Tension is pretty high when the first three teams are hanging around at the Penticton Airport. Jesse asks if anyone knows who got eliminated and Nick points out "we're still here." There's a few chuckles but not much as Sean tries in vain to break the tension and change the subject. It's a long, quiet wait until Simi & Ope finally depart at 4:45 pm to join the others and reveal the answer to Jesse's query.
Upon arriving in Edmonton all teams must make their way from the Edmonton International Airport all the way to City Hall where they'll need to interrupt a Justice of the Peace as she performs a wedding in order to get their next clue. There's a mad dash for the cabs and Gino & Jesse are the first to make their way downtown but Jesse really doesn't want to interrupt the ceremony. Probably a good idea since brides can get really angry if anyone messes with their day. With a little prodding from his big brother, Jesse steps in to interrupt and receives his next clue and a smile from the bride.
As they run out Nick & Matt run in to interrupt the ceremony again, then in comes Brent & Sean and finally Simi & Ope and with the teams out of the way the wedding can continue, . . . or not. Off they go to the Edmonton Waste Management Centre on the east side of the city, and everyone is racing out to grab another cab.
Time for the Detour: Paper or Plastic. In Paper, teams need to gear up, head to the Materials Recovery Facility, and work a fast moving assembly line to sort out anything that isn't paper into two large bins, one for plastic and the other for anything else they can pull to get both bins to weigh at least 13 kgs to get their next clue. In Plastic, teams will need to head over to the Global Electric and Electronics Processing Facility to carefully dismantle 6 old TVs and separate them into the correct areas without breaking anything or they'll need to start again before receiving the next clue. I'm thinking Gord & Wayne would choose Paper, but you never know.
Somehow Simi & Ope managed to arrive first and chose Plastic, while Brent & Sean arrived right behind them and chose Paper. Simi can't believe they got there first but it's not much of a lead as Gino & Jesse arrive just as they're shuttled to the Global Electronics area. Jesse asks his cab driver to wait and races in as Nick & Matt arrive. The gangs all here and Nick asks his cab to wait as well as the last two teams both choose Plastic.
Already dismantling their TVs, Simi & Ope are finding that dismantling a TV is harder than it looks as they keep breaking the back of the tubes. Over on the assembly line Sean mentions that it smells like garbage. Where did he think he was? It is garbage. Gino & Jesse and Nick & Matt join Simi & Ope dismantling the TVs and Nick is just as hard on the tubes. Eventually they all figure out the trick to the TVs while Brent & Sean realize they're all alone on the line and have no idea how the other teams are doing. Sean decides they should weigh their bins and both bins were over 14 kgs so they are the first ones done the Detour.
Brent & Sean are now on their way to the Ottewell Curling Club for another Face Off. You remember the last Face Off, right? Kayak hockey on the ocean where Simi & Ope and Neil & Kristin both took penalties in the end? Yeah, well, at least this one's on frozen water. If you're Canadian, you've probably curled a few times in your life but this will definitely be a new one for Ope.
The remaining three teams are all finishing up their TVs but it's Gino & Jesse who pull ahead and catch the first shuttle back to the main building and the waiting cabs. Whaddaya mean there's only one cab? When Gino & Jesse see that the Wrestler's cab is the only one that waited they make a beeline for it before the second shuttle arrives but their too late. Nick sees them stealing their cab and races out of the shuttle and over to stop them as the cab driver slowly pulls forward to avoid Nick & Matt. Rather than get stuck in the middle of that Simi & Ope head inside to call for another cab. While Nick gets louder the cab moves faster and off he goes with Gino & Jesse. Nick is not amused.
Neither am I really. That was kind of a dick move by the brothers. I get that it's a race and all but that was almost as bad as stealing another team's money. Granted not everybody plays by the same rules and an empty cab feels like fair game, but I'm not sure I'd have made that move. In the end I guess it's up to the cabbie who he takes.
