Episode 4 delivers tears, a 7.5‑second Fast Forward, and a Budapest boot
Amazing Race 38 delivered its most volatile hour yet on the October 15, 2025, broadcast, a leg that sent the all–Big Brother cast and their loved ones from Prague to Budapest and ended with the fourth team’s elimination. Below, The Amazing Race 38: Recap of the latest episode covers the train choices (7:28 a.m. versus 8:30 a.m.), the thermal-bath chess hunt, a 7.5‑second Rubik’s-style Fast Forward, a 45‑second horse‑and‑coach Roadblock, and the post‑leg emotions Phil Keoghan called unlike anything he’s seen “after 38 seasons.”
Where the leg went and how it started (Prague → Budapest)
Teams left the Czech capital for Hungary by overnight train in two waves separated by more than five hours. As documented, “Natalie and Stephanie left at 2:43 p.m., and Kat and Alex didn’t leave until 8:08 p.m.—more than five hours separating first and last.” The earlier option required three overnight transfers and was due into Budapest at 7:28 a.m.; the nonstop sleeper arrived at 8:30 a.m.
The first‑departure group included Jas and Jag, Natalie and Stephanie, Tucker and Eric, Joseph and Adam, Hannah and Simone, and Izzy and Paige. The later, nonstop train carried Kyland and Taylor, Jack and Chelsie, Kat and Alex, and Kristine and Rubina.
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Detour prelude at the thermal baths (find the “king”)
Once in Budapest, teams entered a thermal bath complex to “search a thermal bath for a king,” which turned out to be a chess king. The trick was in the object, not the room: “twisting the base opened it and revealed a clue,” a step first executed by Tucker and Eric, with Jas and Jag next to figure it out.
While trying to leave the area, Jag described the recurring struggle to hail a taxi: “This happens to us where people will avoid us.” Jas explained why the pair pivoted to the metro: “We’re facing unique challenges because of who we are and how we look and how others might perceive us in this world,” adding, “Anyone that wears a turban stands out in a crowd.”
Fast Forward in Budapest: 7.5 seconds, but twice
This leg introduced the season’s first Fast Forward. The task: “solving a Rubik’s Cube in 7.5 seconds—though with instructions, and from the same starting point.” Only Tucker and Eric attempted it. They celebrated early when one finished, then realized both partners had to solve “in the same attempt,” so they reset and pushed on.
Roadblock: Rein it in within 45 seconds
The hour’s true bottleneck was a horse‑and‑coach driving challenge: “steering two horses while riding in a coach through a figure eight course in just 45 seconds,” with only one racer allowed on the course at a time. Izzy, Simone, and Alex misfired on early runs. Kyland took meticulous notes; the mechanics boiled down to pulling the reins in the direction you want the horses to go.
One comic beat came when Adam teased his ex, Joseph: “He was better as the horse in Prague than he is here,” then added that as soon as Taylor arrived, “Joseph goes from running over things to being a professional horse racer.”
Phil Keoghan on the mat: tears like never before
At the Pit Stop, emotions poured out. After Hannah and Simone, and Joseph and Adam checked in sixth and seventh—each sliding a few places—everyone cried. Host Phil Keoghan summed up the tableau: “I can honestly say, after 38 seasons of Amazing Race, I have never seen so much emotion at the mat.”
Elimination: “Dating Couple” Kat Dunn & Alex Romo are out
The leg in Hungary ended with the season’s fourth exit: Kat Dunn and Alex Romo, identified on‑screen as “Dating Couple,” finished last and were eliminated at the mat in Budapest. Their journey through the episode kept them hovering in 10th and ultimately unable to climb out of the bottom. The elimination trimmed the field and closed a turbulent travel day that began back in Prague.
What we learned about race dynamics in Episode 4 (“What Would Houdini Do?”)
- Train math matters. The equalizer wasn’t equal this time. The 7:28 a.m. arrival came with three overnight transfers, while the 8:30 a.m. arrival allowed sleep. Strategy hinged on whether an hour‑earlier arrival justified lost rest.
- Task design can hinge on micro‑rules. The bath “king” hinged on twisting the base. The Fast Forward required both partners to succeed within 7.5 seconds. The Roadblock enforced single‑file attempts, creating a queue.
- Bias and logistics intersect. Jas and Jag described changing transit modes after taxis passed them; the show aired their comments about visibility while wearing turbans.
- Momentum swings. Several teams—Hannah and Simone, Joseph and Adam—lost places late yet still checked in mid‑pack.
Cast & teams named in this episode’s coverage
Episode 4 prominently featured these pairs as cited or shown during the hour: Kat Dunn & Alex Romo; Jas & Jag; Natalie & Stephanie; Tucker & Eric; Joseph & Adam; Hannah & Simone; Izzy & Paige; Kyland & Taylor; Jack & Chelsie; Kristine & Rubina. Host: Phil Keoghan. Episode title referenced on air and in coverage: “What Would Houdini Do?” Location: Budapest, Hungary; originating city: Prague, Czech Republic. Landmark task site: the House of Houdini.
Exit reaction (exclusive interview)
In an exclusive, same‑day interview, Kat Dunn and Alex Romo reflected on their elimination and the Hungary leg. They described the emotional swing from a prior high to the disappointment of placing last and leaving in Week 4.
Episode 4, by the numbers
- Departure time gap leaving Prague: 2:43 p.m. vs. 8:08 p.m.
- Budapest train arrivals: 7:28 a.m. (three transfers) vs. 8:30 a.m. (nonstop sleeper)
- Fast Forward solve window: 7.5 seconds to finish a Rubik’s Cube (both racers must complete in the same attempt)
- Roadblock time cap: 45 seconds to drive a figure‑eight with a horse‑drawn coach
What’s next for Amazing Race 38
The all‑Big Brother format continues to drive alliances and rivalries into the season’s middle third. If Episode 4 is any guide, the teams that best balance rest against transit speed, who read task micro‑rules carefully, and who pivot faster when logistics fail will keep climbing the mat.
Conclusion
Amazing Race 38 put endurance, perception, and precision under a microscope in “What Would Houdini Do?” The Amazing Race 38: Recap of the latest episode shows how Budapest’s puzzles, horses, and even taxi availability reshaped the pack. With Kat Dunn and Alex Romo out, the Race turns toward its next country—and the next split‑second decision that could decide a leg.
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