Recap: The Amazing Race 15, Episode 5 – “My butt’s cold!”

Episode 15.05 – I’m Like Ricky Bobby
Miss the episode or want to watch it again?  Watch the full episode at CBS.com!


THE LEG
After the unfortunate circumstances in the last leg, Sam & Dan leave the Pit Stop in first place.  With $160 for the leg, they read their next clue: “Fly to the Persian Gulf and find the world’s tallest building.”  The teams must figure out that the world’s tallest building is the Burj Dubai, twice the height of the Empire State Building and still under construction.  When they figure out they can find the building in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, they will make their way to the Dubai Fountain where they will sign up for one of two elevators that will take them up to the 124th floor of the building where they will find their next clue.



Sam & Dan are not sure where the Persian Gulf is.  Flight Time & Big Easy go to an internet café and figure the world’s tallest building is in Dubai.  Brian says the Race is one big game of karma, so they’ll try to be as nice as they can be to other teams.  Ericka says the world’s tallest building is in Dubai, Brian asks if she’s sure.  YES! She’s sure!

Gary & Matt don’t like playing “Follow the Leader,” so they want to play smarter from here on out.  Meghan & Cheyne want to keep that front of the pack mentality.  Lance & Keri aren’t going to be torn apart by anything.  Mika is scared of heights, Canaan loves ’em.  Maria & Tiffany are grateful for the lucky breaks, they think they can be contenders. (Sure…)

At the airport, Sam & Dan tell the counter they want to book tickets to the Persian Gulf.  The lady has never heard of that before.  “Persian Gulf isn’t even a country” Sam says to Brian and Ericka who inform them that they have to fly to Dubai.  The other teams arrive and Brian tells them all it’s Dubai.  Lance & Keri get held up at the internet café, which has a horribly slow internet connection, though Lance says it’s just because everyone’s booking flights.

Eventually all teams make the same flight through Bangkok to Dubai.  Night falls and the teams arrive.  Brian & Ericka are out of the airport first, followed by Maria & Tiffany.  They all realize how hot it is, even at night.  

Tiffany & Ericka sign up for the first elevator, along with Brian & Ericka and Sam & Dan.  Mika & Canaan, one of the first teams out of the airport gets a taxi driver who has no idea where he is going, they just came from where they were supposed to be.  The delay allows Meghan & Cheyne to get the 4th and last spot on the first elevator at 5:30am.  Mika & Canaan settle for the 2nd elevator at 5:45am with the Globetrotters, Gary & Matt, and Lance & Keri.



The teams head up to the 124th floor and on the balcony grab their next clue telling them to go to the parking garage at the Dubai Mall and choose one of the marked cars to drive themselves to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.  They will take 4x4s to their next clue.


Also included in the clue is the ONLY Fast Forward on the entire Race.  For this Fast Forward, teams head to Dubai Autodrome, the only race track of its type on the Persian Gulf, where one team member must drive an F3 open wheel race car and complete a lap in 45 seconds or less.  

Meghan & Cheyne go for the Fast Forward, as the other teams head for the desert.  They act like their task up in the building was the hardest thing ever, as Brian suggests, which causes Mika to start freaking out more.  She is happy to find out they just have to walk out, grab their clue and go.  Big Easy flings his hard hat away and Group 2 is off.  But Lance & Keri, as they usually do, get themselves off track putting them in last.  

Mika says she’ll keep an eye on the Globetrotters and see if they go a different way.  They do, but Mika & Canaan continue the opposite direction.  

Meanwhile, Meghan & Cheyne get to the racetrack.  Cheyne says he’s ready for an unexpected challenge, but Meghan hates not being in control of a situation.  She tears up as Cheyne gets into the car.  He easily finishes the task and they get their clue telling them head for the Pit Stop in a Maserati.



Brian & Ericka, Sam & Dan, and Maria & Tiffany arrive at the Reserve and each get into a 4×4 shuttle.  They speed off into the desert sand dunes for a very fast wild ride.  Back in Dubai, Mika & Canaan get pointed in the right direction while Lance & Keri’s miscommunication gets on the wrong exit.


