Here's something most of you won't know, I tend to write most of my reviews on my iPad and sometimes I don't have the time to reread my posts until a few days after they've been posted. This would explain, thanks to the joys of automiscorrect, why every once in awhile my posts seem to drop words, add misplaced punctuation, or change the names of people, places and things. It's a little annoying (actually a lot) and I shall endeavour to do better, especially for the Canadian version of the Amazing Race, but for now let's get started on my review of episode eleven.
Apparently I was incorrect about my guess that the racers would be heading to Paris but I could swear I saw the Eiffel Tower in the "Next Week" preview at the end of episode ten. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part because Tyler & Korey, the first to the Pit Stop are also the first to leave at 7:34 am and they're on their way to Shenzhen, China (which is nowhere near Paris, was I drinking?). They'll find their next clue in the departure hall of the Shenzhen airport.
Tyler & Korey are more than happy if Burnie & Ashley would like to continue taking second place, especially on the last leg. Everyone shows up at the same place to book their tickets and they're all on the same flight at 1:45 am, which gives them a full day to relax in Bali before they leave. Wayne and I would be looking for a local tavern.
Upon arrival in Shenzhen it's a mad race through the departure hall to locate the clue box and Tyler & Korey are the first to find it. Teams must make their way by bus and then train to the Eiffel Tower (see, I wasn't entirely crazy).
Everyone found the clue box except Sheri & Cole but then Burnie told them where to find it and they grabbed the last clue. He wasn't very impressed with the other two teams pretending they hadn't found it. Unfortunately that caused Sheri & Cole to fall behind in getting to the first bus. We end up with two separate groups on two separate buses, then Sheri & Cole missed the train as well. If they keep making these mistakes this may be their last leg.
The others find the miniaturized Eiffel Tower and the clue. It's a Roadblock at Windows on the World, where one team member must collect immigration stamps from world monuments. It's like collecting stamps at Epcot with my kids. Tyler and Dana decide to work together, leaving Burnie on his own. Still no Sheri & Cole, . . . but wait, there they are and Sheri is on it.
Sheri also sees Tyler and Dana working together and she knows she's going to have to just power through this. She starts rereading the stamps she needs to collect and then tries to figure out the best route in the map rather than racing back and forth. It's a good plan but so far Burnie seems to be the only one who knows what he's doing. That said, Tyler and Dana are the first back to have their passports checked only to find they they both have one wrong.
At least Sheri working on her own isn't as easily distracted and she seems to be moving pretty quickly through the roadblock. Burnie runs up to get his collection checked and Burnie & Ashley take the lead. It's not a big lead because Tyler & Korey and Dana & Matt are right behind. Come on Sheri. The other three teams have all completed the Roadblock and are now all on the same train heading to the next clue while Sheri starts to feel a little lost in her attempt to complete the task.
The first three teams pass a giant rubber duck floating on the water, which reminds me of another project that Wayne and I have on the back burner, on their way to the Detour. In Commuter Cycle, teams must master the ability to travel on a cool looking unicycle which would require a good sense of balance, . . . while Master of Arts, has teams deliver a set of paintings to a gallery and then hang them correctly. As cool as that unicycle may be, Wayne and I would definitely choose to hang the paintings.
Meanwhile, Sheri completes the Roadblock and they're off and running in an attempt to catch up to the others. As Sheri & Cole head out, Tyler & Korey find the paintings, then Dana & Matt locate them, while Burnie & Ashley think the Commuter Cycle will be faster and head for that side of the Detour.
When Sheri & Cole open their clue they also choose to try Commuter Cycle and make a beeline for that location. As they go left, Tyler & Korey find their gallery and get started hanging their canvases. Then Dana & Matt find their gallery and Dana starts snapping at Matt again. It's too bad she's getting such a bad edit but someone has to play the villain. Over at Commuter Cycle Burnie & Ashley are worried they won't catch on quick enough and are thinking they may need to switch.
Tyler & Korey realize they need space between their canvases, but when they have it checked their spaces are still off. On the upside they now know how the gallery owner is checking those spaces so it's easy to rehang the work. Dana & Matt find the same problem and both teams have to adjust their paintings.
Sheri & Cole are almost at the Communter Cycle but not before Burnie & Ashley have decided to switch and leave the scene. This could be a big mistake for Burnie & Ashley because switching detours this late in the game can be a problem. Especially when it looks like Sheri has figured it out before Cole, as long as she had someone beside her helping her balance.
Burnie & Ashley gather their paintings and get started while Tyler & Korey adjust their canvases correctly, get the okay and take the lead. They're given a poster as their next clue and they need to find Shenzhen's Library Terrace based on that pictorial clue, where they'll find Phil at the Pit Stop.
Dana & Matt get approval on their canvases and move into second place. Meanwhile, Sheri & Cole feel they're getting better on the Commuter Cycles, especially Sheri. While Cole practices his mobile balancing, Burnie & Ashley finally find their gallery and Sheri is riding on her own . . . Cole not so much.
Burnie and Ashley started hanging their painting upside down before Ashley noticed it when she started to lay out the canvases and recognized the grid lines. Good thing because that would have seriously slowed them down having to reposition everything twice, maybe even three times.
Out on the street it's starting to rain and Sheri is loving the cycle but the rain is definitely making it harder and slowing her down, but not enough to consider switching as Cole seems to be getting it.
Meanwhile both Tyler & Korey and Dana & Matt are searching for the Shenzhen Library Terrace but once again Tyler & Korey are Team Number 1 with Dana & Matt coming in behind them as Team Number 2.
Burnie & Ashley get the okay on their canvases while Sheri & Cole master the cycles. Either team could be last at this point as Sheri & Cole complete the course and get the clue. Cole is pretty sure they're still in it and they may be. As he pointed out, every time they've chosen the fun task they managed to survive. Even the traffic gods seem to be on his side because Burnie & Ashley are now stuck in traffic in their cab so they decide to get out and make their way on foot to find the Pit Stop.
There's some interesting cuts showing both teams racing through the rain and up some stairs but . . . OMG, it's Sheri & Cole as Team Number 3. Unbelievable. Burnie & Ashley are the last team to arrive and they're told that only three teams will be racing in the final leg. As much as I'd rather see them in the final three over Dana & Matt, this was not their leg. It probably didn't help their case much by telling Sheri & Cole where to find the clue back at the airport. Burnie probably thinking about that right now.
Next week's season finale finds the final three heading back to the states where there'll be tears, fears, and if Wayne and I were in it . . . beers. I'll be right her to let you know whether it's the powerhouse team of Tyler & Korey, the comeback kids Sheri & Cole, or Dana & Matt dancing their way to first place on that final leg, the only one that really matters. Until that time.