'Amazing Race' recap: Tears, compassion, surprise finishes under our petri dish

The thing about reality shows is that it presents human nature in its rawest forms. While contestants wither around in the petri dish, we, the viewers, watch through the microscope.

In this week's episode of The Amazing Race, we saw the gamet: #TheGreenTeam (sorrow, like lots and lots of crying), #TheReporters (frustration), #ThePaparazzi (anger) and #TheCheerleaders (compassion and inspiration).

Sometimes, we wonder how these couples will continue after the show. How can they? They fuss and brow beat each other. But we also see how some partners can be supportive.

Yes, it's all amplified in the editing process. But as The Amazing Race nears the finish line, we got a look at what the editors had to work with.

TheGreenTeam, which is Justin Scheman and Diana Bishop, saw its dominance threatened, and Justin reacted like we expected, berating a Hong Kong cabbie for not fully understanding his Brooklyn dialect. #TheReporters, Kelsey Gerckens and Joey Buttitta, well, we know how hard they're trying, and they seem to work together incredibly well, but they blend into the background. And there's the anti-#TheReporters, #ThePaparazzi. Logan Fazio and Chris Gordon are engaged, but they're as compatible as oil and water. In between yelling at each other, they launch hurtful-sounding zingers.

Tiffany Chantell and Krista Debono, #TheCheerleaders, are the refreshing good guys. They were underdogs from the beginning but have survived all kinds of tasks that took out more physical contestants. And they seem to like each other. They haven't said a bad word to each other and shed tears when other teams are eliminated.

Last week, Tiffany even survived a close call in India. When one of her tasks called for her to ride a bike loaded with balloons in the dark over a bridge, Krista told the Staten Island (N.Y.) Advance that men and kids accosted Tiffany along the way. On the episode, and just before a commercial break, you could see someone ripping apart her cargo of balloons and others trying to push her off the bike.

"There wasn't a woman in sight, except on the balconies," Krista said.

In the editing process, Krista was shown getting the clue, as if she didn't really complete the task. Krista said the conclusion of the incident wasn't filmed because her cameraman had to put down the camera and act as security.

Again: Petri dish. If Krista was harassed during her task, we get to see how the locals react to an American reality show on their turf.

Spoilers

The start: Agra, India.  The finish: Pit stop at Nam Van Lake, Hong Kong

Episode 11 name: It's Not Easy Beating Green

Detour: Sam's vs. Cell. In Sam's, the teams must put together a tailored man's suit. They get a clue from Sam himself and must find a shop where they'll cut the fabric. #ThePaparazzi, #TheReporters and #TheCheerleaders easily find the shop, but they all face challenges on how they'll cut the fabric. Again, you're convinced that the show's producers want something tragic to happen with ThePaparazzi because they're given sharp objects. In Cell, #TheGreenTeam must stop at a market shop and sort through hundreds of vintage cell phones. They luck out and get it pretty quick. But here is where Justin is at his most unbearable. He and Diana must deliver the phone to another shop, but they don't look over their shoulders to see that it's just down the street. Instead, they hop a cab and Justin is beside himself because the cabbie has trouble understanding his directions. They make it, but they're behind.

Road Block: Swim with the Fishes. In this road block, one team member must perform in a water show, in full makeup and costume, and find a prize fish and deliver it to a raft before the music stops. TheGreenTeam trails and tries to make it to the water show only to find someone who suggests they take an alternate route. They finally make it after #ThePaparazzi and #TheReporters have cleared the challenge. Diana steps up for the challenge, but she couldn't get her makeup on time and must wait until the next show (speaking of water works, this is where Justin starts up again). Krista has trouble seeing under water and this causes her to cycle through the shows. Diana completes the challenge, gets the clue and they're headed to the finish line. Krista makes it on her fifth try. Tiffany's pep talk kept Krista from bailing and endeared her to all of us.

Who finished first: #ThePaparazzi. They griped and groaned the whole way. #TheReporters looked resigned to another second-place finish. #TheGreenTeam trotted in believing to be OK. But, not so fast, mon frier. Host Phil Keoghan tells Justin that they face a penalty for not following directions and taking a ferry that gave them a 25-minute advance. #TheGreenTeam now has to wait 55 minutes and hope Tiffany and Krista don't beat them to the finish mat. This leaves plenty of time for Justin to cry.

Who's out: #TheCheerleaders. On the way to the mat, a cabbie takes them to the wrong place. That costs them time. Justin manages not to slip on the pool of tears around him and #TheGreenTeam finishes third. Krista has the best attitude when she learns her fate: "You can always marry rich."

Travel tip: Don't take a cab in Hong Kong. Even though the place is loaded with American and European tourists, they don't speak English and don't take directions very well. Where's Uber when you need it?

WWTTD (What Would #TeamTexas Do?): The cab situation would've caused their heads to explode.

Next week: New York. Who, besides me, wants to see a New York cabbie take Justin's insults and lunge at him? Talk about tears.