The Timmies arrived fifth at the mat but since they only took one clue out of the terrarium instead of two, they were penalized 30 minutes. That allowed the Sisters to get checked in before them. However, the penalty expired before the Brothers arrived so the Timmies were Team #6, leaving Cory and Jody Team #7. Note how the final three were all lumped together in Ep. 1. with the Sisters ahead, the Timmies in the middle and the Brothers following. Wouldn't it be really something if that's the way it finished in Toronto for the final leg? That would be totally unexpected because to be quite honest, a lot of folks don't think Vanessa and Celina have what it takes to win.
Sure, the girls are tiny and tough but they have had problems. They get lost, they can't drive stick, they complain a lot about how hard some tasks are and their lack of elimination earlier is a result of other teams screwing up. However, they have made great use of the classic Amazing Race adage: Never Come in Last. They might surprise us — and I include myself in that — and win it all. But should we really be surprised? When you look at the standings, Vanessa and Celina have done pretty well; they have finished higher than the Timmies in more legs. And they have never finished last, unless you count that extended leg.
So you could say the Timmies are the weaker of these two teams and be correct. Especially when you consider that the Timmies have finished last twice, but were only saved by the non-elimination. And they too get lost, have some trouble memorizing, and make silly mistakes (like not taking the second clue on the first leg or wait, better yet, remember the cherry translation from Quebec City?) and have been save by screw-ups by other teams. And like the Sisters, the Timmies also haven't finished first in any leg. Which just goes to show you, finishing first in a bunch of legs does not guarantee a trip to the finals or a win, right Jet and Dave? But the Timmies have shown some brilliance, especially in U-Turning Body Break (probably the best play of the entire race) and coming from last to 2nd in Iqaluit. Hopefully for them, that brilliance will show up in the final. But who knows.
Although the favourites of the moment are Cory and Jody, the Brothers. These boys have been on a roll for the last three legs with three Team # 1s in a row. They are a well-oiled machine at the moment and if they keep it up, it will be in a shoo-in. And despite the fact Jody has no legs below the knee, the physical tasks haven't slowed them down. Nothing seems to stops these boys. Except for maybe, themselves. The Brothers have made mistakes in past legs, especially when they are too intense and hyper-focused. Their worse was signing up on the wrong flight to the Yukon. If it wasn't for the Hippies not using their Express Pass, the Brothers would have been out early. And as I said, finishing in first for a bunch of legs does not guarantee success in the end.
Regardless, I won't be unhappy if any of these teams win. I don't hate any of them and while I lean towards the Timmies slightly, I'll be just as pleased if any of the other teams win. I just hope it's a great final with fantastic drama, and hopefully, some kind of brain teaser near the end. Those are always fun.
And to my loyal readers, all 132 of you, I'll probably be posting a later than usual because I have a volunteer thing at my kid's school tonight. I'll be PVRing the show and watching it when I get home. Maybe Gord will have his post up before me.