Recap: The Amazing Race 37, Episode 10 – “I have cheese in my pocket!”

Recap: The Amazing Race 37, Episode 10 – “Up the River Without a Joust”

All teams will fly to Frankfurt, Germany and then hop on a train to Strasbourg, France. Upon arrival in Strasbourg, teams get into marked cars to drive themselves to the Council of Europe.

Han & Holden arrive first and run around trying to look for an entrance. Jonathan & Ana wait at the gate when they are pointed to an Hours of Operation board showing the place opens in five minutes. Carson & Jack arrive next while Alyssa & Josiah and Brett & Mark have trouble finding it.

The first three teams run in at 8am and Carson & Jack walk into the Comite de minstre first. They are welcomed by a nice lady who asks them to name the four countries they’ve Raced through that are active members of the Council of Europe: Bulgaria, Italy, Germany and France.

Afterwards, they can open the next clue directing them to Pont Couverts where teams will encounter the Head to Head.

Han & Holden arrive at the bridge first and open the clue revealing a Road Block: Who’s ready to go head-to-head? For this Head to Head Road Block, teams will face off in water jousting where they must use a lance to push their opponent into the water.

Han decides to do the Road Block and will face off against Carson. Jonathan and Josiah get in line.

Han easily pushes Carson into the water and she and Holden can continue on foot to La Cloche a Fromage cheese shop.

Carson pushes Jonathan off and Jonathan pushes Josiah and Josiah pushes Mark off. Brett & Mark have to wait out a ten-minute penalty.

At the cheese shop, teams must learn and recite the names of nine cheeses in French to receive the next clue.

Four teams catch up at the cheese shop and Alyssa wants to use the Express Pass. Josiah is not sure. Brett & Mark end up arriving and all teams are now at the cheese.

After one attempt, Josiah says they can use the Express Pass. But Alyssa says to try one more time.

Han & Holden get the thumbs up on their 11th attempt. They can now head to Strasbourg Cathedral and climb to the top to pick up a clue.

Carson & Jack get it on their 6th attempt while Jonathan & Ana get it on their 5th.

Alyssa & Josiah are on their 3rd attempt and fail. Josiah says they can give it one more try unless Alyssa wants to use the Express Pass now. She wishes they used it ten minutes ago.

Meanwhile at the top of the cathedral, teams open the Detour clue: Out to Dry or For the Birds. In Out to Dry, teams will wash a tub full of dirty laundry in the river with the local women. In For the Birds, teams will build the initial structure for a stork’s nest before a cherry picker will place it high in the air for nesting.

Han & Holden and Carson & Jack choose the laundry. An annoyed Jonathan tells Ana to pick the Detour and she says laundry. As Carson & Jack drive away, Jonathan leaves Ana to get directions while Holden tells Han that he feels unappreciated.

At the cheese, Alyssa & Josiah finally decide to use the Express Pass. Brett & Mark get the cheese soon after on their 7th attempt.

The laundry location is 45 minutes away and Carson & Jack find it first. They join the local women and start the laundry. They get a check on their laundry as Han & Holden arrive.

Carson & Jack get the thumbs up on their laundry and can now make their way to the Pit Stop at Table D’Orientation. They officially check-in as Team #1 and win Expedia OneKeyCash to travel to Helsinki.

Brett & Mark arrive at the nest location first and get started. Alyssa & Josiah arrive and they move very fast. But both get the thumbs down on their first and second attempts. Both of them realize they have to attach the nest to the wooden board. Alyssa & Josiah quickly do that, but get the thumbs down again. Brett & Mark go for their attempt and still get disapproved.

Jonathan & Ana arrive at the laundry and get started next to Han & Holden.

Alyssa & Josiah finally get their nest approved while Brett & Mark are unsure what they’re doing wrong. They finally see their mistake while Alyssa & Josiah are getting directions from a neighbor. Brett & Mark decide to just follow them to the Pit Stop.

Han & Holden’s laundry gets the thumbs down. Jonathan & Ana’s gets the thumbs up and the siblings get approved right after.

It is now a four team Race to the Mat. Brett & Mark lose Alyssa & Josiah.

Alyssa & Josiah encounter a random girl in the field and they point to the Mat up on the hill. She says they can run up so they just leave their car there and run to check-in as Team #2.

Jonathan & Ana get to the marked parking. Han & Holden right after.

Jonathan & Ana step on the Mat as Team #3. Han & Holden arrive right behind them as Team #4.

That means Brett & Mark are last and eliminated.

Episode Thoughts

Okay! TAR37’s endgame has been quite nice. I can’t even remember the last time TARUS has had this combination of strong teams, teams with big personalities, and actual narratives going into the final two Legs. It’s kinda crazy. But I have been so pleasantly surprised to have seen it this season.

This was another good Leg and great episode. First off, the little task at the Council of Europe was okay. I think the better task would’ve been to have teams identify the flags of the four countries instead just to mess with them more. Lol

Then this was probably the best implementation of the Head to Head on an American TAR (US or Canada) ever. Early in the Leg, simple and fun task. Perfect. Thank goodness. I would not mind seeing the Double Battle/Duel/Face Off/Head to Head come back permanently on TARUS if they integrated it into Legs like how they did it here.

I think I prefer TARPHDME12’s Duel Duel in Strasbourg though lol

The cheese task was a good and familiar language task. And as we saw, the teams all bunched up and caught up to each other again.

Both sides of the Detour were good. Both actually attention to detail tasks. So that was well balanced. And any tasks involving local aunties and grandmothers are always fun.

And it was very refreshing to have teams driving such a far distance for tasks. Makes me feel like I’m not crazy doing that regularly on TARPHDME lololol

The drive to the Pit Stop was good as well. Though I was actually expecting Phil to tell Alyssa & Josiah to park their cars in the right spot. But if it didn’t mention that in the clue, then I guess they’re alright.

I’m a bit surprised Han & Holden didn’t get a Non-Elimination penalty. But this is a season of twists. So I guess that’s just another twist here lol

I can already see all the comments whining about the bickering couples and bickering siblings. But bro, this is the Amazing Race I grew up with you know? And it has been so much fun to watch a TAR season like this one with teams like this. I am really enjoying it and depending on the finale, I might love it!

Team Thoughts

Again, I enjoy all these teams. Any of these five teams would make a great final four and even final three.

I thought Alyssa & Josiah’s Express Pass indecision would lead to at least them fighting to avoid elimination. But they even finished 2nd. So that was very good editing on the show’s part. And also shows they can make up lots of time.

Carson & Jack always find ways to pull themselves back to the front and that, I think, makes them the most dangerous team in the finale. They have really shown they can overcome a lot. So I think they might be in the best position right now.

Again, I have enjoyed Han & Holden and Jonathan & Ana and their bickering ways. And both have also showed some good Racing as well. Han & Holden also have shown a lot of fight. While Jonathan & Ana are also just too good to brush aside as well.

It’s too bad about Brett & Mark as they have really grown into a strong team. But it was a close Leg and one wrong turn easily could decide a team’s fate. They were great to watch though.

Episode Quotes

Josiah: “I can smell the baguettes”

Han: “Let’s be brave knights!”

Holden: “That is as cathedral as it gets bro.”

Holden: “I need you to stop talking to me.”

Mark: “I have cheese in my pocket!”

Han: “Good enough is good enough.”