Nick & Matt head in to call another cab but while they're waiting Simi points out that they don't want to pull another Gino & Jesse move and let's the wrestlers know they called a cab first. At this point I don't think Nick & Matt care which cab comes first.
Meanwhile, Brent & Sean have arrived at the Ottewell Curling Club. In this Face Off, each team member while alternating throws will throw 4 rocks down the ice, the one closest to the Center of the circle wins the Face Off and the next clue. While Brent & Sean gear up we learn that their grandfather was an avid curler. Hope he's watching over them now. As Gino & Jesse arrive they relate curling to bocce, because they've never curled before. Are we sure they're Canadian? First they steal a cab and then they say they've never curled? Man, if they say they've never been to Timmies, they're out.
Brent & Sean are hoping it's anyone but Gino & Jesse, but guess who comes down to the ice. Yep. So far the Designers are pulling ahead, much to the amazement of Gino & Jesse. Time for Brent to channel his grandfather, and as his last rock glides down the ice you can almost see the old man kicking Jesse's rock aside. Pleasure to beat you boys, says Sean as he and Brent head out. The look of shock on Jesse's face was priceless.
Brent & Sean are now on their way to a Petro Canada station in St. Albert for their next clue. They actually beat Gino & Jesse in a sport and they're almost as surprised as anyone. Meanwhile, back at the Waste a Management Centre a lone cab arrives and while Simi & Ope try to figure out whose cab it is Nick & Matt toss their bags in the trunk and get in. The cab driver doesn't have any name on his call sheet, so it's possible it's just a random cab, but Ope feels that two wrongs don't make a right. He's a bit hurt by the wrestlers move but I don't think he's getting their sympathy as they drive off.
At the Petro Canada, Brent & Sean must now redeem 250,000 Petro Points on only drinks and snacks in under 90 seconds to get their next clue. Sean figures shopping is their task and he was right. They're now on their way to Fort Edmonton Park where they'll travel back in time to 1885 to find Kelly's Saloon and their next clue. I love spending time down at the Fort, especially on 1905 Street around Tent City where you can often find me sipping a cool lemonade while sketching the people and buildings.
While they head south to the Fort, Simi & Ope jog up to a cab to find that the contact name on this one is Nick. That doesn't mean the other one was theirs, but the odds are pretty good. They're in last place but we've still got half a show to go. As they make their way to the Face Off, Nick & Matt have arrived for a showdown with Gino & Jesse. Time to rock.
Or not. Once again, Gino & Jesse prove that curling is not their best sport. To be fair, it was pretty close but apparently karma's a bitch. Jesse can't believe it, but Nick & Matt are feeling good as they slide on outta there.
Maintaining their lead, Brent & Sean have made it to Fort Edmonton Park for the Roadblock: Who Wants to Raise the Bar? In this Roadblock one team member will go back in time to perform a scene out of the old west, they'll play saloon owner Kelly and have to memorize a series of lines and stage moves in order to get their next clue. Fortunately, Brent is a bit of a stage actor and used to memorizing lines so hopefully they can keep that lead.
Brent practices his lines off of Sean before heading in to the saloon. Speaking of heading in, there go Simi & Ope heading into the curling club after telling their cab driver not to take anyone else to find Gino & Jesse still there. Okay, it's the bocce brothers versus the new Canadians, and this is the funniest curling I've ever seen. Gino is looking really unhappy. Kinda like Nick & Matt when they try to buy everything but food and drinks at the Petro Can, but they figure it out pretty quick and make up for it. What was that they were supposed to do? Oh yeah, Read The Clue.
Back on the ice it was really close but in the end Simi's last rock was a little too fast and Gino & Jesse finally beat someone. While Simi & Ope wait out their predetermined penalty, Gino & jesse head out to find only one cab . . . Simi & Ope's, so they steal it. Words fail me.