At the Reserve, the teams find the Road Block, Who thinks they can beat the desert heat?
Phil says the teams have to “Drink in the landscape.”  For this Road Block, teams will choose a traditional bag and search the desert for water in urns buried in the sand.  However, not all of the urns contain water.  When they fill their bags with enough water, they will take it back to the Bedouin and his thirsty camels and they will get their next clue.

Brian, Tiffany, and  Dan do the Road Block but under the scorching heat, they have no idea where to find the urns.  They head out far across the dunes and finally find urns, but none of them have water.  “This might be a mirage,” Brian says just as the Globetrotters and Gary & Matt arrive. 
Brian finally finds an urn with water and begins filling his bag.  He gets done and whispers to Dan and Tiffany to go straight behind him.  He says he treats others the way he wants to be treated and hopefully the other teams will be helping them out later on in the Race.

Brian & Ericka get their next clue telling them to head back into Dubai and find Ski Dubai, an indoor ski resort spanning the size of four football fields.  There they will find their next clue.
Dan and Tiffany begin to fill their bags, but Dan breaks his ladle.  Tiffany offers to let him use hers as soon as she’s done.  Matt finds another one just as they are leaving.

Mika & Canaan are close to the Reserve but are not sure of where to go.  They see Brian & Ericka coming up and Ericka tells Brian to tell them where to go, but to hurry up.  Mika & Canaan get the info they need and head towards the Reserve.  “I’m nice but I’m not dumb” Brian says, “this game is all about karma.” 



Mika & Canaan arrive as the other teams are leaving.  Maria wants to back up but a car is blocking their way and instead she moves forward over some spike or block of wood which pierces their radiator.  It’s now leaking radiator oil.  The other teams cringe.

Sam & Dan go out to see how their friends are doing.  Tiffany asks if they’re gonna go, but Dan says if it wasn’t for her, he wouldn’t have had a ladle so they stay with them until their replacement car arrives.  It comes pretty fast and they are off.

Lance & Keri are still on their way to the Reserve as the Globetrotters finish with Mika & Canaan getting started on the Road Block.  Meanwhile, Meghan & Cheyne arrive at the Pit Stop and check in first, winning a trip to Jamaica

Back in Dubai, we get an Arabian-remixed “Jingle Bells” as teams arrive at the Ski Dubai resort, a literal snow resort in the middle of the desert.  Gary & Matt are first and they find the Detour.


In this Detour, teams have to choose between Build a Snowman or Find a Snowman
In Build a Snowman, teams will have to carry snow from inside the building outside in the 130 degree heat and build a snowman.  If they can build their snowman faster than the heat turns it into slush, they’ll get their next clue.
In Find a Snowman, teams take a chair lift up to the top of the mountain and sled down to the mounds of snow where they will have to search for a small snowman.  When they find it, they’ll hand it to the Polar Bear who will give them their next clue.  



Gary & Matt choose Find a Snowman.  Back to the 120 degree heat in the desert, Canaan finally finds some water and he and Mika are off.  Lance gets frustrated however and slams an urn onto the sand.  It rolls.  When he finally finds water, he fills his bag, tips the urn which empties out all the water and dumps his supplies off to the Bedouin.  “Have a nice life” he says.

Back to the 20 degree insulated ski resort, Brian & Ericka, Maria & Tiffany, and Sam & Dan arrive all deciding to dig as well.  They slide down the mountain, Ericka enjoying the entire ride down.  The Globetrotters are right behind.

They’re all digging when Ericka finds one.  She shows it to the other teams and they give it to Mr. Polar Bear who hands them their next clue telling them to head for the Pit Stop, Souk Madinat Jumeirah.  They check in 2nd.

The Globetrotters fling their sleds in the air just as the other teams decide to build instead of digging endlessly.  Canaan gets testy with Mika as they drive back to Dubai and Lance & Keri realize how poor their decision making is.  “We are directionally challenged” they laugh.



