The Amazing Race 4, Episode 12: What More Can Go Wrong?

Previously on The Amazing Race, four teams left South Korea and headed for Brisbane, Australia. The Clowns, Jon & Al, didn’t choose the same flight the other teams chose and were stuck in South Korea longer. Dave and Jeff got the Fast Forward and landed themselves in first place. In the end, even with a time penalty given to Reichen & Chip for driving to the pit stop when the clue said to go on foot, the Clowns were eliminated because of their later flight. What will happen this second to last leg of the race?

Who is left in this race, you might ask? Well, let me fill you in on who we have and the order they will leave the pit stop.

Dave & Jeff (the Goats) – Best friends/No sense of direction/Decent guys all-around
Jon & Kelly – Engaged couple/My pick to win/Sentimental favorites
Reichen & Chip – Married gay couple/Sentimental favorites/Too intense

Sky shot of Australia’s beautiful sunshine coast. Located on this coast is the 11th pit stop on a race around the world. This is a rest period where teams can get themselves together for 12 hours. Will the Goats ride their momentum of the Fast Forward? Can Kelly & Jon work together? Will Reichen & Chip recover from the time penalty they received in the last leg? The Goats, who were the first to arrive at the pit stop at 10:41 a.m., will depart at 10:41 p.m. Their clue tells them to drive to Australia’s Woolshed in Ferny Hills. Inside the wool at the shed, they will find their next clue. David says it was their plan to use the Fast Forward at the last possible moment, leg 11, and then ride their momentum into the finals. Jeff says that their team doesn’t get as emotional as the other teams. They are there to win.

Its 10:59 and Jon & Kelly are leaving. Kelly says that the race has made their relationship stronger. Jon says he is proud of Kelly and she states that what happens in the race stays there. She also notes that they have been saving money like crazy, which is good because the teams only get a single dollar for this leg of the race. At 11:33 Reichen & Chip are the final team to depart. They briefly talk about they penalty they received and that they are happy to still be there. They both know they will do fine and catch up. Chip says that they both want to be in control, this is proved when both are shown trying to get information from the same person. Both of them want to be the leader and Chip says that it may hurt them as a team.

All the teams are off to the shed and seem a little lost; this isn’t anything new for the Goats. Actually though, the Goats do get there first. The see a sign that says it doesn’t open until 6 a.m., about four and half hours away. Kelly & Jon pull up to the shed and see the Goats. Reichen & Chip get there as well and are happy they caught up to the others so fast. Cut to a morning shot and all the teams waking up. Kelly asks Chip if he’s felling “chipper.” She then tells the camera that she and Jon like to push Reichen & Chip’s buttons because they get frustrated so easily. Chip says Jon likes to distract and nudge them. They are just trying to stay focused.

The gate opens at 6 a.m. and all the teams run in. They all run to the wool barns and begin to search for their clue. Kelly wants gloves because the Goats have them but Jon says to just dig. All three teams are looking and they all say it’s gross and smells pretty bad. Kelly & Jon find the clue first. It tells them to drive to Brisbane airport and get to Wild World Zoo in Cairns. Kelly & Jon are off. Still digging, the Goats restart their pile thinking they missed the clue. Reichen & Chip find theirs. They read the clue and are off as well. With the Goats still digging, we cut to a commercial and when we come back they are still doing so. However, David finds it shortly thereafter. They head off for the airport.

In the airport, Kelly & Jon look for a flight. They find one leaving at 7:45 a.m. Reichen & Chip get to the airport followed closely by the Goats. Jon & Kelly get their tickets and Kelly asks Reichen & Chip why they look so sad as they pass them. Reichen & Chip get the same tickets. The Goats see the ticket booth and also get the same tickets. Jon says he’s a little disappointed they are all on the same flight. Off to Cairns!

Once the plane lands in Cairns, all the teams run to their marked cars. All three teams zip down the road to Wild World. Kelly says she is nervous and that all the other men in the race scare her. The Goats try to pass Kelly & Jon, who are in the lead at this point, and Jon tries to block them in and prevent them from passing. Jon says Chip is getting all pissed off and that he’s an aggressive driver.

All three teams get to Wild World. Kelly sees the flags. Each team parks and runs for the flags. The route info tells them to choose a camera, go to the croc pen and feed Sultan, the croc. One teammate must take a picture of the other teammate feeding the croc with the Kodak Easy-Share Digital Camera. Then, they must find the souvenir shop where they can print out their photo that will have their next clue on the back. On their way to the pen, Jon & Kelly forget the camera. The Goats remember the camera and see Kelly & Jon don’t have theirs. Kelly realizes they don’t have it when they get to the pen and they have to go back. Kelly says they always get too excited. Then they begin to bicker.

Dave is going to feed Sultan and Jeff takes the picture. They finish and head to the souvenir shop. Chip is up next with the feeding. Reichen snaps the photo and they are off just as quickly as well. The Goats find the shop and start to print out their photo. Not far behind are Jon & Kelly. Jon feeds, Kelly snaps. They run off to the shop. Reichen & Chip get to the shop right before Kelly & Jon. Reichen is having problems printing out the photo. The Goats print out their picture and get the next clue. It tells them to make their way to Wangetti beach. Once there, find the route marker box. The Goats run off while Kelly & Jon get their picture. They also head out to the car. Reichen says that Kelly & Jon are always lucky like that. Kelly says it’s another picture for the fridge. Reichen & Chip finally figure out the photo printer, get their picture, and head out.