Time for Brent to step up and be a saloon owner. He starts off pretty good, has the moves down and everything but then he draws a blank on a line and heads out to practice again. As he goes out he sees Nick & Matt arrive and Sean realizes they also beat Gino & Jesse. Matt gets costumed up as Brent rereads his lines. Wrestlers are used to playing characters and this one suits Matt pretty well so he heads in to the saloon . . . and blows a line.
Out he goes as Simi & Ope's time penalty finally ends, but when they go out they find that their cab is gone. Simi starts having a panic attack and Ope has to get her to calm down while he calls another cab. I'm not sure why neither of them checked on the cab while they were waiting out their penalty, especially after watching Gino & Jesse leave. Eventually they get their cab and they're in their way.
The next time we see Gino & Jesse they're racing up 1885 Street and then Jesse is in costume and heading in to the saloon. I don't remember seeing them at the Petro Can but I guess it wasn't that important, or maybe I blinked. Jesse was doing okay at the start but, like the others, he forgot a line and ran back out, which allows us to watch Simi & Ope running up their Petro Points.
Great shot of national treasure Dana Anderson when Brent blows another line. Out he goes again, and right back in. Brent finally nails the scene and those familiar looking guys in the corner can toast to his success, or the free drinks, as Dana hands him the next clue. Brent goes running out of the saloon like it's on fire. He and Sean are now on their way to the Muttart Conservatory to search the grounds for Jon and the final Pit Stop.
Despite Jon saying that teams need to make their way downtown to get to the conservatory, it's actually not in the downtown area but across the river from downtown and there are faster ways to get there from the Fort than going through the core. Brent & Sean realize it's time to get ruthless because the other teams certainly are.
As the Designers head for the Pit Stop, Simi & Ope have arrived at the Fort and Ope gets into costume. Simi is hoping for a shoutout with the taxi thieves but I'm pretty sure there are no actual working firearms at the Fort. At least, none that I've found in my time there.
Brent & Sean are Team Number 1 as they race up the hill to meet Jon and an Edmonton Eskimo Cheerleader at the mat. They also receive a trip in premium economy to Dubai, and 10,000,000 Petro Points for two years of free gas (or a lot of drink and snack runs). They're in the finals and these boys have been surprising everyone every step of the way. I wouldn't be surprised if they actually win.
Ope finally gets his chance to play saloon owner but again misses a line and out he goes to rehearse. That gives Jesse another shot, but apparently he's as good an actor as he is a curler and he blows it again. In goes Matt, . . . and out goes Matt. Jesse's third attempt was better but . . . back to acting school. Ope's third attempt didn't even get that far.
There was no way that Matt was going to let Jesse beat him and he nailed his next attempt and ordered another round on the house as he ran out. Nick & Matt are now off to find Jon, leaving Gino & Jesse behind for the second time today. What'd I say about karma? Ope's adlibbing wasn't getting him any further along on his fourth attempt.
Nick & Matt are Team Number 2 and they're in the final three, while Jesse finally a nails the scene on his fourth try. As the brothers run off Ope goes in and this time he did it and they're right behind Gino & Jesse. It's gonna be close as both teams head to the Muttart.
Racing out of the trees, Gino & Jesse are Team Number 3 and Gino admits that he and Jesse were pretty ruthless on this leg. Well, that and a little underhanded. Simi & Ope are the last team to arrive and they have been eliminated. This was a horrible leg for them mostly because of stolen cabs but they ran a great race and have built a great bond. Great speech from Jon at the end too. I'm gonna miss these two.
Next week the final three teams are heading to Whistler, BC for some high wire bike riding, tension, and drinks. I think I'll let Wayne do the bike riding and I'll take care of the drinks. Unfortunately there'll be no cameos by anyone who looks like me in that final leg. Sorry about that.
Keep an eye out for our video recap in the next day or so and our interview with Simi & Ope, who have been really enjoying our videos this season. We'll be back again next week for the finale and then we may or may not review the U.S. Version when it starts at the end of the week. You'll know when we know. Until that time.