Recap: The Amazing Race 37, Episode 11 – “It’s not over until Phil says it’s over.”

Recap: The Amazing Race 37, Episode 11 – My Knight in Shining Armor

The Penultimate Leg begins with teams learning they will fly to Porto, Portugal via Frankfurt. Upon arrival at Porto Francisco sa Carneiro Airport, teams will encounter another Amazing Race first: the Valet Roulette. Teams will randomly choose a key from the valet board resulting in either an automatic or manual car. There are two automatic and three manual cars.

Teams rush to the garage, pick their keys, and receive the next clue. They must drive their cars to Granjao, Vila Marim.

Carson & Jack and Alyssa & Josiah get an automatic car while Jonathan & Ana and Han & Holden get manual. Teams also get a map in the car.

Carson & Jack arrive at the clue first. That clue tells teams to paddle across a river and roll two barrels up a hill to receive the next clue. After getting pointed in the right direction, Han & Holden arrive next.

Carson & Jack open the next clue directing teams to the Castelo de Santa Maria da Feira. They leave just as Alyssa & Josiah arrive. And Alyssa & Josiah leave even before Jonathan & Ana can figure out where to go,

Carson & Jack stay in the lead as they arrive at the castle and encounter the Road Block: Who’s got a steady hand? For this Road Block, teams will suit up in medieval armor and make their way up the castle to hit three bullseyes in seven tries.

Carson wins the rock paper scissors and does the Road Block with Alyssa arriving to do it next. Holden is right behind.

Carson hits his targets and gets knighted before getting the next clue. That clue directs teams to catch a train at Campanha Porto station to Sao Bento Porto station for the next clue with a man selling tiles.

Alyssa fails her first attempt so Holden gets a try, but he also fails. Alyssa hits the targets on her fourth attempt. Holden gets it on his 2nd attempt.

Like Alyssa and Holden, Jonathan is required to do this Road Block. But he feels a bit defeated in the moment.

Over at the train station, Han & Holden are able to just make their train before it leaves, joining Carson & Jack. Outside, Alyssa & Josiah get rear-ended and then have to go all the way around again when they cannot find the parking.

Carson & Jack and Han & Holden arrive at the Sao Bento station and receive a tile pointing them to ODE Porto Wine House Ribeira. That waiting clue tells teams to complete a puzzle using 81 of the iconic blue tiles of Porto revealing the final international Pit Stop.

Jonathan & Ana arrive, while arguing, at the train station, catching up to Alyssa & Josiah.

Carson & Jack stay in the lead as they get their mosaic puzzle approved. They must now figure out they will have to cross the Luis I Bridge to find Phil on the other side of the Duoro River.

Alyssa & Josiah and Jonathan & Ana arrive as Han & Holden are putting their approved titles on the wall.

Carson & Jack step on the Mat as Team #1. They win a Business Class upgrade. Han & Holden are Team #2.

Jonathan & Ana get their tiles approved as do Alyssa & Josiah. They are now racing for the final spot in the Final Leg. Jonathan drops and breaks a tile.

TO BE CONTINUED

Episode Thoughts

Interesting to have a To Be Continued for the Penultimate Leg. I guess they were told in advance the final two episodes would be on back-to-back nights. Otherwise, there’s really no reason for it.

Anyway, this was a fine Leg. Could’ve used maybe one more task, as always. Especially since this is a Penultimate Leg. But apparently, TAR37 did a TARAu and left a task they actually completed go unaired. That’s too bad because I think the episode could’ve used it. Especially with a To Be Continued.

First off, I don’t trust the cars the teams got. Lol Why couldn’t teams just go get the cars themselves. I get it’s a “Valet” Roulette. But still. The show could easily give a manual car to a team they know struggles with it. Or, if the team is the show’s favorite, they’ll give that manual struggling team the automatic. lol

The barrel rolling task was fine. We’ve seen it in various forms over the years. But a good task to have here.

The moving targets of the archery Road Block was great. Not just a simple straight on target. So it makes it different than previous archery tasks.

The train was definitely an equalizer probably just to tee up some potential drama as we are seeing here. Especially when the final task of the Leg is a puzzle and run to the Pit Stop.

I wonder what the deleted task was. Because as great as the episodes have been, increasingly so with every week, this one was a bit underwhelming. But hopefully the finale makes up for it.

Overall, a fine Leg and episode. I don’t think the To Be Continued is needed unless there’s a Final Four twist. But that’s alright.

And sorry if this is a day (or two) late!