Previously on The Mole: The group tried to evade snipers. Jennifer bitched at Kate for not shooting anyone with her gun. Kate tried to shoot Steven to earn an exemption, but it was too late. Jim stopped the team from doing logic puzzles and losing money. Charlie wishes he never signed up for the show because he misses his wife. Kathryn gets busted snooping in the production notebooks (although, to be fair, it was a trap.) Henry gets executed.
Is it wrong that I get a big kick out of Anderson Cooper saying saboteur? I just love that word. I think it's going to be my career goal, just so I can get it printed on business cards.
Anderson, still dressed all in black, leans on a pile of stones. He tells us that Henry was eliminated, and now there are only six contestants left. The six are stranded in Spain, and miss their friends and family. Anderson hits on the whole "They're a team, but they can't trust each other" thing that they tell us every week. I'm completely distracted by Anderson's pants, which appear to be made of polyester or something. They're very stretchy.
Charlie says that he misses his wife. Aw, that's so sweet. Kathryn says that she's missing her fiancé, but she appears to struggle over his name. Is it because she's The Mole, and thus the whole engagement thing is a sham, or is it because she's in love with Anderson? Or both? You be the judge. Jim isn't homesick at all, but he misses flying. Jennifer is nervous that Jim is spending so much time with Steven. We see footage of Steve wiping an eyelash from Jim's face. Oh, he's such a tease.
The pot is at $310,000. It's day eighteen, and the group heads for another town in Spain. Does it really matter what the name is? No, it doesn't. Plus, they don't give us the Carmen Sandiego map, and that makes me sad. Anderson needs them to divide up into three groups of two: one group of Resourceful people, one group of Smart people, and one group of Stupid people. I would totally go in the Stupid group, because anything you do well after that is just a surprise. If you go with Smart or Resourceful, and then don't do well, it would be a disappointment. But no one expects anything of the Stupid people. It's all about diminished expectations. Kate immediately volunteers to be on the Stupid team. In an interview, Kathryn says that Kate had just said the day before that she was never volunteering for anything again. Three Creamer. I mean, really. Kathryn was cut off in mid-sentence, so we don't even know if she was referring to this incident or not. They divide up with Kathryn and Steven on the Resourceful team, Jim and Jennifer on the Smart team, and Kate and Charlie on the Stupid team.
Anderson lays out the challenge. Each group has to find the hotel where they'll be spending the night by 8 PM to earn $40,000 for the pot. Two out of the three groups need to get to the hotel for them to win the money. The Resourceful group gets a van. The Smart team gets a Smart car. The Stupid people get to go with Anderson, who'll take them directly there. Jim points out that one group will definitely get there, so they really only need one more to make it. Anderson tells Jim that he really is smart. Ha ha. If one group doesn't make it to the hotel, they have to find other accommodations for the night. Anderson confiscates all their money, but only Jim had any cash on hand. Kate wonders why Jim had so much cash on him. Way to deflect suspicion, Mole.
Jim and Jennifer come upon their "car." I use the quotation marks, because by North American standards, it's not much of a vehicle. Take a Geo Metro, chop it in half, and this car is even smaller. I kind of want one, just because it's so odd-looking, although I bet it has a poor safety rating. But great mileage! Anyway, Anderson calls it "the mini-me of European cars" in a really, really annoying Dr. Evil imitation. Please don't do that again, Anderson. Please. Inside, they find a cell phone and an audiocassette. They stick it in the tape deck, and Anderson tells them to go to Espera and find the village idiot in the town hall. They take off.
Steven and Kathryn find a really broken-down van. It's missing a tire. There's a cage inside with geese. Live geese. They try to open the back door, and an inflatable raft blows up. They find their clues -- a series of Polaroids that document their route to the hotel. Wow, that would be a really difficult way to navigate, especially since the pictures are basically of desert, some more desert, and some more desert with some rocks. Not a lot of landmarks along the route, apparently. Steven puts on a new tire while Kathryn investigates the van, and finds a water jug and a scooter. Steven is worried about an oil leak, but Kathryn wants to take off. They ask some locals for help. Steven finds one guy who claims to be a mechanic. Kathryn is suspicious of the amount of time Steven is wasting dealing with the van.
