Welcome to Leg 1 of The Amazing Race 35! It’s been a full year since we last saw the amazing Phil, and with two seasons ready to go (including one from before this one that still uses charter flights; we’ll discuss that later) we get the one that was filmed more recently. (Toyouke: “Just in time for the strike to be over!”) Phil voices over that flights are back! As are the Express Pass and the U-Turn! All of which he’ll bring up again later! But then we careen towards the Hollywood sign, and we get to meet the teams. (click for more)
So the thirteen (!) teams for The Amazing Race 35 are:
Todd and Ashlie, Team Comeback Couple, who are married high school sweethearts. They’ve been married 15 years, and apparently there was a rough spot in their marriage that they had to work through, but they are extremely vague about it. (Toyouke: “I still want to know who cheated on who.”) Todd: “I want to be a team that wins!” Pretty sure they all do, Todd.
Andrea and Malaina, Team Philly Jawns, have been friends from twenty-seven years after they met in college. Andrea says she’s the competitive one, but Malaina can come on full force when she needs to.
Morgan and Lena, Team Business Sisters, are sisters. Morgan: “Oh, we will be fighting. But we love each other.” Well, at least a team that can pinpoint their drama before we even start.
Rob and Corey, Team ASL Family, are a father and son team. Corey reveals that he is a CODA, child of deaf adults. He says that brings a unique dynamic to their team. Corey, we all watched Margie and Luke, we’ve seen this dynamic before.
Joel and Garrett, Team Dad Bod, have been best friends since they met in the Armed Forces. And they are from Idaho. Garrett: “I was deployed on my first wedding anniversary with Joel, and now I’m leaving my wife for him again for our twentieth anniversary!” Oh, they’re going to be fun.
Joe and Ian, Team EnGaygement, are an engaged couple that has been dating five years. Joe says his partner doesn’t communicate well, and Ian says he gets easily stressed. But their incompatibility will be a strength, apparently.
Jocelyn and Victor, Team Retail Love, are married entrepreneurs that run a supermarket. Jocelyn: “We work 12 hours each day seven days a week. We’re used to it.”
Elizabeth and Iliana, Team Superfan, are mother and daughter. Mom says she’s always right. Iliana says they are both sassy and spicy and best friends, because Iliana is Elizabeth’s first born after she found out she wouldn’t be able to have kids. Just leaving that there.
Alexandra and Sheridan, Team Enginerd, are siblings and roommates from Chicago. Sheridan: “We can’t believe we’re here!” Me neither, Sheridan.
Liam and Yeremi, Team Military Bros, are brothers and Armed Forces Veterans. They didn’t talk to each other for a long time after their parents divorced, and now they are trying to reconnect.
Greg and John, Team Cat Dads, are brothers and computer scientists. Greg is the younger brother, and John is older. John: “We just want to get through one leg!”
Robbin and Chelsea, Team Cougar Mom, are childhood friends. Robbin: “We’ll be ruthless in order to win.” Considering Robbin lost her husband to cancer, then developed a brain tumor, and then gained and lost a lot of weight, I’d say she’s determined enough at least.
Steve and Anna Leigh, Team Texas Heat, are a father and daughter from Texas, obviously. Anna Leigh is very much a daddy’s girl, who has a lot of traditional boy skills. She could be good.
Hollywood Sign, Grifith Park, Los Angeles, California, USA
Phil assembles the teams and tells them about all of the firsts of the new season. This is the first time starting with thirteen teams. There will be no Non-Elimination Legs again, which means with 13 teams there are only 11 Legs. The Express Pass is back, but you have to complete a task to earn it. And the U-Turn is back, but now it is mandatory to use, as each team must vote for whom they want to U-Turn. (Toyouke: “OK so you have to U-Turn someone but as we've seen, people can easily game the system.”) Airports are back in play, so no charter flights. Oh, and the first team to finish will win ONE MILLION DOLLARS (US$1000000)! Phil lets teams know that the first clue is on the cars at the bottom of the hill to drive themselves to the location of their first task. Then oh so sexy Phil does his standard patter: “Ready? The world is waiting for you. Good luck, travel safe. Cue Phil's eyebrow pop. (Kmanpat: “I’ve missed the eyebrow pop.“) GO!” Who will be eliminated . . . tonight? (Toyouke: “I did miss this show.”)
