It’s official, The Amazing Race is back! This season began unlike any other, with casting clips from the single racers talking about how hard it is to find love. Apparently Phil is not only the host of TAR, he’s also a matchmaker! The starting line for this season was a bit different too – the 6 established couples are present, as are 5 of the single men, but the other 5 singles are missing. Phil explains the twist of this season to the 6 couples, then announces that the singles will now meet their blind dates. Four women and one man run out to meet their dates, and it’s pretty clear who is satisfied from the start. As of right now, I’m rooting for Tyler and Laura to hit it off (and win), they seem adorable together! It got a bit awkward when Phil asked if everyone was happy with their partner, because people were then arguing about which person got the hottest partner. I’m all for meeting everyone, but this introduction is taking much longer than usual; I want the race to start already!
Finally, Phil announces that teams will be racing for tickets to Toyko, Japan! Teams will run along the 
riverbank and compete in a mud-run to try and win the 8 tickets for the first flight, which arrives 45 minutes earlier than the second flight. Phil informs the racers that they will win an Express Pass if they come in first place, which will be difficult because there is a U-turn on this leg of the race. The mud-run is pretty extreme, with a sand mountain, a mud bath, an ice bath, and more. We start to see the teams’ true colors here – mostly good. Of the blind date couples, I noticed Jelani & Jenny and Tyler & Laura helping each other. There seems to be potential for arguing between Blair & Hayley, because Blair wants someone who is upbeat and optimistic, while Hayley says she can be high maintenance. Most of the dating couples helped each other, either physically or emotionally. Aly & Steve, who are both winter olympians, claim to love the ice bath because of their jobs; they seem adorable together. Matt & Ashley, Jeffrey & Jackie, Laura & Tyler, Aly & Steve, Harley & Jonathan, Lyda & Jeff, Bergen & Kurt, and Jelani & Jenny are on the first flight. Blair was waiting for Hayley to meet him to grab the last spot on the first flight, but she was surpassed by Jelani & Jenny.
After all the teams shower off (while wearing their clothes), they head off to the airport. There’s sure to be some tension this season with strangers getting lost together. The blind date teams take this opportunity to get to know each other, and most of them seem to be hitting it off. Jelani & Jenny arrive at the detour first, since they took a taxi instead of the train. Synching Steps requires them to join the techno pop music group World Order and master the robotic slow motion choreography. The other detour, Samurai Sake, requires teams to memorize the names of ten sakes, take a drink order from a table of samurai, and relay that order to their teammate at the bar. Jeff & Jackie reach Samurai Sake, which seems incredibly difficult. Jelani & Jenny arrive at Synching Steps and begin practicing the dance. Jeff & Jackie finish Samurai Sake, because apparently they only need to fill one sake order. They are off to the site of the blind U-turn, Wakaba Higashi Park. Both Jelani & Jenny and Matt & Ashley are struggling with Synching Steps.
Hayley & Blair went in the wrong direction due to Blair, but he handled it pretty well as she jokingly
gave him a hard time. Evidently the sake challenge is a lot easier, as Jonathan & Harley finish and get a cab at the same time as Jeff & Jackie. The teams have phones to take selfies/videos with this season, which is interesting. CJ & Lebya haven’t arrived at the clue box yet, they are having trouble navigating the train station. Laura & Tyler are the first team to finish Synching Steps. Jelani & Jenny finish as well; Jonathan & Harley’s cab driver gets lost, and Jeff & Jackie are off to the pit stop, which is at a specific parking spot. Jeff & Jackie search within the building, while Jelani & Jenny read the clue carefully and realize that the parking spot is outside; I guess being a team of lawyers pays off. Jelani & Jenny have been working together very well this race, and it paid off with a first place victory! They win the Express Pass, and Jeff & Jackie come in second. It’s interesting that the dating teams thought they would have a leg up on the blind date teams, but so far the blind date teams are in the lead!
Laura and Tyler come in third place, and Tyler tells Phil that he and Laura work extremely well 
together, and there is a potential for love! Jonathan & Harley finally get their bearings and make it to the U-turn, with Aly & Steve right behind them. So far, no one has used the U-turn, although I think one of the teams that is still completing Synching Steps will probably utilize the U-turn. Hayley & Blair complete the detour, and Matt & Ashley are successful on their 25th try. Ally & Steve come in 4th place, and Jonathan & Harley are in 5th place. Rochelle is really struggling with the dance, but Mike is incredibly supportive; he keeps telling Rochelle that she is getting better and they will get it soon. I think Mike & Rochelle are a great couple. I’m not quite sure why no one is switching detours, because several teams seem to be struggling a lot. Libby & CJ finish the detour, which means this is most likely a race between Rochelle & Mike and Jeff & Lyda. I like both of these teams, but I feel like Mike & Rochelle will be more entertaining to watch.
Mike’s calm encouragement pushes Rochelle to master the dance moves, and they complete the detour. Teams are having difficulty navigating to the pit stop; two teams take the train, while the other two teams take taxis. Lyda and Jeff are still stuck at the detour – it looks like they will probably be eliminated this leg, barring some major travel catastrophe. Bergen & Kurt come in 6th place; meanwhile, Mike & Rochelle manage to make it to the U-turn ahead of the other teams, and U-turn Jeff & Lyda. They seem sincere in apologizing for it, but they’re absolutely correct – this is about winning a million dollars. I still feel bad for Jeff & Lyda, because I honestly think they would’ve come in last no matter what, and this just adds insult to injury. On their 23rd attempt, Jeff & Lyda complete the dance! Mike & Rochelle get 7th place, Hayley & Blair come in 8th, and Matt & Ashley are in 9th place. Jeff & Lyda reach the U-turn and decide to U-turn Jeffrey & Jackie, unaware that the team behind them is actually CJ & Lebya.
Jeff & Lyda complete Samurai Sake remarkably fast, which means they might actually have a chance
to stay in the race! Lebya & CJ ask the same cab driver for directions twice; he seems to not know where the clue box is, but he offers to drive them for 100 yen, which they decline. After walking around for a while, CJ & Lebya meet the same cab driver, and reluctantly decide to get in his cab. The cab driver actually does know where he’s going, which puts CJ & Lebya slightly ahead of Jeff & Lyda. Lebya & CJ make the same mistake Jeff & Jackie made, searching inside the building for the pit stop. CJ realizes their mistake, and they find Phil, making them team number 10. Jeff & Lyda arrive last and are eliminated, which disappoints me, because they tried so hard and were so sweet to each other. Also, if they hadn’t been U-turned, I really think Jeff & Lyda would’ve come in 10th place.
What did you think of the first episode of The Amazing Race season 26? Who is your favorite team? Personally, I really like Laura & Tyler (in case you couldn’t tell), Rochelle & Mike, Bergen & Kurt, and Jelani & Jenny. Honestly, there aren’t really any teams that I strongly dislike, although Matt & Ashley and CJ & Lebya annoy me a little bit. Who do you think will win TAR season 26? Let me know in the comments below!
