The Final Three Teams Are Determined - Will an All-Female Team Finally Win the Race?

With major apologies for missing my recap last week because of my Thanksgiving trip to New York, we’re getting down to the wire with this installment of The Amazing Race. Last leg, the four remaining teams went from Bangladesh to Hong Kong where Nick & Vicki (well, just Nick) seemed to implode. He’s been snippy here and there, but he proved himself to be a real ass on this leg. They took a penalty instead of doing a task and ended up in last place but were ?lucky? to find out it was a non-elimination leg. They have a 6-hour penalty and a Speed Bump to deal with on the upcoming leg, and I hope that they end up going home because of Nick’s attitude (although I feel bad for Vicki). I sure hope he’s embarrassed as hell when he’s sitting home watching himself be a total jerk!

Leaving the Pit Stop first, Nat & Kat open their clue to find out they are flying to Seoul, South Korea and then must drive themselves to the North Korean border - the Demilitarized Zone - and search for the Seungil Bridge for their next clue. Nat & Kat interview that they think they have what it takes to win the Race, but they’re pretty freaked about having to get close to the border of North Korea. Reading the clue we hear “do not cross the border.” (Duh! I admit I’m a little surprised that The Race is sending teams close to that border, especially with North Korea being stupid about nuclear weapons and such.)

Thomas & Jill leave second, and Thomas interviews that they’re the top contenders but there are hungry, smart and athletic women teams that are “forces to be reckoned with.” You betcha, buddy! This just might be the year that an all-female team wins The Amazing Race! Brook & Claire open their clue and don’t even try to pronounce the bridge or river names and head off to a hotel to try and get tickets for their flight, thinking that the hotel would have better connections. Claire interviews that she has a good feeling that they’re going to rock it and make history standing on the Mat first at the end. (Uh oh, are the producers giving us a peek at “say one thing and the total opposite happens?”) The woman at the desk finds them a flight leaving at 12:25 a.m. and will fax copies of their passports to the airport.

Nat & Kat meet up with Thomas & Jill at the airport and joke about getting close to the North Korean border. They get the same flight as Brook & Claire. Brook & Claire are sitting in the restaurant at the hotel sipping coffee and laughing at the way they’re dressed for the place - cute matching pink tank tops, black shorts and white and red striped kneesox. Back at the airport, Nat & Kat find a guy and tell him that they’re traveling but they don’t have any money and talk the guy into buying them a travel book - and he even autographs the cover with a good luck wish.

Nick & Vicki leave in the dark and Nick interviews that the Race has shown them some major flaws in their relationship. (No, just YOUR relationship. Butthead.) He says he feels like scum (he should) and promised Vicki he’s never going to blow up like that again. We’ll see. They get to the airport as the flight is boarding and are told that the flight left as they were at the ticket counter. The next flight leaves at 9:30 a.m. They realize it will take a miracle for them to stay in the Race.

The teams hop in the cars and everyone seems really tense trying to get out of the airport. Thomas is his usual snarky self and even Brook is telling Claire “don’t yell at me.” (For the record, she wasn’t.) Brook & Claire laugh about going to the border and getting the two leaders together and making peace. Kat notes that the signs are totally devoid of any English characters and hopes they are in the right direction. Thomas & Jill get to the bridge and get the clue as Brook & Claire pull up, and we see Nat & Kat having navigation problems yet again. The clue tells the teams to select a rafting guide and raft down the Hantangang River, grab a Humvee and drive to the U.S. Army Base Camp Casey. It’s pouring rain, so at least getting wet in the river won’t matter. Nat & Kat get there and Kat asks Nat “got the keys?” and Nat says yes - meaning, I bet, that they will NOT have the keys when they get back to the car. (The show is over, and it didn't mean a thing).

Everyone has to change into wetsuit-looking outfits to raft, and they’re two of the five people in the raft that paddle. Nat laughs that “we’re rafting down the DMZ” in Korea. Brook & Claire seem to be having the most fun but Nat & Kat are enjoying themselves too.

Once at the shore, Thomas & Jill have to put on helmets and climb in the back of the Humvee. I would definitely be freaked out having to wear a helmet! Everyone at the base is wearing orange vests as are the teams. At the base, the clue is a Roadblock. Phil explains that the soldiers at the base learn various martial arts. We see a field of soldiers throwing punches and are told that the teams must select a headband and then find the soldier wearing a matching headband walking through the soldiers and avoiding getting clobbered. Once they find the correct soldier, he will break a board and their next clue will fall out of the broken board.

Thomas runs up the steps of the stadium they’re practicing in to get his headband, and Brook & Claire show up and Brook runs through the soldiers apologizing “for being all up in your grill” as she compares headbands. Thomas finds the correct soldier and gets their clue, which tells them to go to the subway station on foot and travel to the Seoul World Cup Stadium and find the clue box.

Brook runs back up into the stands for another headband as Nat & Kat show up, and Kat runs off to attempt the task. Brook finds her soldier and has to kick the board herself before opening the clue. (She doesn’t break the board).

Thomas & Jill find the subway and keep a lookout for Brook & Claire but don’t see them running up. Kat finds her soldier and off she and Nat run to the subway. Thomas & Jill get on the subway train as Brook is having problems getting through the turnstile and they end up missing the subway. Nat & Kat show up and end up on the same train with Brook & Claire.