Clue: Welcome to Los Angeles, California! Drive yourselves to the historic Millenium Biltmore Hotel to get your next clue.
(Toyouke: “Oh, not straight to the airport. Huh.”) So, teams get their clues, find their cars, ask for directions as necessary, and depart Griffith Park in the following order:
1- Greg/John
2- Joe/Ian
3- Jocelyn/Victor
4- Liam/Yeremi
5- Joel/Garrett
6- Andrea/Malaina
7- Alexandra/Sheridan
8- Todd/Ashlie
9- Rob/Corey – (Toyouke: “I didn't think Dad would drive? I guess he could get a special license.”)
10- Steve/Anna Leigh
11- Elizabeth/Iliana
12- Robbin/Chelsea
13- Morgan/Lena
There are two trains of thought here: jump in the car and go, or hang around and ask for directions. These two techniques work with varying degrees of success, and teams arrive at the Biltmore Hotel in the following order:
1- Greg/John
2- Joe/Ian
3- Andrea/Malaina
4- Robbin/Chelsea
5- Todd/Ashlie
6- Rob/Corey
7- Morgan/Lena
8- Jocelyn/Victor
9- Liam/Yeremi
10- Steve/Anna Leigh
11- Joel/Garrett
12- Alexxandra/Sheridan
13- Elizabeth/Iliana
When they rip open the clue, teams get the first roadblock. (Toyouke: “A ROADBLOCK?!?! In Episode 1?” Kmanpat: “Um, yeah, it happens often.”)
ROADBLOCK:
Who wants to be above it all?
In this roadblock, one team member must walk across a tightrope at the top of the building to the other side. Then, the team member must solve a word scramble: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ with the letters A C E F G I L N O S T Y. When they come up with the correct answer (City of Angels), they tell the judges, TAR34 Winners Derek and Claire. Once approved, teams can get their next clue.
The following teammates take the Roadblock:
1- Greg – who loves the movie La La Land, so figured it out pretty quickly.
2- Joe – who, at one point, is shown to have been thinking for 50 minutes. (Toyouke: “This is not a good showing if it takes you an HOUR to get this. And then you needed someone to tell you.”)
3- Malaina
4- Chelsea
5- Todd – who figures it out, and is willing to tell the others if he gets to move to the front of the line. (Toyouke: “Yeah negotiating to get to the front of the line was a pretty good move.”)
6- Rob – who hung back from the pack and solved it on his own.
7- Morgan
8- Victor
9- Liam
10- Anna Leigh
11- Joel
12- Sheridan
13- Iliana – “I’m with my mom, she will kill you if I fall.”
After much tightrope walking and puzzle solving, teams complete the Roadblock in the following order:
1- Greg/John
2- Rob/Corey
3- Jocelyn/Victor
4- Joe/Ian
5- Todd/Ashlie
6- Steve/Anna Leigh
7- Andrea/ Malaina
8- Robbin/Chelsea
9- Alexandra/Sheridan
10- Morgan/Lena
11- Elizabeth/Iliana
12- Liam/Yeremi
13- Joel/Garrett
Teams are now instructed to drive themselves to Los Angeles International Airport to catch a flight to Bangkok, Thailand! There are two flights, but only a limited number of tickets on the first flight, but teams are not told how many. Teams drive and arrive at LAX in the following order:
1- Greg/John
2- Rob/Corey
3- Jocelyn/Victor
4- Todd/Ashlie
5- Andrea/Malaina
6- Morgan/Lena
7- Joel/Garrett
8- Steve/Anna Leigh
9- Robbin/Chelsea
10- Elizabeth/Iliana
11- Liam/Yeremi
12- Alexandra/Sheridan
13- Joe/Ian
Teams now queue up to get their flights.
