The Amazing Race Canada - What The Duck Is Going On?

 

Discussing Ep. 8.7 - With a double elimination in this round, the stakes are even higher. JeM are at a severe disadvantage having used up their Express Pass while CoBren and Franella are still going strong with theirs. I'm hoping JeM can make an alliance with CoBren and perhaps Beveron (as much as I hate that idea) if Franella are making an alliance with Cali and Broadway.

I'm glad Cali weren't eliminated in this round. I can respect the alliance they forged with Broadway and Franella and that they're staying true to it, especially as it pertains to Catherine. So yeah, they deserved a break!

Looking for people wearing a red hat? Really? I'm glad we're not in the States as I'm sure there are some MAGA folk still sporting that gear and would have made this challenge all the more difficult!

So they all got the train tickets for the later train and are giving them back to this woman because they all want the tickets to the earlier train. If I were this woman, I'd feel a tad resentful and when they all came crawling back (those who couldn't get on the earlier train) to reclaim my tickets that they rejected, I wouldn't give it to them! 

What the hell was that? Broadway literally just bumped into her as they were turning the corner! Talk about luck! And I have to say, this ticket lady seems far more friendly than the other one, because she's all smiles and what not. Maybe because the other one knew she'd be the ticket lady for the later train and thus would be the undesirable one while this one knows she's the desirable ticket lady and so she feels better about herself.

I'm just doing armchair psychology right now! 😎

Well ain't that somethin'! The Froadali Alliance paid off! Franella, Broadway and Cali all got on the same early train. Impressive!

"Team Franella seem to find all the luck all the time. I don't want to depend on luck, I want to depend on strong racing." - CeTy

Look, I'll admit that I'm rooting against Franella since they are in JeM's way...but I can't attribute their success to luck alone. They're a strong team and became successful through talent and hard work, and this despite their alliance falling apart at the outset due to COVID! And did CeTy forget that they got lucky when they took a penalty that should have spelled the end for them but Kull inadvertently broke the rules and were eliminated in their place? C'mon, man!

Dah! I love the bird houses!

CoBren, JeM and Beveron seriously need to team up! CoBeM! This is not good as far as being the final three teams like Jesse had envisioned (with Franella instead of Beveron). I'm sorry, CeTy, but like you said, you're always at the bottom of the list. They can team up with Power Couple because that's all that's left.

Yeah, an alliance with Beveron would have been helpful in this challenge.

Gah! You are not last...and you are NOT getting lost, JeM! This is not acceptable!!!

"Everyone wants to alliance with each other and kind of leave us out." 

Well, what can I say, ladies? You did a whole lot of nothin' for CoBren when you could have helped them out and therefore missed out on getting an Express Pass (even though you were sure you were getting one...based on what again?). You are always seeking help from other teams but don't really give anything in return. And you didn't exactly share in the enthusiasm and good cheer that the other racers shared in when D&D, Broadway and Cali returned! And as much as I like the tension they have with Franella, I can't blame other teams for not wanting to work with Beveron. 

I think Beveron, as far as skill and talent go, would be a great team to align with. But their personalities make an alliance difficult as they haven't really shown to be eager or willing to work with other teams even though they constantly seek other teams' help and seem to have a sense of entitlement about it. I waver back and forth between who I dislike more...Franella or Beveron. So I welcome the tension and rivalry between them.

"Vanessa."

"Veronica!"

😂

I like how Catherine shut down working with Beverly while Craig is trying to smooth things over with Veronica. But calling her by a different name certainly doesn't help!

So a team arrives and can put another team on the list who has to wait for yet another team to arrive before they can move on. I'm guessing The Froadali Alliance are going to put Beveron and possibly CoBren since they are the more dominant teams out there and the biggest threats.

 

So it's either recreate this message on an old-style printing press or....

Recreate some essential bath bombs. I have a feeling that the printing press option would be the easier one but most will go for the bath bomb one.

What the hell?!? Seems the show was so focused on the drama between Beveron and The Froadali Alliance that they forgot that there were other teams racing! Somehow, JeM jumped from last place into 4th place ahead of CoBren! 

I'm not sad about it!

Okay, what in the world is going on?!? How did Beveron, who finished that bird house challenge immediately after The Froadali Alliance all of a sudden end up in 7th place?!? 

They got THAT lost?

And now they have to wait for CeTy to arrive (who are naturally in last place) to surpass them and leave that destination before they can move on.

So...wait. Did Franella and Cali do that? Did Franella wait until Cali moved on from there before they left or did they all leave at the same time? They may have broken the rules if they did that.

I also love how no one is surprised that Franella put Beveron on the chopping block there! 😄

"So you guys get your clue, read it, and go away!"

Gee, I wonder why nobody wants to ally with Beveron?!? 😕

"Franella is just like 'good job, ladies!'" - Beverly

"Yeah, they can shut their f***in' mouths!" - Veronica

Yes!!! Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

Double Yes!!! JeM take the lead! And I love how the printing press guy is all excited too!

Ooooo! I like this challenge. Always wanted to learn sign language but it's a matter of practicing it to become good at it. 

Okay, JeM is getting overconfident again! Did they not learn from the motion capture challenge from the last leg? 

"Jahmeek, stay focused, be precise!"

He goes on to fumble the ingredients! You can't make this stuff up! LOL!

Awesome! Their overconfidence was justified! I'm glad they were able to get this challenge done so quickly and can match Franella and CoBren, who may use their EP to bypass this challenge altogether.

RUN THEM OFF THE ROAD, JEM!!! RUN FRANELLA OFF THE ROAD!!!!

Awww man, that was close! JeM almost lost the 1st place position to Franella! But I'm glad they stuck with it. So now these two teams are on an even playing field having both used up their EP's. We'll see if CoBren hold onto theirs.

As for Franella saying that they put Beveron up on the board simply because they are "sprinters" is a bit disingenuous! Just say you don't like them and leave it at that!

So Broadway have experience with sign language because of....Broadway! So they have a definite advantage. Since they're willing to help out Cali, I'm going to guess that at this point, CeTy and Power Couple are going to be eliminated from the race.

So CoBren use their EP too! I have to say, this was not a good leg for CoBren. Usually they dominate but they are seemingly not even finishing in the Top 3!

Yet another team that apparently has experience with sign language. It worked for JeM and Broadway. Let's see if Beveron can make the trifecta!

And they complete the trifecta!

"I'm so proud of us!" - Beveron.

If ever there was a moment where you see how isolated Beveron have made themselves, this was it. Yes, the other teams made it clear they didn't want to work with them. But Beveron really do come off as entitled and even arrogant to the point where you don't blame the other teams for not wanting to work with them. Unless they edited out Beveron congratulating CoBren and Broadway, they show poor sportsmanship and I don't see how any team can respect that.

 

And really, to no one's surprise, CeTy and Power Couple get eliminated. Both teams surprised me at various points but they both kept coming in near the end of the line so it's really not that unjust that they got eliminated. Especially Power Couple, who were given more second chances than most teams are given! They both ran good races but it was time for them to bow out.

Overall, a very entertaining episode. Like I said before, it would be cool if Beveron could get their egos in check and somehow develop an alliance with CoBren and JeM since they are now facing The Froadali Alliance. Mind you, in the next episode, which has them visiting another city that is significant to me (Ottawa-Gatineau), it looks like the Froadali Alliance is crumbling. Could Franella be pulling back on their alliance in the name of competition? 

It wouldn't surprise me if they did!