Very Strong Warrior Energy is the second episode of The Amazing Race 37.
Story[]
At the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Carson & Jack open the first clue instructing teams to fly to Osaka, Japan. Upon arrival, they would head to Tsūtenkaku Tower to find their next clue. The gamers take a taxi to Skywards Travel at Crocodile Center to book their flights. They consider each other "platonic soulmates" as they grew up and came out to each other and have a brother-like relationship, and are excited the race gives them the opportunity to be like the heroes in their fantasies.
Brett & Mark leave a few minutes later, with Ernest & Bridget not far behind them. Ernest discusses his time as a Chicago police officer for 32 years. Because of this, Bridget saw him as an authoritarian figure most of her life, but the two have attempted to have a more friendly relationship in recent years. The father and daughter have fun in the car on the way to Skywards Travel with an impromptu rap.
Bernie & Carrigain leave next. They discuss how they've been friends for seven years and fight a lot of the time, but have the same goals at the end of the day. Carson & Jack arrive at Skywards Travel and speak with a travel agent about flights to Japan. The agent tells them a non-direct flight via Taipei, Taiwan that will arrive at 6:05 A.M., 30 minutes earlier than the direct one, and the gamers decide to take it, believing its worth the risk. They are joined by the Vegas performers minutes later.
Alyssa & Josiah, Nick & Mike, and Courtney & Jasmin leave within a minute of each other. Jonathan & Ana reveal its their seventh anniversary and hope to rebound and come out with a win after losing their lead in the previous leg. As the Vegas performers and father-daughter duo book the same flight as the gamers, Bernie & Carrigan, Nick & Mike, and Courtney & Jasmin have some confusion on finding the travel agency and end up in the wrong spots. Brett & Mark help Courtney & Jasmin find it. Scott & Lori recount how they met serving as missionaries for their church where they wrote letters to each other as it blossomed into a relationship. Pops & Jeff, Han & Holden, and Melinda & Erika shortly leave after them, with the latter still enthusiastic despite leaving last. Not wanting to risk the layover with the non-direct flight, Alyssa & Josiah, Jonathan & Ana, Courtney & Jasmin, Nick & Mike, and Han & Holden schedule the direct flight that will arrive at 6:35 A.M. With the direct flight booked, the last four teams, Pops & Jeff, Bernie & Carrigan, Scott & Lori, and Melinda & Erika, have to book a later flight that will arrive over an hour later at 7:55 A.M.
The first three teams leave on their non-direct flight. The teams on the third flight go to the boarding desks at the airport to see if they can get any tickets on the second flight. After some back and forth arguing, Bernie & Carrigain decide not to go for it, with Scott & Lori also giving up shortly after. Erika and Jeff, knowing they have to work smarter not harder for their older parents, stick it out with the desk and manage to get economy tickets on the second flight. The second flight leaves with seven teams, with Melinda & Erika glad they have more of a lead against the two back teams. At the airport, Bernie & Carrigain get into an emotional argument, where Carrigain cries as they debate who should take lead and make decisions for their team. Scott awkwardly listens as he and Lori try to sleep. Their flight leaves shortly afterwards, with the two teams confident they'll catch up to the other ten on earlier flights.
The non-direct flight arrives first, and the three teams rush out to get taxis that head to Tsūtenkaku Tower. The second flight arrives half an hour later and the other seven teams follow suit. Ernest & Bridget arrive at the tower first. They find a clue instructing them to head to Namba Hatch, and it warns them that an Intersection is ahead. Brett & Mike and Carson & Jack get the clue afterwards, and all three teams go towards Namba Hatch. The third flight arrives over an hour after the second one and the last two teams get taxis to head to the tower. Ernest & Bridget arrive at Namba Hatch at the Intersection, and have to wait for the next team to show up. Brett & Mark arrive second and team up with the father and daughter, leaving Carson & Jack to wait for a pair from the second flight to team up with. Jonathan & Ana are the first team from the second flight to arrive at the tower and receive their clue.
The Intersection is a Roadblock. One member from each team must go with a member from their Intersection pair to learn and perform a taiko drum routine alongside a drum group. Ernest and Mark volunteer for the task. After selecting an instructor, they go to the stage to witness the taiko drum routine before being dressed in traditional garments. When they go to their instructor, Mark teaches Ernest about the notes on the whiteboard, having grown up playing band at school. The remaining second flight teams arrive to the tower for their clue, but Han & Holden fall behind after mistakenly sending their taxi away upon getting to the tower.
