Recap: The Amazing Race Canada 10, Episode 5 – “It’s so bloody awkward.”

Recap: The Amazing Race Canada 10, Episode 5– I Smell Like Carcass

Things are awkward at the airport waiting to leave for Regina, Saskatchewan, when teams are surprised to see Julia & Olivia have survived the U-Turn.

Upon arrival in Regina, teams hop into taxis to get them to Avena Foods where they open the next clue revealing a Switchback to the season 1 task that saw Hal & Joanne and Brett & Holley searching through lentils.

This time, teams will hop into grain hoppers filled with 15 metric tons of oats to find a waffle to secure a breakfast reservation. Hometown boys Michael & Amari are first to find a waffle and get the first breakfast spot. Brad & Sam, Lauren & Nicole and Colin & Matt are Teams 2 through 4. Michael & Tyson are 5th when the realize there are two sides of the hoppers.

There are three teams left after one hour. Julia & Olivia are 6th with Taylor & Katie in 7th. Kevin & Gurleen find their waffle after at least one hour and 50 minutes.

Next morning, teams will have to eat a plate of one of two local delicacies: pig brains or bison testicles. One team will get the chance to win The Assist by Desjardins.

Michael & Amari scarf down the brains and get the next clue revealing the Road Block: Who likes a good playlist?

For this Road Block, teams must memorize 12 different football plays. When ready, they will join the team on the field to execute one of the plays as called out by the coach. When they correctly run the play and score a touchdown, they’ll get the next clue.

Amari decides to do the Road Block and notices the number “68” on the clue.

Brad & Sam and Lauren & Nicole choose the brains. Colin & Matt win The Assist by Desjardins and the plate they have to eat is regular old fruit and eggs. Michael & Tyson choose the testicles. Julia & Olivia and Taylor & Katie choose the brains. But Kevin & Gurleen leave the hotel before the best friends.

At Mosaic Stadium, Amari and Lauren fail their first attempts on the field. Amari goes for his 2nd attempt and he runs the correct play, scoring the touchdown.

Michael & Amari open the next clue revealing that teams will be flying to Jon’s hometown of Russell, Manitoba for the very first time. To get there, teams will sign-up for one of two charter flights arriving 15 minutes apart at Kreos Aviation. The clue also has the number “68” printed on it.

While Tyson cheers him on, Michael of course gets the correct play on his first attempt. Julia gets it on her first attempt as well. All three teams get on the first flight.

Sam gets it on her second attempt as does Lauren. Matt gets it on his third attempt while Taylor gets it on her 5th. Kevin regrets not doing this one as Gurleen spends a long time with memorization.

Brad & Sam grab the last seat on the first flight with everyone else on the second.

Upon arrival in Russell, teams will make their way on foot to Millennium Park. Here, teams will unlock a box using the numbers they’ve encountered on this Leg. Inside are puzzle pieces which teams must put together to reveal the Kids Help Phone text number, Canada’s free e-mental health service for kids.

The first four teams arrive at the park and get started. Sam does not have the Road Block clue, but she figures out the code is 6868. Tyson also confirms the number for them.

The second flight teams arrive and Gurleen asks Sam if she can come look, but Sam doesn’t really want to.

Julia & Olivia solve their puzzle first and opens the next clue revealing another Road Block: Who wants to go for a spin? For this Road Block, teams will head to the arch built in honor of Jon Montgomery and learn and perform a traditional Ukrainian dance.

Colin & Matt are next to finish followed by Lauren & Nicole and Taylor & Katie. Michael & Amari are struggling and consider using the Express Pass. Kevin & Gurleen get their puzzle solved, leaving three teams at the park. Michael & Tyson decide to use the Express Pass and they leave in 6th. Michael & Amari are able to solve their puzzle with Brad & Sam overcoming their frustration to solve theirs as well.

At the dance, Olivia finally gets the thumbs up after her 6th attempt. She and Julia can now take a taxi and head to the Pit Stop at the vine chapel at Asessippi Ski Area & Resort.

Nicole and Katie both get the thumbs up on their 2nd attempts and all three female teams are on the way to the Pit Stop.

Jon’s mom welcomes Julia & Olivia to the Mat where Jon officially checks them in as Team #1. They win an Expedia trip to Italy as well as $10,000. Lauren & Nicole and Taylor & Katie finish as Teams 2 and 3.

