Today was a good day for Lindsay, their team won two challenges in a row and even avoided an elimination round. The best part was, she even got to share first class with Tyler again. They were able to reconnect more and had a lot of fun over the night, but in the end, they were just glad to be reunited.
However, there was still one problem for Lindsay.
As she was leaning her back against Tyler's chest in the loveseat, she noticed a sleeping DJ had his arms and legs tied to one of the golden chairs and even she could understand what was going on.
DJ's animal curse had been causing him so much distress lately and Lindsay felt really bad for him. She was concerned about the big guy and wanted to help but didn't know how.
"Hey Linds? Something wrong?" Tyler asked his girlfriend.
"I just feel so bad for DJ. He has that evil curse that makes him keep hurting animals. I don't know how to help him get rid of it." Lindsay admits solemnly.
Tyler seemed to be thoughtful for a moment before remembering something from season one, "Didn't Beth also have a curse?"
"Yeah, but she only got that from a tiki idol. She said she put it back though." Lindsay reminded the jock.
"No she didn't. She just broke it apart and flushed it down the toilet but the curse still wore off either way since you won challenges after she was gone. Maybe DJ's curse only affects him because he believes in it." Tyler explained.
A spark in Lindsay's brain lit up, Tyler was right, that's exactly what happened. Despite Beth not putting the idol away, the Screaming Gophers were still able to win a lot of challenges before they merged. Maybe Tyler had a point about DJ's curse too.
Meanwhile back in Economy Class, the awkwardness from yesterday seemed to improve with Team Amazon voting off Sierra but it was still kinda tense, especially since Cody opted to spend the night in the cargo hold.
"Cody's been pretty distant ever since Sierra got voted off." Gwen remarked in concern, "You think he's okay?"
"Oh, he's probably fine. Likely just surprised that he stayed in the game over Sierra is all." Izzy's voice was heard which made Gwen remember that she wasn't alone with her team, Team Chris was right there.
"Why would he be surprised we voted off Sierra? It's basic common sense to vote off the one causing the problems." Courtney rolled her eyes.
"You did send him to deal with Sierra's whining, thus isolating him from the group." Owen twiddled his fingers nervously causing Gwen to shift around guiltily.
"Smooth move Owen." Noah snarked which caused Owen to smile at his friend.
"Thanks Noah. Glad I'm helping." Owen said happily, oblivious to how awkward he was making Gwen feel.
"Ugh," Heather grunted, "Stop making a big deal out of this, Cody's fine. Knowing him, he's likely just surprised that Sierra's gone. He's probably freaking relieved that he won't need to deal with her. I know I am."
"Ah Heather, your team spirit shines through as always." Alejandro smirked teasingly causing Heather to glare at the Spaniard.
Confessional: Cody
"So… I kinda had an epiphany last night." Cody admits sheepishly, "That rant I made to Sierra made me realize… I haven't exactly been good to Gwen myself this season. Especially in the Amazon. So I decided that I'm gonna leave her alone for a while to keep myself from bothering her… the problem is that I don't know who else I'll be able to talk to on my team."
Confessional Ends
After that, the plane began bobbing in and out of the ocean until it finally skidded to a stop in the middle of the water.
"Attention passengers, in accordance with water landing procedures. You will be shown the nearest exit." Chris' voice was heard on the intercom.
After that, Chef immediately began leading the contestants out and shoving them into the ocean, it took a bit to get DJ out but he did, although now DJ was using a cushion to keep himself afloat since he refused to let it go. Once everyone was in the water, Chris had shown up in a steamboat.
"Hey dere, ya gowdy angishores," Chris greeted in some nigh-incomprehensible accent. "Ever been to sea?"
"What with the who now?" Cody asked, finally speaking outwardly after a good chunk of the flight last episode.
"It's Newfoundland mate, I'm originally from here." Chris explained happily, "It's a bonney homecomin' for Buddy McLean, and it's just a hop, and a skip, thataway!" He pointed off to his right, the camera panning over to show...nothing but ocean waters.
"First part of the challenge," Chris told the contestants as he pointed to three similar rowboatsl. "Swim over to your team's boat and start paddling. To keep this interesting, since Victory is a team of two, we added an engine."
"Okay listen up Amazons, If we swim a square formation we'll be faster." Courtney said happily.