Kate and Charlie arrive at the Montecastillo Hotel in Jerez. They've been blindfolded so that they don't know how they arrived. The hotel is luxurious. Kathryn tells us that Kate rubs Charlie the wrong way, but she's not sure if the reverse is true. Kate and Charlie drink some champagne and do a toast.
A half-hour later, the Resourceful team takes off. They've jettisoned the inflatable raft and the geese. Are they just going to leave the geese sitting there? I guess the production crew will pick them up. The van sounds awful, but it starts.
The Smart team arrives in Espera at the town hall. Some guy the production team hired to play the village idiot gives them a clue. It's a multiple-choice question: What king built a castle on the hill above Espera so he could watch the stars? Each answer tells them to go to a different city . If they choose the correct answer and go to the correct city, they will get another clue. If they're wrong, it's just a waste of time.
Anderson addresses the Stupid team. They have a challenge of their own. If they can prevent the Smart team from reaching the hotel, they double the prize to $80,000. However, the Resourceful team still has to make it, and the Stupid team has no way of contacting them. So basically, if they want to sabotage the Smart team, they have to be confident that the Resourceful team will make it. If the Resourceful team doesn't, they don't get any money at all for the pot. Anderson gives them a phone and a guidebook -- the book contains all of the answers the Smart team needs. Anderson tells them that if both the Resourceful and Smart teams get there, Kate and Charlie have to sleep outside. Charlie and Kate want to take the challenge. Charlie explains that they'll be putting their faith in the Resourceful group, and in themselves. Kate points out that the worst case is that they sleep outside. Charlie uses the phone to call the Smart team. Kate explains that they have a guidebook. Jim reads them the question while Kate takes notes, and agrees to call Jim back. Kate and Charlie find out that Hespero is the correct answer. Kate decides to tell Jim that they found some info in the book, and it referred to the king, but didn't give his name. Man, she is crafty. I'm not that sneaky -- I would have just given a wrong answer. I'm not saying she's The Mole -- oh, wait. I am. Kate makes the call and reads everything from the book, leaving out the name. A timer tells us that there are over four hours left. Jim and Kate decide to go with an answer that will send them thirty miles off course.
Anderson introduces Kate and Charlie to their personal massage therapist. Charlie soaks in a tub, with candles.
Cut to the Resourceful team driving down a dusty road in their crappy van. Steven asks Kathryn how she would sabotage this, if she were The Mole. Kathryn claims not to even know where to begin. They're driving at about twenty miles per hour, and they pass a piece of wood, on which is painted, "Who is The Mole?" Oh, those production guys are such cut-ups. The van stalls out and Kathryn can't get it restarted. Steven gives it a shot, but he doesn't have any luck either. Slow motion shot of him smiling in what might be described as an evil manner as we go to commercial. They really want us to think he's The Mole, which is the one reason why I don't buy it.
Steven and Kathryn are still on the side of the road. Steven claims the van isn't working, but Kathryn tells him he didn't even try it. Ultimately, they end up abandoning the van. Steven hops on a motorized scooter while Kathryn rides a bike. In the shot, Steven is on the bike and Kathryn is on the scooter. Kathryn accuses Steven of being The Mole. Steven replies that it's either him or Kathryn. Kathryn points out that it could be Kate. Steven says it could be Jim or Jennifer. Kathryn says it's not Jennifer, and goes back to saying that it's Steven or Kate. Steven says it's probably Kathryn. I notice that no one thinks it's Charlie. Me neither.
In the Smart car, Jennifer wonders whether Kate and Charlie are getting "some sort of perk" for misleading them. Wow, she does belong in the Smart car. They arrive in El Gastor, the wrong town. They figure out they are in the wrong place when there is no message for them. Jim calls Kate again and says that they are going to go to Utrera now. Kate tells him to call if there's any way she can help and hangs up. She tells Charlie that Jim is "buying it" and going "in the completely opposite direction now." She is a smooth operator. Smooooth operator. The Carmen Sandiego map shows us that they are still headed in the wrong direction. An on-screen countdown lets us know that there are about two and a half hours left. Once they arrive, Jim finds out that the town hall is closed. Jim calls Kate again and tells them that they'll be heading for the third choice -- Ubrique. Jim laughs that they clearly aren't the smart ones. The timer tells us that they only have one hour and forty-five minutes left. While they're driving, Jim tries to get Charlie to see some sort of sign out the window. Charlie says that all he sees are "rolling hills" and that they're in "opulence." He also claims that they've stripped the room of any identifying marks while the camera closes in on his slippers, which bear the name of the hotel, and a nearby calendar, also bearing the name. That's pretty funny. The way it's edited, it's like Anderson is listening to Charlie lie and then looking at all the things that prove he is lying.
