Amazing Race Week 9: The most minoritiest person wins the argument

In this episode, teams traveled to China to fish with birds, dance with locals, and paint calligraphy with brushes.

Margie and Luke came into conflict with Kisha and Jen in a battle that started with some understandable jostling at a clue box, and ended with some very uncomfortable conflicts from these generally likable teams. No one came out looking good. Even Margie lost it when presented with a chance to defend Luke.

Tammy and Victor were loving the advantage they gained by being able to speak Mandarin, and breezed through most tasks by being obnoxiously pushy to the locals-- but in their own language.

Cara and Jaime entered a dance choreography task brimming with confidence based on their cheerleader training. But when they failed the routine two or three times, they got really ugly, really fast, and seemed again to find fault with the locals for speaking Chinese. In China.

Mark and Michael didn't seem to be too bothered by the fact that they were behind the pack for the entire leg. They did make up their 3 hour deficit due to plane schedules, but they weren't able to make up any time after being hit with a shampooing Speedbump. Acting as hair stylists a week after hitting on boys dressed like girls has marked them with a double-whammy of suspect sexuality.

Which of the four remaining teams will miss the finals? We'll find out next week.


Finishing Order

1st: Kisha and Jen (+3 = most improved)
2nd: Tammy and Victor (+1)
3rd: Margie and Luke (-2 = biggest slide)
4th: Jaime and Cara (-2 = biggest slide)
5th: Mark and Michael (no change = eliminated)


The Standings

The Experts picked Lakisha and Jen to win the leg, and so they are the only ones to pick up all those tasty bonus points. Other than that, we rerun the score changes from last week due to the non-eliminated team getting eliminated.


1st: Kim 896 (-30 +0)
2nd: Carl: 894 (-20 +0)
3rd: Dawn 889 (-10 +0)
5th: Matt 880 (+50 +0)
4th: Experts 832 (-40 +42)
6th: Paul 740 (-40 +0)
7th: Mom 736 (-20 +0)

This is officially the tightest battle for first place ever in any pool. Only 16 points separate Kim in first place from myself in fourth place, with Carl and Dawn sandwiched in between. And with the finale drawing close, this is really anyone's game. Paul and Mom are significantly behind, but each player has a "sweetheart scenario" that could catapult them into contention. For Mom, this would be a surprise Tammy/Victor elimination next week, and Margie/Luke finishing in second. For Paul, it's a Kisha/Jen elimination next week, and a Tammy/Victor victory.


Good luck, everyone!