TAR26, Recap Leg 2, 2/27/15

Welcome to Leg 2! Last time, on Fake Samurai Hanging Out in Sake Bars, 11 teams of YDCs raced from California to Tokyo, Japan.  Apparently we needed to be reminded that five of the couples don’t even know each other.  There is dancing and sake drinking for the bulk of a ninety minute episode, and a Double U-Turn that really meant very little in the end.  The Lawyers got the Express Pass, and Jeff and Lyda, the old couple, were eliminated for not Bald Snarking a Detour when they should have.  Who will be eliminated. . . next? (click for more)

Arrival at the pit stop last episode:

1st – Jelani and Jenny, Team Intelligent YDC, #TheLegalTeam

2nd – Jeff and Jackie, Team Sexy YDC, #TeamJJ

3rd – Laura and Tyler, Team Clueless YDC, #TeamSoCal

4th – Aly and Steve, Team Olympian YDC, #SochiLove

5th – Harley and Jonathan, Team Famous YDC, #TeamNewKid

6th – Bergen and Kurt, Team Flaming Gay YDC, #TeamBlondeDate

7th – Mike and Rochelle, Team Smalltown Sweetheart YDC, #TruckStopLove

8th – Hayley and Blair, Team Mismatched YDC, #RxForLove

9th – Matt and Ashley, Team Best Friend YDC, #The Hairstylists

10th – Libby and CJ, Team Confused YDC, #TeamTuskeegee

Teams make their way to their “hotel” for the night, an abandoned office space with leather couches and desks.  Must be one of the wacky accommodation things the Japanese love.  (Toyouke: “I just realized: if the producers are really trying to sell us on everyone being on "dates" does that mean the return of Eat Sleep Mingle!?  I love Eat Sleep Mingle but I am willing to not have it if it means NO MORE YDCS.”)

Parking Space, Akihabara UDX Building, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

5:30 AM Jelani/Jenny (1st)

Clue: Take the bullet train to Nagano, Japan!  Once there, make your way to Matsushiro Castle to get your next clue.

5:33 AM Jeff/Jackie (2nd)

5:45AM Laura/Tyler (3rd)

6:14 AM Aly/Steve (4th)

6:52 AM Harley/Jonathan (5th)

7:10 AM Bergen/Kurt (6th)

7:15 AM Mike/Rochelle (7th)

7:33 AM Hayley/Blair (8th)

7:36 AM Matt/Ashley (9th)

8:20 AM Libby/CJ (10th)

So teams make their way to the nearest train station to board the Bullet.  Teams arrive in the following order:

1- Jelani/Jenny

2- Jeff/Jackie

3- Laura/Tyler

4- Aly/Steve 

5- Harley/Jonathan

6- Bergen/Kurt

7- Mike/Rochelle

8- Hayley/Blair

9- Matt/Ashley

10- Libby/CJ

Teams get their trains to Nagano in the following order:

Train 1

1) Jelani/Jenny

2) Jeff/Jackie

3) Laura/Tyler

Train 2

1) Aly/Steve

Train 3

1) Harley/Jonathan

2) Bergen/Kurt

3) Mike/Rochelle

Train 4

1) Hayley/Blair

2) Matt/Ashley

Train 5

1) Libby/CJ – who, while taking a selfie video, forget to board their train and end up missing it, causing them to have to take yet a later train to Nagano.  (Toyouke: “You missed the train because you were taking a selfie. If you aren't eliminated then what is this show even doing.”)

So, Bullet Train, Nagano, woo.  Teams arrive in the following order:

1- Jeff/Jackie

2- Laura/Tyler

3- Jelani/Jenny

4- Aly/Steve 

5- Mike/Rochelle

6- Bergen/Kurt

7- Harley/Jonathan

8- Matt/Ashley

9- Hayley/Blair

10- Libby/CJ

Teams find taxis and make their way to Matsushiro Castle.  Teams arrive and get their clue in the following order:

1- Jeff/Jackie

2- Laura/Tyler

3- Jelani/Jenny

4- Aly/Steve 

5- Mike/Rochelle

6- Harley/Jonathan

7- Bergen/Kurt

8- Matt/Ashley

9- Hayley/Blair

10- Libby/CJ

Once they arrive, teams get the first roadblock clue. 

ROADBLOCK:

Who can think outside of the box?

