S37.E11: My Knight in Shining Armor

[chitowngirl]

The remaining four teams travel through Portugal, hoping to earn a place in the final.
 

Airdate May 14, 2025 on CBS. The finale airs tomorrow night.

[KeithJ]

There better be some sort of penalty for breaking tiles.  Not just “here’s a replacement”.

[bunnyface]

Craaaap.  I wanted to be rid of them.

Intent matters.  Ana unintentionally stepped in front of him.  He INTENTIONALLY made her feel like shit for what was probably hours.  Not a momentary knee-jerk reaction that passes.  Prolonged, deliberate jackassery designed to knock her down.

[TheRabbi]

37 seasons in and they end an episode with the last 2 teams minutes away from the pit stop. Dirty trick TAR! See you tomorrow.

[Rodney]

Yay, Show, for showing the full opening sequence and reminding us of all of the teams from this season!

Boo, Show, for the TBC!

I'm miffed at no Detour, but the Roadblock was at least tricky, and the barrel rolling was strenuous.  Even the paddling could be bad if the teams didn't work together well.

The train equalizer set up basically two two-team races -- one for first, and one for last.  Carson & Jack won the former and are in the F3, and Han & Holden came in second to get themselves there.

But now to see who wins -- and loses -- the latter race.  Hoping for Alyssa & Josiah to prevail, but am scared that Jonathan & Ana will.

Speaking of whom, Jonathan was probably at his absolute worst of the entire leg.  I really, really hope that he loses.  At this point, he and Ana cannot win unless he seriously redeems himself.

[Artsda]

Jonathan is absolutely a terrible person. Ana should be disgusted by how he treats her. 

[Auntie Anxiety]

I’m looking forward to hearing how dropping and breaking the tile was Ana’s fault.

[Lantern7]

I'm tired. Good episode, heading for a finale for a decent season, but Jonathan is exhausting to watch.

I'll say what I said on the live thread: I'm not defending him, but I just feel that the bar for enraging me has been set pretty damn high, and he doesn't clear it. Is he a dick? Yes. Is he the player with the worst attitude ever? Maybe if you only count recent seasons. TAR6 is still burned in my mind, with decent teams falling short and the more odious pairs staying far past their expiration. Yes, I will admit to enjoy making jokes about Ana leaving Jonathan (and worse), but I don't think the guy is the end-all/be-all a-hole. I concede he is an a-hole, though. If he and Ana are eliminated, that would make the final leg much less tense.

Winner of the episode was Carson. He got to live out his Ren Faire fantasy of shooting arrows. I guess I'm rooting for him and Jack to win because I see more of myself in them than the other teams. Yes, they push the geekery a little too hard, but so does Josiah with the lame jokes.

Valet Roulette? Meh.

Can't wait for tomorrow's episode. I'm thinking it'll be 45 minutes of commercials promoting the next Big Brother.

[Skooma]

2 hours ago, KeithJ said:

There better be some sort of penalty for breaking tiles.  Not just “here’s a replacement”.

Why?  I don't like Jonathan but that is no reason to make up penalties over nothing.  Let the players play and don't interfere with penalties unless it is disobeying a direct statement in the instructions -- hello, Legal Eagles from Season 3, have a seat in the plastic chairs -- or skipping a Detour or RB.

2 hours ago, TheRabbi said:

37 seasons in and they end an episode with the last 2 teams minutes away from the pit stop. Dirty trick TAR! See you tomorrow.

Eh, they've done that in the past and we had to wait a full week instead of one day

2 hours ago, Rodney said:

Yay, Show, for showing the full opening sequence and reminding us of all of the teams from this season!

Finally!  It should be on EVERY episode.  Even Survivor knows that and I hate to admit Survivor is smarter about using their theme and putting the names of the cast on the screen every week.

That RB was really fun to watch.  Loved it.

And my favorites - the greens - won this leg.  Go, gamers!  

And not just because they are fellow RPG fans alone.  They have also kept a very healthy and positive attitude and relationship when even way behind at times.  They have had fun and enjoyed being on The Amazing Race.  And ... they are the anti-Jonathan team.