Thomas & Jill get to the stadium and the clue is a Detour: Full Throttle or Full Bottle. Phil tells us that South Koreans are major players in the world sports scene, and it’s time the teams find out why. For Full Throttle, teams go by foot or subway to the Mokdong Ice Rink and get into a speed skating suit, then run a two-person relay for 24 laps. Once completed, the coach will give them their clue. In Full Bottle, teams go to Dogdaemun Market on foot or by subway, put on delivery uniforms and carry 6 giant ginseng roots to a holistic wellness center. Once there, they have to drink a small bottle of ginseng tonic and then they will get their clue. I think that some team is gonna mess up and take a cab to their destination, because of the emphasis on the “by foot or by subway” in the clues. Jill asks right away if they can take a cab but Thomas has read the clue correctly. Thomas & Jill decide to try speed skating. Claire says she hasn’t skated since she was 7 but Brook tries to talk her into it, saying she’ll go extra fast to make up for it. Nat & Kat will skate also. After some bantering back and forth, Claire says she’ll do the ice skating but Brook can’t yell at her.

Right about now, Nick & Vicki are landing and find a local that offers to take them to the bridge. Brook & Claire seem to be arguing now about the ice skating task, and stupidly are calling for a taxi - maybe the break that Nick & Vicki need. Nat & Kat jump run to the subway but just miss a train. Brook & Claire get to the ice rink before Thomas & Jill and complain about the speed skating suit, saying it’s not their “flair.” Thomas & Jill can’t figure out how the shopping hosts beat them there. Nick & Vicki’s local ends up stopping at a market to ask for directions, and ends up buying some food and tells Vicki to take it, “for beautiful woman.” Nick tells Vicki that the guy wants her and “I knew you were good for something.” (Creep.)

At the ice rink, Brook & Claire are funny, but not more than Thomas, who looks like he’s walking on his skates and Brook & Claire interview later and get a good laugh out of it. Jill falls down and Thomas actually tells her it’s okay, that “we’re all going to fall a lot.” There are two speed skaters skating around the rink too, and it looks as if there’s a good chance someone’s gonna get run over!

Nick & Vicki’s local is now stopping near some military guys and asking them if they know where they’re going and the military doesn’t either. Looks like Brook & Claire’s mistake may not matter....

Jill keeps falling and Thomas tells her “stay on your feet.” (Duh once more). They manage to catch up and lap Brook & Claire, getting their clue and the lead once again. The clue tells them to go to Han Riverside Park (also known as Yeouido Hangang Park) and search for a statue that looks like an airplane, where the clue box is located. As Thomas & Jill and Brook & Claire leave the ice rink, Nat & Kat show up and start skating (very slowly).

In the taxi, Thomas & Jill are still wondering how Brook & Claire managed to catch up, while Brook & Claire’s taxi driver is asking Claire if she’s “solo.” She tells him she’s getting married and he then tells them he’s a comedian. Back at the rink, Kat says “I’m channeling my inner Apolo Anton Ohno.” Brook & Claire get to the park right after Thomas & Jill, who are asking a local about the statue and getting nowhere. Claire gives the cab driver a kiss (which Brook states is number 9 - slackers) and they find the statue pretty quickly. The clue tells them to go to the next Pit Stop, which the “Temple of Heaven” and is across town. It was built in 1897 for the first emperor.

Nat & Kat finish their laps and tell the coach “we’re available for the next Olympics.” They knew they were slow but they decided to have fun doing it.

Brook & Claire race to the Mat and Phil tells them that they’re the first team to arrive - BUT they took a taxi which was against the rule and will get a 30-minute penalty. Which, when you think about it, really isn’t that big a deal ... they won’t get first but they’ll be int the top three for sure. Thomas & Jill’s taxi driver doesn’t know where the Temple is and calls to find out but Thomas & Jill have no patience and find another cab. They get to the Mat and Phil tells them that while they are the second team to arrive, they get first place because of Brook & Claire’s mistake, and a trip to Argentina. They tell Phil they’ve worked hard and think they deserve to be in the final leg.

Nat & Kat get to the clue box and find a cab to get them to the Temple, but Brook & Claire’s penalty expires and are officially team number two and in the finals to race for a million. Nat & Kat get to the Mat shortly after and become one of three teams to race in the finals - and make the odds of an all-female team winning that much greater.

Nick & Vicki get to the bridge and raft, ride the Humvee, and their Speed Bump has them washing a tank. It’s dark now, and they interview that they’ve learned a lot about each other, and Nick says the hardest part is acknowledging the flaws (you got plenty, now be nice). They’re the last team to the Mat and Phil eliminates them. Nick says getting angry about things and being rude to people doesn’t get him anywhere, and Vicki says they got through the Race without her killing him, so that’s a good thing. Yeah, it is!

So here's how our teams finished:
1 - Thomas & Jill
2 - Brook & Claire
3 - Nat & Kat
4 - Nick & Vicki (eliminated)

The three remaining teams all interview about winning the million, and it will be a good last leg of The Amazing Race!!! Any of the teams can win this thing - it all comes down to who makes the least number of mistakes.

So next week promises to be exciting! Will Race history be made? Tune in and find out!