or let one another do something without support. They get their clue and head to Underwater World.

Speaking of Underwater World, Kelly & Jon are there, followed very closely by Reichen & Chip. Jon & Kelly hit the route marker first and find the Roadblock. Jon and Reichen choose to do it. They must put on gear and find an underwater treasure chest with their next clue. The tank is huge and there are sea creatures everywhere, including 100 sharks. One of the men suiting up Jon tells him not to stand on the sharks or touch any of the animals in the water. Reichen is not far behind Jon. Kelly sees Jon in the tank and is so happy. Jon gets the map first and is quickly headed back to the surface. Reichen is looking for the chest and having balance problems. He looks very scared as well. Kelly says he is more nervous than Jon was. Reichen confirms this by moving ever so slowly. Chip is yelling to him as a shark is creeping up right behind him. Reichen is scared of sharks but Chip encourages him to get there. Jon surfaces at this point while Reichen finally gets the clue. Kelly reads the clue and it tells them to race to the pit stop on foot, the yacht club. The last team will be eliminated. Kelly & Jon, followed by Reichen & Chip, are both on their way.

The Goats get to the pit stop at this point and find out they are team number one. They are in the final three. They also won a trip to exotic Mexico! Life is good for these two! Kelly & Jon are asking people for directions as they look for the pit stop. Reichen & Chip seem a little lost and frustrated and get in a car to DRIVE! They didn’t see that the instructions say to go on foot. Apparently, they aren’t familiar with a team from last season: Heather & Eve. Those two buxom law babes decided to drive to the pit stop when the clue said “on foot.” Their 30 minute penalty ended up getting them eliminated – and also earned them a Reality TV Hall of Shame Moment. Anyway, Kelly & Jon get more directions and continue to run. At this point, the clowns get to the roadblock and Al does it. Rather fast I might add. When a shark gets in his way, Jon tells him to go under it. I laugh again.

Kelly & Jon see the pit stop and start running. They also see Reichen & Chip pass them in a car and Kelly says they are not on foot! Chip & Reichen see the pit stop and check in as team number two. Phil tells them they are the second team to arrive. However, he says they didn’t travel on foot and will get a 5 minute penalty for the time they gained, and a 30 minute penalty for not following the route instructions. Kelly & Jon check in the pit stop and are told they are the third team to arrive. Phil lets them know about the penalty Reichen & Chip received and that they are in second place.

At this point, the Clowns have 30 minutes to stay in the race. Al gets the roadblock clue and they run to the pit stop. Reichen & Chip hope the Clowns move slow enough to keep the penalty from eliminating them. The Clowns get there, check in, hear they are the fourth team to arrive and about the penalty that was given to Reichen & Chip. However, it was not enough time to put them ahead. They are eliminated from the race. Al says Jon is fantastic. Jon has tears in his eyes. Both of the Clowns say they are better friends because of the race. Jon says it was all positive attitude and giving 100%. Their family and friends will be proud. As we fade out with all the teams hugging the Clowns, I realize how much I liked them – a lot.

Reichen says from this point it’s going to be severe. Kelly says she is watching Chip because she knows he will play dirty. The Goats both say they are ready. Let’s hope their sense of direction is as well. Next week, it’s down to the final three! A race to the States will fuel a heated argument with Kelly & Jon and Reichen & Chip. Certain steps and turns may lead to disaster! I’m guessing this is the last non-elimination leg before the finale. I say this because the finale is only an hour this year as opposed to the traditional two hours. I’m sure it will still be exciting!

Well, I guess I’m not psychic, but I came pretty close! I guess we all know that I want Kelly & Jon to win this thing, followed by Reichen & Chip. If the Goats won, I wouldn’t be mad, but they have no sense of direction and I really don’t see it happening. However, they could be the sleeper in this competition. Next week, even though it’s probably non-elimination, will be the most exciting episode yet, I guarantee it. Keep on the lookout for an RNO Roundtable discussing who may win, and a future article by myself on the impression I have from the other eliminated teams.

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

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