Back to the Resourceful team. The motor scooter has run out of gas. Steven begs for gas from a local farmer, and somehow it works. They get a refill and thank him. Once they're back on the road, Steven comments that they're "a spectacle." A car passing them in the opposite direction nearly crashes into the car in front of it, with much screeching of tires. You can see that traffic is backed up behind Kathryn and Steven for miles -- couldn't they go over onto the shoulder for a few minutes and let the traffic pass? How annoying would that be?
On the Smart team, Jennifer comments that they don't know if they should be trusting Kate and Charlie. An on-screen counter tells us that they are over twenty-two miles away from the hotel. Back to the Resourceful team, who are just over nine miles away. Some of the backed up cars start to pass them. Anderson explains that time is running out and Kate and Charlie are starting to worry. Remember that the Resourceful team has to make it in time for the pot to double. Charlie says that there are about thirty-six minutes left. Assuming that scooter reaches a top speed of about ten miles per hour, the Resourceful team is never going to make it in time. Charlie is "losing faith."
Charlie and Kate decide to get Jim and Jennifer to the hotel so that they at least get their $40,000. Kate clarifies that if both teams show up, they still get the money but Kate and Charlie have to sleep outside. Kate calls Jim and tells him to come towards Jerez. Jim says he was just looking at that town on the map. Kate tells him to drive into the town and ask about a fancy hotel. Jim insists that they need to go to Ubrique first. I think Kate's naked under that towel. Jim tells Kate that he and Jen have to discuss it. Jen thinks that it's suspicious and she doesn't trust Kate, and wonders if Kate is getting an exemption.
The Resourceful team is out of gas, so they ditch the scooter and start riding double on the bike. They're inside the city limits. Back in the Smart car, Jim is totally losing it. He starts singing a nonsense song. Why is the steering wheel on the left-hand side? Shouldn't it be opposite in Europe? Or is that just Great Britain? Also, they're driving on the right side of the road. I'm so confused. Anderson voice-overs that the Smart team decides to ignore Kate's phone call and continue on to Ubrique. Jim claims to be "degenerating into idiocy." Back at the hotel, Kate and Charlie wonder why Jim hasn't called back. Charlie thinks they should tell them about the sabotage, but it's not clear if they're allowed to do so. Charlie suggests that they tell them the name of the hotel. Charlie calls Jim and spells the name of the town and hotel. Jim agrees to turn around as the on-screen counter reveals that there are twenty-seven minutes left and they are eighteen miles away. I don't know what the speed limit is in Spain, but that seems like plenty of time.
The Resourceful team is just over three miles away, as they get instructions from an ambulance driver. They take off through the city with Steven pedaling and Kathryn riding on the back. They come to an intersection and don't know which way to go. Steven claims that they just passed a sign, but he doesn't know which way to go. Couldn't they go back and look at the sign again? I know time is a factor, but it seems like it makes more sense to figure out where they are headed.
Back in the Smart car, Jim claims that he wanted to forget the clues and go to Jerez from the beginning.
The Resourceful team only has twelve minutes left as they bike through the city. Kathryn tells Steven that she'll give him whatever he wants if he gets there on time. Hmm, I think that's what she told Anderson last night. Steven opts for a leg massage, since he's been biking so hard. Back in the Smart car, Jim rubs the ceiling and praises the Smart car. Seriously, he's losing it. Less than four minutes left, and Steven is pedaling like mad. Jim is still rubbing the car. Charlie, Kate, and Anderson wait for anyone to arrive. Charlie says that there are two minutes left. Suddenly there are only thirty-five seconds, and it doesn't look like anyone will make it. But the Smart car pulls through, and Kate and Charlie whoop and celebrate. They win the $40,000. Meanwhile, the Resourceful team didn't make it. Charlie and Kate explain their attempted sabotage to Jennifer and Jim.
