The last episode didn’t give us a lot of new information. I think I could be close to the lead in Jims’ casino so maybe that's a good thing!! It was time to present the Final 3 and do some:

Window Dressing

Dustin and Kandice left the Pit Stop with Kandice saying: “We are so pumped for this leg because we realize it is kinda do or die for us.”
Dustin added: “You win or you go home. We have gone home before and we know what it feels like and we didn’t like it.” They got good news early when they were the only team on the first Turbo jet but eventually, all the teams were on the same plane to Guam.

The girls made their escort at the Andersen Air Force base part of the “team”: “We have to win today, Kyle” said Kandice and Dustin asked him if it was inspiring to work there. That exchage was a little different from Mirna’s “Please drive well” and Eric’s: “Lets go” to their driver.

Kandice and Dustin chose the “Engine Care” Detour where they had to get part of a B-52 bomber cleaned to the satisfaction of the “Senior Air Force Maintenance Officer” to receive their next clue. It was “like washing a big pot” Dustin said but they failed the first inspection. That led Kandice to realize : “There’s no charming the sergeant. The sergeant was all about business. We weren’t getting anywhere with the smiles, we had to scrub!” The Blondies still finished the detour first.

They arrived at the Naval base where they chose the only female officer to escort them: “This is great…You are so cute…The hat is great too…You can be in the Navy and have cute nails” were some of their comments. The girls were having fun when they reached the Roadblock: “We might have to go into battle today” remarked Dustin who did the “Search and Rescue” task. Dustin had not much trouble using the GPS: “It’s like searching for your Easter basket!” She found the pilot, the Landing Zone and contacted “Night Rider” to get the Helicopter extraction well ahead of the other teams. Being airlifted to the helicopter, she commented: “My brothers are going to be so jealous of me…This is so cool” and we had to agree. She gave two “Thumbs up” as she got the clue that directed them to the Pit Stop.

At the Pit Stop, Phil once more pushed the fact they could be the first all-female team to win the race.
Preparing the next leg, Kandice let out: “We’re going to win! We want to be the first all Girl-Girl team to win this race.”
Dustin assured that: “We’re the team to beat. It’s do or die.”

Except for last week, Dustin and Kandice had a very consistent edit. The manner their interactions with the Military personnel were shown, with some quotes on screen, is another clear indication that they race the way the editors want the race to be raced. They could be the first all-women team to win the race. They have however, proven over the last few legs that a women team could win the race. As it was last season, that could be the extent of their story. They also seem overconfident. They wanted Eric and Danielle out of the race but the couple is still in. That story isn’t over so that isn’t a good sign.

Eric and Danielle received some redemption from Phil in the recap where he “excused” their attitude by saying: “Can Eric and Danielle, furious after having been yielded a second time, catch up…”
Eric started off: “It’s really down to everything for Danielle and I. It’s been a long road. We didn’t make it this far and go through this crap to lose.”

Arriving at the Hong Kong airport, Danielle said: “The fun begins” as she noted their worse luck comes in airport. This time, as Kandice noted, all they had to do was ask for the same deal as the Blondes. On what looked like an empty plane to Guam, Eric and Danielle’s cold stare was noticed by Oswald and Danny when they got on the plane at the last minute. Eric told us he wanted Danny and Oswald eliminated.

The couple also chose the “Engine Care” detour even though Danielle thought she’d be horrible in the military. After a few “hurry-ups” and “shut-ups” they got the “everything’s OK” call and left in second place. Danielle was nervous on the road to the Naval base: “You don’t want to mess up.”

Arriving at the Naval base, they were glad to see that Kandice was there and that no one else had arrived. “Danielle is doing the roadblock today because I already have done all my roadblocks. She doesn’t know how to use a compass” explained Eric who thought the detour was more suited for him. He was soon proven right as Danielle looked puzzled. She then wandered aimlessly despite her GPS guidance system: “I think I missed something…I have no idea what I’m doing right now. I have spiders all over me. I’m such an idiot. Eric is going to kill me, I’m so last. We’re not gonna be in the top three because of me.” She did finish the task in second place and looked relieved but we didn’t have any “patriotic” moments or comments from her.