"Fine. Any objections?" Heather asked.
"Courtney's bossing us around and you don't have one?" Gwen spoke with surprise.
"Only to losing. Now go!" Heather pointed a commanding finger at the two girls before they immediately swam off, if only to not provoke any more of Heather's fury.
Confessional: Gwen
"You know Heather really shouldn't let her obvious crush on Alejandro get in the way of the game." Gwen said blandly, "Having a relationship with Duncan really screwed things up for me last year."
Once she realized her mistake, she smiled nervously, "TRENT! I meant Trent, just a slip of the tongue."
After that, a static cut to her trying to mess with the camera, "I want the tape back. Give me the tape! How do you open this thing?!"
Confessional Ends
After that little argument, Courtney and Gwen were swimming in front of Heather and Cody to the rowboat, little did they know this is exactly what Heather wanted. She made sure they were out of earshot before whispering to Cody
"Look at them, it's clear as day how close they are." Heather remarked in annoyance to the geek, "We need to break them apart or it's game over for both of us."
"And by us, you mean you, right?" Cody said dully.
"No, by us I really mean us." Heather rolled her eyes, "Once I'm gone, you'll follow and while you may be friends with goth girl, she'll always pick her friends over a desperate admirer."
"Gee, thanks." Cody raised an annoyed eyebrow.
"Am I wrong though?" Heather asked pointedly, to which Cody could only look away in sadness at.
"I'll take that as a yes. If it makes you feel better, we'll vote for Courtney next time. Agreed?" Heather smiled encouragingly.
Cody sighed before nodding his head silently.
We then see that Lindsay was trying to convince DJ to swim but he was still clutching onto the cushion.
"DJ, come on. We need to get to our boat." Lindsay said sadly.
"I'm sorry Lindsay. I just can't stay here any longer. If I leave this game, my curse will go away and I'll go back to mama. That's how Beth was able to reverse her curse and it can work here too." DJ spoke remorsefully.
"Actually, I think-" Lindsay tried to say before she and DJ ended up being swept on top of a killer whale's head, much to both their horror, albeit for different reasons.
We then see that Team Chris were quickly getting onto their boat but Owen was the only one struggling to swim all the way in.
"Izzy? The fishing net if you please?" Alejandro smirked at the redhead before Izzy threw the net and caught Owen with it.
"Oho, you're quite the catch Big O. Welcome to my crew." Izzy said excitedly before all members of Team Chris began pulling him in.
Back with Lindsay and DJ, Lindsay had gripped the fin of the whale while DJ was desperately pleading it to stay away from him but he ended up shoving the cushion into it's blowhole, causing it to gasp and fling DJ and Lindsay onto their boat. It ended up blowing the cushion out of their blowhole but it hit a seagull while doing so.
"Nohohohohohoho!" DJ cried out in despair.
"Aye there contestants." Chris said happily as his boat approached the the teams on his fishing boat. "Ready to row, row, row yer boats? The first two teams to get their dories to the shore will take part in the final challenge. Oh, and if you land some seafood along the way, you'll get a special reward. On your mark, get set! Go!"
Noah and Tyler, and Heather and Cody began rowing for their teams but Courtney was immediately barking orders at Cody and Heather to stroke which immediately annoyed the latter.
Meanwhile, Izzy had begun using a fishing net to catch a lobster much to her happiness as she began holding it, "Whoa, hey Snappy. Welcome to the Izzy Cruise. Tell your friends."
The lobster began snapping at her much to her annoyance, "Hey! Bad Snappy!"
"Does anybody have any butter?" Owen asked curiously as he took the lobster from Izzy.
"Do NOT think about it Owen!" Noah warned his large friend.
"Can I think about tartar sauce?" Owen smiled hopefully at Noah but his and Alejandro's sharp glare caused him to look away but he still licked the lobster out of spite.
We then cut back to Lindsay and DJ in their boat as DJ sat back in depression while Lindsay was angrily trying to start the motor, "I am NOT letting you quit DJ!"
"All I wanna do is drift along peacefully and lose. You'll be better off without me in your way. Just let me lose." DJ told the blonde.
"Sorry, but I disagree." Lindsay rolled her eyes before a familiar chime was heard.
"Nuh-uh. No way am I singing." DJ shook his head.
