Recap: The Amazing Race Australia 7 (Celebrity Edition), Episode 4 – “I’m bloody knackered!”

The fourth Leg has teams flying to the archipelago of Langkawi in Malaysia. Upon arrival, teams will drive themselves to Telaga Harbour for their next clue.

Ben & Jackie arrive first and open the Detour clue: Eagle Eye or Mai Tai. In Eagle Eye, teams will jet ski to the north of the island where they will tandem parasail. They must spot an artwork and then when back on the ground, find a floating shop where they must look for an eagle trinket that matches the eagle from the pontoon. In Mai Tai, teams will jet ski to an island to the south where they must deliver mai tais via stand-up paddleboard from the shore to a boat in the middle of the water. One team member must carry the tray while the other paddles.

Ben & Jackie and Darren & Tristan choose Eagle Eye. Jackie is a bit scared of how fast Ben drives the jetski and then about being up in the air. Bec & Kate decide the cocktails are more their speed.

Back at the Eagle Eye Detour, Ben & Jackie end up choosing the wrong eagle and must go to the back of the parasailing line. Darren & Tristan, however, get it right. Bec & Kate also have no problem with their delivery.

Emma & Hayley, Peter & Frankie and Jana & Cor also choose the cocktails. Alli & Angie and Harry & Teddy go parasailing and get the correct trinket on their first tries.

At the back of the pack, George & Pam arrive at the clue which reveals their Speed Bump. The siblings must help the locals clean up after tourists by filling two sacks with trash from the beach. Afterwards, they choose the cocktail delivery Detour.

Ben & Jackie finally get the correct eagle, while Emma & Hayley, Jana & Cor and Peter & Frankie safely deliver their drinks. George & Pam, however, have to make a few attempts.

After the Detour, teams must catch a boat to Gua Pinang and search the bat cave for their next clue. Darren & Tristan maintain their lead as they open the Road Block clue: You found the bat, who will find their fruit?

For this Road Block, teams will head to a local fruit farm and must exactly replicate an exotic fruit hamper using the fruit from the farm.

Darren and Kate get started with the Road Block. Cor, Angie and Hayley arrive and get started. But they all get the thumbs down on their first attempts. That allows Teddy and Frankie to catch up.

At the bat cave, Ben & Jackie are just leaving as George & Pam arrive. Jackie has no time to stop and chat, which rubs George the wrong way. He says it’s no wonder no one wants to go to Melbourne if everyone’s like Jackie. Ben tries to get Jackie to just calm down.

Anyway, Ben and George are able to catch up to all the other teams as well.

Cor is the first to get the thumbs up on his basket. He and Jana can now head to the Pit Stop at Tanjung Rhu. Darren gets his basket approved right behind them. A potential wrong turn from Jana & Cor allows Darren & Tristan to step on the Mat first. But Beau informs them this is a Virtual Pit Stop and they’re still Racing. Jana & Cor settle for 2nd.

Back at the Road Block, Hayley, Kate, Angie and Teddy get the thumbs up. Ben gets it next. And it is down to George and Frankie.

At the Pit Stop, Bec & Kate take 3rd with Emma & Hayley in 4th. Ben & Jackie and Alli & Angie are 5th and 6th. Harry & Teddy take 7th.

A wrong turn for Peter & Frankie allows George & Pam to step on the Mat as Team #8. That means Peter & Frankie are last and eliminated.

Episode Thoughts

Another good episode of Amazing Race Australia! Shocking! Lolol

Is this the first time any TAR has gone to Langkawi, Malaysia? It might be a more touristy location. But nice to see a fresh location at least. I think it’s a good location to contrast with the Legs in India.

Basically only two tasks this Leg plus the bat cave. Would’ve been nice to have one more extra task. But the episode wasn’t as slow as a TAR35 episode at least. I think because the teams were so close to each other all day and we saw a good bit of shuffling.

The Detour was alright. The Eagle Eye side of the Detour is a simple memory task. On paper, I would expect the task would be a bit tricky for the teams. But they seemed to have no problem choosing the right ones, except for Ben & Jackie. Unless the show edited out other attempts.

I also expected the paddleboard delivery would be much harder than it turned out to be. But the teams were surprisingly well-balanced.

The Road Block might not necessarily be the most Malaysian activity. But it did provide an opportunity for teams to catch up and fall behind.

It was also good to see the teams self-driving for the first time. That also seemed to trip up some teams as well.

Watching this episode after TAR35, I was so happy to see an actual elimination at the end of a KOR/Zero-Hour Pit Stop/Virtual Pit Stop Leg. Not necessarily happy with who was eliminated. But happy that there was an elimination unlike TAR35.

Overall, a solid Leg and episode. Which, for Network 10 TARAu, is quite surprising! Lol

Team Thoughts

My two favorite teams Alli & Angie and Emma & Hayley were a bit invisible this episode, actually. They still did well though.

The stars of this episode were definitely Darren & Tristan, Ben & Jackie and George & Pam.

For the uncle and nephew, another strong Leg for them. They’re definitely setting themselves up as a top contender. But something about them, or at least Darren mostly, just rubs me the wrong way. I know Darren & Tristan are just trying to be funny. But they don’t have to be miserable about every task. Like, if that’s their shtick, then okay. But it’s annoying. We get it. You’re rich. Move on! lol

Ben & Jackie had the misstep at the Detour, but Jackie is definitely emerging as one of the season’s big characters. I must say, I do like her competitive spirit. I actually commend the moment when George tells her they’re just Racing for fun, but she says, No, we’re Racing for charity. Of course, teams can lighten up a little. But I think some might be surprised to see a celebrity taking the Race so seriously. So I appreciate it. And it is interesting to watch the contrast between her and Ben. They could go far, I think.

Also as an aside, seeing Jackie take the Race seriously also reminds me of how Big Brother US veterans are the opposite when they go back on the show. Like, they feel so entitled and that the show should cater to their every whim and things like that. A really bad look. Especially when you’re just sitting in a house all day.

George & Pam were able to hang on again. And kudos to them for being able to overcome a Speed Bump and apparently just edge out Peter & Frankie to stay in the Race. But can I ask if the use of the term “ethnics” is appropriate? As a Filipino-American, it sounds awkward. Though I don’t know if it’s offensive. Especially if it’s a common way to actually refer to a non-white person in Australia or everywhere else in the world outside of the US. It’s the little things like this that keep me from fully enjoying the hilarity that George can provide, to be honest.

Anyway, Jana & Cor recovered quite well this Leg. Cor definitely needs to be more positive. But the mum and son work well together and seeing them recover like this bodes well for future Legs.

Bec & Kate are doing well also. It’s great seeing them move up the rankings every Leg. They are surprising me a lot. It’s funny because sometimes they seem like the stereotypical high-maintenance socialites or whatever. Other times, they seem to sincerely be TAR fans who enjoy the competition. Lol I dunno which is the real them. Or maybe it’s both!

Harry & Teddy also took a backseat this Leg. Especially as they were not in the front of the pack for the first time.

Peter & Frankie have been a fun team to watch. But of all the teams left, I feel like they weren’t really hustling as much as they should. So I guess this is a good spot for them to be eliminated. A good four Legs of experience for them.

Episode Quotes

Jackie: “Where do I hold?! Doesn’t feel like it’s on my arse!”

George: “What kind of stupid white people do this sport, you know? Ethnics don’t do this.”

George: “This is why no one wants to go to Melbourne, if everyone’s like her.”

George: “Bloody hell, Beau! I’m bloody knackered!”