What can I say this leg was quite amazing.
***SPOILERS BELOW***
FLIGHTS: If I'm not wrong this was the first time the entire season when there was a difference in flights. Still, it was quite nerve wrecking when the first thing teams did when they landed was access to the U-turn board :/
U-turn: It was fairly justified that nobody bothered U-turning anybody, except for controversial Jody. Oh Jody, how I wish you weren't as controversial as you are. Nonetheless Trevor and Chris didn't really deserve the U-turn.
Detour: A blind detour was really what the race was lacking. Quite frankly I had forgotten about blind detours but a blind detour coupled with a U-turn, now that's interesting. 'This' was a relatively easy task and I'm not going to complain; I actually liked the task
! 'That' on the other hand reminded me of s21e8's roadblock on Russian time zones. Fun to see the educational sector come in ever so often and mess up the racers.
BEER SPA: there is definitely something going on with 'patrons' in this season. There was a wine drinking patron in Leg 5 and now patrons in a beer spa. Wonder whether this will have something to do with a task in the finale?
ROADBLOCK: It wasn't as much of a struggle as was for flight time in season 15. All the teams relatively did it well. Ooh, and drama!
WINNERS & LOSERS:
WINNER: Kristi and Jen - Yet another one reeled in by Kristi and Jen. Teams haven't perceived them as a threat yet but considering the fact that there are only 6 teams left now they are definitely a strong team to contend against. They've consistently maintained their position within the top 3 since leg 1, they are the only team who have won a leg twice this season and they're overwhelmingly skilled in the most random fields; I mean who knew that a professional ski athlete also worked at a brewery before? As a matter of fact, Jen and Trevor were the only ones who did the roadblock without taking help from other teams (not the first time this has happened!). Certainly a threat and I do hope they win this season!
WINNER: Daniel and Eric - They have very slyly taken over a spot in the top 3. 2 legs in the top 3 after spending 4 in the bottom 3, and these two don't even seem to be affected by this shift. Them and Chris and Trevor were the only ones who got the 'That' detour, even though these 2 winged it xD. Nonetheless a winning leg to these two.
LOSER: Alex and Conor - They didn't really lose per se but Alex was conned by Jessica. In an exchange of words for the roadblock, Jessica ran off and left Alex and Brittany to bite the dust. Of course Alex and Conor still ended up finishing before Jody, so I guess... they win? Hoping for more drama from these two.
LOSER: Henry and Evan - They didn't really lose per se but Evan was quite feisty this leg, trying to instigate a fight. However, Henry didn't reciprocate it and they had a normal leg overall. Evan used her diplomacy to work with Daniel and they lucked out. They too are a threat to contend against, but not that much of a force to be reckoned with.
LOSER: Brittany and Lucas AND Jessica and Cody - Their detour(s) went disastrous. After a failed attempt at 'That', the duo immediately switched to 'This' and while they finished the first part of the challenge quickly, they spent over an hour navigating for their clue. Upon that, they were about to fight all over again, but they worked it out on the spot. Not shabby. But the cherry on top was when Brittany was screwed off by Jessica. Jody have now developed a target on the back, granted that Jessica has lent her "kindness of strangers" spirit to Brittany twice and conned her BOTH the times. Obviously U-turn comin' their way~~ Jessica and Cody didn't have the smoothest run either. They departed on a later flight and, ended up U-turning Trevor and Chris, entered the wrong lecture hall in 'That' and switched over to 'This', screwed 2 people over in a roadblock, couldn't find a cab and ended up getting 6th place by the skin of their neck.
WINNER: Trevor and Chris - I mean sure, they did get eliminated, but they left with grace. They were U-turned under the statue of someone who's composition they've covered before, in some poetic justice manner. They executed both sides of the detour with poise. They ran a strong leg and would have actually survived if they hadn't been U-turned. Trevor and Jen were the only ones who did the roadblock by themselves. I don't know, I guess, they left and I don't feel bad. There's something about the 7th placers - Vanck and Ashton, Scott and Blair, Jeff and Jackie, Shelley and Nici, Pam and Winnie, Rob and Kelley, etc.
You found them fun for their run on the race but you don't feel bad about them going ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
NEXT WEEK: another 2 hour long episode D: They're revisiting Zimbabwe, another U-Turn, switching partners?!