'The Amazing Race' Recap: Season 17, Episode 8
[The Amazing Race - "Ali Baba in a Suit"]
We're reminded at the offset about a few tidbits of the teams at their departure. Nat was still making her diabetic schedule work even with different time zones. Claire often felt that she's just following Brook, but doesn't want to disappoint. Nick was horribly stressed, and Vicki wondered how he'd like his edit. Mallory is very happy having time with her father. Nat & Kat were the first to find out that they have to head to Muscat, Oman. Since it was one in the morning, they decided to head to a travel agency first. The departure times were:
Nat & Kat 1:06am
Brook & Claire 1:28
Nick & Vicki 1:29
Gary & Mallory 1:46
Jill & Thomas 1:53
Chad & Stephanie 2:45 (late)
Nat & Kat and Brook & Claire got the first flight out via Amsterdam at 8:55pm. At the same travel agent, Jill & Thomas, Nick & Vicki, and Gary & Mallory get tickets with an arrival time of 10:35pm. While teams made it to the airport and watched Nat & Kat and Brook & Claire leave, the remaining teams wondered whatever happened to Chad & Stephanie.
It turns out that they overslept, which was Brook & Claire's worst nightmare. They instead of departing at 2:45, departed at 4:45am. Of course, this isn't the first time that we've seen a team late; the Gutsy Grannies of season two come to mind immediately. Fortunately for them, their first task was to get airplane tickets and they managed to get ones that arrived at 10:45pm. We also got a wonderful black and white flashback montage of Chad & Stephanie screaming at each other. They were stressed and understood they made careless mistakes.
Nat & Kat and Brook & Claire got to the first clue and got departure times of 7:30am. Chad & Stephanie got a stroke of good luck when their plane arrived before the 10:35 flights and they rushed to their clue with Jill & Thomas right behind them. Jill & Thomas made it before Chad & Stephanie, but both received 7:45 departure times. Gary & Mallory and Nick & Vicki received 8:00am departure times.
Around 6:00, all the teams were awake and getting ready. Chad decided to take Stephanie a bit away from the other teams and professed his love for Stephanie and got down on his knee to propose. Notice Stephanie thought Chad was going for a kiss. While the editors decided to put the commercial before the proposal, they should have been smart and put the proposal before the commercial and Stephanie's response afterwards. Of course it was a yes, and the Amazing Editors changed their status to "Engaged." The other contestants squealed in a congratulatory fashion.
The race continued at 7:30am as Nat & Kat and Brook & Claire received the clue to head to Jebel Shams. This was probably the last time both female teams held onto first place in this leg. Chad & Stephanie and Jill & Thomas followed suit, both getting vague directions from locals. One told Chad & Stephanie to make a left after the hospital, another told Jill & Thomas to make a left after the airport. The trailing teams eventually get their clues and head out. Nick & Vicki stopped at a gas station to ask for directions. Brook & Claire ended up behind them and Vicki, being a nice person, told them the directions. Nick was a bit upset that Vicki helped an opposing team.
Chad & Stephanie, with the help of the provided driver, arrived at the Roadblock first that forced contestants to rappel down 500+ feet and then find a ring in a lamp. It's interesting to see the needle in the haystack was implemented to balance out any terrified contestants with the skilled ones. Nonetheless, Chad rappelled for the team; he had some hesitation because of how deep the canyon went. Jill & Thomas arrived in second and by the time Jill rappelled down, Chad found a ring. The two teams in the front headed for Nizwa to a large stack of books.
Nick & Vicki and Brook & Claire arrived next to the Roadblock, a mountain goat ate part of Vicki's clue. Vicki and Claire took on the task; shocking Brook a bit how confident Claire was in the task. The trailing teams (Gary & Mallory and Nat & Kat) were hopelessly lost looking for directions.
Chad & Stephanie and Jill & Thomas arrived at the book monument and found their Detour options: Water Table (Pump a well and deliver water to a house) and Wedding Table (Buy 25 frozen chickens and other ingredients and serve a wedding couple a traditional soup). Both teams headed to the Water Table.
While Vicki and Claire finished their roadblock close in time with each other, Nick found that one of his tires was losing air. Brook & Claire leave while Nick had to change the tire. He wasn't the only one stressed as Mallory looked mentally gone as the team drove everywhere.
Chad & Stephanie and Jill & Thomas arrive at the filling station and both fill their tanks quickly; Chad & Stephanie showing a bit more respect and teamwork. While the two headed out, Nat & Kat finally arrived at the Roadblock. Kat automatically took the task since it was height-related. She eventually got lost in a sea of lamps looking for a ring.
Jill & Thomas got the luckiest break when a local happened to be related to the person who they had to deliver the water to. They finish the detour in first and head to Muttrah Souq. When teams arrived at Muttrah Souq, they had to find a frankincense stall and give the frankincense to Ali Baba for their next clue. Chad & Stephanie were on the team's heels and headed out.
Of the middle teams, Nick & Vicki filled their tanks before Brook & Claire. Like the two teams in front, both teams get help from locals. In the back, Kat finally found a ring and while they were leaving, they passed Gary & Mallory. Mallory took the roadblock and eventually found the ring.
Jill & Thomas arrive at Muttrah Souq with Chad & Stephanie right behind them. Jill & Thomas get their frankincense to Ali Baba first and head to the Pit Stop. Somewhere in the clues here, it must have mentioned that they couldn't pay a taxi driver to take them to the pit stop. It was possible that the whole episode had that limitation, since it would have been really easy for Gary & Mallory to be taken in the right direction with a taxi. Jill & Thomas arrive to the pit stop in first but get a 30-minute penalty for using a taxi. Chad & Stephanie arrive next and get a first place finish. I guess when luck is on your side, anything could happen.
Brook & Claire cause a traffic jam when they started to drive down a one way street, giving Nick & Vicki the time to maintain their position and get through the frankincense task before the girls. They checked in 3rd, with Brook & Claire in 4th. Brook & Claire gave screams of utter surprise; they must have assumed they were last since Nick & Vicki were one of the last teams to depart that morning.
Nat & Kat drive around and pass Gary & Mallory at one point. Both teams arrived at Muttrah Souq after all the stores, except for the two that were needed in the task, were closed. It was probably pretty easy finding the only other store with its lights on. Nat & Kat eventually arrive in 5th, with Gary & Mallory in 6th. They were eliminated, but Mallory was grateful of the time she had with her father.
Roadblock: Chad, Jill, Vicki, Claire, Kat, Mallory
Detours
Wedding Table
[No Teams Selected]
Water Table
Chad & Stephanie
Jill & Thomas
Brook & Claire
Nick & Vicki
Nat & Kat
Gary & Mallory
Leg Placement
1) Chad & Stephanie (Trip to Belize)
2) Jill & Thomas (30-minute penalty applied)
3) Nick & Vicki
4) Brook & Claire
5) Nat & Kat
6) Gary & Mallory Eliminated
I guess the family teams finally bit the dust, leaving couples against the women. Gary & Mallory could have saved themselves if they decided to stop and ask a local sooner. From the offset, the team was in the middle of the pack and didn't have much trouble with any of the tasks, it was only the driving that was their downfall.
I'm very happy for Chad & Stephanie because they raced without much bickering, whereas Thomas continued to sound like an ass. Oh and Jill? Rappel does not rhyme with “Apple.”
As for the other teams, the leg proved to be a bit of a challenge for the all-female teams for some odd reason. Both arrived in the first departure time, but neither capitalized on the status, quickly falling behind. Neither team had trouble with the detour, roadblock, or the frankincense task; again their driving skills are now in question.