Sam is stubborn about switching Detours, but Dan pushes him until they go.  Just then the Globetrotters find the snowman and leave.  Mika & Canaan arrive just as they are leaving, but tell them they should get their coats to bring inside.  Mika & Canaan thought that was nice of them.  They get inside and Mika says she’s never sledded (though no experience was required really), so they do Build, which really defeats the purpose of them getting coats anyway.

The Globetrotters are in 3rd place.  Gary & Matt finish and take 4th followed by Sam & Dan in 5th.  Maria & Tiffany arrive at the Mat and Phil asks them to pick a number.  Maria says 5, Tiffany says 6.  They’re 6th.
Mika & Canaan hire a taxi to lead them to the Pit Stop and they finish 7th. 
Lance & Keri are finishing up their snowman.  Lance jams the carrot into the poor snowman’s face.  It breaks in half.  One of his eyes falls off.  Lance asks the lady if he can kick the snowman, she says “You want your clue or not?”  They laugh and take their clue.  They hope for a non-elimination and all signs are actually pointing to one.  The music, Phil’s speils, Lance & Keri’s comments… but no, it is an elimination leg and Lance & Keri are officially Philiminated.  


OVERALL
The elevator sign ups proved to be very critical to the outcome of the leg.  If Mika & Canaan’s taxi didn’t get them lost, Meghan & Cheyne wouldn’t have been first and therefore wouldn’t have gone for the Fast Forward.

Speaking of, I still do miss the days when we’d have more Fast Forwards on the Race, let alone one of every leg of the Race.  It always provided a chance for some extra drama of teams fighting for that one special pass, a team moving up because of FF, the strategy of when to use it, the uncertainty that a Fast Forward actually gets you in first, and extra chance to interact with the locals.  Too bad it’s been reduced to a prize.

Dubai is a fascinating place.  And very wealthy, right?  Where else can you have so much development and a freaking snow resort in the middle of the desert.  That must’ve been trippy, to be sweating it out on miles of desert and then playing in snow.  Lots of fun as well.

The previews for next week were very interesting especially for Mika and Canaan.  They’re the new Nathan & Jennifer (TAR12) I think, and that means fun!  Canaan wanting to push Mike down the tall slide when she’s deathly afraid of heights?  Fun!

Leg Five Itinerary
DEPARTURE
Wat Phnom
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

CASH
$160

STOPOVER
Bangkok, Thailand

DESTINATION CITY
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

ROUTE MARKERS
Dubai Fountain
Burj Dubai
Dubai Mall Parking Garage
Dubai

FAST FORWARD
Dubai Autodrome
Dubai

ROAD BLOCK
Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
Dubai

DETOUR
Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates
Dubai

PIT STOP
Souk Madinat Jumeirah
Dubai

Leg 5 Departure Times
Wat Phnom
Phnom Penh
Sam & Dan 12:25pm
Flight Time & Big Easy 12:27pm
Brian & Ericka 12:30pm
Gary & Matt 12:35pm
Meghan & Cheyne 12:35pm
Lance & Keri 12:47pm
Mika & Canaan 12:49pm
Maria & Tiffany 12:55pm

Who Did the Detour?
In order of completion

BUILD A SNOWMAN
*
*
*


FIND A SNOWMAN

*Teams began the “Find” Detour but switched to “Build”

did not complete a Detour.

Road Block Count

In order of completion; Italics indicate who did this week’s Road Block
2 Meghan Cheyne 2
3 Brian Ericka 2
2 Sam Dan 3
2 Maria Tiffany 3
2 Gary Matt 3
3 Herbert Nathaniel 2
1 Mika Canaan 4
3 Lance Keri 2
2 Zev Justin 2
1 Marcy Ronald 2
1 Garrett Jessica 1
0 Eric Lisa 0

Leg 5 Final of Finish
>ff> 1st Meghan & Cheyne
2nd Brian & Ericka
3rd Flight Time & Big Easy
4th Gary & Matt
5th Sam & Dan
6th Maria & Tiffany
7th Mika & Canaan
Philiminated Lance & Keri


