Episode Report Card M. Giant: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Franked Again
By M. Giant | Season 21 | Episode 9 | Aired on 11.25.2012
Abbie and Ryan have stopped at a bookstore to check out some flights on the internet. Ryan finds a 9:15 flight that goes through Frankfurt, but the mention of that city seems to send Abbie into a literal flashback to Leg 7, when she and Ryan and the goat famers missed their connection and were stranded in Frankfurt overnight, which became the primary cause of the eight-hour deficit they're facing now. Ryan says it's either that or get to Amsterdam at 6:00 PM, and they decide to book two flights ahead of time out of Frankfurt, just to cover their bases. They couldn't both go wrong, could they? "Once we get into Frankfurt, we're gold," he says confidently, while Abbie cuts the camera a very nervous look. It's bad enough that they're tempting fate by returning to Frankfurt, she seems to be thinking; does he also have to waggle his fingers in its face and go, "I'm not touching youuu!"
Finally, here is the fifth and last-place team, Josh and Brent, departing at 8:11 AM. Yes, they're more than twelve hours behind the leaders, but this means they actually gained more than an hour and a quarter on Abbie and Ryan during the previous leg, so good for them. Brent quickly recognizes the flag as being that of Holland, so good for them again. Speaking of the U-Turn that so many people are speculating about that it damn well better show up, Josh interviews that they've been in the back of the pack since the beginning. "I think at his point in time, everybody's gonna want to keep us in the race because they think we're the weakest team... so if we get carried into the final three by another team, we'll take it." Not that I'm clear how that would work. Does Josh think he's on a href="http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/big-brother/" target="_blank">Big Brother or something?
Back at the airport, Natalie & Nadiya board their plane to Rome, which, as Phil reminds us, should ultimately have them in Amsterdam by 11:30 AM. He and the subtitles also remind us that Jaymes & James's direct flight is scheduled to land at 12:15, while Trey & Lexi are connecting through Larnaca and due in Amsterdam at 1:05. Phil's voice concludes, "And Abbie & Ryan have booked two pairs of tickets connecting through Frankfurt, arriving in Amsterdam at 12:45 PM and 2:05 PM." Hence the subtitle reading 12:45/2:05 PM Arrival." And also, probably, hence Abbie's worried look at Ryan. Is it even within the rules to double-book like this? I guess we'll find out. Now that four teams are in the air, the fifth team gets to the airport and books on the next fastest flight, which will apparently connect in Oslo. I bet if Phil counted all the countries the teams travel through and not just race in, the number would be doubled.