The Amazing Race Crowns Season 36 Winners — Did Your Favorite Team Come Out On Top?
With just four duos left, Season 36 of The Amazing Race is anyone’s for the taking. But who’s got what it takes to leave the other teams in the dirt and snatch that big prize?
The penultimate leg kicks off with a deep dive at Sosua Beach in the Dominican Republic. The first DETOUR gives them a choice between assembling diving rigs and crafting some tasty cocktails. All four teams choose the cocktails. (Who can blame them? Though I doubt any sampling is allowed on the race. Their loss is the pirates’ gain!). After Ricky and Cesar whip through their drinks, they lead the pack heading toward Cabarete Beach. Leticia, a former bartender, also has no trouble shaking up something fierce, and hey — at least she has Rod for emotional support and neck kisses.
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In the next ROADBLOCK, players must windsurf for 60 seconds to get their next clue. Leticia takes a rough spill into the water, with the sail knocking her right in the head on her way down. But she gets back on the horse surfboard and bangs it out on her very next try. Next, they’re off to Olympus Beach to find a clue in a dune buggy. Meanwhile, poor Ricky can’t maintain his balance on the board, which gives Juan a chance to gain some time and slip into second place. And poor Ricky looks exhausted. People have called the Race a lot of things in these last couple decades, but easy, it is not.
Rod and Leticia are first to learn they must kayak to the next Pit Stop at Wilson’s Bar. Leticia says she knows they can kayak, and that’s riiiiight about when we see them capsizing. Despite that, they arrive in first place and live to race another day. Unfortunately, Vinny and Amber aren’t so lucky and they’re eliminated from the race. Amber may not have won a million dollars, but she does cop a ring when Vinny surprises her with a proposal on the mat! (She said yes!!!)
The final leg takes place in Philadelphia, where teams must race to Lincoln Financial Field for their next clue. The next task: A mascot training course! After donning a large-headed Amazing Race mascot costume, they must hop, skip and jump their way through the course alongside some of Philly’s most famous mascots. Ricky nails his target with the t-shirt launcher, allowing him and Cesar to take the lead and race off to Pat’s and Geno’s — two of the city’s famous cheesesteak spots. Then, it’s off to Headhouse Square where they must recite the preamble of the Declaration of Independence by memory. Cesar worries since English is his second language, and with Rod and Leticia hot on their trail, the pressure is on!
Meanwhile, Juan and Shane are wrongly told that Pat’s is a pizza place and wind up in New Jersey. (Yes, I considered many Jersey jabs for this part of our recap, but it seems like such low-hanging fruit.) Could this be the beginning of the end of these two?
Ricky and Cesar pass their test and race off to find the Betsy Ross house, while Rod continues to botch his lines. (Too many concussions, he jokes. Or maybe the former pro-footballer is serious?)
In the last ROADBLOCK, teams get a history lesson from three historic figures, then must piece together America’s first official flag. Cesar makes quick work of the flag and after finding their next clue, they’re faced with a 3D Liberty Bell puzzle. Juan and Shane are second to arrive to Liberty Bell puzzle after passing Rod and Leticia at the flag roadblock, but there’s seemingly no stopping Ricky and Cesar, who are the first to arrive at the season’s final clue. The finish line is located at Glen Foerd Estate and whoever gets there first wins the cash.
And let’s be real: No editing trickery could convince me that Ricky and Cesar weren’t clearly taking this home… and that they did! They cross the finish line first and become the official winners of The Amazing Race Season 36! Despite crossing state lines, Juan and Shane place second, leaving Rod and Leticia in third.
So did the right team win? Grade the finale and season below, then let us know what you thought in the comments!
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