The Amazing Race 14: Bucharest, Romania

The drama of Tammy and Victor dominate the third leg of The Amazing Race 14.
Much of the episode covers flight jockeying from Munich to Bucharest, Romania. Victor and Tammy have an ninety-minute headstart over the rest of the teams. They book a 4:45 flight to Bucharest before they get on the train to Munich. They manage to get on an earlier flight as standby passengers. Easy victory, you'd think. But planes, train, and automobiles thwart even the strongest and most strategic teams.
Tammy and Victor's major jump ahead backfires when their early flight returns to Munich because of technical problems.
Three teams make the 4:45 flight, which turns out to be the best choice. Despite having reservations, Tammy and Victor miss the 4:45. They must get on 9:25 with the rest of the pack. The 9:25 teams are shocked and a little gleeful when they learn of Tammy and Victor's setback.
But this will not be the only setback for the hard-driving team.

Dangers of Amsterdam

I am happy for Brad and Victoria when they are the only team to take a 7:30 flight through Amsterdam. That should have put them in a solid, safe, 4th place to start the Roadblocks and Detours.
But always be wary of changing planes. Their flight is delayed and they don't make their connection in Amsterdam.
The couple must spend the night in Amsterdam and face almost certain elimination. We find out in a interview cutaway that Brad is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic who has been sober for 25 years.
Are we going to see a first on The Amazing Race? A former addict give in to his demons because he has to spend the night in Amsterdam? No such thing happens.
I wish that we could see more of Brad and Victoria. They have not had much camera time so far. In the first two legs, Brad and Victoria remained solidly in the middle of the pack with no dramas.

Romanian Gymnastics

In Bucharest, teams taxi to the gymnastics hall where Nadia Comaneci, 1976 Olympic Gymnastics sweetheart, trained. Amanda/Kris, Mel/Michael, and Margie/Luke arrive at the gym far ahead of all other teams.
One team member must learn and demonstrate moves in three gymnastic disciplines: balance beam, parallel bars and floor exercises. Amanda whips through this challenge with ease, no surprise to me. I would have paid to see Linda, who was eliminated last week, on the balance beam.
Mike, who claims minor celebrity as the screenwriter and actor in the movie School of Rock, realizes this is no advantage on the race, but his dad is sure proud of it.
The 4:45 teams all do well in the gymnastic challenge.
When the 9:25 gang heads for the gymnasium, Tammy and Victor get lost looking for the gymnasium in the dark. Suddenly, they are second-to-last behind Brad and Victoria, who are stuck in Amsterdam. This will not be the biggest setback for Tammy and Victor.
Now teams must travel by train to Brasov, Transylvania. The next train isn't til morning, so this will be an equalizing point. This gives Brad and Victoria some catch-up time, but it doesn't even get tantalizing close. All teams are on the same train, except unfortunate Brad and Victoria, who presumably are in some Amsterdam cafe.

Gypsy Moves or Vampire Remains

At Biserica Neagra, also know as the Black Church, teams face their Detour: Gypsy Moves or Vampire Remains.
In Gypsy Moves, teams go to a gypsy settlement and load all of a family's belongings onto a horse-drawn cart. Teams must drive the cart to next encampment and help the family unload. A physical, but straightforward challenge. The gypsy camps seem fun and there's loads of great music.
Mel and Michael are a little overwhelmed loading the Gypsy belongings. But who expected a car frame? Every gypsy family owns a car frame, it seems. But the Gypsies chip in and that doesn't seem to break any race rules.
In Vampire Remains, teams go into the woods, drag a coffin to a clearing, unlock and untangle a series of chains. The coffin contains antique frames which teams must impale on a stake until they find a hidden flag. Practice for vampire slaying?

Victor's Mountain

Til now, Victor's control of all team decisions has been inconsequential, except in annoying Tammy, who routinely brushes the slights aside. But in the vampire challenge, Victor makes a Linda-sized mistake and follows the wrong markers, taking his team up an entire mountain.
Tammy recognizes the error right away, but Victor won't listen to her. His confidence makes him blind. When he is forced to face his error, Victor wants to die. What a drama king! This will be a pivotal moment in his life. Will there be any fallout next leg?
I predict Amanda and Kris will be in the final three because they are strong and they get along. Kris and Amanda are the first to open the clue directing them to the pit stop, a mountain cottage, Villa Panoramic. It looks like an easy first place for them, but Kris loses their fanny pack with the money and passports. Kris immediately thinks someone stole it. They are Gypsies after all and how does the song go? Gypsies, tramps and thieves, right?
But the honorable Gypsies have found the fanny pack and return it to Kris. This delay allows Mel and Michael to pass them and take first place. I fear Mel will have a heart attack when he hears the news of their victory.
As expected, Brad and Victoria are eliminated.