Outside, Jon & Kelly get directions and head off. Jeff says that they are there to win. Kelly states she loves Jon and they will fight once a day no matter what. They still love one another. Reichen says Kelly has a mouth bigger than Sultan the croc.

The Goats get to Wangetti beach first and see the route marker. Detour. Saddle or Paddle? In Saddle, teams must explore one and a half miles of beach and find flags. Located within 25 yards of the flags is a cluster of clues. Only one cluster out of four has the correct route info, with three others telling the teams to try again. This could take a long time, but is not very demanding physically. In Paddle, teams must inflate a kayak and paddle to a buoy for their clue. This task is more physically demanding, but they are guaranteed to get the right clue. The Goats choose Saddle.

Reichen & Chip get to the beach while Kelly & Jon are a little lost. Reichen & Chip find the clue box and choose Saddle. They see the Goats go right on the beach, so they go and explore left. Jon eventually realizes they are lost and they ask for directions and have to turn around. Kelly says it was Jon’s fault for not listening to her.

The other teams continue to search for the clues. Reichen & Chip see a marker and find a cluster. It’s one of the wrong ones. They get back on their horses and start to look again. They find another cluster and it’s also a wrong one. The Goats find a cluster, it’s the right one! The clue tells them to drive to Off Road Rush.

Jon & Kelly find the detour and choose Saddle as well. They see Reichen & Chip and start to follow them knowing they were coming from the other area of the beach which apparently had wrong clues. Reichen & Chip pass the Goats and say they don’t look comfortable on horses. Reichen finds another cluster and it’s wrong. That only leaves one left! The Goats get in their car and drive off. Reichen finds the last clue and they get the right clue and head off. Chip gets in the car before Reichen and as Reichen is getting in, Chip runs over Reichen’s foot. Uh-Oh! They start to get a little snippy with one another.

Jon & Kelly find the right cluster and head out to catch up. They ask for some directions. The Goats at this point are almost there already. I’m glad to see they have a good sense of direction this leg of the race; they are definitely kicking in at the clutch. They get to Off Road Rush and find the Roadblock. One person must race in a buggy and drive through a bumpy course. When they get back to their partner and finish the course they will get their next clue. Dave is going to do it. He gets in the car and is off. This looks like so much fun! He looks like he is having a blast. Jon is still getting directions. Reichen & Chip get there right when the Goats are finishing up – they are still bickering. Dave finishes the roadblock and they read their clue which tells them to drive to the pit stop, Ellis beach, located 50 miles away. They don’t hesitate to get out of there quickly.

Chip does the Roadblock and is off. He is having problems with the buggy and at one point gets stuck – he takes a turn too quickly and runs off the course. Reichen says everything is going wrong for them on this leg. The Goats are driving to the pit stop. Chip’s buggy is broken and they have to give him another one. Chip is off again and this time makes no mistakes. They get their clue and head to the pit stop.

Kelly & Jon finally get there and pass Reichen & Chip as they are leaving. Jon is excited once he sees the Roadblock. When they open the clue Kelly says it’s her turn to do it, but Jon REALLY wants to so she lets him. She says its Jon’s special moment. Jon is off! Wait, no he isn’t – his buggy stalls. NOW he’s off! Going a little too fast, Jon looks like he’s having the time of his life. However, at one point the car flips! Kelly goes running to the car as well as everyone there. Commercial, and when we are back we see Kelly screaming while running over to the car. She says at that point she thought Jon was dead and that she wouldn’t have a fancy-schmancy wedding or win a million dollars! Jon gets out and he is laughing. They flip the car over and they are off again. Kelly yells at him to be careful.

At the pit stop, the Goats are checking in. Phil tells them they are first and win a trip to Europe from American Airlines. Phil asks them about anxiety. Jeff says it’s on, and they are confident they can win. All they need to do is make sure there are no mistakes.

Jon finally finishes the Roadblock and they are off to the pit stop. Kelly says Jon may have grown up during the race even though it doesn’t look like it. At this point, Reichen & Chip pull up to the pit stop. They run down the beach and find they are team number two. Phil asks Chip about being there with Reichen. Chip says Reichen has patience to deal with his blunders. Reichen says critics thought they wouldn’t last that long, but they proved them wrong.

Jon & Kelly drive up to the pit stop and check in. Phil tells them they are last, but this isn’t an elimination leg. Kelly tells Phil they have come to a sad conclusion during this leg – Jon and herself will not be having kids because they don’t want them to inherit their stupidity. Anything that could have gone wrong this leg did. However, now that they have the mistakes out of the way, they know the next leg will be flawless.

Jon says Kelly has the will to win. Can the Goats maintain their first place lead until the end? Will Reichen & Chip pull together and take the lead? Can the underdogs, and only coed team, Kelly & Jon win it all? We’ll find out next week during the season finale! Three teams are neck and neck. Jon is nude! Every decision and mistake could be the last. Kelly & Jon miss their connection, that can’t be good. Who will win The Amazing Race 4? Well, I’m hoping its Kelly & Jon, but that’s another story. I’ll actually be in New York for the finale party, so don’t be mad if my recap is a little late. I’ll fill everyone in what goes on at the party as well. Can’t wait to see how this one ends!

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

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