A new episode of The Amazing Race 36 airs tonight on CBS. Read a live recap here.
Today’s leg will take place in the Dominican Republic. Ricky & Cesar and Juan & Shane are departing first. They read their clue, and they learn they have a Roadblock coming up. One team member must navigate a series of waterfalls and memorize ten Taíno petroglyph symbols. Afterwards, they must arrange the symbols in chronological order to receive their next clue.
While they are departing for the Roadblock, we hear from the teams. Juan & Shane want to make their families proud. Ricky & Cesar feel motivated to race better with Juan & Shane behind them. Rod & Leticia feel like they’re playing for the Super Bowl. Amber & Vinny agree they need to work on their communication with each other. Yvonne & Melissa want to be the next all-female team to win The Amazing Race.
Juan and Cesar are the first to get started on the Roadblock. Meanwhile, Rod, Melissa, and Amber are hiking their way to the waterfalls. Rod runs ahead while Melissa is still close behind him. Amber is in last place, but she’s not too far behind. Juan is the first to make his way through the waterfalls and attempt the memory challenge. After his first attempt, Juan only gets three correct. Cesar attempts the memory challenge next. He only gets two correct.
Rod, Melissa, and Amber reach the memory challenge. Juan only gets four correct after his second attempt. Cesar is incorrect on his next attempt too. Juan offers to work with Rod. Cesar offers to work with Melissa. Juan finally realizes the rocks are two-sided, but he and Rod still can’t solve the memory challenge. Cesar is struggling too, and he decides to go back and navigate the waterfalls. Going back helps Cesar as he is the first to solve the memory challenge. He and Ricky get their next clue. They learn they must now proceed to Don Manuel’s Finca de Cacao. Cesar gives Melissa some help before he leaves. Melissa ends up getting 9 out of 10 correct, but she has one symbol wrong.
Juan completes the challenge after his fifth attempt. He and Shane can depart for Don Manuel’s Finca de Cacao too. Rod, Melissa, and Amber are still working on the Roadblock. Rod and Amber are the next to complete it, but Melissa is still incorrect. Melissa tries again over and over until she finally gets it right. She estimates she and Yvonne are ten minutes behind everyone else.
Ricky & Cesar arrive at their destination and learn what they have to do. They must work together to harvest cacao pods, remove the seeds, and cover a tarp with the seeds. Afterwards, they will receive their next clue. Shortly after Ricky & Cesar get started, Juan & Shane, Rod & Leticia, and Amber & Vinny arrive. Yvonne & Melissa also join them before too long.
Ricky & Cesar complete the task first. They can now proceed to Estadio Bartolo Colón. They arrive and learn they have a Roadblock to complete. One team member must complete three baseball drills: catching and throwing a ground ball to first place, catching a fly ball in center field, and hitting a bottle cap with a broomstick 25 feet. Ricky gets started on the Roadblock and he completes it before any other teams arrive. He gets the next clue, and Ricky & Cesar learn they can proceed to Paseo de Doña Blanca.
Rod & Leticia are the next team to complete the harvest task. They can proceed to the baseball stadium. Shortly afterwards, Juan & Shane complete the task too. Amber & Vinny and Yvonne & Melissa are still harvesting the cacao.
Rod is the next to attempt the Roadblock, but he’s struggling with throwing the ball. He finally completes it after four attempts. Juan & Shane arrive before Rod is done with the Roadblock. Shane chooses to do the Roadblock. Meanwhile, Amber & Vinny have completed the cacao task.
Rod struggles hitting the bottle cap, but he finally hits it. He and Leticia can proceed to Paseo de Doña Blanca. Shane completes the Roadblock right afterwards. It’s very close between both teams as they make their way to their next location. Juan & Shane may end up pulling ahead as Rod & Leticia’s taxi driver doesn’t know where to go. They have to stop and ask for directions.
Yvonne & Melissa finally complete the cacao task, but they are still in last place. They estimate they are still ten minutes behind the other teams as Amber & Vinny arrive at the stadium. Vincent does the Roadblock, but Amber wishes she did it instead. She grew up playing softball, but Vinny never played baseball. Vinny manages to complete the Roadblock before Yvonne & Melissa arrive. After Amber & Vinny leave, Yvonne gets started on the Roadblock.
Ricky & Cesar arrive at Paseo de Doña Blanca. They find the clue box and learn they can make their way to the Pit Stop: Anfiteatro de Puerto Plata. Meanwhile, Yvonne completes the Roadblock. She and Melissa can proceed to Paseo de Doña Blanca. They are still in last place, but Amber & Vinny’s taxi driver doesn’t know where to go. He also refuses to communicate with Amber & Vinny and ignores them when Vinny tells him to stop at the gas station to ask for directions.
Juan & Shane and Rod & Leticia arrive at Paseo de Doña Blanca at the same time. They learn the Pit Stop is Anfiteatro de Puerto Plata, where they must race by foot. Meanwhile, Ricky & Cesar arrive at the Pit Stop. Phil gives them the good news. Ricky & Cesar are Team #1! They have won Expedia OneKeyCash points for a trip to Seoul, South Korea.
Amber & Vinny’s taxi driver finally stops to get directions. Meanwhile, Rod & Leticia and Juan & Shane arrive at the Pit Stop as Team #2 and Team #3 respectively. And despite their taxi troubles, Amber & Vinny arrive at Paseo de Doña Blanca before Yvonne & Melissa. But Yvonne & Melissa arrive not too long afterwards. Which team will reach the Pit Stop next?
Amber & Vinny greet Phil as Team #4. Later, Yvonne & Melissa arrive while Amber & Vinny are still on the mat. That means it was very close between these last two teams. After Amber & Vinny leave the mat, Phil gives Yvonne & Melissa the bad news. Yvonne & Melissa have been eliminated from the race. They are so happy they did this race together, and they are excited for the future. We also learn that after the race ended, Yvonne & Melissa moved in together and have welcomed a baby together.
Episode Summary
1st place: Ricky & Cesar
2nd place: Rod & Leticia
3rd place: Juan & Shane
4th place: Amber & Vinny
Eliminated: Yvonne & Melissa
And that wraps up tonight’s episode of The Amazing Race. Thanks for reading, and come back next week for another live recap.
