'The Amazing Race': Are you a candelabra?

Oh, "Amazing Race." You continue to teach us things, whether they be the actual definition of a candelabra (Hint: it's not a boozy man dressed in medieval garb), the existence of the sauna-laden underbelly of Estonia or the lengths to which CBS censors will go to obscure even the slightest hint of male genitalia.

Yes, it was another hilarious and odd episode of "The Amazing Race," one in which the five remaining teams had to wait around impatiently for a ferry, attempt to unlock a door, use a candle to decipher a clue (or, as some players opted, crayon), play mud volleyball in some Estonian bogs, and race to a rather small tower overlooking a swamp. Along the way, things turned ugly for two teams as they jostled their way right up to the pit stop.

Relations among the remaining teams are typically strained at this point in the race. Tensions are running high, and there is bound to be some major friction, even between teams that had coexisted more or less peacefully just a few legs earlier. After all, the final leg of the race is within spitting distance now, and everyone wants to be the first team to cross the finish line. Never mind that "The Amazing Race" is an endurance marathon and not a sprint; there are still several more legs coming up and equalizers at every turn.

Even so, I didn't expect the teams to have to wait around until 5:45 in the evening to catch that ferry, putting all of the teams on equal footing once they arrived in Estonia. Gary and Matt got stuck doing that speed bump -- it involved climbing into a Saunabuss (yes, it's exactly what it sounds like) with a Finnish family -- but it was Matt who really delayed them, wandering around that underground chamber for far too long trying to figure out what a candelabra was (or, as he pronounced it, "candle-a-bra") and asking the medieval players whether they were a candelabra or could lead him to "a special room." Which sounded kinkier than he intended, I think. 

Even when he finally located the room and the scroll containing their next clue, Matt did not fully grasp the concept of holding the scroll to the light to reveal Pikk Hermann Tower Gardens as their next destination and missed the all-important "garden" piece of that clue. I really like Gary and Matt, and I believe they've gotten more out of the race thus far than any of the other teams running, but I think they've outlived their time here. Too many mistakes on top of one another don't really engender much confidence in their overall abilities.

At the Detour, most of the teams opted for mud volleyball against the Estonian pros, which led to the aforementioned pixelation of Sam's and Dan's, er, crotch areas at various points and in fact drew MORE attention to their nether regions. It was, to say the least, odd, especially as the clue even gave teams the option of stripping down to their underwear. Was there actual nudity? Or was it just implied? Or was the network just worried about outraged viewers and overcompensated as a result? If CBS has an explanation for it, I'm all ears.

As for the ugly behavior both Flight Time and Big Easy and Sam and Dan were alleging against one another, I don't think that anyone intentionally pushed, shoved or tripped anyone else. What I saw were two teams, covered in mud, running at full speed along a narrow wooden path ... and when they slipped, I blamed only gravity and a lack of proper footwear and not either team. (I think they should all agree to calm down, personally.) As for why the two teams hate each other, I'm not sure. It seemed to come out of nowhere this episode though both teams made comments that indicated that the dislike had been mutual for some time.

With the teams all way ahead of Gary and Matt (even with issues in the bog), I had a feeling that the father-and-son team would be going home this week and, sure enough, they were told that they had been eliminated from the race. As I mentioned before, I think these two managed to walk away with a real appreciation for each other even if they didn't win the million bucks, and I think they both felt the richer for it.

With only four teams remaining, the pressure is truly mounting. Which team will take home the million-dollar prize? Who are you rooting for? Will Flight Time and Big Easy make good on their promise to get back at Sam and Dan? Who will be the next to fall? Head to the comments to discuss.

-- Jace Lacob (Follow my musings on television, food, and more television on Twitter at @televisionary)

Photo: Brothers Sam and Dan lean on one another on "The Amazing Race." Credit: Monty Brinton / CBS

Related:
'The Amazing Race': The return of the hay bales
'The Amazing Race': Slip and Slide
Complete 'Amazing Race' coverage on Showtracker 

Comments

[erica stephens]

I love this program,my daughter and grandaughter all watch together,seeing parts of the world we may never see is the whole show for us.We seldom have a favorite,but this year we do have a least favorite,Flight Time and Big Easy are two nasty guys who do not deserve to win,they did push one of the brothers,and they taunted the girl who was afraid to go down the slide,they had 2 minutes to wait,so scaring her more when she was obviously petrified was mean and uncalled for.I think they will go to far and be penalized next week.

[jay]

Agree with the author. The incident between the Globetrotters & brothers looked innocent. It was a tiny pathway and they both slipped. Doubt that one guy could get in front of the other without some incidental contact. Very interested to see what happens next week when the brothers tick off Ericka! They seem to have a thing for getting on the bad side of other teams.

Also @erica stephens, a little healthy heckling does not a "nasty guy" make. If anything, Canaan's behavior was more "mean and uncalled for" than anything else.

[Douglas hendrix]

Love the show. The globetrotters should be next to go. It's not that i hate them...i like all the teams left...I just want them gone because I believe that they will trip up my fav team. I know it wasn't intentional this time but there was no excuse...the trail was to narrow and he was trying to push, KEYWORD HERE, past to brothers. He caused the fall and then they tried their usual....talking loud and over everybody as though that makes them right. No, just annoying.

[JP]

I think the Globetrotters have been one of the fairest teams this season, especially considering most of the teams were sort of out to get them from the start. Despite possibly appearing mean-spirited or unsportsmanlike at the top of the water slide, you have to remember that they only survived elimination by doing so. This is a race, not a couples vacation, and the brothers were half of a foursome for most of the race. Now with the poker players gone, and them being forced to fend for themselves, they are fully aware that the 'Trotters are truly their biggest competitors.

[Andrea]

I completely disagree with the other commenters. Sam and Dan have been complaining about Flight Time and Big Easy and making snide comments to and about them for many episodes now, and this is the first time that FT and BE have directed anything back at them -- and that was only after the brothers tried to steal the cab and were making rude comments directly to FT and BE. Maybe I'm biased in favor of a team that always gets along well and seems to be enjoying every aspect of the race (even when it is in last place) over a team that cries and moans constantly and screams at each other at the first sign of hardship, but I've enjoyed watching the Globetrotters this season and find them extremely likeable. While the brothers are certainly pretty to look at, there's been a lot more poor sportsmanship and behavior on their part. I do think that Sam and Dan tried to block FT and BE from passing them (the trotters started off WAY behind the brothers and caught up fast -- there's no way the brothers can beat them in a foot race). As soon as the crash between them occurred, BE immediately told FT to slow down and let the brothers go ahead to put space between them. (as for trying to keep Mika from going down the slide a few weeks ago, I have no problem with what they did -- they didn't cause her any harm and were certainly better than the boyfriend who supposedly loved her and tried to physically force her down the slide).

[yinbin]

I am appalled that the basketball player pushed the Dan, causing him to almost fall AND THEN had the audacity of accusing Dan of elbowing him? This is so dishonest and low-class. I hope Sam and Dan will win. I cheer for you!!