The Amazing Race Season 37: Global Adventure and Game-Changing Twists

The Amazing Race Season 37: A Groundbreaking Global Race

The 37th season of The Amazing Race marked an exhilarating return to high-stakes adventure and strategic gameplay. With fourteen teams, the most in the show’s history, competing for the coveted $1 million prize, this season delivered unforgettable travel experiences, dramatic twists, and heart-stopping moments. Hosted, as always, by the charismatic Phil Keoghan, the race spanned over 29,000 miles across three continents and ten countries, starting in Los Angeles and culminating in Miami.

Season Overview

• Number of teams: 14 (a series record)
• Grand Prize: $1,000,000
• Premiere date: March 5, 2025 (CBS)
• Finale date: May 15, 2025 (CBS)
• Host: Phil Keoghan
• Total countries visited: 10 spanning North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East

Major Game Twists and Elements Introduced

• Fork in the Road: Teams must choose between two equally challenging detours, facing surprise variables.
• Driver’s Seat: A twist placing teams directly in control (literally), requiring navigation without local guides.
• Valet Roulette: Unexpected team reshuffles during certain legs, disrupting alliances and strategies.
• Return of classic elements: Double elimination leg, Intersection, Live U-Turn Vote, Fast Forward, Double U-Turn, non-elimination leg, Head-to-Head, Scramble.

Teams: Diverse Relationships and Dynamic Strategies

This season featured teams with pre-existing relationships, ranging from best friends, siblings, married couples, to parent-child duos. Each team brought distinct strengths and personalities, adding layers of complexity to their travel and challenge strategies.

• Carson McCalley & Jack Dodge: Best friends and gamers—winners of Season 37.
• Han & Holden Nguyen: Sibling duo—finished second place.
• Jonathan & Ana Towns: Married parents—third place finishers.
• Other competitors: Included dating couples, cousins, co-workers, and parent-child pairs, each hoping to claim victory.

Epic Global Destinations

Racers navigated a sweeping route across iconic destinations and challenging terrains, encountering local cultures, languages, and traditions at each pit stop. Each leg brought a new country, new adversities, and strategic surprises.

Season 37 Episode Guide: Highlights and Dramatic Moments

Each episode brought a mix of physical tasks, intricate puzzles, cultural immersion, and strategic drama. Here are some of the season’s most notable episodes and moments:

• Double the Stakes, Double the Eliminations: Season opener featuring two teams eliminated after a chaotic pit stop scramble.
• Very Strong Warrior Energy: Teams tackle a taiko drumming Intersection in Osaka, forging temporary alliances.
• Chaotic, Crazy, That’s What We’re Used To: A jungle detour in Indonesia with no addresses, causing global navigation chaos.
• It Smells Like the Desert: UAE desert challenge, teams wrestle with puzzles and camel rides.
• Be One With the Hay: In Bulgaria, haystack detour and the first appearance of Express Pass.
  • One team’s critical mistake nearly costs them the race.
• The Pizza de Résistance: Naples, Italy; teams compete to master authentic pizza-making in a pressure Roadblock.
• Up the River Without a Joust: Strasbourg, France; includes a Head-to-Head water jousting match for advancement.
• My Knight in Shining Armor: Portugal’s medieval-themed challenges test team endurance and puzzle-solving.
• We’re in Miami Baby!: The thrilling Miami finale, where the final racers compete for the $1 million prize after crossing 18 cities and 29,000 miles.

Game Mechanics: Roadblocks, Detours, and Twists

The show’s format thrives on its innovative tasks and twists. Roadblocks require one team member to perform a demanding task. Detours present two different tasks, demanding strategic choices. U-Turns force teams to complete both Detour tasks, and Intersections pair teams for a shared challenge. The introduction of Fork in the Road, Driver’s Seat, and Valet Roulette in Season 37 forced teams to adapt quickly, upending alliances and throws.

• Live U-Turn Vote: Teams publicly vote, increasing drama.
• Head-to-Head: Direct team competition for advancement.
• Fast Forward: Skip all remaining tasks for the leg.
• Express Pass: Use to bypass one Roadblock or Detour.

Season 37: Memorable Challenges and Standout Strategies

• Cultural Performances: Taiko drums in Japan, pizza-making in Italy, water jousting in France, and medieval armor in Portugal.
• Navigation Drama: Indonesia’s jungle scramble and Bulgaria’s haystack search tested travel navigation.
• Strategic Alliances: Intersections and Valet Roulette pushed teams to form and break alliances on the fly.
• Critical Mistakes: Several teams nearly lost the race due to misunderstood directions or failed puzzle tasks.

Winners and Final Standings

After 12 grueling legs and enduring every twist and obstacle, Carson McCalley and Jack Dodge emerged victorious. The sibling pair, Han and Holden Nguyen, finished second, while Jonathan and Ana Towns, the married parents, took third place. All three teams demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability, but Carson and Jack’s superior navigation and puzzle-solving gave them the winning edge.

Impact and Legacy of Season 37

Season 37’s dynamic twists, international diversity, and maximum record number of teams set a high bar for reality competition. Fans and critics praised the “season of surprises,” the well-crafted challenges, and the emotional depth revealed through team dynamics and strategic gameplay.

• High ratings: Maintained strong viewership across all twelve episodes.
• Fan favorites: Pizza-making in Naples and water jousting in Strasbourg.
• Game-changing twists: Fork in the Road and Valet Roulette added unpredictability.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What was new in Season 37 compared to past seasons?

A: Season 37 introduced Fork in the Road, Driver’s Seat, and Valet Roulette to shake up classic game mechanics, along with a record 14 teams.

Q: Who were the winners of The Amazing Race Season 37?

A: Carson McCalley and Jack Dodge, the best friends and gaming duo, claimed first place and the $1 million grand prize.

Q: What were the most memorable challenges of the season?

A: Fan favorites included authentic pizza-making in Naples, Italy; head-to-head water jousting in Strasbourg, France; and the Fork in the Road twist in Bulgaria.

Q: How many countries did teams visit in Season 37?

A: Teams traveled through ten countries on three continents, including the United States, Japan, Indonesia, UAE, Bulgaria, Italy, Germany, France, and Portugal.

Q: Where can I stream The Amazing Race Season 37?

A: The entire season is available for streaming on CBS and Paramount Plus platforms.

Why Season 37 Stands Out

With more teams, international scope, and new twists, The Amazing Race Season 37 refreshed its decades-old formula and captured viewers worldwide. Its legacy lies in challenging both physical limits and strategic gameplay, continuously evolving for new generations of fans.

• Adventure, strategy, and drama—all in one high-octane season.
• Season 37 cemented The Amazing Race as one of TV’s premier global competitions.

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