Edited May 15 by Skooma

[Haleth]

Wow, the juxtaposing the two couples on the train was a lesson in marital communication; one with Josiah encouraging Alyssa that they were still a strong team (focus on TEAM) and had a good chance, and the other with sad sack Jonathan berating Ana and moping in the corner despite catching up. What a petulant little boy, sucking all the joy out of the experience. I hope there is a penalty for breaking the tile. In their THs it sure looked like he’d been crying so hopefully it means they’re out.

Im still hoping Josiah and Alyssa can pull through and win it. Altho in a week I will have forgotten them completely as just another unremarkable TAR couple they do have perseverance and his dad jokes are cute. If they don’t win I’d like for the green boys to do so. They have been generally joyful and excited to play the games. Last I’d pick Han and Holden. He gets in my nerves almost as much as Jonathan, with his yelling and projection. (DON’T PANIC!!!) Yes, it’s a different dynamic with siblings but she should push him into the river. 

[Seelouis]

Also a nice contrast with the green team talking about the joy of being on the race and having fun, with petulant man baby Jonathan sulking all day. 

[chaifan]

This was a really good final four leg.  I liked all the challenges, but the "twist" of valet roulette was really really lame as far as "twists" go.  And, it really didn't matter in the end, because at least one person on each team could drive stick.  

I loved the castle challenge!  The armor and all the knights fighting in the background.  That archery challenge looked really hard, and I'm surprised no one got really hung up on it.  I wasn't paying close attention - does anyone know how many attempts it took the teams?  I remember one saying 4th attempt, but I don't remember which team that was.

I still don't understand what happened with Alyssa and Carson that they missed a parking space and ended up back on the highway for what seemed to be about 10 minutes.  I actually think it was more - Ana & Jonathan had to be about an hour behind the other teams, as they were leaving the wine barrel challenge about the same time all teams arrived at the castle challenge.  Someone said "it's a long drive" between the two.

The talking head segments really gave it away that Carson & Jack were safe.  I don't think those two could control their glee if the $1 million prize depended on it.  No criticism there - I love their positivity and I also wouldn't be able to "act normal" in that situation.  Han & Holden's also looked very positive from the get go.  I think Alyssa & Josiah's also looked like a final 3 edit, but I could just be hopeful at this point.  I don't believe we ever saw Ana, and got 1 or 2 shots of Jonathan, at night time.  I want this to mean that they are out (and that Ana immediately stepped to the other side of the mat and asked Phil for sanctuary), but who knows?  Maybe Ana couldn't control her glee so they didn't show her.  

I'm not even going to waste any more space discussing Jonathan.  Except...  the tile.  While I don't expect a formal penalty, I'm really hoping for just the smallest of time delays while they get a replacement, which gives Alyssa and Josiah the break they so badly need right now.  But damn, they were moving pretty slow on setting the tiles, so who knows what's going to happen?

I love Portugal.  I was there about 25 years ago - Lisbon, Porto, and a few places in between.  I was in the Riberia district in Porto, it is as beautiful as it looks on tv.  I remembered the train station!  I was there pre-Euro, and the dollar was strong against... the escudo? I think that was their currency.  They pour port like we pour wine - full glasses, not little 2 or 4oz appertif sips.  I was drinking 20 year old port - 6-8oz - for less than $5 US.  And I learned about white port.  I knew red and tawny, but had my first white port there.  Great memories...

Edited to add:  I really do love Carson & Jack, but I'm rooting for Han & Holden.  Nothing against Alyssa and Josiah, they're perfectly nice, and if they win, good for them, but they're not a team I've been rooting for.  Ana & Jonathan - I really hope I don't see them after the first 5 minutes.  If by any chance they do get into the final 3, I hope Jonathan insists on doing the final memory challenge and completely tanks it and has to be Philiminated in the field.  Is that too much for a girl to ask?

 

Edited May 15 by chaifan

[Haleth]

It just occurred to me what Jonathan’s penalty should be - looking through another stack of tiles to find one that matches the one he broke, one that fits the puzzle. 