While wandering around Namba Hatch, Carson & Jack run into Jonathan & Ana and agree to team up for the Intersection, with Jack and Jonathan going for the Roadblock. Jonathan is excited for it given he played a lot of music growing up. Mark notices that Ernest isn't great with handling rhythm and suspects the challenge may be more difficult than he anticipated. Han begins to panic as she tries to get another taxi, with Holden telling her to calm down. They relay they haven't spent a lot of time together in seven years, and believe they may be their own worst enemy. Alyssa & Josiah team up with Nick & Mike for the Intersection, with Alyssa & Mike going for the Roadblock. Courtney & Jasmin are forced to wait at the Intersection and wonder where Han & Holden are at. As the siblings finally get a taxi, Pops & Jeff arrive and team up with the dating nurses, with Courtney & Jeff volunteering for the task. Melinda & Erika arrive at Namba Hatch the same time as Han & Holden and agree to pair up, with Erika and Holden taking on the drums.
The last two teams arrive at the tower and head towards the Intersection. The competitors have a hard time practicing with every pair there trying to drum to their own beats in the same room. Jack jokes that the atmosphere is like what he'd imagine Scott & Lori's house to be like. Jonathan & Jack are the first pair to attempt the routine. They do mostly well, but are rejected for their solo parts, as they weren't used to playing alongside the others in the main performance room, and go back to practice again. Mark & Ernest's first attempt goes poorly as Ernest screws up his part. The last two teams arrive at the Hatch and are forced to pair up with each other, with Bernie & Scott taking on the Taiko drums. Several teams are unable to get it in their first attempts, making Scott enthusiastic to see that no one has succeeded yet.
On their third attempt, Jonathan & Jack are the first pair to have their routine approved and receive their next clue. Now no longer intersected, teams must make their way on foot to DÅtonbori Bridge. Thanks to his good memory and music experience, Scott's able to mentor Bernie on the parts she doesn't know. Alyssa & Mike also succeed on their third attempt and their teams head to the bridge. At the bridge, the gamers and parents come across a Detour: Mochi or Mawashi. In Mochi, teams go to Ohama Daishin Arena, where they must use a large mallet to pound mochigome into the proper consistency to be made into mochi. Once the master has approved their mochigome, they must use these to make 12 mochi balls. In Mawashi, teams go to Ohama Sumo Arena, where they each must properly wrap a traditonal loincloth garment worn by sumo wrestlers called a mawashi around each other to a sumo wrestler's satisfaction. Once he has approved each of their mawashi, they must work together to push the sumo wrestler out of a sumo ring.
Carson recommends he and Jack do Mawashi since mochi pounding is more physically demanding, while Jonathan thinks he and Ana should do Mawashi since it sounds quicker. Back at the Hatch, Ernest continues to struggle at the drums, failing the task more than eight times, and feels guilty about holding Bridget as well as Brett & Mark back. The brothers and married nurses find the next clue and both choose Mawashi, the latter particularly because Josiah is a fan of wrestling and has always wanted to meet a sumo wrestler. Despite coming at the Hatch in last, Bernie & Scott are able to nail the Taiko drum routine on the first attempt, and they celebrate as they bypass several teams still trying to complete it. The married parents and gamers arrive at the sumo arena, where they watch a mawashi wrapping demonstration before attempting to do so on each other, though it proves initially difficult for both teams since they're much skinnier than actual sumo wrestlers. Jonathan & Ana's first attempt is rejected, with the wrestler instructing them to be wider in certain areas.
Lori & Scott and Bernie & Carrigain arrive at the bridge, where both agree to do Mawashi. As Jonathan & Ana correct their mawashi and Carson attempts to wrap one around Jack, Alyssa & Josiah and Nick & Mike arrive. At the Hatch, Courtney & Jeff are the fourth pair to complete the Roadblock on their eighth attempt. Holden & Erika follow suit on their seventh attempt, leaving Ernest & Mark as the only ones left. Despite being closer, the two are still unable to complete it on their 15th attempt. Mark is overwhelmed, not sure of what he can do to improve Ernest's skills that he hasn't already done. Ernest feels bad that all the other teams passed them, while Mark hugs Brett for support. Despite the difficulty, Ernest is determined not to give up. Courtney & Jasmin and Pops & Jeff decide to do Mochi, while Han & Holden and Melinda & Erika choose Mawashi.
