The Amazing Race: 13 Twists That’ll BLOW Your MIND!

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The opening three episodes of “The Amazing Race” Season 37 have been true to their word, introducing a fresh or returning twist in each installment. For instance, the first challenge, called “Fork in the Road,” presented the competing teams with two paths, resulting in two distinct races that eliminated Mark & Larry and Jackye & Lauren. In another episode, the competitors faced an “Intersection” which forced them to team up and conquer a series of tasks together.

Without a doubt, “The Amazing Race” has always been known for its unexpected turns since it first aired in 2001. Here’s a rundown of some of the most significant curveballs this globe-trotting series has thrown:

1. Major challenges such as the “Yield” and the “U-Turn”
2. A series of themed seasons that took the show on a unique trajectory
3. Several game-changing twists that left viewers in awe
4. Occasions where teams faced unforeseen obstacles and detours
5. Moments when fortune favored the bold or the unlucky struck the teams
6. Times when alliances were formed, broken, and rebuilt on the fly

    Carrying Over ‘Big Brother’ and ‘Survivor’ Contestants

    On most occasions, “The Amazing Race” features pairs who haven’t appeared on reality TV before. However, Season 5 introduced Alison from “Big Brother” Season 4, marking the first time a contestant had transitioned between shows. Since then, winners of “Big Brother”, like Cody & Jessica in Season 30 and Derek & Claire in Season 34, have emerged. In contrast, “Survivor” contestants began competing as early as Season 7, with Rob & Amber finishing second overall. Nevertheless, no “Survivor” participant has triumphed on “The Amazing Race” to this day.

    Non-Elimination Legs

    In most seasons of “The Amazing Race,” there are often more episodes than teams, so the show occasionally incorporates non-elimination legs. During these legs, no team is eliminated, adding to the excitement since both competitors and viewers don’t know which leg will be a non-elimination one. This unpredictability gives underdog teams a ‘Hail Mary’ chance to carry on competing even when all seems lost. However, this reprieve usually comes with a catch: an additional task or some other penalty in the following leg. Interestingly, Seasons 34 and 36 did not include any non-elimination legs.

    Speed Bump

    In “The Amazing Race,” from Seasons 12 to 33, a significant feature called the “Speed Bump” was included in non-elimination rounds. Teams who were saved at the last minute often had to complete an additional challenge during the subsequent leg. Although numerous teams have managed to overcome this extra hurdle throughout the show’s history, it was in Season 12’s eighth leg that the Speed Bump first appeared, ultimately leading to Kynt & Vyxsin’s elimination.

    Double Elimination

    In some instances, competitors might benefit from non-elimination rounds, but others could face unexpected double eliminations instead. These unwelcome surprises can abruptly end the voyage for not one, but two teams simultaneously. The inaugural double elimination occurred in Season 19, resulting in Ethan & Jenna and Ron & Bill’s departure. Interestingly, the U.S. format had not seen a double elimination since Season 19 until Season 37’s first leg.

    The Yield

    Introduced in Season 5, “The Yield” function allows competing teams to temporarily halt the progress of opponents trailing behind. However, this power can lead to elimination: In Season 9, Danielle & Dani were eliminated following a “Yield” by competitors Lake & Michelle. After its use in the all-star season of 2007, it was swapped out for the U-Turn. Yet, in Season 32, it unexpectedly reappeared with 10-minute and 20-minute delays that slowed down numerous teams.

    Season 8’s ‘Family Edition’ Premise

    As a film enthusiast who’s passionate about “The Amazing Race,” I can’t overlook the impact of Season 8, the so-called “Family Edition.” Unlike regular seasons with adult participants, this one featured ten families of four, including kids as young as eight years old. The race remained confined within North America, making it a unique addition to the series. Although it’s often seen as less popular compared to other seasons in the show’s history, it’s worth mentioning that “The Amazing Race” never revisited the concept of having young families participate again.

    U-Turn Vote

    Since Season 12, I’ve been an integral part of the show, known as the “U-Turn.” This feature enables teams to gain some distance from a team ahead by compelling them to tackle the second “Detour” challenge that they initially chose not to. A variation of it, the “U-Turn vote,” was first introduced in Israeli, Chinese, Australian, and Filipino versions before it found its place on the U.S. edition during Season 31. This twist required teams to publicly cast their votes among all other teams. In this specific episode, the ultimate season champions, Colin & Christie, managed to secure a top 3 spot, while Rachel & Elissa, previously from “Big Brother,” were unfortunately eliminated after they failed to complete both challenges within the time limit.

    No-Rest Leg

    Typically, breaks are provided between race stages, but occasionally, such as during Season 14, there’s no break at all. Instead, what appears to be a pit stop turns out to be host Phil Keoghan handing the teams their next clue, forcing them to continue racing. This situation also means that the last team to arrive usually doesn’t receive a penalty. This unexpected twist was introduced in the premiere episode of Season 36.

    Start Line Elimination

    In many instances on this show, if a team struggles initially during a leg, they often have an opportunity to regroup and compete alongside other teams based on their speed at completing roadblocks. However, in Season 15, Eric & Lisa were immediately disqualified because they were the last team to complete the initial task, preventing them from even traveling abroad. This swift elimination may well be the most ruthless in “The Amazing Race” series history.

    Fast Forward

    On “The Amazing Race,” the “Fast Forward” feature has been a consistent element, offering teams an additional task that, if finished first, lets them skip ahead directly to that leg’s pit stop. However, there’s a twist – if multiple teams accomplish this task, only one can utilize the Fast Forward, forcing the other team(s) to redo all previous challenges. Originally, the Fast Forward was available in every leg of the race, but since Season 5, its availability has been limited to no more than two instances per season. Over time, the show has gradually reduced the use of the Fast Forward, with it being unavailable in Seasons 30 and 36 entirely.

    Express Pass

    Introduced for the first time in Season 17, the “Express Pass” is occasionally awarded to a team that wins a leg or an extra task, granting them the perk of skipping a future challenge ahead (contrary to the “Fast Forward,” which instantly advances a team to the finish line). In Season 25, Adam and Bethany received the Express Pass upon completion of an additional task during the second leg, ultimately finishing in third place overall for the season.

    The Hazard

    In Season 19, only one instance of the “Penalty for Last Place” rule was enforced, which imposed a penalty on the team concluding a launch task at the bottom of the pack. In that opening episode, it was Kaylani & Lisa who received this penalty but still managed to rank ninth overall. This didn’t knock them out of the competition immediately, as they continued in the race for another leg despite the initial disadvantage.

    COVID-Adapted Season

    After an unexpected halt of Season 33 due to COVID-19 eighteen months ago, production successfully resumed with seven teams participating in the race. The season began by giving viewers a deeper insight into the contestants’ lives, offering more than the typical introduction. With regular testing and the use of a chartered 757 private jet, the show continued — albeit with some changes to its usual appearance.

    The Scramble

    A new element called “The Scramble” was added to the history of “The Amazing Race” in Season 34, where teams had to complete multiple tasks to assemble the pieces for the next hint. The downside is that teams who fail at completing the Scramble receive an 8-hour penalty. In the final episode of Season 35, the Scramble was employed within a challenge themed around Seattle’s art scene.

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2025-03-27 04:55