"Y'know you're out if you don't sing, right?" Chris mentioned as his ship parked next to him and Lindsay.
"You're right. If I don't sing, I'm going home. Please start the song." DJ said formally.
(Song begins)
Alejandro began playing his accordion, where he was keeping that I do not know, and began the song gleefully.
"We're heading down to Newfoundland, that rocky eastern shore."
"I'll have the shrimps, mussels, cod, and the lobster thermidor." Owen smiled enthusiastically before dancing on the rowboat.
Meanwhile, Gwen was not getting anything from fishing and was not happy about it, "I can't get a thing to bite so we better get there first."
"Row harder, faster, both of you. For the win, work up the thirst." Courtney commanded, "Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!"
Cody and Heather were both noticeably disgruntled with the overachiever's attitude.
"It's a sea shanty and it's darn catchy!" Lindsay smiled ecstatically as she finally got her motor to work, "Yes! Go on DJ your turn."
DJ shook his head with a smug smirk on his face.
"Izzy you're a nutbar but you sure can catch a fish!" Tyler and Noah sang in unison as Izzy began dancing with the giant fish in her hands.
"Thanks there B'y, you're quite kinda, cause my partner he's Irish, and if you want the next grill, he's all yours." Izzy sang giddily.
"Trying our best Courtney, our arms are getting fried!" Cody and Heather both sang.
"Courtney, do you see?" Gwen asked in shock as Courtney turned to see what it was, it was the shadowy form of what appeared to be Duncan on a rock formation.
"Oh could it be? Steer hard starboard sight." Courtney sang once she saw the sight herself.
"It's a sea shanty, and it's darn catchy." Lindsay began dancing happily.
"No you can't catch me, with a sea shanty." DJ smirked condescendingly much to Lindsay's happiness.
(Song Ends)
"YES!" Lindsay cried out joyfully.
"What? Oh no…" DJ said in horror of what he just did.
"You sang. That means we're still teammates!" Lindsay cheered bubbly.
"Yes, yes you are but maybe not for long. You might wanna take a look over there." Chris warned the Victory duo before they turned to see a giant iceberg to which Lindsay swerved the boat around it but then she had to dodge more and more icebergs until they finally crashed on the shore.
"We're alive. You saved us Lindsay!" DJ said happily.
"Now will you stay in the game with me?" Lindsay begged.
"Well played valiant competitors." Alejandro smirked at the two as Tyler and Noah finally made it to the shore.
"We beat them?" Lindsay questioned before cheering, "We beat them!"
Chris then descends onto the sand with his jetpack and announces, "In an out of nowhere comeback, Team Victory is first and Team Chris gets second. Team Amazon however seems to be taking a while."
We then cut to Courtney and Heather fighting over the paddle when Heather shoves Courtney into the water.
"Why are you so against us getting Duncan back? I need to reunite with him!" Courtney asked incredulously.
"Yeah Heather, you're more evil than I thought." Gwen glared at the Queen Bee before she narrowed her eyes and spoke up.
"Because I know Duncan isn't up there! Why don't you take a closer look and see for yourselves. It's a stupid rock formation!" Heather cried out furiously.
Courtney and Gwen took a longer look and from the distance, they saw Heather was correct and that indeed was a rock formation that looked like Duncan for some reason.
"Oh…" Gwen gulped.
"Crap…" Courtney swore.
"Now let's move!" Heather told Cody before they began rowing again while Gwen and Courtney shared looks of embarrassment all the while.
A little while afterwards, Team Amazon finally had made it to shore along with the rest of the cast and Chris was now announcing the next part of the challenge, "Now it's time to begin the next leg of the game. Since Team Amazon are the big losers, they're out. They'll have to clean the fish and lobster that the other teams brought in annnnnnnnnd shuck these clams."
Heather and Cody immediately glare metaphorical holes into Gwen and Courtney's heads respectively, as both could tell, they were not happy by this turn of events.
"I thought the team who brought the most seafood would get a special reward." Noah admits In curiosity.
"You do. You get to watch Heather and Courtney shuck clams. How's that for a special reward?" Chris asked teasingly.
"Fair enough." Noah smirked in satisfaction.
