(12/13, contains SPOILERS)

YESSS!! A finale with which I am completely happy... the Linzes in first place, the Bransens in second and the Weavers in a distant third. (Although I would have been just as happy if the first and second places were reversed.)

Ma Weaver was up to her usually shenanigans again. Earlier in the episode, Rolly and Alex Linz were running for a ticket counter when they tripped over each other although (it appered to me that Rolly tried to grab Alex' backpack and step in front of him). Alex even helped the boy up, patted him on the back and said something like 'That boy is fast' but you heard Ma Weaver shouting across the airport 'DON'T YOU TOUCH HIM!' What did she think Alex was going to do, hit Rolly?

Then later on, when they teams had to manuever carts around an arena to try to find a away in, the Linzes' cart was blocked by the Weavers, who refused to move. The Linzes barely squeezed by and made a joke, calling Rolly 'Roly Poly'. Again, Ma W flew off the handle, calling the Linzes rude, how dare they say that Rolly was fat, etc. If she would have had any sense, she would have realized that anyone calling her son 'Roly Poly' surely meant it as a joke.

There were a few other times when the Weavers (well, mostly mom and the gals) called the Linzes a/k/a The G.I. Joes (where they came up with that is unknown) rude, arrogant, pushy, etc. Of course, the Weaver were on the side of good. So good as a matter of fact, that their faith led them to find a Christian cab driver who drove them to their destinations. But their collective faith was tested when Ted the driver took them to an incorrect ice skating rink (same thing happened to the Linzes though).

At the end though, the race was ultimately between the Linzes and the Bransens with the former coming to the mat just a minute or so ahead. Both teams seemed genuine happy to see each other, with the Linzes waving Wally and hs girls forward and then hugging each other. Wally also made the comment that the Linz parents should be proud for raising such great kids. Since all of the otehr family teams were waiting, we also got to see DJ Paolo getting teary eyes as well as hearing the young Gaghan kids shout out 'Way to go, Wally!'

I started this episode screaming at the Weavers (one of the worst teams ever on TAR in terms os personality) but ended it cheering. A lot of people were initially unhappy with the family teams as well as not having them race overseas, but that really didn't both me too much... I still enjoyed the Race and can't wait for the next season.

I agree - what a great ending. Those Linz kids are great.

Ma Weaver said that Alex was 'pushing' him. What a joke. It was very obvious that he was trying to help him get his balance.

She said, 'Calling names; unbelievable.' I guess she has conveniently forgotten her daughters' comments about 'bottle blondes and implants,' and 'retard.' Still hypocritical to the very end.

Yeah, I didn't get the reference at all. The first time one of the girls said it, it sounded like 'G.I. Jeans.'

Nothing wrong with the Linz kid's geography knowledge. I would have liked to see who did the Weaver's map challenge, and how good the home schooling was. It seemed like there might have been quite a wait between the Branson's arrival and the Weaver's.

I still enjoyed the

Me, too - looks like some nice, exotic locations -

AND The Linz boy said, 'Roly-Poly, shut it' after the Weaver kid called one of them 'Thunder Thighs' (I thought it might've been directed at Megan [since it seems like something only girls are called], but she wasn't driving the cart... so who knows?). So his mother being appalled at the name-calling was laughable when her son started it.

They consistently ran down other teams. The Godlewskis were the 'Desperate Housewives' and when they got yielded, they laughed about the Paolos being in front of their garbage truck and that the younger son looked like a squirrel. Guess the difference was that the Good Christians just called names behind peoples' backs.

It was 'G.I. Janes'.

I wasn't expecting to enjoy the family edition. But it had all the back-biting, stress and phenomenally annoying teams that I've come to

I loved the comment from Ma Weaver when she realized they were coming to Canada. 'Oh my gosh were going to Montreal and we're in cut-offs.' She must have been expecting Eskimos and Igloos. And what about Phil? '...two popular sports in Canda......curling and log rolling?' I laughed my head off. How many other Canucks here played log rolling when they were kids? Raise your hands.

DJ *and* Brian

Were they home schooled? I don't recall reading that one.

Mrs. Weaver had been homeschooling but since she got a job at a private school (eek!) they've been attending that.

Karen E.

Now I'm really scared.