(S16E05) Brave soldiers marching as to war ... or maybe it's just a team from 'The Amazing Race' hoping to make the pit stop without interference from the Red Baron. The episode started off on a new and different note. After arriving at the last pit stop, the teams were taken to an undisclosed location. They didn't know; we didn't know. Mais oui, we all figured it out. It turned out that the lack of whereabouts knowledge wasn't what affected this leg. It was all about over confidence. That can end up biting you in the butt.

France, they're in France!
But, before they get there, Joe (of Joe and Heidi) fame, managed to rub a few people the wrong way. He's been running the race with a hurt knee. I actually think he and Heidi make a good team -- they work well together, don't bicker, and are solid finishers. Joe doesn't seem to understand that folks can get downright touchy when they're in competition. A few words about how they're blowing away the other teams even with his bad knee cost a million dollars tonight.

No roadblock?
Well, the editing has been odd thus far this season, what with missing teams, teams suddenly appearing, and such. This week, they first had to find a clue in a baguette, then it was off to a detour. Upon completion of the detour, we'd normally have a roadblock. I believe that we've perhaps not had a roadblock before, but I enjoy roadblocks. The baguette bit was cool enough, although I was kind of surprised that everyone figured out it's bread.

Perhaps because the detour was so complicated, they never planned a roadblock. Teams had the choice between "In the Trenches" or "Under Fire" in a most excellent World War I reenactment scenario. The first involved Morse code translation, thus making the bombs and gunfire of the latter safer for the teams. What got me about the detour was how realistic it seemed -- buzzing planes shooting at the teams as they crawled through mud under barbed wire obstacles, bombs exploding all about. I've seen local reenactments and they're not up to snuff with this one! After completing the detour, the teams only had to don vintage clothes and ride a classic bicycle four miles to the pit stop. I don't know how Joe would have managed that with his knee, but he and Heidi didn't get that far.

An error or a smart move?
When Louie and Michael, still in the lead after starting out in the lead and performing well on the detour, blind U-turned Joe and Heidi, I was a bit surprised. First, as they were the only team ahead of the Steve/Allie Joe/Heidi pack, the blind part of the U-turn was moot. Everyone would know who did it. Second, the cops were in first place. Normally the first place people keep on racing and it's down to people seriously threatened with Philimination who use U-turns or Yields. So, why did the cops do it? It was all because of Joe's smugness on the trip to France. And, it worked. By having to do the Morse code part of the detour, Joe and Heidi crumbled. They never even came out of the trenches. Michael and Louie got rid of one of the stronger teams in the race.

What? Jeff and Jordan are still in the race?
Even though Jeff's impatience is starting to irk me, I like these two. After all, I spent all summer watching the 'Big Brother' live feeds. I feel as if I know them. But they're so not a strong team on the race and they're starting to quibble. They started off with an extra task facing them this week due to their non-Philimination last week. I was sure they'd be goners. When they got lost immediately, I knew it was curtains.

Nope! Only thanks to the blind U-turn killing off Joe and Heidi, they finished the leg. They worked together well in the extra task -- reinforcing the walls of one of the trenches. Jordan is getting fussy and whiny, but nowhere near as bad as the "mean lesbians" (Caite's description of Brandy and Carol). While they got an unexpected save this week, I fear my 'BB' Buddies aren't long for the race down the road.

The pit stop order for the record:
1. Louie and Michael -- each won a 55" HDTV.
2. Steve and Allie
3. Jet and Cord
4. Dan and Jordan
5. Carol and Brandy
6. Brent and Caite -- even though they had to go back to retrieve a clue.
7. Jeff and Jordan
8. Well, they never made it to pit stop -- Joe and Heidi, Philiminated. Alas, they were a good team, and I liked them.