At the sumo arena, Jonathan & Ana are the first to be approved on their third attempt, and the wrestler challenges them to push him out before giving them their clue. After succeeding, they receive their next clue, to race to the Pit Stop, Tahoto Pagoda. As they leave, Scott & Lori and Bernie & Carrigain arrive at the sumo arena. Carson & Jack's first mawashi attempt is rejected for being too loose, Nick & Mike messed up the back, while Alyssa & Josiah made theirs too long. Carrigain believes she can use her experience from her Cambodian dance group to good use. Scott gets his and Lori's close on the first attempt, but has to make slight adjustments to the back.
Back at the Hatch, Mark & Ernest finally complete their Taiko drum routine on their 17th attempt and rush to the bridge afterwards, where they both agree to do Mawashi. At the sumo arena, Scott & Lori surprise everyone by being the second team to get their mawashi approved after adjusting Scott's. As Han & Holden arrive, Alyssa & Josiah get their third attempt approved, and Josiah has fun putting his wrestler skills to the test against the sumo wrestler. Courtney & Jasmin and Pops & Jeff arrive at the Daishin Arena. Seeing how close they are to them, Melinda & Erika change their minds and decide to do Mochi with them. The three teams watch the demonstration where the chefs were putting water and pounding the steamed rice and how they shaped mochi balls afterwards. Pops & Jeff believe their lumberjack skills will come in handy in the challenge and relay some of their outdoor upbringing. Erika has a difficult time wielding the mallet and feels inadequate next to Jeff.
Back at the sumo arena, the wrestler approves Carson & Jack's third attempt, and the nerds have fun trying to push him out. Nick & Mike still find they have adjustments they need to make and get frustrated. At the daishin arena, all three teams get their mochi approved, but struggle as they attempt to form them into balls. Jonathan & Ana make it to Tahoto Pagoda, Phil congratulates them on their seventh anniversary and for coming in first, giving them Expedia cashback rewards for a trip for two to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania as a reward. They're hoping they can bounce back better than they did in the previous leg for future ones, but are glad they had a fantastic day and end to it. Scott & Lori arrive in second place, ecstatic over placing so high after starting Japan in dead last.
Brett & Mark arrive at the sumo arena and are relieved to see other teams still there, with Ernest & Bridget coming in shortly after. Nick & Mike continue to get frustrated as they are rejected nine times, saying the race and its tasks are harder than it looks. At the Daishin Arena, Pops & Jeff get their mochi balls rejected for being too large, while Courtney & Jasmin have theirs approved right away. They advise the other two teams to make the balls mushroom size. Melinda & Erika get theirs approved shortly afterwards. After adjusting their size, Pops & Jeff get their second batch approved. As Alyssa & Josiah get third place on the mat, Bernie & Carrigan are approved by the sumo wrestler and leave shortly afterwards. Nick & Mike finally get approved after the tenth attempt, and despite their pent up anger, they could hardly move the wrestler out of the ring.
Carson & Jack arrive in fourth place at the Pit Stop. Brett & Mark manage to get the mawashi approved on the first try, leaving Han & Holden and Ernest & Bridget as the last two teams there. Both teams are rejected several times, causing Han to panic. Melinda & Erika are pleasantly surprised to find they placed fifth. After checking the demonstration again before their fifth attempt, Han & Holden are approved and leave. Courtney & Jasmin place sixth, with Pops & Jeff and Bernie & Carrigan arriving in seventh and eighth respectively seconds later. Ernest & Bridget get their mawashi approved on the sixth attempt and are the last to leave the sumo arena.
Brett & Mark arrive in ninth with Nick & Mike in tenth seconds behind them. The siblings and father-daughter duo encourage their taxi drivers to go faster to avoid last place. Though they have some initial confusion on where Phil is upon arriving, Han & Holden are able to make it to the Pit Stop in eleventh and vow not to give up.
As Ernest & Bridget walk up to the mat, Ernest apologizes for letting her down on the Taiko drum challenge, while Bridget tells him it isn't his fault and to appreciate the beauty of the surroundings. Phil tells them they are the last team to arrive and have been eliminated. Ernest said the race allowed him to see stronger parts of his daughter he hasn't seen before and that he's proud of her, while Bridget thought the experience allowed her father to express himself and communicate better with her in certain situations.