[TheRabbi]

6 hours ago, Skooma said:

 

Eh, they've done that in the past and we had to wait a full week instead of one day.

When? When have they ever had a cliffhanger with the last 2 teams headed to the pitstop? There have been to-be-continued episodes before but it's always been halfway through a megaleg. 

[Skooma]

12 minutes ago, TheRabbi said:

When? When have they ever had a cliffhanger with the last 2 teams headed to the pitstop? There have been to-be-continued episodes before but it's always been halfway through a megaleg. 

I don't know the exact when.  I just know for sure I saw it in the past at least once if not more.

[Cotypubby]

And how many times this episode did Jonathan berate his wife and then say in a talking head how “we” need to be better and “both of us” weren’t acting the best. He never even once said “I.” Everything he did was his wife’s fault. She steps in front of him (oh no!) and he has a man-baby meltdown. Man must go first! Woman behind! 

[Browncoat]

2 hours ago, Haleth said:

It just occurred to me what Jonathan’s penalty should be - looking through another stack of tiles to find one that matches the one he broke, one that fits the puzzle. 

I want them to have to start over again from scratch -- get a new set of tiles, assemble the puzzle, get a check, and tile the wall from zero. 

[iMonrey]

I thought it was weird that Alyssa had to wear chainmail headwear while she was doing the archery whereas Carson, Jonathan and Holden did not. 

Between rowing across the lake and rolling the barrel up the hill, that was some serious old-school AR challenge. 

The show has to know we are rooting against Jonathan and Ana (or more specifically, Jonathan). I don't think there's anything they could do to give this jerk a favorable edit. For all we know he's worse than what we've seen. That's why I'm kind of worried about this "to be continued" thing. Because they didn't have to cut it this way. I hope it's not because they thought if Jonathan and Ana made it to the final three viewership for the finale would tank. 

I'm honestly not up for another 90 minutes of Jonathan and God help us, if he and Ana win it might mean the end of this show. Seeing all the eliminated teams in the opening credits made me realize everyone I was really rooting for is already gone, but at this point, anyone other than Jonathan and Ana.

[tinkerbell]

2 hours ago, Cotypubby said:

And how many times this episode did Jonathan berate his wife and then say in a talking head how “we” need to be better and “both of us” weren’t acting the best. He never even once said “I.” Everything he did was his wife’s fault. She steps in front of him (oh no!) and he has a man-baby meltdown. Man must go first! Woman behind! 

Yeah. The stepping in front of him. What the heck was that about?

There was a moment where Ana was smiling/laughing but her eyes looked like she was trying not to cry.  Forced laughter, letting everyone know that, it may LOOK like he's an abuser, but no, he's a great guy and we're having FUN. 

[Lovecat]

A half hour in, I just couldn't take any more Jonathan-ing, and started skipping a minute every time he appeared onscreen.  That last hour just flew by, lemme tell ya.  He is an absolute joy suck.

[Samwise979]

To be continued? Seriously?! Ugh

Look, ultimately who wins does not affect my life and I’ll forget about them 2 days after the finale. But if Jonathan and Ana make it to the final 3 over the other couple I will be SO MAD!!! 

I hope Ana watches this season back and really sees what an a-hole he is. I hope he watches it back too and realizes he needs help. 

[LizBug]

I have the feeling that, as bad as Jonathan was in last night's episode, those were the "best" clips that production had of him.

[sara416]

I would start practicing driving a manual the moment I applied for this show. Why are we 37 seasons into this show and still having people who don't know how to drive a stick. 

[Ilovepie]

What a great leg! Loved that first barrel rolling challenge, and I like that the self-navigation really came into play here. If the travel itself isn't going to be a factor anymore, I wish there was more self-navigating in other ways. It does make it more interesting (to me anyway!). 

That valet roulette did not go the way the producers wanted - everyone could drive a stick! You could see Phil gleefully cut away to teams from other seasons struggling to drive a stick and this season, not a single one. Maybe next season, Bertram Van Munster.....