Flight #1, China Air, departs 12:05 AM
1) Greg/John
2) Rob/Corey
3) Jocelyn/Victor
4) Todd/Ashlie
5) Andrea/Malaina
6) Morgan/Lena
The gate agent then puts up a sign showing the first flight is full, sending the remaining teams to the other flight.
Flight #2, Eva Air, departs 1:30 AM
1) Joel/Garrett
2) Steve/Anna Leigh
3) Robbin/Chelsea
4) Elizabeth/Iliana
5) Liam/Yeremi
6) Alexandra/Sheridan
7) Joe/Ian
The Amazing Yellow Line takes us on a journey from LAX through Taipei to Bangkok. Teams arrive in the following order:
1- Jocelyn/Victor – and Victor speaks Laotian, which is kinda like Thai, apparently?
2- Todd/Ashlie
3- Morgan/Lena
4- Andrea/Malaina
5- Rob/Corey
6- Greg/John
7- Robbin/Chelsea
8- Joel/Garrett
9- Liam/Yeremi
10- Elizabeth/Iliana
11- Joe/Ian
12- Alexandra/Sheridan
13- Steve/Anna Leigh
Teams are then informed that they need to make their way to Wat Paknam in order to get their next clue. Teams arrive in the following order:
1- Morgan/Lena
2- Andrea/Melaina
3- Rob/Corey
4- Jocelyn/Victor
5- Todd/Ashlie
6- Greg/John
7- Robbin/Chelsea
8- Joel/Garrett
9- Joe/Ian
10- Steve/Anna Leigh
11- Alexandra/Sheridan
12- Elizabeth/Iliana
13- Liam/Yeremi
When they rip open the clue, teams get information about how to claim the first Express Pass
EXPRESS PASS
To earn the Express Pass, teams must find the marked vendor on the grounds of Wat Paknam, and each eat a full plate of fried insects. Once both team members have finished their own plate, the team would be awarded with the Express Pass.
(Toyouke: “I'm glad you have to do something to win the Express Pass and it's not just who gets somewhere first. Even if it's eating bugs.”) The following teams go for the Express Pass:
1- Morgan/Lena
Other teams consider it, but see Morgan and Lena in various stages of finishing, and well, it is bugs, so all the teams let them have that one.
Once the Express Pass consideration is over, teams are instructed to make their way to Wat Suthat via long-tail boat and tuk-tuk in order to get their next clue. Teams arrive at the boats in the following order:
1- Jocelyn/Victor
2- Rob/Corey
3- Morgan/Lena
4- Todd/Ashlie
5- Andrea/Melaina
6- Greg/John
7- Robbin/Chelsea
8- Joel/Garrett
9- Joe/Ian
10- Steve/Anna Leigh
11- Alexandra/Sheridan
12- Elizabeth/Iliana
13- Liam/Yeremi
Teams get out of their long-tail boats and find tuk-tuks in the following order:
1- Jocelyn/Victor
2- Rob/Corey
3- Morgan/Lena
4- Todd/Ashlie
5- Greg/John
6- Andrea/Malaina
7- Robbin/Chelsea
8- Joel/Garrett
9- Joe/Ian
10- Steve/Anna Leigh
11- Alexandra/Sheridan
12- Elizabeth/Iliana
13- Liam/Yeremi
Teams arrive at Wat Suthat in the following order:
1- Jocelyn/Victor
2- Rob/Corey
3- Morgan/Lena
4- Todd/Ashlie
5- Greg/John
6- Andrea/Malaina
7- Joel/Garrett
8- Joe/Ian
9- Steve/Anna Leigh
10- Robbin/Chelsea
11- Alexandra/Sheridan
12- Elizabeth/Iliana
13- Liam/Yeremi
The teams open their clues and we get the first Detour Clue.