My Team Rankings for Leg 5
Almost even except for last place.
Brian & Ericka Brian & Ericka – They are totally right, karma is big on the Race.  Karma can be a great friend or the biggest bitch and so far, it’s been very nice to them (though it didn’t help out Zev & Justin that much last week).  They are keeping the momentum and getting in a groove finally.  Brian is keeping up the good karma, but you know both of them, especially Ericka, can turn up the game when they need to.
Herbert & Nathaniel Herbert & Nathaniel – They are continuing to do well.  They have a lot of things from their own lives to draw inspiration and encouragement from which definitely helps in the Race. 
Gary & Matt Gary & Matt – Doing fine as well, not a lot from them this week.  Could that mean we’ll be seeing more of them in the future?  We’ll see!
Meghan & Cheyne Meghan & Cheyne – A fast forward is always a nice thing to have and for them, it helps maintain their strong run of the Race so far.  They are shaping up to be the team to beat, they haven’t had much slip ups yet.
Mika & Canaan Mika & Canaan – Escaping elimination almost as much as Maria & Tiffany.  Next week looks to be the make it or break it leg for them.  They either step it up next week or are out.  I like them, but they’ve got to show some hustle and make careful choices.  The preview for next week calls back to leg 2’s duck frustrations that are always bad for a team on the Race.  Let’s see if they get through it.  
Sam & Dan Sam & Dan – All right leg for them.  Funny I expected more freak out during the Detour considering how much they freak out at smaller things.  Their waiting for Maria & Tiffany is not going to be the best thing for them to do in the future.  Great to have an alliance, but be careful at waiting and harming your own Race.
Maria & Tiffany Maria & Tiffany – Tiffany mentions them becoming contenders.  Well, we’ll see. They’ve been up and down (way down) throughout the Race, but they need a big move to keep up otherwise they could just as easily fall out of the Race.
Lance & Keri Lance & Keri – Lance’s competitiveness came out full force this leg.  He’s a fiery, passionate guy.  Probably not a douche, but just very energetic, maybe overly-so.  It would’ve been nice to see more of the goofy intensity than the doucheiness in the earlier legs, but overall they were actually fun.  They love each other, which is what matters.  Though Lance could’ve probably been a little more respectful to the locals, yeah? He emptied out the water urn! Haha.
Quotes from Episode 15-05
Keri: “Lance and I, the bond that we have is strong.  We love each other, you know, nothing could tear us apart.”
Lance: “And we have a lot of non-refundable deposits on the wedding at this point so I’m not going to lose out on that.  We’re going through with it.”

Canaan: “Schnikes!  Mika’s scared to death of heights.  I love heights.”
Mika: “Heights, not so much at all.”
Canaan: “You need to change that little ‘tude of yours this morning.”
Mike: “You need to quit telling me what to do.”

Gary: “I don’t think there’s a recession going on here.”

Lance: “Just gonna look up.  I just hope a plane doesn’t nick me in the head.”

Gary: “I’m about ready to wet myself.”

Ericka: “We definitely didn’t want me to do [the Road Block] because I would’ve just been crying and frantic probably because…”
Brian: “She melts.”
Ericka: “Chocolate melts…”
Brian: “Chocolate melts.”
Ericka: “…in the sun.”

Big Easy: “Being from New Orleans, we used to run from water.  Now I’m out here looking for it.”

Tiffany: “Leave it up to the girls to wreck the car.”
Maria: “I have an excuse because I’m an Asian female driver.”

Mika: “Isn’t it funny how you can drive a 120 miles an hour here and it feels like you’re going like 60?”
Canaan: “That’s 120 kilometers an hour.”
Mika: “Oh!  
Canaan: “So it only is 60.”
Mika: “I thought we were driving fast.”

Ericka: “My butt’s cold!”

Lance: “Me and Keri have different personalities, but we have a good relationship.  We’re different people, but I don’t think I’d want to marry myself.  I think it would suck so much.”
Keri: “Two of you would be too much… to handle.”
Lance: “I don’t think I could handle that.”


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