The Amazing Race Season 34 is widely regarded by fans and critics as an "inoffensive but ultimately mid-tier" season. While it succeeded in transitioning the show into a post-pandemic era with some fresh mechanical changes, it was often criticized for lacking the high-stakes drama and travel chaos that defined earlier years. The Highlights: What Worked The "Scramble" Twist: The premiere introduced the "Scramble," allowing teams to complete the opening tasks in any order they chose. This created a captivating, non-linear start with constant lead changes. A "No Safety Net" Format: For the first time in the series, there were no non-elimination legs . This heightened the stakes for every single leg, as teams knew finishing last meant an immediate exit. A Strong, Diverse Cast: The season featured a highly likable and diverse cast, including fan favorites like Big Brother’s Derek Xiao and Claire Rehfuss and long-lost twins Emily Bushnell and Molly Sinert Rotten Tomatoes The Drawbacks: What Fell Short
The Amazing Race Season 34: A Return to Form and a New Era of Accessibility 1. Executive Summary Season 34 of The Amazing Race marked a significant turning point for the long-running reality competition. After the disruption of COVID-19 led to a bubble season (Season 33) that was filmed in under two months entirely within Europe, Season 34 represented the show’s first true “post-pandemic” global race. For the first time in franchise history, the season was filmed without a single “non-elimination leg,” making every leg a battle for survival. It was also notable for permanently removing the “Keep on Racing” (continuous racing without a pit stop) format from the previous season and returning to a more classic structure, albeit with a modern, accessible twist. The season was won by the father-son duo Derek and Claire Xiao , becoming the first Asian-American team to win the U.S. version of the Race. Key Stats:
Aired: September 21 – December 7, 2022 (CBS) Legs: 12 (All elimination legs) Teams: 12 Distance: ~22,000 miles (35,400 km) Countries visited: 7 (Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Jordan, Iceland)
2. Production & Format Changes The most significant change this season was the elimination of the Non-Elimination Leg . In previous seasons, the last-place team on certain legs would be “marked for elimination” or incur a penalty. For Season 34, producers designed every leg so that the final team to check in at the Pit Stop was eliminated. This increased the tension dramatically, as there were no second chances. Additionally, the show brought back the Pit Start (teams depart at intervals based on their finish time from the previous leg) and the Scramble (introduced in Season 33). The Scramble is a task where all teams receive a clue directing them to a specific location, but instead of a single task, they find a board listing 3-4 tasks. Teams can complete the tasks in any order they choose, adding a strategic navigation and time-management layer. Other adjustments: The Amazing Race - Season 34
Reduced reliance on airport self-booking (most flights were pre-booked due to lingering travel volatility). Increased focus on local culture and history over gimmicky roadblocks. No travel by train or bus within Europe; teams were provided rental cars or taxis.
3. Route & Challenges The route was a 12-leg, 7-country journey that began and ended in the United States, with a heavy focus on Europe before a final swing through the Middle East and the Arctic. | Leg | Destinations (City, Country) | Notable Task / Challenge | |------|-------------------------------|---------------------------| | 1 | Nashville, USA → Munich, Germany | Autobahn speed test (driving & precision) | | 2 | Munich → Innsbruck, Austria | Tyrolean rapid river rafting & waltz dancing | | 3 | Innsbruck → Bologna, Italy | Ducati motorcycle factory assembly | | 4 | Bologna → Florence, Italy | Renaissance art puzzle & leather crafting | | 5 | Florence → Porto-Vecchio, Corsica (France) | Scramble: goat herding, cannon firing, oyster farming | | 6 | Corsica → Paris, France | Eiffel Tower aerialist course | | 7 | Paris → Seville, Spain | Flamenco shoe-making & dancing performance | | 8 | Seville → Petra, Jordan | Camel obstacle course & ancient water system navigation | | 9 | Petra → Dead Sea, Jordan | Buoyancy-based float challenge & mud mask task | | 10 | Dead Sea → Amman, Jordan → Reykjavik, Iceland | Geothermal bread baking & volcanic cave rappelling | | 11 | Reykjavik → Heimaey island, Iceland | Sheep counting, egg collecting on cliffs | | 12 | Iceland → Nashville, USA | Final memory challenge (season-long landmarks) | Most Difficult Leg: Leg 10 (Jordan to Iceland) – Teams faced a brutal temperature swing (from 100°F to 40°F), altitude changes, and a complex navigation leg through volcanic terrain. 4. Teams & Dynamics This season featured a likable, relatively conflict-free cast compared to earlier dramatic seasons. The emphasis was on athleticism, navigation, and puzzle-solving. Final Three Teams:
Derek & Claire Xiao (Winners) – Married couple and former Big Brother players. Their strength was communication and emotional intelligence. They never finished lower than 4th place in any leg. Luis & Michelle Colon (2nd Place) – Married couple (NYPD officer & teacher). Athletic, positive, and aggressive. Won four legs (the most of any team) but made a critical navigation error in the final leg. Emily Bushnell & Molly Sinert (3rd Place) – Long-lost twins (separated at birth, reunited in college). Strong puzzle-solving skills but inconsistent navigation. The Amazing Race Season 34 is widely regarded
Other Notable Teams:
Marcus & Michael (Army veterans & brothers) – Dominant physical team, eliminated in Leg 9 (Petra) due to a taxi driver taking them to the wrong location. Glenda & Lumumba (Married roller derby players) – Fan favorites known for positivity, eliminated in Leg 5. Rich & Dom (Parents of 7 children) – Fought constantly but survived longer than expected.
5. Key Moments & Controversies
No Non-Eliminations: For the first time, a 4th-place finish on a given leg could be as safe as 1st, but last meant gone. This led to high anxiety and no “easy” legs. The Scramble in Corsica (Leg 5): Three teams (Derek/Claire, Luis/Michelle, Marcus/Michael) all finished the leg within 5 minutes of each other after choosing different task orders, proving the format’s effectiveness. The Missing Detour (Leg 9): A planned Detour (two task options) in Jordan was abandoned due to extreme heat (115°F), forcing all teams into a single, grueling navigation task through a canyon. Final Leg Gimmick: The final memory challenge required teams to arrange 12 flags in order of visited countries, but one flag was a “distractor” (Switzerland, not visited). This tripped up Luis & Michelle, costing them the win.
6. Ratings & Reception