The Resourceful team arrives about four minutes after the deadline. So close! So close that it seems kind of suspicious. Anderson tells Kate, Charlie, Jim, and Jennifer that they get to have a nice dinner. Kathryn and Steve have to eat and sleep outside. We see Steven eating some bread. Kathryn voice-overs that Steven was navigating via the pictures, and they missed the turnoff. Steven voice-overs that the pictures were worthless. Jennifer voice-overs that "they could have run or walked" and still made it in six hours. Jim also thinks that it seems a little suspect. To be fair, we don't know how long they tried to start the van, or how long they had to beg for gas for the scooter. The editing made it seem like the Resourceful team was in Jerez while the Smart team was still on a wild goose chase, but they never showed the time left while the Resourceful team was on screen, until the very end. So, they could have entered Jerez at the same time, or even after, the Smart team. Kathryn asks Steven if he thinks other people could have made it if they were on the Resourceful team. Steven doesn't think so, but then jokes that someone else might have "utilized the geese." I kind of hope Steven is The Mole, because I want him to stay around. He's funny.
The sun rises on Day Nineteen. Kathryn and Steven slept in the tiny Smart car. Steven gets out, claiming that he's "stiff as a board." Can you imagine biking and running all that way and then sleeping all scrunched up? I would probably want to amputate my legs. They enter the dining room where the others are eating breakfast. Kathryn says she only slept for half an hour.
The team drives to Santa Maria and the castle of San Marco. Jim comes out wearing his fake buckteeth, and Anderson chuckles slightly. What a cool customer that Anderson is. This is the site of their test. Anderson voice-overs that while the players have been cut off from family and friends, the producers have been in touch and gotten some information to use in this test. Anderson explains to the players that a friend or family member of each one of them made a statement about them. They have to match the statement to the player. Each correct answer adds $5,000 to the pot.
The first statement is "The most redeeming quality about you is your ability to always offer a hug." Steven claims that one, and everyone agrees. The statement is that the one thing that annoys this person the most about the player in question is the nagging. Jennifer says that it can't be her, because she's not married. Charlie says if they're limiting it to married people, it only leaves him and Kate since Steven is already eliminated. Kate allows that one of her kids could have said it. The statement is that the thing they have least in common is fashion sense. Everyone looks at Jim. Jennifer says it couldn't possibly be her. This would be hard, mostly because you don't know whom they talked to. I know that my boyfriend would say very different things about me than my mother, for example. Jim agrees to claim that statement.
The statement is that the most romantic thing this player has every done is agree to marry them. Kate and Charlie look at each other. Kathryn thinks it might be her, and she thinks Brad said it. Charlie jokes that he hopes it's Brad, because who else would it be? Um, Anderson? Do you have any feelings about that? The statement is that during their relationship, the person has never seen a change in the player. Everyone points at Charlie, and he agrees. The last statement is that if the player were in the circus, he or she would be the one shot out of a cannon. Jennifer is the only one left who hasn't claimed a statement. She doesn't appear very convinced that it's describing her, and tries to think of who might say that about her. She decides it must be "Amy." Anderson tells them that they have the opportunity to change their minds. Kate thinks that her kids might say she would be shot out of a cannon. Jennifer thinks her brother might have called her a nag. Kate suggests that they switch. Let me just point out, in light of later events, that Jennifer didn't appear too sure that the cannon thing was hers at first, and claimed that the nag thing did fit. It wasn't like Kate strong-armed her into switching at all. Jennifer thinks about it for a while, and decides to switch to the nagging statement.
Anderson voice-overs that they'll now test their answers. He leads Charlie into a room containing numerous wooden barrels, presumably filled with wine or sherry. Anderson asks Charlie about his chosen statement -- that he hasn't changed through the relationship. Charlie thinks his wife said it, and he reveals that in two days, they'll have been married for thirty-eight years. After a little more chit chat about Charlie's wife, Anderson calls out, "Bernadette, is that what you said?" Bernadette comes running out. She and Charlie hug and Charlie is so happy. It's really touching. He's obviously very in love with his wife, after thirty-eight years. They walk off.
up is Steven. Anderson reminds him that his statement was that he always offers a hug. Steven thinks his wife Angie said it. Anderson calls out, and Angie answers. Steven gives a big smile, and appropriate to his statement, a big hug. Angie wraps her legs around Steve's waist and gives him a kiss. Anderson breaks it up, telling them that it's a family show.
