CTGirl, what's this balance you're talking about? I've looked at TK and Rachel again and I'm not convinced. Granted, this quote of yours is often accurate:
>"Long term players don’t
>usually get that much
>attention this early"
Even the dullest of all winners, Tyler and James had a story from the start. More than just their addiction recovery story, we had that powerful scene of Tyler on the train ride through the Gobi Desert and an immediate conflict with the Blondes to let us know that this team was one to watch.
TK and Rachel's "easy does it" story is seriously lacking. You were telling me that I'm wrong about them even before the season started and that is confusing me. They are good racers and I can't argue with results.
As far as too much attention early on, there has been exceptions: BJ and Tyler for example. We had some doubts on BJ and Tyler winning because they had been so visible even if they fit the theme of their season so well.
I didn't do editing analysis back then but, if I remember correctly, Freddy and Kendra as well as Flo and Zach were very visible from the start. Freddy and Kendra had more of a story than fan favorites Kris and John. Many thought and hoped that those two would win because they hadn't been over-exposed.
All that to say that finding winners through editing isn't an exact science. I'll agree with you that three "high-drama" teams in the finale would be too much. If we compare our views, the teams of Jennifer and Nathan and Shana and Jennifer could very well make it. I also see that neither of us count on Azaria and Hendekea making it to the end. It would be an interesting result if Jennifer and Nathan as well as Shana and Jennifer are in the finals.
If TK and Rachel are the third, I'd look for a Kris and John type ending. If Lorena and Jason are there, maybe I won't be the only one to call her Florena! The Goths are still wild-cards and it will be interesting to see if we are right about the front-running siblings and the other teams we've "eliminated".