Phil acknowledged Eric’s second time in the final 3 while congratulating Danielle on going further than ever before:
-“You have to be proud of her because she’s beat out a lot of very strong teams” said Phil.
-“She did awesome, she did a really good job, despite all the little bickering we do, she did awesome” agreed Eric.
In the last segment, Danielle was in a fighting mode: “It’s on! We’ve been ready for this the entire race. We’ve been down so many times that if any team deserves to win, it’s us.”
Eric added: “I just want to win. I don’t want second place. I’m not doing it again.”

Eric has finally accepted Danielle as a good racer. She has proven to be able to bring the team as far as Jeremy had. Can they go the extra step? Their underdog portrayal, with the yields and the plane delays, is their story. Overcoming it would require a win but their image has been very negative all season long. It wouldn’t be a popular win but is that necessary? They got their revenge on Oswald and Danny, shouldn’t they get it also on the Blondes?

Charla and Mirna left the pit stop with Charla speaking to us for once. After showing the pair in confessional, the camera moved in for a close-up, hidding the least presentable member of this duo: “At first, I was a little hesitant on coming back to the race because it is challenging on my body. Having the best racers in the amazing race compete against you is even more scary. You have to be tough: There’s no other way of playing the game.” The wait for the Turbo Jet with Eric and Danielle was a chance to take a jab at the Beauty Queens: “Charla thinks they can’t use the internet” said Mirna even if Charla corrected her with a “I meant I haven’t seen them use it.”

In Hong Kong, they showed their resourcefulness once more by making plane arrangements over the cell phone on the way to the airport. Even if it showed Mirna’s weird take on accents and that the reservation didn’t give them an advantage, this and the internet reference are something to keep in mind entering the last leg.

At the Air Force base, they told Frederick that he had done a good job driving them. Charla and Mirna chose the “Care Package” Detour were they would participate in an official humanitarian air drop training exercise. They were proud to do the humanitarian detour as Charla said: “I like to help people who are in need.” The officer had to tell them not to treat the supplies like garbage. They had a blast during the flight which included a zero-g nose dive and great views. It ended with Mirna telling the military: “We in a rush…can we make it go fast.” Did she think she was in charge? They were disappointed to see they were leaving the base in last place: “Damn, we’ve fallen to 4th. It’s so awful.”

The cousins got a local to show them the way to the Naval base with Charla saying: “We want to come in first place. When you work so hard…you want to be rewarded.”

Their “angel” brought them in 3rd to the naval base to Kandice and Eric’s surprise. “I’ll do this one to leave you the last one” smartly said Charla even if Kandice found it funny. Knowing her cousin, Mirna advised: “Follow the instructions. You should not press any buttons.” What followed was the comedy hour: The officer had to tell Charla “Ma’am, I told you not to touch the buttons/screen” at least half a dozen times! Charla was certain she would die in the field but finally the “teletubby” found the pilot and reached the Landing Zone ahead of Oswald. Danny knew they were beaten, congratulating the cousins as they left for the Pit Stop.

Arriving third, they were endorsed by Oswald who said he would love to see them win and Danny agreed: “Those ladies are a class act.”
Mirna was confident: “We better win this time because we didn’t come here for nothing.”
Charla added: “Wake up and smell the coffee. Watch out for what we’re about to do. We’ll knock those crowns off their heads.”
Mirna had the last words: “You felt this was crazy before, you haven’t seen nothing yet.”

Having Charla come to the forefront in the latter episodes is a good sign for this team. Charla’s struggles are the reason they were invited to the All-Star edition. Their focus on the Beauty Queens could be a sign they don’t take Eric and Danielle seriously. Their story of never quiting has been completed. Being the first All-women team to win has never been their story. Can they steal it from the Beauty Queens? It would be ironic and with Oswald and Danny’s endorsement, they cannot be dismissed.