Jennifer goes , and she's still puzzling over who might have called her a nag. She claims to be nervous, and then claims that "they switched [her] to the nagging category." Unless that was some skillful editing, she actually suggested the change. Jennifer thinks her "best friend Amy" is the one who said it. Anderson calls out, but no one answers and Jennifer walks out alone. As soon as she gets outside with the others, she starts laying the blame, saying that everyone else switched her. I hate Jennifer. I don't know if I've said that this week. I feel bad that she didn't get to see her "best friend," but even if everyone else strong-armed her into switching (which they didn't), she's still annoying. Jennifer cries.
Jim is up . Anderson reminds him that he claimed the "bad fashion sense" statement. Jim thinks that Joe, his ex-boyfriend, is the one who said it. Cut to Jennifer explaining to Steve and his wife that even though everyone thought Kate was a nag, Jennifer agreed to switch. Oh, whatever. Back inside, Jim claims that he's the "fashion failure" and Joe tries to help him out. Anderson calls out, and after a huge delay, Joe walks out. Jim gives him a big hug. Anderson laughs at the fact that they claim to have different fashion sense, and yet they are dressed identically in black T-shirts and jeans. Outside, Jim introduces Joe to everyone.
Kathryn goes . Anderson reminds her that her statement claimed the most romantic thing she has done is agree to marry the person making the statement, and Kathryn thinks Brad said it. Anderson calls out to Brad, who shows up. They don't look that excited to see one another, especially compared to Charlie with his wife, or Steven with his. I'm just saying. I mean, maybe they're just not demonstrative, but it's not like Charlie made out with his wife and yet the love he feels for her totally came across. They don't even kiss. Anderson prolongs the discomfort by asking them a couple of stupid questions before they join the others. Jennifer is still crying. Kathryn tells Brad why she's crying, and then goes over to comfort her. Jennifer tells Kathryn to enjoy her time with Brad, and starts in again on how everyone forced her to change her answer, which never happened. She can say it all she wants, but it doesn't make it true. Kathryn hugs Jennifer while she claims that she's "tough on the outside, but marshmallow on the inside." Mmm, marshmallow on the inside. Suddenly, I'm craving a candy bar.
Kate goes , and there's really no suspense since we already know that Jennifer's was wrong. Kate claims that her friend and family expect her to do the unexpected at this point. Oh, you're such a rebel. Kate thinks her son Adam made the statement. They must have given them some hints about who the person was, because nobody guessed wrong. And isn't it a little weird that her son came instead of her husband? I'm just saying. Anyway, to the surprise of no one (except Kate I guess) Adam doesn't come out when Anderson calls his name. Kate looks disappointed and heads out to join the others. She approaches Jennifer and says, "I'm very disappointed." Jennifer says snarkily, "We had it right the first time," and walks away. Okay, maybe Kate botched it on purpose, since I still think she's The Mole, but doesn't Jennifer think that she's sad too? She didn't get to see her son and all. What a bitch.
Anderson comes out and announces that they got four questions right, so they add $20,000 to the pot, for a total of $370,000. He apologizes to Kate and Jennifer that they don't get to see their loved ones. Then he calls for Amy and Adam, who come out. Kate hugs her son. Jennifer also looks incredibly happy, but she still isn't giving up her crabbing -- when Amy can't believe Jennifer got the question wrong, Jennifer says, "I had it right and they changed it." Give it up, girlfriend. We all saw the tape where you agreed to change it easily. I don't know if Amy is more than a friend to Jennifer or what, but Jennifer appears happy to see her -- happier than Kathryn was to see Brad, anyway. But Jennifer claims that Amy is just a friend, so I'm going with that, I guess. Kate shows off her green hair to her son, who is shocked and stunned.
In an interview, Kate says that she sees her "nagging" as just being a good mother. Adam says he no longer needs her advice, but he doesn't say it in a mean way. Jennifer is still crying over the Amy thing, claiming that she thought they would send her home and they wouldn't get to see each other. In an interview, Amy says that she's surprised to be there, but not surprised that Jennifer hasn't been eliminated. Introductions happen all around and Anderson announces that the game has taken a back seat for a moment.
