Ep 1. We're Not in Oklahoma No More

The Amazing Race has returned for its 23rd season, and the first episode titled "We're Not in Oklahoma No More" follows eleven new teams as they race around the world in hopes of winning the $1 million prize.

The episode begins with all eleven teams gathering in Los Angeles, where they are introduced to the show's host, Phil Keoghan. Teams consist of friends, couples, and family members from across the United States, all with unique backgrounds and interesting personalities.

As the race begins, the teams are told that their first destination is Iquique, Chile, a coastal city known for its stunning beaches and world-renowned paragliding. Teams race to the airport, where they quickly learn that only four flights are available, with the first departing at 11:30 am and the last departing at 2:50 pm.

The first team to secure seats on the 11:30 am flight is Tim and Marie, an ex-couple from New York City. They are followed by Brandon and Adam, childhood friends from Chico, California, and Amy and Jason, dating from New England. The remaining eight teams are stuck waiting for the later flights, with some teams forming alliances in hopes of gaining an advantage later on.

Once in Chile, teams race to the site of their first challenge, a roadblock where one team member must complete a harrowing paragliding adventure off the side of a cliff while the other member watches anxiously from the ground.

After completing the paragliding challenge, teams are given their next clue, directing them to the city's historic fishing pier, where they must search for a clue hidden among the many fishing nets. Some teams struggle to find the clue, while others race ahead, hoping to gain an advantage.

The next clue leads teams to the top of a nearby hill, where they must search among a sea of colorful flags for the one with a traditional Chilean saying written on it. Some teams waste precious time searching for the wrong flag, while others quickly race to the correct one and move on to the next challenge.

The final challenge of the episode takes place at the Tarapaca Winery, where teams must complete a detour by choosing between bottling wine or searching for a barrel of wine in a vast vineyard. Some teams struggle with the complicated wine bottling procedure, while others get lost in the vineyard, wasting precious time.

In the end, Tim and Marie are the first team to cross the finish line, earning the coveted Express Pass which they can use to skip any challenge in future legs of the race. They are followed closely by Nicole and Travis, a married couple from Atlanta, and Nicky and Kim, best friends from New York City.

As the remaining teams arrive at the finish line, some are elated to have made it through the first leg of the race, while others are disappointed to have fallen behind. Meanwhile, alliances are formed and rivalries develop as the teams prepare for their next destination.

Overall, this first episode of The Amazing Race season 23 is action-packed and suspenseful, with plenty of challenges and unexpected twists. As always, the race promises to be an exciting adventure for both the contestants and the viewers at home.