Jack and Carson were a delight. The total glee at that ren faire challenge was so cute! They almost cancel out the jackassery of Jonathan. Almost. I pray J&A have a penalty for the broken tile that is long enough for Alyssa and Josiah to catch up and pass them. I do not want to hear his sullen pouty rudeness anymore. GTFO my tv!

Since Mark & Brett are gone, I honestly don't care who wins, as long as it's not J&A. That would be the worst.

Portugal looks beautiful. One thing I will say about this season, the locations have looked amazing.

[Auntie Anxiety]

 

22 minutes ago, LizBug said:

I have the feeling that, as bad as Jonathan was in last night's episode, those were the "best" clips that production had of him.

Jonathan somehow decided that if he berates Ana without raising his voice, it doesn’t qualify as abusive.

[chaifan]

3 hours ago, RandyK said:

Finally, maybe an end of the season poll.  Jonathan Ana:

4. (Repeating my prediction from a post above)  Ana crosses the mat, and asks Phil for sanctuary.

5. Ana "loses" (cough cough) her passport, forcing her to remain in Portugal.  She returns to the castle and hooks up with the Amazing Archery Instructor and they live happily ever after.

6. Ana goes up to Carson & Jack, and says "That's it.  I'm done.  Do you know any nice lesbians you can introduce me to?"

[QQQQ]

Have teams always been able to ask locals/non-participants to use their phones and/or for directions?

[Colorado David]

Jonathan was particularly ugly on the raft.

rules for future contestants: learn to drive a stick. learn to read a map.try to learn at least a couple of major language phrases.

 

[Silver-hyren]

39 minutes ago, QQQQ said:

Have teams always been able to ask locals/non-participants to use their phones and/or for directions?

Yes.  In fact the last episode had Han/Holden and Ana asking locals for help and writing down directions they pulled up on Google Maps. 

[QQQQ]

12 minutes ago, Silver-hyren said:

Yes.  In fact the last episode had Han/Holden and Ana asking locals for help and writing down directions they pulled up on Google Maps. 

Yes, I know this season it's been seen multiple times. I mean going back to previous AR seasons from the beginning. Being able to simply ask people to use their phones when lost makes it all seem a little less... amazing? 😂 Next they'll be asking locals to use their phones to decipher codes, translate, solve riddles, etc.

[tinkerbell]

1 hour ago, QQQQ said:

Have teams always been able to ask locals/non-participants to use their phones and/or for directions?

I hate that it's allowed.  Asking locals for directions, sure. But borrowing a phone?  If the racers aren't allowed to bring their own phones, the shouldn't be allowed to borrow phones from locals.  I would never hand my phone over to a stranger to borrow.  Is that something that people do outside of the race?

[Facts Only]

3 hours ago, Auntie Anxiety said:

Jonathan somehow decided that if he berates Ana without raising his voice, it doesn’t qualify as abusive.

For the last few episodes that has crossed my mind.  I think you're right.

[Red Bridey]

34 minutes ago, tinkerbell said:

I hate that it's allowed.  Asking locals for directions, sure. But borrowing a phone?  If the racers aren't allowed to bring their own phones, the shouldn't be allowed to borrow phones from locals.  I would never hand my phone over to a stranger to borrow.  Is that something that people do outside of the race?

Well, the camera crew is there and the teams are clearly joined in some kind of race so it's not likely they'll run off with the phone, is it?

I think it's ridiculous, but it's been going on for many seasons so the genie is out of the bottle now and there's no going back.

[proserpina65]

That roadblock was sooooo cool!  Had my BFF and I been on this Race, I would've wanted to do it, but she would've had to do it because she's done archery before and I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with the bow, let alone the arrow.

We were texting while watching, and she suggested that Ana should whack Jonathan with that paddle, whereas I thought she should push him onto the train tracks.  My god, he was such a passive-aggressive asshole.  I hope they et a penalty of some sort for his breaking those tiles.

Poor Alyssa and Josiah!  They were significantly ahead of J&A, and then missed the first train because they couldn't find the parking.  So often it's the small things, not the tasks, which bite you in the ass.  And we actually saw some cracks in how Josiah behaved towards his wife on this leg.  However, he realized pretty quickly what he was doing, owned up to it and changed his behavior, unlike Jonathan who was still blaming his wife for shit she didn't do.

