Budapest's Wild Ride: The Amazing Race 38 Episode 4 Eliminations & Drama

Whew! This week's journey to Budapest on The Amazing Race 38 was a rollercoaster of emotions, strategy, and some seriously tough challenges. We saw teams soar and others hit a wall, all leading up to an incredibly teary Pit Stop!

TL;DR

• Kat Dunn and Alex Romo were eliminated after struggling through multiple challenges in Budapest.
• Tucker and Eric Des Lauriers snagged first place and a trip to Bolivia by successfully completing the Fast Forward.
• The leg featured a unique thermal bath clue, a tricky horse carriage Roadblock, and a Detour forcing teams to choose between juggling or bottle-balancing dance.
• Phil Keoghan witnessed an unprecedented level of emotion at the Pit Stop, with several teams breaking down in tears.

A Whirlwind Journey from Prague to the Heart of Hungary

After a couple of legs in the Czech Republic, our Amazing Race 38 teams packed their bags for a brand new adventure in Budapest, Hungary. The journey itself presented the first strategic decision: take an earlier train with three overnight transfers, or a later, non-stop sleeper train that arrived an hour later?

Natalie and Stephanie got a head start, leaving Prague at 2:43 p.m., while Kat and Alex found themselves way behind, departing at 8:08 p.m. – that's a five-hour gap! The first six teams opted for the faster, transfer-heavy train, hoping to gain an edge. However, Hannah and Simone, Jack and Chelsie, Kyland and Taylor, and the trailing Kat and Alex, chose the comfort of the non-stop sleeper, prioritizing rest over potential speed. As one article noted, given previous train travel issues (like cancellations and wrong stations), it's surprising more teams didn't consider the simpler, albeit slower, option.

Thermal Baths, Hidden Clues, and Unacceptable Obstacles

Upon arrival in Budapest, the teams plunged into their first major task: finding a specific king chess piece within the thermal baths. This wasn't just about spotting it, though. Tucker and Eric were the first to figure out the real trick – you had to twist the base of the king to reveal the next clue! Talk about a hidden gem.

However, what came next for Jas and Jag highlighted a much bigger, more serious challenge. After securing their clue, they struggled to find a taxi. Jag remarked, "This happens to us where people will avoid us," making it clear they faced bigotry due to wearing turbans. It was a stark reminder of the real-world prejudices people of color face, even on a global race. A cab finally stopped for them only after they covered their turbans with rain jacket hoods. Jas emphasized, "Anyone that wears a turban stands out in a crowd." This forced them to take the metro, a detour nobody wants when every second counts.

“We’re facing unique challenges because of who we are and how we look and how others might perceive us in this world.”

— Jag Bains on the bigotry faced while trying to find a taxi

Fast Forward Frenzy and a Horse-Powered Roadblock

Budapest also brought the season's first Fast Forward, a high-stakes task allowing one team to skip straight to the Pit Stop. The challenge? Solving a Rubik's Cube in under 7.5 seconds, with instructions and a specific starting point. Tucker and Eric Des Lauriers, known for their puzzle-solving prowess (especially Tucker from his Big Brother days), were the only team brave enough to attempt it.

They aced it! Despite a momentary "let's go" hiccup when Eric thought only he had to solve it, they quickly realized both brothers needed to complete it. Their success meant a direct pass to the Pit Stop, securing them first place for the leg and a fantastic trip to La Paz, Bolivia. What a way to kick off the Budapest leg!

For the other teams, the Roadblock awaited: steering a horse-drawn coach through a figure-eight course in just 45 seconds. The catch? Only one team member could attempt it at a time, turning it into a real time sink for some. While Izzy, Simone, and Alex had some hilariously messy first attempts, Kyland took meticulous notes, showing his detailed approach.

Joseph, initially struggling with the horses, was teased by Adam, "He was better as the horse in Prague than he is here." But, as Adam joked, the presence of his ex, Taylor, seemed to be the magic touch! "Joseph goes from running over things to being a professional horse racer," Adam quipped, highlighting how Joseph stepped up his game with Taylor around. Kyland and Taylor actually went from last to sixth place thanks to Kyland "beasting" the Roadblock – quite the comeback!

The House of Houdini and the Detour Dilemmas

After the Roadblock, teams headed to the House of Houdini, where they had to solve an escape act to find their next clue, hidden inside a false bottom – a clever touch! Joseph and Adam faced a minor setback here, with Joseph famously claiming his "popcorn muscles" broke one of the locks. For the uninitiated, as one article explained, "popcorn muscles" are those that look impressive but don't actually do much heavy lifting. They had to wait for repairs, losing precious time.

The Detour offered two distinct choices: either juggle five rings or perform a traditional Hungarian dance while balancing a bottle on their head. Most teams gravitated towards the dancing, likely seeing it as more straightforward than juggling.