DETOUR:
Sword Play OR Spa Day
*Sword Play: Teams make their way on foot to Saranrom Park, where both team members must change into traditional costume and learn a 30 second daab routine, which is a traditional Thai martial art. Once approved by the proctor, teams get their next clue.
*Spa Day: Teams make their way on foot to the Putthinan Thai Massage parlor, and choose one of five pairs of massage therapists. Teams change into massage clothes and then are each treated to a 30 minute deep tissue massage. If teams stop the massage therapists at any point, the massage must start over. Once the massage is complete, the therapists give the teams their next clue. Due to the limited number of massage therapists, only five teams can complete this at a time.
(Toyouke: “This is a trick. They know everyone will pick "get a massage" over "learn a dance".”)
1- Jocelyn/Victor choose Spa Day
2- Rob/Corey choose Spa Day
3- Morgan/Lena choose Spa Day
4- Todd/Ashlie choose Spa Day – and about 10 minutes in Todd says, “Wait, wait, wait,” which is interpreted as an interruption. They then have to restart the massage. Since no teams are waiting at this point, they are able to restart immediately. (Toyouke: “I'm shocked they were that strict with "you can't stop the massage".”)
5- Greg/John choose Spa Day
6- Andrea/Malaina choose Sword Play – and after learning the routine with bamboo sticks, they freak out a little when they actually have to use swords. So, in the first Bald Snark of the season, the best friends decide to head over to Spa Day. (Toyouke: “Hmm. I don't know about Bald Snarking here. I guess? But they have no idea where anyone else is. I think if I knew the other side of the Detour was close I'd swap but not knowing where it was, or how fast it would be to do that side, I can see staying.”)
7- Steve/Anna Leigh choose Spa Day
8- Joel/Garrett choose Spa Day
9- Alexandra/Sheridan choose Sword Play
10- Joe/Ian choose Sword Play
11- Robbin/Chelsea choose Spa Day
12- Liam/Yeremi choose Spa Day
13- Elizabeth/Iliana choose Spa Day – and arrive when all five spots are taken. They decide to wait, and are able to begin their massage when Steve and Anna Leigh exit the building.
Much sword swinging and massage giving ensues. So, teams complete the detour in the following order:
1- Jocelyn/Victor
2- Rob/Corey
3- Morgan/Lena
4- Greg/John
5- Todd/Ashlie
6- Steve/Anna Leigh
7- Joel/Garrett
8- Andrea/Malaina
9- Robbin/Chelsea
10- Liam/Yeremi
11- Joe/Ian
12- Elizabeth/Iliana
13- Alexandra/Sheridan – who take at least nine attempts at the routine.
Teams are now instructed to travel to the PIT STOP in Mueang Nonthaburi, Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Worawihan. This is the first pit stop in a racearoundtheworld. The last team to arrive WILL be eliminated!
1- Jocelyn/Victor – who win a trip for two from Expedia to Patagonia, Chile. Sort of.
2- Rob/Corey
3- Greg/John
4- Morgan/Lena
5- Todd/Ashlie
6- Steve/Anna Leigh
7- Joel/Garrett
8- Liam/Yeremi
9- Joe/Ian
10- Andrea/Malaina
11- Robbin/Chelsea
12- Elizabeth/Iliana
13- Alexandra/Sheridan
And Alexandra and Sheridan are eliminated. Sheridan: “We gave it a go!” Or something like that. (Toyouke: “Well Sheridan was kind of cute but they were so useless in the end. I don't think they were competitive enough.”)
ORDER NOW:
1st – Jocelyn/Victor
2nd – Rob/Corey
3rd – Greg/John
4th – Morgan/Lena
5th – Todd/Ashlie
6th – Steve/Anna Leigh
7th – Joel/Garrett
8th – Liam/Yeremi
9th – Joe/Ian
10th – Andrea/Malaina
11th – Robbin/Chelsea
12th – Elizabeth/Iliana
Next time: More Thailand! Diving! A fanny pack gets left somewhere! There are coconuts and speed boats! And lots of crying! Until next time!
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