Quote

Eh, they've done that in the past and we had to wait a full week instead of one day.

I don't remember them ever doing that at the end of a leg.  They've had "to be continued" legs, but all the teams reached the pit stop and were told to keep racing.  They haven't, to the best of my memory, ended an episode without all the teams reaching the mat.

 

[proserpina65]

2 hours ago, QQQQ said:

Have teams always been able to ask locals/non-participants to use their phones and/or for directions?

Yes, starting with Rob & Brennan borrowing someone's cell phone in season 1.

Edited to note that they no longer allow teams to keep the cell phone like R&B did.  Nor do they allow teams to have a local guide them around a city anymore the way Danny & Oswald did in season 2.  But getting some help from locals has always been allowed, particularly for directions.

Edited May 15 by proserpina65

[watch2much]

I think it’s even more abusive done this way. 

5 hours ago, Auntie Anxiety said:

 

Jonathan somehow decided that if he berates Ana without raising his voice, it doesn’t qualify as abusive.

[springbarb]

11 hours ago, Haleth said:

It just occurred to me what Jonathan’s penalty should be - looking through another stack of tiles to find one that matches the one he broke, one that fits the puzzle. 

I mean, that absolutely should be what happens. I am really really really hoping that that is what happens, but also know that I can't have nice things, so I'm assuming he'll just be handed a replacement.

Edited May 15 by springbarb
For emphasis

[illdoc]

Who's afraid of the "one more twist coming"?! Could the twist be (a) yet another NEL so there are 4 teams in the final (b) Somehow A&J got a penalty and as a result Jonathan and Ana (despite getting to the mat 4th) will move on? Jonathan looked rather shocked/surprised at the mat as Phil's voiceover said "one more twist".

 

[Browncoat]

I thought the "val-ey rou-lay" (as at least one team said) was the twist.  Phil very clearly said that the last team to arrive "WILL" be eliminated. 

[BucFan]

8 hours ago, iMonrey said:

I thought it was weird that Alyssa had to wear chainmail headwear while she was doing the archery whereas Carson, Jonathan and Holden did not

Thank You - I noticed that too. 
On her second attempt, she wasn’t wearing it. I think if she wasn’t wearing it on the first attempt she would’ve gotten it then. I don’t know what that was all about 😔

[kav]

21 hours ago, bunnyface said:

Craaaap.  I wanted to be rid of them.

Intent matters.  Ana unintentionally stepped in front of him.  He INTENTIONALLY made her feel like shit for what was probably hours.  Not a momentary knee-jerk reaction that passes.  Prolonged, deliberate jackassery designed to knock her down.

I believe it can not be known by any person if something is intentional or not unless you are the person that does it, so we have no idea it it was intentional or not, but what is known is that knowing and understanding the impact of words towards another person can be hard for people whose brains work differently.

[Skooma]

5 hours ago, QQQQ said:

Have teams always been able to ask locals/non-participants to use their phones and/or for directions?

Yes.  Always.  In Season 1 Rob & Brennan actually borrowed one and mailed it back later I think it was.  

After that production banned the "borrowing to take with you" part but you could ask for help borrowing on the spot.  So by Season 2 teams were asking to use their taxi driver's phone while they were passengers etc.

And asking for directions from locals if that is what you mean by the "and/or" (I'm confused some by the wording), absolutely.  It is what TAR is for.  Meeting the world's people and seeking their help which is essential to traveling in the world.

57 minutes ago, illdoc said:

Who's afraid of the "one more twist coming"?! Could the twist be (a) yet another NEL so there are 4 teams in the final (b) Somehow A&J got a penalty and as a result Jonathan and Ana (despite getting to the mat 4th) will move on? Jonathan looked rather shocked/surprised at the mat as Phil's voiceover said "one more twist".

 

No.  Phil said Final Three teams.

15 minutes ago, kav said:

I believe it can not be known by any person if something is intentional or not unless you are the person that does it, so we have no idea it it was intentional or not, but what is known is that knowing and understanding the impact of words towards another person can be hard for people whose brains work differently.