In an interview, Joe says that Jim is always fair and follows the rules. Brad talks about how he is the sole person responsible for the wedding planning. Seriously, no chemistry between those two. Steven talks about how he told his wife that he spent the night with Kathryn, but she understood. Angie says that Steven is a flirt.
Anderson reminds everyone that the execution is tonight, and that their guests can join them for the pre-execution dinner. Jennifer goes to Amy's room and knocks on the door, saying that she's "not alone." Amy opens the door anyway, and shuts it immediately, presumably because of the cameras. Charlie talks to his wife about The Mole. In an interview, Charlie's wife says that she puts the television remote on Charlie's pillow and falls asleep to the sounds of the TV, so Charlie has been replaced by the remote. In the hotel room, Jennifer shows Amy her chart with information about The Mole. Amy jokes that once the show is over, Jennifer will be making charts about everything. In an interview, Kate's son says that he doesn't know if Kate is The Mole, but she could pull it off. Joe says that Jim won't tell him if he's The Mole or not. Brad says that Kathryn could be The Mole because she can be "very sneaky." Amy says that she doesn't know if Jennifer is The Mole. Bernadette says that Charlie could be The Mole, but he wouldn't tell her. Charlie says that he wouldn't want her to bear the burden, plus if he told her, he would have to kill her and he likes living with her. Aw, they are so cute. Angie says that Steven would be a good Mole because he's good at keeping secrets and messing things up without even trying to. Amy says that she hopes Jennifer wins, but she also would like to have company on the plane ride back. When she's with Amy, Jennifer appears happier than I've ever seen her on this show. As we go to break, Anderson reminds us that soon another player will be executed.
At the pre-execution dinner, Anderson wishes Charlie and Bernadette a happy wedding anniversary. They get a little cake. Charlie explains that he thought he should leave before, and we see the footage of Charlie telling her on the phone that he wishes he had never signed up for the show. Charlie explains that now he is ready to finish out his stay. I hope that doesn't mean he's about to be executed.
Some really cool lightning spreads across the sky as Anderson voice-overs that the twenty-question quiz will determine who stays and who goes. Kathryn thinks that the day's activities involved "subtle manipulation" by The Mole. She thinks that Kate seemed too desperate to switch the answers, and has done "small things here or there that don't seem to add up." Jim thinks that Kathryn is "somewhat tougher than she looks." Jennifer thinks it's suspicious that Kathryn and Steve made a pact to work together before they even knew what the day's challenge would be. Kate thinks Steve was acting "Mole-ish" by not making it back on time in the vehicle challenge.
More lightning. It's raining very hard outside as the players and their guests assemble to find out the results of the quiz. The group pot stands at $370,000. Anderson wishes them luck and explains how the execution works, which we all know by now -- green thumbprint means you stay and red thumbprint means you go. He doesn't ask for volunteers this time -- I'm guessing because there are less people, he needs to take pains with the order to draw out the suspense. Kathryn goes first -- green thumbprint. Steven goes -- green thumbprint. Jennifer goes -- red thumbprint. Ding-dong, the witch is dead. She doesn't seem that upset to go. Jim looks sad.
No one can muster up much sympathy for the Montage of Sad Leaving this time. The best Charlie can do is say that Jennifer "performed well" on the tests. We see Jennifer being mauled by the baby bull. Then, she argues with Henry. She introduces herself on the first day, which is also the last time that she was nice. Jim says that Jennifer is his friend. Jennifer runs through the village, and through the cornfield maze. The best praise Kathryn comes up with is that she can't be blasé about Jennifer leaving now that she has met Amy. Talk about damning with faint praise. Outside, Jennifer tells Anderson that it was a difficult game. Seriously, this is the nicest and happiest she has been since day one.
The disclaimer says, "due to technical difficulties, extra time was added to the three routes test." But don't worry -- it didn't affect the "outcome of the game." I wonder what the technical difficulties were. I do appreciate the disclaimers, but I still want more information.
week: With only five players left, they compete in something that looks an awful lot like the sniper test, except they are going against each other instead of working together. Also, a "secret pact" is uncovered, and we see footage of Steven and Jim. Steven says that they want to eliminate everyone else, leaving Steven, Jim, and The Mole. Unless Steven or Jim is The Mole. Interesting.