We then cut to the two teams sitting on opposite sides of a wooden table as Chris smiles at the group, "Welcome to my traditional Newfoundland kitchen party," Chris greeted from the head of the table along the back wall. "In this part of the competition, it's Team Chris Is Really Really Really Really Hot," he motioned towards Alejandro, Izzy, Owen, Tyler, and Noah on the left, "versus Team Victory," he gestured towards DJ and Lindsay on the right, "in a 'Screeching In' relay!"
He turned around and opened a cupboard set into the wall behind him, revealing two jugs. "'Screeching In' is a ceremony performed by the locals to welcome newcomers. First, you have to swig a whole lot of apple cider," he said as he put the jugs down on the table.
"Doesn't sound so bad." Owen said with a smile.
"Correction," Chris said, "that was supposed to be apple cider vinegar. It'll put hair on your chest." Owen and Izzy gave a horrified look. "Owen, Izzy, and Lindsay each must finish a whole bottle."
"As soon as you do, Owen and Izzy can tag Noah and Alejandro," both boys were shown watching blankly, "who along with Lindsay will then have to decipher a local Newfoundland saying, spoken by my cousin," Chris motioned over to the Dutch door and announced, "Jerd McLean!"
The bottom half of the Dutch door was swung open by a short man in a yellow raincoat similar to Chris's; despite his bushy red beard the man's face looked distinctly similar to the host's. He walked across the room quickly, put his arms around the shoulder of Alejandro and Noah, and said "How's i' gotten dere b'y?"
"Then they each tag Tyler and DJ who will have to kiss a cod. Like they mean it." Chris finished much to the disgust of Tyler and DJ.
"First team to finish all three legs wins the challenge," Chris said as Jerd copied his signature moves. "Let the Screeching In begin!"
Owen, Izzy, and Lindsay immediately began drinking the apple cider and soon we see that Heather shucking clams furiously with Cody next to her, while Courtney and Gwen were cleaning the seaweed and gunk off of the fish and lobsters.
"Y'know, we might have beaten Team Chris if SOME people didn't waste their time fawning over some gutter punk." Heather pointedly told both Gwen and Courtney.
"We get it. We're sorry, you don't need to rub it in anymore." Gwen narrowed her eyes.
"Oh, but I do, because thanks to both of your infatuations with Duncan, we all likely have to go to elimination AGAIN." Heather said angrily, "And this time Sierra is not here to cover for you."
"Whoa whoa whoa. Both of our infatuations?" Courtney raised a suspicious eyebrow at Gwen causing her to blush and look away much to Heather's glee.
We then cut back to the Screeching In where Izzy and Lindsay were gasping and wheezing after finishing the cider while Owen was unaffected by it, "Not bad, not bad at all. You got any chips on the side."
"Both teams move onto the interpretation part of the challenge. Begin!" Chris announced.
The camera panned down to the shorter man as he happily said something akin to "Ring da man at da pumphouse."
"Uhh...are those even words?" Noah asked in confusion.
"Are you serious?" Alejandro asked incredulously.
"Ooh." Lindsay groaned as she held her crotch, "That vinegar went right through me. I need to use the bathroom."
Jerd snapped his fingers and smiled. "Correctamundo!" Chris said. "Jerd asked to use the washroom like a true Maritimer! Way to go Lindsay."
Confessional: Lindsay
"I did not even think about the translation. Wow." Lindsay giggled before realizing what she came in here for, "Oh right. Gotta turn off the camera."
Confessional Ends
"And with that, Team Victory is now in the lead and can move onto part three of the challenge." Chris smiled as we see Alejandro was being pushed back inside the shack by Chef.
"Give me that bucket!" He commanded furiously as Alejandro narrowed his eyes.
"I guess it's too hard to say thanks." Alejandro scoffed before Chef came in with a close pin on his nose and after that, he threw the cod on the table in front of DJ, much to his horror.
"All you gotta do is smooch the cod for the win," Chris said mockingly, "And remember DJ, like you MEAN it."
"Chris Is Really Really Really Hot, you better get a move on. Jerd, another saying if you please?" Chris told the runner up team.
"Tha worst thing ye can have in yer head is a na'r tooth!"
Noah's eyes went wide, and he said "Okay, I think he said something about Owen's butt."
"The kid's as smart as a bag of rocks, b'y," Jerd snidely told his cousin.
"Oh," Chris snickered, "I know. Alejandro? Any guesses?"
