Recap: The Amazing Race Australia 8 (Celebrity Edition 2), Episode 5 – “I’m already Sowet-ing.”

Teams start the 5th Leg of the Race by getting the clue slid under their hotel doors telling them to catch a taxi to Nelson Madela’s hometown Soweto. The next clue will await them near Lebo’s Back Packers.

Bam Bam & Logan and Havana & Steph arrive at the cluebox at the same time and they open the Road Block clue: Who’s ready to take it up a gear? For this Road Block, teams must assemble a bike.

Bam Bam and Steph decide to do the Road Block. Emily and Adam are next to arrive and start. But Bam Bam has no problem getting the bike done.

After getting their bike approved, teams must ride bikes to Nelson Mandela’s former house. Oscar, Pete and Christian arrive at the Road Block in last as Bam Bam & Logan start pedaling away.

Adam is next to get the thumbs up as the other teams are having trouble. Havana wishes she could point out what Steph is doing wrong, but she is not allowed. Emily is annoyed that Chloe isn’t secretly telling her what she needs to do.

Steph is the next to get the thumbs up after Emily & Chloe think they would struggle on this task.

Emily asks for a check, but gets the thumbs down. Oscar asks for a check and he gets the thumbs up. Emily asks for another check and her bike finally gets approved.

Christian is next to get his bike approved, making Pete even more frustrated with his work. Pete decides to just quit and take the penalty. They have to go and find another bike.

Meanwhile, upon arrival at Nelson Mandela’s house, teams pay tribute to him before opening the next clue. That clue directs teams to make their way on foot to Umbuyisa School of Art and Culture where they will learn and perform a local song from the kids through singing and drumming.

Bam Bam & Logan, Brooke & Adam and Havana & Steph arrive first and are already emotional just meeting the kids.

All the teams get caught up at the school. But they all struggle with giving a good performance. Brooke & Adam are the first team to get the thumbs up and on their first attempt too. Bam Bam & Logan get it on their 2nd attempt. Havana & Steph, Billy & Oscar and Thorpie & Christian receive the thumbs up next, frustrating Chloe & Emily. But even more so when previously last place Pete & Bridget get the thumbs up too.

Chloe & Emily are able to focus after getting some wonderful help and encouragement from the childrens. They finally pass after their 5th attempt.

After the music, teams will face the Detour: Burgers or Beers. In Burgers, teams will head to Onions & All and memorize a group order for kota burgers without writing anything down. In Beers, teams will head to Polar’s Place where they will help Mumsy deliver 30 litres of beer to a local backyard party in a wheelbarrow.

Brooke & Adam, Havana & Steph and Billy & Oscar choose the burgers while Bam Bam & Logan and Thorpie & Christian choose the beers. Bam Bam & Logan make their first delivery, but it’s not enough so they to go get some more. Thorpie & Christian, however, start pushing their wheelbarrow in the wrong direction.

Brooke & Adam maintain their lead as the diners approve of their burgers. They open the next clue directing teams to the Soweto Theatre, the Pit Stop for this Leg.

Bam Bam & Logan make their 2nd delivery and are also now on the way to the Pit Stop.

But it is Brooke & Adam who step on the Mat as Team #1. Beau says they won’t be getting a hotel upgrade though because he has their next clue as this is a Virtual Pit Stop. Bam Bam & Logan check-in as Team #2.

At the burgers, Havana & Steph get their orders correct on their 2nd attempt. Meanwhile, Pete & Bridget and Chloe & Emily choose the beers and get started. They stick together a bit and end up visiting a random backyard BBQ before finally reaching the correct one. Chloe & Emily and then Pete & Bridget’s beers reach the lines.

Havana & Steph reach the Mat as Team #3. Pete & Bridget arrive at the Mat, but have to wait out their 30 minute penalty. That allows Chloe & Emily to check-in as Team #4.

Thorpie & Christian finally find the party and deliver the beer. Billy & Oscar get their orders approved. And both teams are on the way to the Pit Stop.

Thorpie & Christian step on the Mat as Team #5 with Billy & Oscar as Team #6.

Beau calls Pete & Bridget to the Mat and says this is a Non-Elimination Leg. He hands them the next clue and they hurry off.

Episode Thoughts

Yeah, so I thought TARAu was down to regular length episodes after the initial ones. But I guess Sundays get the long ones lol

This episode though was one of those that show not every Leg deserves all that time lol They certainly stretched out these otherwise solid tasks to fill the time. And it very much felt like it.

The wonderful interactions with the locals and the childrens really helped to alleviate some of the more dragging parts of the episode though. The performance with the kids was not only a great cultural task, but it turned out to be tricky for a few teams. If we are to believe how it was edited lol

The Road Block and Detour this Leg seemed like pretty run of the mill tasks, but they helped facilitate more of the great interactions between teams and the everyday peoples.

I don’t know that a bike assembly task is one that can warrant quitting. But okay.

Both sides of the Detour were straightforward. The beer delivery might have been the faster task. Though I think neither task took that much time to complete. Probably just the same amount of time with the beer just a little bit quicker.

The teams just seemed very close together all Leg. And with the Leg taking place in relatively smaller area, it makes sense too. I think that’s why having such a long episode made the Leg feel much longer than it was. Like, having to stretch everything out made the time difference between teams feel longer than they actually were. So I think that can take away from the full enjoyment of the Leg and episode. Especially if a shorter episode could have been done in a more energetic and exciting way. Even while still featuring the wonderful local interactions.

Overall, a solid Leg, but an episode that was definitely too long.

Team Thoughts

Not much from the teams this episode I think. I’m still rooting for Bam Bam & Logan and Havana & Steph the most I think. Brooke & Adam’s win is definitely well deserved.

I was a little worried Thorpie & Christian going the wrong way was going to doom them this Leg. But they’re still in. Billy & Christian had a much quieter Leg this week.

Emily complaining about Chloe not giving her a “hidden clue” about what she’s missing with the bike. Come on now. Are you allowed to cheat on the soccer field? That was annoying.

And Pete & Bridget. As soon as Beau handed Brooke & Adam the next clue, I knew that no matter was going to happen, Pete & Bridget would be safe even with the penalty. So that made it less exciting at the end. And also a little annoying because I wouldn’t have minded if they were eliminated this episode after the Road Block.

Episode Quotes

Ian: “Christian loves playing with the nuts as he tightens them up.”

Beau: “We spent all our money on MasterChef. Have you heard of that?”
Didi: “Yeah.”
Beau: “Oh, you like it?”
Didi : “Of course.”
Beau: “What other shows do you know? Survivor?”
Didi : “Married At First Sight.”
Beau: “Married At First Sight? A lot of them are scripted. I mean, mainly Survivor.”
Didi : “Is it?”