Each Japanese couple hands their driver an address that is written in kanji (or hiragana or katakana, like I'm that smart), so Christina can read it, but Jen can't. Christina's problem, however, is that she isn't really sure how to drive the car because she only uses public transportation at home. Jen hops back out to beg people to help her translate her instructions and after being denied several times someone helps her. As she drives along, her couple is pointing out the window and talking to each other, so you get the feeling Jen isn't doing this the best way, but they can't help her. Christina has to stop and ask for directions almost immediately as well. Her couple seems highly amused watching her fumble around with turning the car off.
"Clazy gill."
Nick and Grandpa arrive at the station and get the clue and Nick decides to do the Road Block because Grandpa is really tired and needs water. Nick puts his taxi driver hat on all wickety wack because he's cool like that and starts asking people to help him translate his address card.
"Can you riz-ead my ciz-ard?"
Jen gets lost and starts to panic, whining, "Ooohhh, how did this happeeeenuh?" I bet her couple loves that. Christina is also confused, concluding that driving skills would have helped her more than Japanese for this challenge. Nick sets out with his couple and says that he's had experience driving in Ireland so he's used to driving on the right side of the car and the left side of the street. He's all attentive to his couple and asks if they would like air conditioning. Meanwhile Moronald and Grandpa Donald are back at the train station chowing down on something.
Prunes?
It turns out that the destination for this little taxi trip is a post office and Jen is the first one to successfully get her couple there on the correct side of the one way street to be dropped off. She lets them out while dancing around and squealing about how excited she is and they just watch her and hand her the clue. She sets off back to the train station. Christina makes it next and is now on her way back to the train station as well. Nick makes it third and says he thinks he remembers how to get back to the train station and hopes that he can pull ahead. As Jen and Christina find their way back to the train station, they both find themselves on the wrong side of the street and unable to pull around to the right side. Jen figures it out first and she and Nate read the clue. The next task is to go by taxi to Kita-Mido Temple and find another clue.
They get into their taxi and Jen tries to explain to their non-English speaking driver that they are in a race and need to hurry. She tries to pantomime running, but he won't even turn around to look at her so it is of no use. Christina is next and as she and Moronald get into their taxi she again asks for Ichiban and I could really go for a rainbow roll right now. Meanwhile Nick has gotten himself lost by not taking the same route back to the train station that he took to get to the post office and he says that landing an airplane is simpler than trying to drive around Osaka. Come on, Nick, you are the team leader! We get a shot of Nick actually stopped in the middle of an intersection and there are all kinds of horn honking sound effects while Grandpa Donald paces around the train station. No sign yet of The Hippies.
Ah hah! The Hippies are landing at long last and getting into their first cab to find the Kishiwada Castle. TK says they are glad to feel like they are back in the race, whether they are ahead or behind at this point. Back in The Babies' taxi, Jen is trying to explain to Nick just how difficult it was for her to drive the taxi and find the post office, but he shushes her, saying that he can't pay attention right now because he is too distracted watching their driver. Of course, this sends Jen into a pout and I feel like we are on the brink of another bicker.
"We were going to be nice this leg! I hate you!"
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Comments (12)
Good job HG!!! My favorite line - "Can you riz-ead my ciz-ard?" Something about Nick reminds me of Jon Heder...they both look so sinusy all the time.
My favorite visualization - Phil being my backseat driver...mmm...
1 of 12 | Posted by wintersux | Posted on January 10, 2008 4:03 AM
OK, maybe not my backseat driver...just in my backseat...but only after he gets over that nasty case of beriberi.
2 of 12 | Posted by wintersux | Posted on January 10, 2008 4:19 AM
Uh, HG, a "direct" flight means that you do not change aircraft, but it can indeed make one or more stops on the way to your final destination. Hate to make Moronald right, but that's the case.
