Recap: The Amazing Race Australia 8 (Celebrity Edition 2), Episode 3 – “It was a di-llama.”

The teams travel to the Inca Trail in northwest Argentina where they will start the third Leg in Purmamarca. Teams will first drive to Fabrica de Ladtrillos where they must help the locals make 18 adobe mud bricks.

On the way to the fabrica, Thorpie & Christian end up going the wrong way. Once they correct themselves, Cyrell & Eden are able to catch up and decide to just follow them. Brooke & Adam, meanwhile, go past where they need to go and have to turn around.

Chloe & Emily, Bam Bam & Logan and Billy & Oscar are the first to arrive at the bricks. Pete & Bridget, Jett & Lily, Havana & Steph arrive next and get started. Thorpie & Christian and Cyrell & Eden arrive and work to catch up.

While working on the bricks, Cyrell says she heard Christian saying “that’s the last time I will follow someone,” taking that as a snide remark about her and Eden following them. They confront Christian who says he was talking about himself and Thorpie following the Matildas and then going the wrong way.

Christian and Cyrell start to trade barbs with her making clear her issue is only with Christian and not Ian. Cyrell continues to make comments throughout the task.

Meanwhile, Brooke & Adam finally arrive at the bricks, though before anyone has finished. Chloe & Emily ask for a check first, but get the thumbs down. Bam Bam & Logan ask for a check and get two of their bricks rejected. The Matildas have another check and get the thumbs up. Bam Bam & Logan fix their bricks and are close behind in 2nd.

After the bricks, the teams will face the Detour: Walk Like an Incan or Dress Like an Incan. In Walk Like an Incan, teams will choose an Aguayo, a traditional Incan blanket and walk up to the top to pick up goods like vegetables and supplies and take them safely down the mountain wrapped in the blanket. In Dress Like an Incan, teams will search the town square market and learn how to attach wish trinkets to a miniature Ekeko doll using only the strings provided.

Chloe & Emily choose the Walk while Bam Bam & Logan choose Dress. While Logan ties up the doll, Bam Bam takes photos with the locals excited to see him.

Meanwhile, Pete & Bridget, Havana & Steph and Jett & Lily get their bricks approved. Billy & Oscar, who arrived before them, are struggling as the heat and altitude begin to affect Billy. They have to redo more bricks.

Brooke & Adam are next to get the thumbs up, after having arrived in last. Thorpie & Christian are next followed by Billy & Oscar. Cyrell & Eden are now in last, but close behind.

Over at the Detour, Chloe & Emily arrive at the supply pick-up point and try to figure out how to wrap the blanket.

Pete & Bridget, Jet & Lily and Havana & Steph arrive at the dolls and start tying. Bam Bam & Logan get the thumbs down on their first check as they had not tied down some of the trinkets. Brooke & Adam also choose the dolls.

On the other side of the Detour, Thorpie & Christian and Cyrell & Eden get started as Chloe & Emily warn Billy that this will be a difficult task.

Chloe & Emily get their supplies approved and receive the next clue revealing a Road Block: Who wants to be the leader of the pack? For this Road Block, teams will drive to Tilcara and locate Caravana de Llamas. Teams will dress a llama and take it on its daily walk.

Bam Bam & Logan get another check on their dolls and can now head to the Road Block as well. Jett & Lily are next to finish followed by Pete & Bridget and Havana & Steph.

Back on the trail, Thorpie & Christian ignore Cyrell & Eden as they start making their way back down with their items. After a quick rest, Billy is able to load his items on his back and he and Oscar continue.

All three teams push forward, thinking about doing this for their charities.

At the llamas, Jett and Bam Bam arrive as Chloe has started down the path. Bam Bam ends up passing Chloe as his new llama friend is much more cooperative.

The two teams remain close after the Road Block, as they can now make their way to Pucara de Tilcara, the Pit Stop. Chloe & Emily manage to reach the Mat first and are officially Team #1. That means Bam Bam & Logan are Team #2.

Jett delivers his llama next followed by Havana and Bridget. Adam, Christian, Cyrell and Oscar are next to arrive. Cyrell has trouble with yet another animal as her llama is quite unruly.

Back at the Pit Stop, it’s a footrace between the two teams. Havana & Steph are 3rd with Jett & Lily in 4th.

Bridget delivers her llama next and she and Pete are Team #5. Adam is next and he and Brooke finish as Team #6.

Christian, Oscar and Cyrell deliver their llamas and it’s now a three-way Race to the Pit Stop. Billy & Oscar go the wrong way and then they follow Thorpie & Christian instead. Thorpie & Christian are Team #7, meaning Billy & Oscar are 8th.

That means Cyrell & Eden are last and eliminated.

Episode Thoughts

A stunning location for this Leg which I think was stretched out a bit too much for the runtime. But nonetheless, excellent tasks and great competition.

The first brick-making task is of course a familiar TAR task. And it’s one of those down and dirty manual labor tasks that is perfect to make the celebrities perform, as a contrast to their pampered lives. But again, these celebrity teams are good at not exhibiting diva behavior other than pretty forced moments that I think the show tries to tee them up for just to play up the celeb angle. But the teams really just get on the Race which is very much appreciated.

The Detour was very good as well. Both tasks very challenging in their own ways. The Incan carrying blanket was an amazing, physical task that really highlighted a great cultural aspect of the peoples. The altitude and heat very much made it even more difficult. Which is great! Hehe

The doll side of the Detour was also a great cultural task. But of course very tedious that it could frustrate teams. The string stipulation was good. But to make it even more challenging, teams could be required to set the doll up exactly like the example.

(*takes notes for the eventual recycled task on TARPHDME25 lolololol)

Finally, the llama Road Block is also typical TAR in the best way. Llamas can always bring some fun moments. Not a lot of spitting this time, but still an amusing and tricky task nonetheless.

Like I said, this Leg probably didn’t warrant a 90-minute TV slot/more than one-hour runtime. But it’s okay. I think the episodes coming up will be a more “normal” length, so that good.

Even so, a great Leg, great tasks, stunning location and good competition!

Team Thoughts

I was actually a bit sad that Cyrell & Eden were eliminated. Their snapping at Christian was hilarious. One-sided feuds can also be funny. But I think they were also great competitors. Like, very competitive people. And it’s crazy to think that that trait can be a not as common on TAR these days. Their words at the Mat were also great. So it’s too bad. It also would’ve been great to have a Racer with Filipino roots do well on TARAu!

Through three Legs, it’s certainly seeming like Chloe & Emily and Bam Bam & Logan are the frontrunners at this early stage. But I think the other teams also have room to move up in the next Legs.

Billy & Oscar and Brooke & Adam’s recovery during this Leg was pretty good. And I don’t think you could ever count out Ian Thorpe & Christian either. Havana & Steph and Jett & Lily are definitely bubbling under the frontrunner surface. So that leaves Pete & Bridget, who I think can be nice underdogs and slide under the radar.

Overall, again, great, fun teams to watch!

Episode Quote

Brooke: “Are the Incas people?”

Brooke: “Risk it for the biscuit.”

Pete: “I didn’t get into stand-up comedy to do manual labour.”

Chloe: “You’re about to lose an onion.”

Logan: “It was a di-llama.”