Amazing Race 31 episode 8 recap: How did Survivor teams finish?

The first-ever use of the U-Turn Vote on CBS’ version of The Amazing Race 31 made for an uncomfortable moment. Did it benefit the last Survivor team?

Last week, we saw the third non-elimination leg out of five in The Amazing Race 31. Just two teams ended their race in the past six or so weeks, and one of them was Corinne Kaplan and Eliza Orlins (Team Villains) from Survivor. Only Bret LaBelle and Chris Hammons are left to represent the Reality TV Showdown theme, and after finishing sixth out of eight, the pressure is on.

Tyler and Korey starting things off, keeping The Amazing Race within Switzerland as they headed to Ballenberg. Fortunately for Bret and Chris, who started from behind, the Ballenberg gate opened at 7 a.m. local, allowing them to catch up and listen in on the Reillys apologize to the Afghanimals for spreading rumors in the previous leg.

Chris was somewhat peeved that the Reillys were ignoring them, commenting that they don’t have enough Instagram followers for them to have a conversation. Instead, he stayed Switzerland in Switzerland, employing Spy Shack-like listening in skills with Bret as they saw the Reillys slowly unravel.

At 7 a.m., all the teams ran up the hill only to meet host Phil Keoghan down the path. That was a blessing for Bret and Chris, who were slow to run down the path. As it turns out, the oldest democracy hosted the first U-turn vote, with every team getting a vote for who to U-turn. Colin and Christie were the primary targets, with Chris and Bret breaking a three-team tie for the second vote by choosing the Reillys for the U-turn.

The Detour immediately outside the voting booth split teams between two challenges. “Make Hay” saw teams scythe a lane of grass old school style, with the other player raking the grass behind them. “Cow Festival” saw teams dressing up cows with an official headdress, per proper deportment.

All the teams who didn’t have to do both tasks chose to cut grass except Victor and Nicole, who had to fold 26 state flags as part of their non-elimination Speed Bump. This meant Chris and Bret finished their task in second place; leaping up a bunch of spots as only Team Fun finished before them.

Oberschwanden was the location of their next clue, as Team Fun, Tyler and Korey and The Afghanimals followed. It led to the Road Block “Tell’s Test,” with Bret opting to shoot an apple off a straw figure’s head. Both he, Tyler and Becca arrived at the challenge at roughly the same time, but Bret was the one with the firearms experience thanks to his time with the Boston Police.

The first shot took off the straw figure’s head, proving that it is near impossible to fire a weapon for the first time and know how to be accurate. Taking the proper adjustments to the trajectory of the crossbow, Bret aimed, shot his second crossbow bolt and nailed the apple right in the center, completing the Road Block in no time!

For the first time in The Amazing Race 31, a Survivor team raced towards the pit stop of a leg in first place! Taking a speedboat across a river to the Grand Hotel, teams had to choose between legging it up to the side of a mountain or taking a funicular to the top. With Tyler and Korey steps behind them, Bret and Chris knew they needed to risk taking the faster, mechanized approach.

Unfortunately, the funicular didn’t open for another hour, with Tyler and Korey running up the mountain and winning their third leg of The Amazing Race 31. This meant Bret and Chris ran up behind them minutes later, finishing in second place. It’s not first place, but it’s the best position the team has been in all season long.

At this stage of the race, the Survivor ambassadors have proven themselves to be capable challenge performers. A big part of their detriment has been the fact that they are not as well equipped when it comes to cardiovascular abilities, as running up and down cities carrying huge backpacks makes up for a lot more racing time than you’d think.

Here’s how the Survivor teams fare after the eighth leg of The Amazing Race 31:

• Bret LaBelle and Chris Hammons: 2nd place
• Eliza Orlins and Corinne Kaplan: Eliminated in 9th place
• Rupert and Laura Boneham: Eliminated in 10th place

Let’s hope they can carry their momentum forward and finish out the next leg of the race in first place!