3 of 12 | Posted by talma63 | Posted on January 10, 2008 5:52 AM
Great recap HG - I don't remember the last time I laughed that hard reading a recap! I kept thinking the same thing when Christina was saying how her father hadn't flipped out once the whole leg...he most definitely flipped out when they go to the airport. Thought it was hilarious when Moronald and Grandpa were sharing cookies waiting during the cab driving mission. I wish they would've given us more info on TK and Rachel...like timing of their flights. And "the electric car" was a little weird...usually theres huge product placement in those prizes and this was so vague...I would've been pissed if I won that! It's funny bc I think last time those two came in first they won a catamaran and now an electric car?!
4 of 12 | Posted by yankeesfan | Posted on January 10, 2008 7:00 AM
Another fine recap!
The hippies MAY be eliminated (due to trusting the wrong guy) but they are definitely winners in a much larger sense.
A million dollars would be wasted on the babies, but for the first time in memory, I like three out of four remaining teams.
Maybe they should do a show using only "nice" teams from past races?
5 of 12 | Posted by fire@will | Posted on January 10, 2008 10:19 AM
fire@will, I'm with you about the nice teams race. That'd be great. It'll never happen because TV producers love "conflict," which you get in spades with annoying teams *cough, Babies, cough*
I really want TK and Rachel to avoid elimination next episode. I want them to be in my life a little longer, since they're totally pleasant people. Nick and Don, they're great, too. Christina makes up for Ronald... mostly. I guess what I'm saying is I would love to see the Babies eliminated next, but you have to admit they've improved as RACERS. But they suck as humans.
6 of 12 | Posted by MidwestNomad | Posted on January 10, 2008 10:30 AM
Maybe they should do a show using only "nice" teams from past races?
Well, who would want to watch that?
The babies aren't THAT bad. I'm sure they're fine human beings whenever they're not around each other.
I like Nick and Grandpa, Cristina and Moron and TK and Rachel. I've got my fingers crossed.
7 of 12 | Posted by weasel dearest | Posted on January 10, 2008 12:33 PM
Thanks for the recap HG! I agree, Moronald was testy more than once, but I did like her hushing, and him saying ok--like sticking a pacifier in a crying baby dolls face!
I liked Jen more this time, and I felt bad for her when she was regaling the cheater with her tale of taxi woes, and he shut her down . . . that bites, and I know exactly how she felt!!! Perhaps he is more of the cause of the discontent--Jen needs someone more attentive, and maybe she'd deserve it. She looked great in the taxi cam too!
I'm still rooting for the dehydrated team--despite their leader, who at least can be a bitch! He does make for a great slo-mo, WTF before the commercial break--I'm usually completely convinced they're toast--I was also surprised it was only 10 minutes later . . . . thanks editors.
Rachael is also looking more attractive suddenly . . . what's happening . . . great to see a sweett and nice team almost at top three--we can hope can't we!?
Robots were cool!!!
8 of 12 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on January 10, 2008 1:58 PM
I liked Jen more this time
Totally, she was positively giddy during this leg of the race. She was definitely different, surprised that HG didn't notice.
9 of 12 | Posted by trickydick | Posted on January 10, 2008 5:43 PM
trickydick,
I also noticed how giddy Jen seemed when they left the pit stop...my first thought was that she and Nate must have had gotten a little "one on one" time during their pit stop.
Great recap, HG!
10 of 12 | Posted by hardlyworking | Posted on January 11, 2008 7:14 AM
Of course Jennifer was giddy -- because things were going well for her and Nathan, for once! But had things gotten really bad, she would've gone right back to screaming again. And she actually did with the taxi debacle, so how about that?
11 of 12 | Posted by Dale | Posted on January 15, 2008 12:40 PM
Did anyone else notice that the music in the background of the taxi driving challenge was "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors? I'm a 80's chick and recognized the tune right away...
HG - your recaps are the best! Thanks for the great job!
12 of 12 | Posted by lijjy | Posted on January 15, 2008 12:46 PM