The Amazing Race - Season 22 Episode 6 - "Scorpion King Hunter" - Recap

In Episode 6 of The Amazing Race, Season 22, the seven remaining teams deal with the aftermath of last week's double U-Turn. Last week, Chuck and Wynona were the last team to reach the pitstop in Hanoi, Vietnam, but since Dave and Connor dropped out, the former duo was allowed to continue. My recap for this episode is below.

The episode starts off with an apology to people who were offended by last week's Vietnam controversy, in which Vietnamese performers sung pro-Communism lyrics for a task and the B-52 crash site was used as the location of the U-Turn. (That article is wrong, by the way; the competitors did NOT have to learn how to sing that song.) My opinion on the matter is that it's a different culture from what we're used to in the United States, and it's interesting to learn about other people's cultures. But I can see how people could have been offended.

They're flying to Maun, Botswana! Woo. They have to figure out that Botswana is where they're headed or else the security guard won't let them into the travel agency.

Pam and Winnie are the first to leave, at 10:40 p.m. Max and Katie are second at 11:34 p.m., followed by Mona and Beth at 11:37 p.m., Bates and Anthony at 11:39 p.m., Caroline and Jennifer at 11:46 p.m., and Joey and Meghan an hour after them. Chuck and Wynona depart at 3:26 a.m., so good thing the earliest flight is at 10:40 a.m.!

Everyone is caught up. Once they're in Botswana, though, they have to sign up for one of three charter flights that will bring them to Makgadikgadi Pans National Park on the edge of the Kalahari Desert.

Flight 1 at 9 a.m.: Caroline and Jennifer, Bates and Anthony

Flight 2 at 9:15 a.m.: Max and Katie, Joey and Meghan

Flight 3 at 9:30 a.m.: Mona and Beth, Chuck and Wynona, Pam and Winnie

"This is where the movie 'The Lion King' was made," Chuck informs the rest of the group as they board the plane. The others on his plane crack up. "That was a cartoon..." Beth says.

The teams drive down Old Xhumaga Road to find their next clue. The clues are stuffed into mason jars, next to a group of Kalahari bushmen.

Roadblock: Who wants to make a new friend?

A group of three bushmen teaches each team member how to dig a scorpion out of the dirt using his or her hands, and the team member and bushman will place the scorpion in a jar together.

Anthony and Caroline reach the roadblock first. As the bushmen lead Caroline to her destination, they stop all of a sudden -- there's a freaking lion not too far away! Joey is petrified of scorpions and instantly regrets choosing to do the Roadblock. "With my hands? I'm only 21 years old, I don't want to die," Joey protests.

Don't worry, Joey, you're in good hands!

One of Caroline's bushman partners puts the scorpion in his mouth! Show off. (Just kidding, show off all you want because that is awesome.)

Mmm... I think I'll take the salad.

Max, Pam, Mona, and Wynona are the others to complete the Roadblock. Max FREAKS out when one of his bushman partners starts to play with the scorpion using his hands, which gives us this fantastic screenshot:

Max is very, very impressed.

Joey flips out even more. "He's our friend, so we're cleaning him," one of the bushmen tells the panicked Joey as another puts the scorpion in his mouth.

When the team members are done, they drive back down Old Xhumaga Road with the three bushmen in the back of the car with them. "We are now the five best friends that there ever was!" Mona exclaims. Roaaaad trip!

Detour: Fire or Fowl?

Fire: The team members walk with the bushmen to a nearby campsite and find out how to make a fire with sticks, zebra manure, and grass. Then, they use the fire to light a bushman's pipe.

Fowl: They hunt with the bushmen by setting a trap using sticks and strings, and acting as a guinea fowl, take an egg out of the trap.

The fowl task definitely seems easier. Making fire is difficult! (Not like I've done either before, but still.)

"Hopefully this isn't the rhino mating call," Anthony jokes as the bushmen lead them through a series of movements. Bates and Anthony light the fire without too much difficulty.

"It smells really good in this car right now," Katie sneers as the camera pans to the three bushmen in the back. Really, Katie? Max and Katie continue to be the most frustrating and rude team in the Race this season.

All of the teams choose Fire except for Pam and Winnie and Chuck and Wynona. The other teams struggle to make fire, and all end up switching detour tasks. Winnie says that they were nervous to see Chuck there because he probably makes them for fun at home. While the teams are struggling with making fire, Pam and Winnie finish the fowl task!

Pit Stop

The teams make their way on foot with the bushmen to the Mena A Kwena Safari Camp. Bates and Anthony win first place and a trip for two to Phuket, Thailand.

Pam and Winnie come in second, while Chuck and Wynona and Joey and Meghan follow soon after. It's down to Mona and Beth and Max and Katie at the end!

In a footrace to the finish, Max and Katie are the last team to arrive. However, it's a non-elimination leg. NO! Again? I guess that's because Dave and Connor dropped out, so they were due to have another non-elimination leg sooner or later. I just didn't know it would be so soon, especially considering last week was a non-elimination leg as well.

Here's the final order of finish:

1. Bates and Anthony
2. Pam and Winnie
3. Chuck and Wynona
4. Joey and Meghan
5. Caroline and Jennifer
6. Mona and Beth
7. Max and Katie

Ugh, I wish Max and Katie were eliminated. They're rude, and who wouldn't want to make friends while on the Race? You might as well be nice to people, it doesn't take any extra effort. Anyways, we'll see what happens in next week's episode! What did you all think of the scorpion task? Is it really that difficult to make fire? Am I the only one annoyed by Max's tan? Let me know in comments!