That doesn't matter.  Only actions count.  You hit somebody, you are responsible whether you think hitting is bad or not.  It is wrong.  This is verbal hitting.  It is wrong.

[Meowwww]

1 hour ago, watch2much said:

I think it’s even more abusive done this way. 

As someone with an ex who did this, I agree.  The quieter they are, the more dangerous it is.  

[kav]

11 minutes ago, Skooma said:

Yes.  Always.  In Season 1 Rob & Brennan actually borrowed one and mailed it back later I think it was.  

After that production banned the "borrowing to take with you" part but you could ask for help borrowing on the spot.  So by Season 2 teams were asking to use their taxi driver's phone while they were passengers etc.

And asking for directions from locals if that is what you mean by the "and/or" (I'm confused some by the wording), absolutely.  It is what TAR is for.  Meeting the world's people and seeking their help which is essential to traveling in the world.

No.  Phil said Final Three teams.

That doesn't matter.  Only actions count.  You hit somebody, you are responsible whether you think hitting is bad or not.  It is wrong.  This is verbal hitting.  It is wrong.

He has said he knows it was wrong, and that this episode was one of the episodes that him breaking it down helped lead to the diagnosis.  All of these actions that he has said were wrong were triggered by an event.  Only he can explain what those triggering events were and what was going on in his brain during those times.

[eel2178]

5 hours ago, Colorado David said:

 

rules for future contestants: learn to drive a stick. learn to read a map.try to learn at least a couple of major language phrases.

 

learn to swim and learn to rappel

[eel2178]

6 hours ago, ByaNose said:

Now for the task at hand. I am curious how the broken tiles are handled. Time penalty? Find new ones? They just hand them replacements? 

My best scenario would be for them to finish the entire thing leaving a space where the broken tile should be, then being told "since you can't finish your mural, you can't finish the task" then have Phil come out to the scene of the crime and eliminate them.

Of course, it will take some creative editing for us to be able to hear Phil over Jonathan cussing out his wife even though he is solely to blame for breaking the tile.

[Netfoot]

Try to convince me that the camera operator didn't telegraph the maps to the green team.

An interesting series of challenges. The tile puzzle was very good but the archery looked like the most fun. Well done Carson for figuring out the strategy of going for the more difficult targets first. Barrel rolling could be a physical monster especially after paddling across the river. And the paddle back could have been the icing on the cake for arms tired from the barrel rolling.

I'd say the ideal penalty for breaking a tile would be to given a pair of tweezers and a jeweler's loupe and told to put that tile back together again so it can be put into the wall. 

Not sure how the TBC will turn out -- have not warched the final episode yet.

The needle on Jonathan's assmeter was way over to the right again as usual. The poor man!

Phil, the Panama hat looks better on you.

[InDueTime]

9 hours ago, Lovecat said:

A half hour in, I just couldn't take any more Jonathan-ing, and started skipping a minute every time he appeared onscreen.  That last hour just flew by, lemme tell ya.  He is an absolute joy suck.

Agreed. Jonathan made this episode difficult to watch. I was wishing that they'll be last, just so that Ana won't have to hear him anymore on the race.

[shura]

1 hour ago, Skooma said:

And asking for directions from locals if that is what you mean by the "and/or" (I'm confused some by the wording), absolutely.  It is what TAR is for.  Meeting the world's people and seeking their help which is essential to traveling in the world.

Not only that, how would not being allowed to ask the locals for directions even work on TAR?  You are in a city you’ve never been to before.  You get your tile clue that only says “ODE Port House” - and then what?

[PurpleTentacle]

I really thought that was deceptive editing for the longest time. I was so sure Jonathan & Ana were so far behind there was no way they'd ever catch up. Yet there they were, Jonathan being an ass all the way to the train.

I guess it must have been a combination of Alyssa & Josiah having gotten more lost than it seemed at first and the trains running pretty infrequently. Maybe every half hour or even hour?

I so hope that Jonathan is out for the final leg. I want him nowhere near that finish line. Well, guess I'm going to watch it now.