The Amazing Race Premiere Recap: Big Brother Players Test Drive Life On The Road — But Which Team Stalled Out First?
When the new season of The Amazing Race kicks off, teams of Big Brother vets are already in Borne, Netherlands and racing off to their first task. Talk about hitting the ground running!
Three BB winners are a part of this cast (Chelsie, Jag and Taylor), plus, there's a boyfriend/girlfriend pair in Tucker and Rubina, only they're competing against each other. (Get the full cast rundown here.) While these duos may have reality TV experience, they're all newbies as far as TAR is concerned. So who will have what it takes to race to the finish? Let's recap this Season 38 premiere!
The first clue directs teams to an ice rink where duos must push each other on sleds with the goal of knocking down bowling pins. The first team to get a strike earns an Express Pass (already?!). The last will be saddled with a big ol' Hazard at some point in the leg. We are just minutes into this premiere, and already teams are missing clue boxes and frantically running about. Natalie and Stephanie, and Tucker and Eric are first to make an attempt at the pins, but Taylor and Kyland land the Express Pass — a huge advantage right out of the gate! The last team to complete it? Enzo and Jack. Tough luck, Meow-Meow.
After finishing up at the rink, the teams meet Phil at the starting mat, where he tells them that Kyland and Taylor must decide who gets a second Express Pass! In an effort to make some new allies, they select Jag and Jas over their former castmates. Phil then tells them their next clue is on the cars around the corner — and the world is waiting for them.
Port of Volendam is the next location, and whoa, a self-drive in the first episode?! We love to see it. Teams must then ride tandem bikes to a cheese market, while Jack and Enzo chow down on some herring. Mmm! But hey, when in Rome Borne, right?
At the cheese market (mmm, Dutch cheese), teams must deliver stacks of deliciousness the traditional Dutch way, and honestly, the outfits are pretty spiffy! Men on boats toss the players two cheese balls at a time, while the teams stack it all up pyramid-style. Jag and Jas finish first and are off to find the next clue, while Turner and Megan walk themselves in circles. They're so lost it's almost painful to watch. Ditto for Jack and Enzo, post-fish gulping.
ROADBLOCK | Since The Netherlands is the flower capital of the world, teams must find and pick nine flowers in an enormous greenhouse. But they must pay close attention to the colors and petals, as they create an arrangement that matches the example.
Kat neglects to leave her bandana with the cheese man (the rules said to specifically leave the outfit behind!), adding another stop on their race for $1 million. But hey, Enzo is nowhere to be found, so maybe it's not such a big mistake. Is Enzo in the country still? Did they accidentally cross over into Germany? NOBODY KNOWS.
PIT STOP | Jag and Jas, and Tucker and Eric finish the Roadblock, and race off to the Pit Stop at Amsterdam's Museumplein (Museum Square). Jag and Jas win the foot race, however, and the brothers get first place and a stack of cash, to boot. Tucker and Eric take second, while Izzy and Paige come in third. The last place team? Enzo and Jack. And unfortunately for the Meow-Meow and his brother, they are eliminated from the race.
Thoughts on The Amazing Race's premiere? We want to hear them. Grade the episode below, then let 'er rip in the comments!