Route Markers[]
The order of departure from the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade are as follows:
- Carson & Jack (4:40 pm)
- Brett & Mark (4:56 pm)
- Ernest & Bridget (5:06 pm)
- Bernie & Carrigain (5:10 pm)
- Alyssa & Josiah (5:18 pm)
- Nick & Mike (5:19 pm)
- Courtney & Jasmin (5:20 pm)
- Jonathan & Ana (5:38 pm)
- Scott & Lori (5:59 pm)
- Pops & Jeff (6:00 pm)
- Han & Holden (6:06 pm)
- Melinda & Erika (6:08 pm)
Teams must make their way to Skywards Travel at Crocodile Center in Kwun Tong, where they must book a flight to Osaka, Japan. Upon arrival, they must make their way to Tsūtenkaku Tower, where they would find their next clue.
Teams must take a taxi to Namba Hatch, where they would find their next clue.
At Namba Hatch, teams encountered the Intersection, where two teams must work together until further notice.
The teams that Intersected are as follows:
"Who's ready to beat the competition?"
The intersected team members assigned to this Roadblock must learn and perform a taiko drum routine alongside a drum group. Once the lead drummer is satisfied with their performance, he would give teams their next clue.
The Roadblock performers per team are underlined:
Teams, who are no longer intersected, must make their way on foot to DÅtonbori Bridge, where they would find their next clue.
Choice A: Mochi
Teams must make their way to Ohama Daishin Arena, where they must use a large mallet to pound mochigome, a form of steamed rice, into the proper consistency to be made into mochi. Once the master has approved their mochigome, they must use these to make 12 mochi balls to the satisfaction of the master to receive their next clue.
Courtney & Jasmin, Melinda & Erika, and Pops & Jeff chose this task.
Choice B: Mawashi
Teams must make their way to Ohama Sumo Arena, where they each must, following an ongoing demonstration, properly wrap a traditonal loincloth garment worn by sumo wrestlers called a mawashi around each other to a sumo wrestler's satisfaction. Once he has approved each of their mawashi, they must work together to push the sumo wrestler out of a sumo ring to receive their next clue.
Alyssa & Josiah, Bernie & Carrigain, Brett & Mark, Carson & Jack, Ernest & Bridget, Han & Holden, Jonathan & Ana, Nick & Mike, and Scott & Lori chose this task. Teams make their way to Tahoto Pagoda to check in.
For coming in first place, Jonathan & Ana won Expedia cashback rewards for a trip for two to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
Leaderboard[]
First Place ⢠Eliminated ⢠Last placer on a Non-Elimination Leg or continue racing on a No-Rest Leg ⢠Season winner ⢠Season 2nd place ⢠Season 3rd place ⢠⺠Used the Fast Forward⢠ϵ Used the Express Pass⢠â User of the first Double U-Turn slot ⢠â Recipient of the first Double U-Turn slot ⢠â User of the second Double U-Turn slot ⢠â Recipient of the second Double U-Turn slot⢠â Team that lost the Double Battle
Jonathan & Ana
Married |
Scott & Lori
Married Parents of Eight |
Alyssa & Josiah
Married Nurses |
Carson & Jack
Best Friends/Gamers |
Melinda & Erika
Mother/Daughter |
Courtney & Jasmin
Dating Nurses |
Pops & Jeff
Father/Son Lumberjacks |
Bernie & Carrigain
Friends |
Brett & Mark
Married Vegas Performers |
Nick & Mike
Brothers |
Han & Holden
Siblings |
Ernest & Bridget
Father/Daughter |
Trivia[]
- This episode marks the first appearance of Intersection in the American version since "We Are No Longer in the Bible Belt" in The Amazing Race 16, twenty-one seasons prior.
- The episode title is said by Carrigain Scadden.
- In Nick & Mike's podcast, they revealed they checked out the Mochi task demonstration before fully committing to the Mawashi task before the other teams attempted it, and regretted not choosing Mochi in hindsight.[1]
References[]
| The Amazing Race 37 Episodes |
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"Double the Stakes, Double the Eliminations" · "Very Strong Warrior Energy" · "Chaotic, Crazy, That's What We're Used to" · "There's No Addresses in the Jungle" · "It's Not Personal, It's Business" · "It Smells Like the Desert" · "Be One With the Hay" · "We're Letting Race Brain Win" · "The Pizza de Résistance" · "Up the River Without a Joust" · "My Knight in Shining Armor" · "We're in Miami Baby!" |