(S12E04) Goths tend to be sincere and genuine according to Kynt of The Amazing Race. And, if one were to base his perception of Goth kind of folks just on this particular episode of the show, it would be and accurate perception indeed.

There was a lot to enjoy with the episode and the Goth couple, Kynt and Vyxsin were just a part of it. Ah, but there was a team to boo, too. That team was genuine, as well. Genuine creeps, that is!

When the teams started out from Bingo in Burkina Faso (the last Pit Stop) with zero dollars, I figured they wouldn't be traveling out of Africa this leg. Eventually they had to take taxis, but I didn't see any money pass hands, did you? Odd, I say. Maybe they were prepaid cabs for some reason. Perhaps local laws don't allow them to drive? I don't know.

The teams had to travel 100 miles in taxis heading for the next clue at Bood Pelegtana where they first had to pick up a chicken. Now, I know 100 miles in a cab here would be extremely costly. The first team to leave, Azaria and Hendekea, left at 7:58 and the last team, Lorena and Jason, departed at 10:07. So, there was about two hours between first and last. But, in view of how things went down, I don't think it was a late start which hurt Lorena and Jason.

The chickens would travel the leg with the teams -- no chicken, no check in. It was the blondes who decided to name their chicken Phil. "He's so cute ... just like Phil!" Poor Phil. That chicken looked nothing like him.

After receiving the clue from the Chickenman (he's everywhere, he's everywhere!), it was head on over to a Detour. This one was a lot of fun. Well, one choice was, anyway. Teams had a choice between Shake Your Pan or Shake Your Booty. Shake Your Pan was panning for gold. Ho-hum, but it was a fairly easy task and not subjected to the approval of judges like Shake Your Booty.

Donald and Nicolas were the only team who initially went for Shake Your Pan. But TK and Rachel, after seeing how strictly judged the booty bit was, headed off to find gold in them thar muddy holes. The judges for Shake Your Booty were local celebrities and it looked like the entire village came to watch the fun. The teams were shown a dance by a costumed warrior. They had to dance using those moves, plus add in moves of their own. If the judges didn't approve of their dance, they'd suffer a ten minute penalty.

Some of the dancing was pretty creative; some just looked stupid. Er, to use the judges' lingo -- "your creativity was not good." Nathan and Jennifer had to wait out the ten minutes as did Ronald and Christina. But some made it right through, including my favorite Goth duo. Shana and Jennifer made it through, but I think only because they were vampy.

After completing the Detour, we got our first look at the newly created U-Turn.

Hmmm ... I definitely like it better than the Yield. Hopefully, it will take the place of the Yield. Apparently there are two U-Turns this season after Detours. A team can only use the U-Turn once. They name a team they want to U-Turn and the selected team has to go back to complete the second Detour choice.

Most of the teams didn't want to use the U-Turn thinking they didn't need it and it would cause ill feelings between teams if they were to use it.

Not so with Shana and Jennifer. TK and Rachel were right on their heels, or at least in sight, when Shana thought she saw Lorena and Jason. Huh? As far as I could tell, Lorena and Jason were nowhere near them and hadn't even arrived at the Detour. What do they do? They U-Turned Lorena and Jason! That made no sense at all to me. Later we'd find out that it was more Shana than Jennifer, but it was a stupid and unneeded move at that time in the game. Perhaps TK and Rachel because they were right behind them, but Lorena and Jason?

Remember, the teams are still carrying their chickens through all of this. They were allowed to sit them down while they danced, but that was a bout it. It's a bit like an albatross, but it tastes like chicken.

From there they had to head to the Pelegtanga goat market where they faced a Roadblock -- Who's ready for juggling?

Of course, the teams thought about it the same way I did when I heard it. I thought actual juggling. You know, balls, knives, up in the air and all of that. Nope, that's not the kind of juggling they meant. One member of each team had to load a bicycle with a ton o' stuff including a live goat tied down in a laundry basket and find a certain stall in the marketplace to get their next clue.

Good, Shana had issues with the task. She deserved it. TK talked to Jennifer (of Shana and, not Nathan and) and it seems that Jennifer was extremely displeased with Shana about U-Turning Lorena and Jason. "You've put a target on your back," he told her.

It seemed, other than juggling the items on the bike, the language barrier was the biggest issue. Vyxsin spilled over, but eventually a bunch of local children led her to her destination. No such luck for Shana -- she just kept getting frustrated, but finally found her market stall.

In the end, though, it was Hendekea and Azaria once again getting to the Pit Stop mat at the Hotel DeVille first. Oh, they had a footrace with Nathan and Jennifer for an almost photo finish, but they were first. Jennifer got really pouty about it. What were they supposed to do? Hand over the first place finish to them? I don't think so! For their efforts, Hendekea and Azaria each won Yamaha motor scooters. Jennifer and Nathan just won second place. Heh. I still don't care that much for them.

After Hendekea and Azaria, then Jennifer and Nathan, the Pit Stop arrival order went down like this:
3. Christina and Ron
4. Nicolas and Donald
5. Kynt and Vyxsin
6. Shana and Jennifer
7. TK and Rachel
8. Lorena and Jason

Lorena and Jason were Philiminated just as I was starting to like them more. Yeah, she freaks out a bit too much when things go wrong. Oh, and yeah, he looks a bit like Marky Mark. But they've been doing better at getting along. I wanted Nathan and Jennifer to go before Lorena and Jason. Can we have a recount?

As for the other teams -- Ronald and Christina are coming along well. He really seems to want to change how he treats his daughter and he's obviously making a lot of progress. Yay. I always like to see fathers and daughters get along well together.

TK and Rachel are still running the race a bit mellow. It might cost them although at least they don't have the target on their back for being mean so-and-so's using the U-Turn.

Donald and Nicolas are hanging in nicely. The tasks haven't been geared for athletic 20somethings so much, so it's more of an even playing field for older racers. Not that it's all easy, but they're not climbing cliffs and stuff.

Hendekea and Azaria are a force to be reckoned with. That's the third first place they've taken out of four legs. I think he's too bossy. I'd bristle if I was his sister, but they are working together very well.

Then there's my favorite team, Kynt and Vyxsin. Race-wise, they're hanging in. But I was more impressed with their reactions to their surroundings. Kynt mentioned how everyone they met was so tolerant and they all smiled to make them feel welcome. With tears in her eyes, Vyxsin said, "It's heartbreaking to see such wonderful people having to live with so little." Their reactions to the poverty, yet fantastic people all around them, made me think even more of these two little Goth elves. I want them to win. That would be an amazing finish for an Amazing Race, wouldn't it?