The Amazing Race- Season 17 Episode 6- “Run, Babuschka, Run”
Last night’s leg of the amazing race, set in beautiful St. Petersburg, Russia, was a treat for Race fans. Not only did it feature a choice between two seemingly ridiculously difficult detour choices, but also colorful locals, literal shit shovelling, and babuschkas. Babuschkas!
Anyway, all the teams got bunched up traveling from Narvik to St. Petersburg, so it was a free-for-all once teams hit the city. They all made their way to some columns that directed them to their detour: classical music or classical film. In music, teams would have to correctly identify the three pianists playing three specific pieces in a sea of pianists playing. Film was about finding a strip of film that was being shown on loop in a sea of film strips. Both were utterly maddening for the teams, and you need look no further than the fact that all three teams who chose to do film (the needle in the haystack challenge) finished before anyone got the music. So Jill/Thomas, Brook/Claire, and Kevin/Michael raced to the front of the pack. Gary/Mallory, Nick/Vicki, and Nat/Kat all opted to switch detour tasks from the music, but, despite a mini anger tantrum, Chad/Stephanie managed to work through the music.
From there, teams made their way to Palace Square, where they were directed to the town of Alexandrovskaya where they found their roadblock. Teams had to don traditional garb (enter the babuschkas), and plant a row of 50 potatoes, complete with fertilizer. The only drama in this was teams having trouble finding said fertilizer, but, after everyone had their requisite “OMG it’s poop!” freakout, everyone did the task with ease and little griping. But the Russian locals were great color commentators.
From there, teams made their way to the pit stop, St. Isaac’s cathedral, or, rather, a park near the cathedral. Jill & Thomas made it to the mat first, followed by Brook/Claire, Kevin/Michael, Nat/Kat, Chad/Stephanie, and Gary/Mallory. Team Tats, who were trailing all leg after having so many problems with the detour that they actually switched back to their original choice of music, came in last, but were spared by a non-elimination leg. I was actually glad to see this, as they’ve grown on me, with their lack of bickering and comic relief-ness.
Other Assorted Thoughts:
•Jill is having a harder time hiding her resentment about everything Thomas says or has claimed to have done.
•Quote of the episode: “I’ve got a lot of manure. it’s kind of been a theme of this leg.”- Mallory
•Stephanie actually threw the shovel into the pile of manure so whoever was next would have to climb in to get it. That person? Adorable, pocket-sized Mallory.
-Nate (LevyOnTV)