Alejandro frowned in thought and then answered, "The worst thing you can have in your head is...no teeth?"
Jerd nodded and Chris smiled, "Bingo!" Chris said. "And how true. Tyler," Chef thrust another cod into Tyler's hands. "Time to pucker up!"
"I don't know if I can do this. It's a fish." Tyler said in discomfort.
"If I touch it, something bad is gonna happen." DJ said in worry before Lindsay gasped with a smile.
"DJ look, it's an Egyptian symbol! If you kiss this fish, it might break your curse!" Lindsay smiled at the Gentle Giant encouragingly.
"Really?" DJ asked with a raised eyebrow.
"DJ, I'm afraid I can stay silent no longer." Alejandro spoke solemnly before speaking in a motivating tone, "Lindsay could be right, I would like Tyler to kiss the cod so we don't lose, but my main concern is for the animals… of the world. You must end this."
DJ smiled before picking up the fish enthusiastically, "Aw, never mind that you're just the cutest little thing in the world, aren't ya?"
Confessional: Noah and Owen
"No wonder my little cousins aren't allowed to watch this show." Noah rolled his eyes.
"Are you sure about that?" Owen asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Must I remind you of what we saw earlier?" Noah glared at his friend.
Confessional Ends
We then see DJ immediately begin kissing the codfish and even moaning "Oh fishy" much to the disgust of everyone in the room, DJ was clearly getting way too into this.
Confessional: Noah and Owen
"Uh… yeah you might be right. This is out of control." Owen could barely speak after what he just witnessed much to Noah's angry agreement.
Confessional Ends
"Okay," Chris shut the whole thing down, "we've seen enough! It's clear that Team Victory wins yet another challenge and Team Amazon would be going to elimination… if it weren't for the fact that this is a celebration of my homeland. No elimination tonight. Team Victory's reward will be a delicious clam chowder supper."
DJ and Lindsay cheered ecstatically when they heard this while Owen and Izzy groan at what they have missed, Tyler looked embarrassed but Noah was furiously glaring at Alejandro.
Confessional: Noah
"Okay, first he butters up Leshawna's ego and now THIS?! Alejandro is becoming way too untrustworthy. If I get the chance, I will get him eliminated." Noah vowed angrily.
Confessional Ends
Lindsay and DJ were then seen eating their clam chowder when DJ smiled as he spoke to Lindsay, "It's been two hours and I haven't hurt one animal. I'm finally back in the game. Thanks for the encouragement Lindsay."
"Sure thing." Lindsay smiled enthusiastically as she ate a spoonful of chowder.
Meanwhile, Team Amazon and Chris alike were all sulking at the fact that Team Victory had won another challenge but Alejandro was nowhere to be seen.
"Aw man. I really wanted to win the seafood." Owen sulked.
"I know. I'm just so mad that I could- I could- EXPLODE!" Izzy cried out angrily before accidentally punching Owen in the eye, causing it to swell up much to everyone's concern, especially Noah and Izzy's.
"OW!" Owen began holding his eye which caused Izzy to try and look in concern before he recoiled from her touch, "DON'T HURT ME!"
He soon realized who he was talking to and reiterated, "I mean… I need to use the bathroom."
Owen began running off while everyone just went back to sulking, even Izzy who was more upset than she already was.
Noah then found Owen running into the shack and saw Owen was holding his eye in pain.
"Owen, what's going on?" Noah asked, genuine concern seeping through his tone for once.
"I-I'm thinking about ending it with Izzy. She's so chaotic and it really just gets me hurt most of the time. You were right about her in Paris, the plane crash proved it and… I don't know what to do." Owen twiddles his fingers.
Noah looked around awkwardly before putting a hand on Owen's shoulder, "Look, I personally believe you should try to let Izzy down as easy as possible. She's crazy but she does at least care about you."
"I don't know Izzy. For all I know she might end up going insane like Sierra did to Cody." Owen sighed, "I don't know what to do."
But what neither Noah or Owen knew was that Alejandro was looking through a crack in the back door and heard everything with a smirk.
He then walked away from the doorway to pick up a bucket of fish, all that had the Egyptian symbol on it.
"My my. Two delicious weaknesses to utilize and perfectly gift wrapped for me." Alejandro chuckled maliciously before dumping the bucket of fish into the water, "This game just gets more fun as it goes on."