Tyson has trouble performing the dance as he cannot hear the music. But he pushes through and gets the thumbs up on his 6th attempt. He and Michael check-in at the Pit Stop as Team #4.

Kevin gets it on his 6th attempt and he and Gurleen are Team #5. Michael gets it on his 2nd attempt and he and Amari check-in as Team #6.

It’s now down to Colin and Brad. Colin’s knees are hurting him, but he passes on his 2nd attempt. He and Matt head to the Pit Stop to finish as Team #7.

Sam gives her father a hug, but she and Brad are in last place. They head to the Mat and Jon officially eliminates them from the Race.

Episode Thoughts

Jon’s mom being the Pit Stop Greeter makes up for everything else in this odd Leg lol

This Leg definitely reminded me of early TAR with mid-Leg flights between countries. These days, flying anywhere in the middle of the Leg is probably not the best thing to do competition-wise. But I guess this was the only way TARC could visit Jon’s hometown. Though I would like to think they could’ve found some other activities to do there. Maybe even a Jon-focused task.

So bringing the Leg to a halt and then equalizing them in the middle of the Leg makes this another awkward episode. And this was after that overnight rest too after the Switchback which was another halting part of the Leg.

Speaking of, I guess having a needle in a haystack task not decide a Leg is good. Using it to determine morning departures allows for that frustration of not being able to find whatever little thing without the elimination consequence.

The morning breakfast task with the brains and testicles is one of those tasks that TARC is able to transplant from what would be an international Leg to a Canadian location instead. At the same time, prairie oysters are definitely a thing, so it definitely makes sense here. Even if again, it didn’t really affect placement at all.

The first Road Block was interesting. I’m not sure how it actually played out in real life. Because the way the show fast forwarded through it, I don’t know that memorizing all the plays ended up being a major part of the task. Now, I’m one to talk because I know I’d do horrible on any memorization task lol But it seems like you might not do well on this task if you actually spent too much time on the memorizing and studying. And I assume you might be able to find a simple way to easily memorize certain aspects of each play to do it on the field. Which is know where to stand and then know where to run.

After the equalizing flight, the puzzle was fascinating. To think a team would use an Express Pass on it is crazy! But I wouldn’t really expect such a task to be that difficult or frustrating. But maybe having all the teams there at the same time added to the pressure. Good thing that this wasn’t a puzzle you could just complete for another team though (*cough*TAR36*cough*lol)

Finally, the second Road Block was a typical learn and perform task. I think it would’ve been nice to do something Jon-centric. But like the ball eating earlier, this Ukranian dance task is another task transplanted onto Canadian soil rather than be done in the actual country of origin.

On the nitpicks, can someone who knows a lot more about video editing explain why Kevin & Gurleen searching in the dark looked fake? Like the show intentionally did color grading or put a filter or whatever to make it seem later than it actually was? That purple hue looked very strange.

And are there taxis in Russell? Seems like TARC just asked some nice locals to drive the teams around lol That looks like a TAR-made TAXI sign lol

Amusing to see the Bell Media synergy again with TSN’s Jay Onrait popping up for commentary during the football as well.

Overall, fine tasks on another awkwardly designed Leg. But okay competition too, even if affected by that design.

Team Thoughts

It was nice to see the female teams finish the Leg on top. Though it wasn’t like they dominated the entire Leg, let’s be honest. Julia & Olivia definitely benefited from the Leg design. But it’s a well-deserved win after what happened last week. Lauren & Nicole and Taylor & Katie are doing very well. I actually wouldn’t mind seeing the twins be runners-up all season long until a potential Final Leg win hehe

Michael & Tyson also staying consistent. Kevin & Gurleen taking a backseat, thankfully, this week. Michael & Amari I think need to step it up a little. But the Legs recently haven’t helped much either. Colin & Matt continue to be under the radar, I think. Which probably means they are the most dangerous team going forward! Lol

Sad about Brad & Sam. I think they would have easily survived this Leg without that mid-Leg plane ride. They were a fun team to watch. We don’t get that many great father-daughter teams anymore. So it was great to see them here.

Episode Quotes

Katie: “It’s so bloody awkward.”

Gurleen: “Baby, you’re hitting me in the face.”
Kevin: “Come. Come!”
Gurleen: “I’m coming!”

Sam: “I just wanted that ball so badly.”