In this roadblock, one team member must open a Japanese puzzle box.  Once the box is opened, a password will appear that must be read to the castle guard to get the next clue.  BONUS: One clue will randomly have an invitation to Date Night during the Pit Stop.

The following teammates take the Roadblock:

1- Tyler – and then decided he needed to leave the castle for the detour.
2- Jelani
3- Jeff

4- Aly

5- Mike

6- Harley

7- Bergen

8- Ashley

9- Hayley

10- Libby – who also decided the Detour was not at the castle.

After much box opening and password reading, teams complete the Roadblock in the following order:

1- Laura/Tyler
2- Jelani/Jenny

3- Aly/Steve

4- Jeff/Jackie

5- Mike/Rochelle

6- Harley/Jonathan – who pick the Date Night clue. 

7- Bergen/Kurt

8- Matt/Ashley

9- Hayley/Blair

10- Libby/CJ

Teams are now instructed to travel to Nishi-Guchi Zenko-ji and search for their next clue.

Teams find taxis and make their way to Nishi-Guchi Zenko-ji.  Teams arrive and get their clue in the following order:

1- Laura/Tyler
2- Jelani/Jenny

3- Aly/Steve

4- Jeff/Jackie

5- Mike/Rochelle

6- Harley/Jonathan

7- Bergen/Kurt

8- Matt/Ashley

9- Hayley/Blair

10- Libby/CJ

And we get the Detour Clue.

BLIND DETOUR:

Share OR Chair

*Share: Teams must travel to Takesan Donabe Restaurant and order two bowls of noodles.  Teammates must now feed each other all of the noodles while sitting in front of the fan.  Once the waitress judges that all of the noodles have been eaten, teams receive their next clue.

*Chair: Teams travel to the M-Wave, the Speed Track rink from the 1998 Nagano Olympics. Teams get into winter costume, and must each push each other around the ice track for 1 lap.  If the team can complete the two laps in under 3:55, the judge would give them their next clue.

(Toyouke: “SHUT UP BLIND DETOUR CHOICES.”)

1- Laura/Tyler choose Share

2- Jelani/Jenny choose Share

3- Aly/Steve choose Chair – and get really excited about the Olympics.

4- Jeff/Jackie choose Chair

5- Harley/Jonathan choose Share

6- Bergen/Kurt choose Share – and Kurt finds that he doesn’t like Japanese noodles

7- Mike/Rochelle choose Chair – and after falling and hurting themselves, decide to make the first Bald Snark of the Race and go to Share.

8- Matt/Ashley choose Chair

9- Hayley/Blair choose Chair

10- Libby/CJ choose Share

Much noodle eating and chair pushing ensues.  So, teams complete the detour in the following order:

1- Laura/Tyler – and realize they forgot to tell their taxi to wait for them.
2- Jelani/Jenny

3- Aly/Steve

4- Jeff/Jackie

5- Harley/Jonathan

6- Bergen/Kurt

7- Matt/Ashley

8- Mike/Rochelle

9- Hayley/Blair

10- Libby/CJ

(Toyouke: “Did they make everyone wear specific dumb hats or something for the chair Detour? What?”)

Teams find now that they must travel to Patio Daimon, the PIT STOP of the second leg of this racearoundtheworld.  The last team to arrive WILL be eliminated!

1- Jelani/Jenny – who win a Fitbit exercise package for two, which includes all of FitBit’s products, a personal chef for a year, cooking lessons, and either a year of groceries or a gym membership.

2- Laura/Tyler

3- Aly/Steve

4- Harley/Jonathan – who win the Date Night package, a trip to a Japanese hot spring spa for the evening.

5- Bergen/Kurt

6- Jeff/Jackie 

7- Matt/Ashley  

8- Mike/Rochelle 

9- Hayley/Blair

10- Libby/CJ

And Libby and CJ are the last to arrive and are eliminated.  Libby: “I’m still working on my ring.”  You do that, just off my TV.

ORDER NOW:

1st – Jelani/Jenny

2nd – Laura/Tyler

3rd – Aly/Steve

4th – Harley/Jonathan

5th – Bergen/Kurt

6th – Jeff/Jackie

7th – Matt/Ashley

8th – Mike/Rochelle

9th – Hayley/Blair

Next week: We’re off to Thailand!  There is waterskiing.  And apparently jungle waiter service.  And drinking.  (Toyouke: “Whatever.”)  Until next time!