The Amazing Race 18: Unfinished Business--Episodes 2 and 3

Episode Two was chiefly exciting because we got to see a lot of bare chests--especially Kris's--and then a lot of kangaroo outfits. Plus Mike cried like a baby with guilt because he felt he was killing his 70-year-old father for a measly $1 million and some much-needed exposure. But things really heated up in Episode Three. Instead of going on the traditional 12-hour rest period after bouncing across the finish line in the mining town of Broken Hill, everyone had to take an overnight train back to Sydney and then take a plane to Tokyo. In our last blog we learn lesson number one of the Amazing Race: never help a stronger team, always help a weaker team. Zev and Justin learned that lesson hard in Episode 3 when the Globetrotters repaid them for giving them a vital clue by giving up a pair of seats on a flight with connections which was supposed to get in 15 minutes earlier than the direct flight.

This leads us to lesson number two: always take a direct flight; a connecting one can have delays. Naturally the connecting flight was delayed and Zev and Justin, along with four other teams, lost about an hour and the Globetrotters now owe them nothing. Flight Time and Big Easy continued to mooch off everyone by following the other cars to the first destination in Tokyo. They didn't even have a map. Then they swiped Christa's fanny pack at the road block. OK, it may have been an honest mistake, but it really wasn't clear what happened. Did they deliberately take it, realize the error and then leave it in the changing room instead of where they found it on the mountain in order to gain time? The editing make it very confusing.

We also learned Christina is engaged to Azaria, half of the brother and sister team from her season. That's interesting. I don't remember them ever relating during the race, maybe they hooked up later. Anyway, Christina whined to Phil and the Globetrotters got a 30-min. penalty. I'll bet this will come up next week and we'll have a confrontation scene. Flight Time and Big Easy seem like fun guys, but I really don't want them to win. Pro athletes have an unfair advantage and they leech off other, smarter teams when they can't figure out clues or directions.

I love that Zev and Justin roared ahead of the other teams who were stuck in traffic and conferring with each other on directions. They just took charge and wound up in first place again. I think it's going to come down to Zev and Justin and Gary and Mallory who have come out ahead so far. I cracked up when Zev said, "Don't touch me" to Justin.

After taking off a Japanese guy's side view mirror and trying to bribe him, Jaime and Cara narrowly escaped elimination because 70-year-old Mel was nearly frozen to death in the mud looking for a frog. My favorite line: Mel to his son Mike: "I'd rather die here with you, than at home in bed." That conjures up some pleasant images.

Day 2--Sydney (Still part of first leg, though into the second episode)
Day 3--charter flight to Broken Hill; overnight train back to Sydney
Day 4--arrive in Syndey, book flight to Tokyo
Day 5--arrive in Tokyo, drive all over the place

Gary and Mallory--Express pass--which they haven't used yet
Zev and Justin--two wins, trips to Cancun and Costa Rico