Hannah and Simone, being professional dancers, were thrilled by the dance option, hoping it would help them make up time. Kat, also a professional dancer, wasn't so lucky. She broke down in tears when she realized her teacher didn't use an eight-count, which is standard in America. It just goes to show how unexpected cultural differences can trip you up!

Meanwhile, Kyland and Taylor absolutely "smashed" the juggling challenge, proving that sometimes the less popular option can pay off big. They rocketed from ninth to fourth place because of it. Joseph and Adam, however, found themselves in a major struggle, taking what felt like an endless number of attempts – one report claimed they were still going at their 57th attempt, while another tallied it at an astounding 134 attempts before finally finishing! It was certainly a test of patience (and upper body strength!).

An Unprecedented Emotional Pit Stop and the Final Elimination

As teams arrived at the Pit Stop at Vakert Bazar, hosted by the ever-present Phil Keoghan, the emotional toll of the leg became incredibly clear. Hannah and Simone, along with Joseph and Adam, both arrived bawling, even after sliding down a few places in the standings.

“I can honestly say, after 38 seasons of Amazing Race, I have never seen so much emotion at the mat.”

— Phil Keoghan, astounded by the tears at the Pit Stop.

Phil Keoghan, a seasoned veteran of 38 seasons, was visibly taken aback. He confessed, "I have never seen so much emotion at the mat," a testament to how truly challenging and draining this leg was. And then came Kat, who started crying even before Phil could say a word! "I had really high hopes," she sobbed, apologizing for her tears. But no apologies were needed; the Budapest leg truly pushed everyone to their limits.

Ultimately, despite their efforts, Kat Dunn and Alex Romo couldn't recover from their earlier struggles and the tough Detour. They arrived last at the Pit Stop and were eliminated from The Amazing Race 38, becoming the fourth team to leave the competition. "We gave it everything we had," Kat shared, reflecting on their journey as a dating couple.

Who's In and Who's Still Racing for the Million?

With Kat and Alex's departure, the field has narrowed down to nine determined teams. This leg proved that adaptability, communication, and a little bit of luck are key to surviving The Amazing Race.

Here’s how the teams stacked up in Episode 4:

1. Tucker and Eric Des Lauriers – Brothers (First Place!)
2. Natalie and Stephanie Negrotti – Sisters
3. Izzy Gleicher and Paige Seber – Engaged Couple
4. Kyland Young and Taylor Hale – Dating
5. Jas and Jag Bains – Brothers
6. Hannah and Simone Chaddha – Sisters
7. Joseph and Adam Abdin – Brothers
8. Kristine and Rubina Bernabe – Sisters
9. Jack and Chelsie Baham – Father and Daughter
10. Kat Dunn and Alex Romo – Dating (Eliminated)

As Phil Keoghan always reminds us, "Every leg of The Amazing Race brings new challenges. The teams that adapt fastest are the ones that stay in the game." And if the preview for next week is any indication, there's even more emotional drama (and tears!) ahead. We can't wait to see what unexpected twists and turns the remaining nine teams face on their incredible journey around the world!

FAQs about The Amazing Race 38 Episode 4

Which team was eliminated in The Amazing Race 38 Episode 4?

Kat Dunn and Alex Romo, the dating couple and former Big Brother alums, were eliminated in Episode 4 of The Amazing Race 38 after arriving last at the Pit Stop in Budapest.

Who won the fourth leg of The Amazing Race 38?

Brothers Tucker and Eric Des Lauriers secured first place in the Budapest leg of The Amazing Race 38, earning themselves a trip to La Paz, Bolivia, by successfully completing the Fast Forward challenge.

What were some of the key challenges in Budapest during The Amazing Race 38 Episode 4?

Teams faced a thermal bath clue where they had to find and twist a chess king, a Roadblock involving steering a horse-drawn carriage through a figure-eight course, and a Detour choice between juggling five rings or dancing with a bottle balanced on their head.

What made this Pit Stop particularly memorable for Phil Keoghan?

Phil Keoghan noted that he had "never seen so much emotion at the mat" in 38 seasons. Several teams, including Hannah and Simone, Joseph and Adam, and especially Kat and Alex, arrived crying due to the intense pressure and struggles of the leg.

Sources

• reality blurred (Andy Dehnart) - "Amazing Race 38’s teams astounded Phil Keoghan on the mat"
• Parade (Sindhura Venkatesh) - "Who went home in the latest episode of The Amazing Race? Details explored"
• CBSEntertainmentNow.com (Todd Betzold) - "Who Got Eliminated on ‘The Amazing Race’ 2025 Tonight? Week 4 Results"
• TV Fanatic (Sammi Turano) - "The Amazing Race Recap for 10/15/2025"